The Beauty Box

Well Hello There

2011-08-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

Maine to New Hampshire to New York to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Michigan to Indiana to Illinois to Wisconsin to Minnesota to North Dakota to Montana.

These were the states I travelled through over the span of 2 weeks. Hopefully this will help explain (but not excuse) my absence. I really have nothing to offer about why there was only one post in July.

At any rate, before I left I finally received my first Luxe Box. For those of you who don't know, Luxe Box is the Canadian Birch-Glossy-Sparkly-Glittery-Eco-Shiny-Frilly box. Basically, it's just a service that allows you to sign up (and pay) for a subscription to receive deluxe samples of beauty and skincare items in the mail on a monthly basis.

This company almost made my blacklist. I was pretty positive I had signed up for the months of June-July-August and when I didn't receive the June Luxe box and couldn't get much of a response from the company, I was not a happy camper. Eventually though, I got in contact with someone who assured me I had actually signed up for July-August-September, so then I lowered my fists a little.

Right before I moved I took a few photos of the goods for you!

Cute packaging, no?

Contents:

1.) A full-sized Essie polish. These can retail anywhere from $7-15, depending on where you live and where you're shopping. It's nice that they included a full-size here, that fact doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. But the shade, 'In Stitches' makes me want to say 'meh' - a word I never typically use.

2.) A sample-sized 'Proclaim' hair oil treatment. This made me wish I would have filled out my profile a little differently, though I feel like surely I said that I'd prefer cosmetic items over hair care. In any case, I have Moroccan Oil, Macadamia Oil, and a bottle of Chi Silk Infusion sitting in my cupboard right now. Another hair oil is kind of the last thing I need. As for the quality of this product, I'll let you know when I get through some of the others.

3.) A sample-sized fragrance: "Stella in Two Peony." Believe it or not, this little sample was the hidden gem of the Luxe Box for me. I used it up in about 2 days and am contemplating getting a full size eventually. It's quite pleasing to the ol' olfactory.

4.) The fourth and final product didn't make me go 'meh' as much as it made me go 'what the hell?' The card that came with my box clearly stated that I was receiving a Trucco lipliner. My first thought (before I took it out of the box) was: 'oh, it's another full-sized product, YAY!' My second thought was the aforementioned 'what the hell?' coupled with a befuddled 'it's grey????' Upon further research, I discovered that these (very creamy) pencils can be used as lipliners or eyeliners. So we're good. Still, I can't help but wonder if they ran out of lipliners by the time they got around to putting my box together.

Overall, I'd give my first box a B-. Seeing two full-sized products made me extremely happy, but none of the products, other than the perfume, thrilled me. And I don't even think the little perfume sample was completely full so it was gone in no time (I believe the full-sized version is about $56 to purchase).

I'm excited to see what the August Luxe Box has in store. The good thing about this service is that at the very least it's something to look forward to each month! Who doesn't love getting stuff in the mail?

For good measure I'll leave you with a few completely unedited, 100% true-to-life pictures of a lovely sunset in my home province. Enjoy.

MAC Lipstick Collection

2011-07-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

As promised in my latest youtube video: swatches and whatnot!

The entirety of my MAC lip product collection

From left to right:
1.) Peachstock (satin)
2.) Myth (satin)
3.) Crème D'Nude (cremesheen)
4.) Fresh Brew (lustre)
5.) Hug Me (lustre)
6.) Hue (glaze)
7.) Viva Glam II (satin)
8.) Blankety (amplified creme)
9.) Angel (frost)
10.) Viva Glam Gaga (lustre)

Thoughts:

My favourites of these are: Fresh Brew, Hug Me, Hue, Viva glam II, Blankety, Angel, and Viva Glam Gaga.
I can make Peachstock work a bit better than Myth or Crème D'Nude, though it still doesn't make my favourites list.
I actually kind of detest Myth if I'm honest. It doesn't appear overly dreadful in the swatch but it just gives me that horrid corpse-like effect that I do not desire!
As you can tell from the swatches - If you have Blankety you probably don't need Viva Glam II. Though for some reason I tend to slightly prefer VGII over Blankety.
Fresh Brew and Hug Me are a bit underrated as far as MAC lipsticks go. On the days when you want a natural but polished look - they are both really nice options.
Viva Glam Gaga has unfortunately been discontinued, but if you're lucky some MAC stores may still have a few in stock. You can see what VGGaga looks like on my lips here.

From left to right:
1.) Viva Glam I (matte)
2.) Back to Del Rio (lustre)
3.) Girl About Town (amplified creme)
4.) Show Orchid (amplified creme)
5.) Viva Glam VI (lustre)
6.) Twig (satin)
7.) Impassioned (amplified creme)
8.) Viva Glam Cyndi (lustre)
9.) Chatterbox (amplified creme)
10.) Ravishing (cremesheen)
11.) Blooming Lovely (amplified creme)

Thoughts:

I honestly love every single one of these lipsticks, though my most worn would have to be Girl About Town, Twig, Impassioned, Viva Glam Cyndi, Chatterbox, and Ravishing.
You can view on-the-lips swatches of Blooming Lovely here.
Back to Del Rio has been discontinued which is unfortunate because I love me some vampy lustres (lustres are my favourite finish of MAC lipsticks).
Show Orchid is definitely the most unique of the bunch; there is a blue-ish tint that hasn't quite shown itself in these pictures. If you think that Girl About Town and Show Orchid are too similar to own both, I would beg to differ! You NEED both! (If you're a fan of bright, juicy-looking lips especially!)
Like Viva Glam Gaga, Viva Glam Cyndi has been discontinued. BUT I know of a few people who have found this gorgeous gem in their MAC stores in the past few weeks. Could never hurt to check!

From left to right:
1.) Tinted lip conditioner in Fuchsia Fix
2.) Tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink
3.) Russian Red lipglass
4.) Star Nova lustreglass
5.) Baby Sparks dazzleglass
6.) Underage lipglass
7.) Pretty Plush plushglass

Thoughts:

I LOVE the tinted lip conditioners. They have an SPF of 15, smell heavily of vanilla (even more so than the regular lipstick line), and feel like butter on the lips.
Of the two tinted lip conditioners, Fuchsia Fix is by far my favourite. Its purpose is to moisturize and protect your lips more than anything - but, I appreciate the fact that it has much better colour payoff than Petting Pink.
Not a huge fan of Dazzleglasses. They are sticky and the amount of glitter is pretty intense.
Plushglasses are my favourite type of MAC lipgloss. They are less sticky than the others and make my lips feel tingly (some plumping properties). They are also infused with a larger amount of that vanilla scent, which for some might be nauseating. But the more scent the better is my motto! HOWEVER, as you can tell from the photos, Pretty Plush is nothing spectacular colour-wise. It almost just looks like a clear gloss with a tiny amount of sparkle. Not my thing!
If you were to get any of these things, I would personally suggest the tinted lip conditioners! But then, lipgloss is not exactly my forté!

Hope the swatches were satisfactory! My arm had faint lipstick stains on it for a couple days after I took these photos. Oh, the things we do for beauty....

Face of the Day (FOTD) attempt

2011-06-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Seems I haven't quite mastered the self-shot. Perhaps I just didn't put enough effort into practice during the MySpace years, and so I haven't yet figured out the most flattering lighting (story of my life!) or "slimming" camera angles. Nevertheless, here we are....

1.) Foundation: NARS SheerGlow in Deauville
2.) Blush: Bourjois Rose Ambré
3.) Bronzer: Benefit Hoola (cheek contour)
4.) Eye base: Painterly Paintpot
5.) Eyeliner: MAC Teddy eye kohl (in hindsight I probably would have gone with black to achieve a little less of a sleepy look)
6.) Mascara: Revlon Grow Luscious
7.) Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam Gaga (the first)

Simple, quick, easy peasy. This is the type of face I'd slap on to go to work. Can't usually be bothered with "blending my crease" or "darkening my outer V" at 6:30 a.m. Painterly Paintpot is my saviour.

In other news... gave the blog a slight facelift so that I'd feel older than 12! :)
I prefer this simple design - and the box is quite fitting for me since I usually have something either beauty or fashion related on its way to me in the post. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading! xo

Another Lush Haul

2011-06-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a bad blogger! BAD! I should probably work on that - especially considering the fact that I think I'm actually more cut out to write about beauty products than make videos about them. (Though, I'm still enjoying making videos about them, too!)

I'm here today with another Lush haul. I ordered a bunch of goodies from them awhile back because I was all out and basically dying to be able to lie in a sea of bubbles while reading a good book. FYI: Bubbles and books = one of my favourite combinations.

I decided to get all bubble bars because as I mentioned in a previous post... they are far and above my favourite Lush products. Not really feeling the bath bombs. It's like they fizzle for a few minutes and then disappear. Kinda anti-climactic. Bubble bars, on the other hand, give you something to savour and enjoy for the entirety of your bathing experience!

This is the "Karma" bubble bar. I tried it for the first time the other day and actually quite liked it. It's definitely not my favourite, but I would consider repurchasing.

What it looks like after I get at it with a knife. (This one is a little smaller than some of the others, so I just cut it into 4 chunks).

An eternal favourite of mine: "The Comforter" bubble bar. This is the second one of these that I've owned, and because it's kind of massive I get 6 chunks out of it. Just look at its pink swirly deliciousness!

"Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds" - just the name of it makes me feel happy on the inside. I haven't tried this one yet, but it smells divine. It's about the same size as "The Comforter" so again, 6 chunks.

This one is called the "Dorothy" bubble bar, and is the only one I purchased that I hadn't received recommendations for or even heard about. It's a bit smaller than the others, so I just halved it (no picture - sorry!) I have to say... this is right up there with "The Comforter" for me. It MIGHT even surpass it. I've already used the whole thing (except the rainbow, which fell off when I cut it in half) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Tho-rough-ly.

Oh! I did get something other than just bubble bars:

This is the Sweet Lips Chocolate & Vanilla Lip Scrub. You know anything that has chocolate in its name is on my radar. LOVE THIS. It's legitimately yummy. I use it just about every day, which I'm probably not supposed to, but.... lip exfoliation FTW!

Also got a couple of samples that I haven't used yet:

Annnd that's it for this round! I'm glad to finally have bubbles back in my life.... nobody does bubbles better than Lush.

Have you tried any of these products?

Until next time!
-Laura xo

Limited Addiction

2011-05-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

Just a little NOTD for you today!

Red nailpolish is one of my favourite things in life. I love its universality and how it tends to look completely classic and sophisticated. My friend Christiana recommended this red to me awhile back and I'm glad she did!

The specs:

Name: Essie "Limited Addiction"

Shade: A beautiful, deep, blood-red

Availability Status: This came out with Essie's Fall 2010 collection. It is therefore limited edition BUT is still readily available on the interwebz... I got mine from my most trusted e-bay seller

Application: Nice!

Longevity: Average, but chips will be quite noticeable as is always the case with red polishes

Yes, my nails have seen better days than the day this photo was taken. But still, look how pretty!

Would you/do you rock reds in the summertime???

Love,

Laura xo

LOTD - Lips of The Day

2011-05-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

It's no secret what my favourite type of makeup product is. I love the way a bright lipstick can bring life to the face and how a deep, dark shade is able to evoke a sense of mystery. Lips, to me, are just as versatile and intriguing as eyes. I'm going to share my favourite light purple lipstick with you today!

This is "Blooming Lovely" and it came out with MAC's "Give Me Liberty of London" collection which was launched in the March of 2010. This is a perfect purple for those of us who enjoy wearable purple lipsticks because it really is quite pinkish (with strong purple undertones) on the lips. My lips at least.

It's also an Amplified finish, which is one of MAC's best finishes I would say. The longevity, the wear, and the application are all typical of other MAC Amplified lipsticks.

The only negative thing I can think of about these purple/lavender hues is that they aren't all that flattering for the teeth. You know how bright blue-based pinks and reds make teeth appear pearly white? I would say this has an opposite effect. It won't make your teeth look banana-yellow (unless they already are banana-yellow) but it won't make them appear whiter than they actually are either.

Despite that slight downfall, however, this lipstick still manages to be incredibly flattering. The colour purple just has a way of bringing out the best in everyone.

Unfortunately, this blooming lovely lipstick is limited edition and since the collection came out over a year ago now I would say it's darn near impossible to get your hands on it. The good news? I have a new-in-box, never-used, never-opened backup that I'm considering using for a giveaway at some point. I'm not sure if I'll do it here on my blog or on YouTube or Twitter - but stay tuned for that!

What do you think about purple lipsticks? Would you ever wear this colour?

Love,

Laura xo

Major Haulage

2011-04-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

Hauls are fun. Truly.
(WARNING: picture-heavy post. With swatches).

New NARS blushers! Hooray!

Top: NARS "Mata Hari"

Bottom: NARS "Madly"

Top: Annabelle "Rose Fawn"

Bottom: Bourjois "74 Rose Ambré

Pictured above: Bourjois Délice de Poudre "Peaux claires/médianes 51" (smells like chocolate... yum)

And in case you're curious about the packaging of the three more unfamiliar products:

Swatched, left to right: Bourjois bronzing powder; NARS "Madly"; NARS "Mata Hari"; Annabelle "Rose Fawn"; & Bourjois "Rose Ambré"

An entire video dedicated to this haul will be up in the morning.

Until then....

xoxo

Shorts Story; Shorts Blog

2011-04-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Rather than beginning this post with the obligatory excuse for why I've been so M.I.A., I'll just say that if you follow me on Twitter you probably know that I've had a lot going on and you may also have some insight into why I wasn't able to post last week.

But seriously, on to the mindless stuff.
I have a pretty nailpolish to show you. Pretty, that is, if you're into almost sickeningly feminine, vibrant, medium Barbie-pinks. Naturally, it was love at first application for me.

The specs:

Name & Brand: Shorts Story; OPI
Application: Smooth, easy to work with
Longevity: Decent, average
Shade: This is more subjective, of course, but in my humble opinion it is nothing short of fabulous

I had heard horror stories about the application of this nailpolish prior to my purchasing it, but I'm pleased to report that was not my experience with the polish at all - and I'm rather picky when it comes to nailpolish formulations. Mostly because I make a terrible manicurist. No joke, I could definitely benefit from taking some sort of remedial nailpolish class. 'Nailpolish Application for Dummies' or something of the like.

For reference, the above photos were taken with flash photography (at night, as per usual) and I've applied two coats. Underneath I have applied my favourite base:

And then I finished it all off with favourite topcoat:

Recently I've discovered another basecoat/topcoat that I've been loving as well. But more on that later....

What do you think of OPI's Shorts Story? Is it a colour you'd dare to wear? Also, what is your favourite topcoat and basecoat?

Love,

Laura xoxo

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Gettin' My Hurr Did?

2011-04-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Major yuck.

I've "contracted" my second cold in just 2 weeks, but this one is even worst than the first was. I always try to let my body heal itself naturally - so instead of popping pills or downing a Buckley's mixture (which actually does taste awful and work, by the way) I've been consuming copious amounts of orange juice and forcing myself to sleep more than I usually do. My immune system and I are not friends.

The silver lining in all this is that I have a week-long break coming up this month and the weather is starting to get warmer. Whenever the temperatures start to rise after a long, cold, Canadian winter - I start to crave change. Change of scenery, change of pace, change of.... hair.

I've been debating going a bit lighter with my hair colour for awhile now. It's a scary proposition because I adore dark hair so much. I've been nearly blonde before so it isn't like I'm a stranger to changing my hair - it's just that I've been a brunette for so long now and have enjoyed it thoroughly. I love the way dark hair contrasts with pale skin (à la Anne Hathaway) and also the way it complements darker, tan skin (à la Penelope Cruz). Alas, I think I'm ready to add some more complexion-brightening tones to my hair - at least for the warmer months.

This all started when I began watching the current season of American Idol. I immediately fell in love with Jennifer Lopez's soft, caramel/honey hair.

Photo Courtesy

Then, somebody tweeted this (super sexy) picture of Olivia Wilde. And while the rest of the world was probably staring at her hot body, I was staring at her beautiful hair.

Photo Courtesy

Of course there's still a part of me that thinks nothing will ever come close to the loveliness of this:

Photo Courtesy

And another part of me that lusts over this unattainable hair:

Photo Courtesy

But I'm looking for more of a middle ground like JLo, Olivia, or......

Alessandra

Photo Courtesy

Lauren

Photo Courtesy

And just to prove to you my familiarity with various shades on the hair-colour spectrum:

I'm thinking it's also time for more layers as my hair is currently all one length (with the exception of my terribly annoying bangs). I've recently come to the realization that my hair is way too thick to not have layers.

Will any of you be changing your hair colour this spring/summer? And which of the above photos do you think I should I bring to my hairdresser?

Love,
Laura xo

Pretty Little.....Things

2011-03-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

So.Tired.

It feels like my eyelids are experiencing some sort of magnetic pull towards my toes. They weigh about 50 tonnes at the moment but I know I can't go to bed because my favourite show (The Amazing Race) comes on in about an hour. I'm of the belief that CBS should pay me for my loyalty (and let us Canadians participate in the race while they're at it!)

So, I've been meaning to blog. I really have. I even thought about it everyday this past week. Unfortunately, simply "thinking" about it doesn't string my words together and send them out into cyberspace.
--Excuse Alert!--
The new job makes me feel like a sponge that has been completely drained of moisture. At the end of the day, my energy is nonexistent and I feel much like I do at the present moment. I am enjoying the new job, but it's quite high-stress and I'm on the road for 2 hours 5 days a week.

With all that out of the way, I just wanted to share with you a couple of pretty things that I've had my eye on. Because if you're reading this, you probably enjoy pretty things.

This is from Shopbop - one of my absolute favourite places to shop online and just in general. It's by Alex & Ani - an eco-friendly jewelry brand that I love. The ring is called the Smitten Kitten Romance Cocktail Ring (cute name, no?) and you can find it here for $48.97 Canadian.

I know, I know. About 50% of you are probably rolling your eyes right now because everybody and their dog's goldfish's librarian's 2nd cousin twice-removed has a Michael Kors watch of some sort. It's very 'trendy' to own one right now, I suppose. But trust me, I don't jump on trends unless I actually like them, and I think this watch has been incredibly flattering on every wrist I've ever seen it sitting on. I just want it to be flattering on mine at this point! This one is also from Shopbop (but you can get it at a variety of shops) and it's the Jet Set Sport Watch which you can find here. The thing about this watch is that it will set you back about $255.03 Canadian. Poutyface.

These shoes are so lovely and the heels aren't ginormo so I think I MIGHT even be able to walk in them. They're the Selma Sling Backs by Elizabeth and James and I found them at another online boutique called Revolve Clothing. I've never purchased anything from Revolve so I can't comment on the quality of the service, but they have some really, REALLY pretty things. In any case, because these shoes are by Elizabeth & James you know they're going to be outrageously priced (at least by my pocketbook's standards). $275.00 for little heeled sandals? I think I will forever admire them... from afar.

Another Elizabeth & James piece from Revolve Clothing that I can't help but lust over! This dress caught my eye immediately, and if you think it's pretty in this picture - I recommend heading here so that you can take a closer look at the gorgeous detailing of it. This dress is SO my style, but at $395.00, so NOT a price I'm eager to pay.

Love this. It's a shirt, but it looks like a flower. No surprise that it's by Nanette Lepore, who is one of my favourite designers when it comes to romantic and feminine pieces. Again, I discovered this on Revolve, and you can get a closer look at it here. It's called the Seychelles top and it currently costs $298.00.

Have had my eye on this cashmere Vicenzo vest from Oonagh by Nanette Lepore for the longest time. And it's gone on sale! It currently sits at $174.00 and I'm half tempted to get it, but I think Craig would kill me for even suggesting such a thing. :) This is another piece that l found on Revolve - you can view it here. Please don't buy it though because I'll be sad if it sells out, haha.

Michele1218 talked about this on YouTube the other day, and I had been looking for a nice evil eye piece to add to my jewelry collection. I'm not superstitious at all; I don't believe that this will protect me or ward off 'evil spirits.' I do, however, think that it's pretty. It's also by my favourite Etsy jewelry-maker Theresa Mink. I've purchased jewelry from her in the past and was quite impressed with both the quality of the pieces and her service. The best part is that this lovely little gem costs only $38.00 USD. You can find it here. I'm pretty sure I will be ordering this bracelet soon!

Annnd... that's it for this edition of pretty little....things. Pretty is such a subjective word, so I'm wondering: do you like any of these things? Would you wear any of this?

Until next time!
-Laura xo

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Yays & Nays of March

2011-03-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

I've seen several bloggers do these "yay and nay" postings so I figured I'd follow suit!

Yays

- Chanel >>> I've been bitten by the Chanel bug, and while it's a nay for my wallet, it's a definite yay for my life

- YouTube >>> I think it's pretty obvious that I love YouTube, and even though it's hard to keep up with sometimes (both in terms of putting out videos and watching videos from people I'm subscribed to) I'm really enjoying meeting so many fantastic people on there

-Uphill walking on the treadmill >>> This is a tricky one, because it isn't like I'm in love with working out. In fact, I don't enjoy it that much at all while I'm doing it. However, I love how I feel afterwards and the energy it gives me. I've been doing a little over 3 miles uphill whenever I can which is probably not as often as I should. But it's better than nothing, right?

-Shopper's Drug Mart >>> Their prices are inflated but they have a pretty decent cosmetics/fragrance selection, and Optimum points make me happy

-These sandals by Free People (my favourite clothing brand by far) and the fact that I can finally start thinking about sandals again >>>

Photo Courtesy

Nays

-Winter >>> In a couple of days it will officially be spring, but spring is not really anywhere in sight where I live. Around here, spring usually only begins to rear its head around late April/May - and that makes me sad. Snow is of no use to me unless I'm a.) on a ski hill b.) snowmobiling, or c.) sledding/making a snowman

-Dishonesty >>> Nay, nay, nay.

- Fatigue >>> I've been working a lot lately, and when I get home in the afternoons I tend to just crash. Like seriously, everything in my body wants to just lie on the couch and just sleep before I can even get my coat off! No bueno!

And that's all I have for now! If you haven't seen my latest video, here's what's in my purse:

What are your yays and nays so far this month?

-Laura xo

Crazy Week, Pretty Nailpolish

2011-03-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

Phew! What an overwhelming, crazy week this has been! A lot of pretty big changes have occurred in my life over the course of just a few days and those changes will surely result in me becoming an even busier girl than I have been.

Which is yet another reason why I love delving into the world of beauty/fashion. It's a bit frivolous and provides me with a chance to escape from all the seriousness of life. I'm certain that's something we all can appreciate.

So in light of my intense, arduous week (and the one that's ahead) I've decided to grace you (haha) with yet another care-free NOTD post:

This is Zoya's "Adina" nailpolish, which was released with the Reverie Collection for Spring 2010. This purple-green duochromatic polish caught my eye several months ago but as it is with most products, I wanted to do a bit of research on it before I decided to purchase it for myself.

What I found through my research is that the polish was named after a beauty blogger, and she can be found over at Krasey Beauty. While I knew straight away that this was an incredibly unique colour (I've never seen anything like it in my life) I did read some reviews which stated that the polish has an abnormally long dry-time on the nails.

Fortunately, I did not find that to be true for me. The dry time was okay but that could very well be a result of me having time to waste when I applied it.

You guys, just look at it! LOOK AT IT! Isn't it lovely? Isn't it special? Application was good (no surprises there - it's Zoya) and I would consider the longevity of the polish on the nails to be average.

If you're looking for something different, something eye-catching and interesting, I would recommend this in a heartbeat! Zoya has such a great range of nailpolish colours to choose from. They tend to create things that nobody else has thought of, and I like that.

The writer of another review I read discussed how she wanted "Adina" in eyeshadow form. I could not agree more. Dear MAC, you listening?

-Laura xoxo

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Recent Purchases from my Wishlist

2011-03-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

As promised, not long after I wrote my wishlist post I put my VISA giftcard to good use. Here's a little summary of the damage:

The (~~short version of my~~) Wishlist

-Dior 5 eyeshadow palette in "Incognito"

~~-Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in "Dragon"~~

-Clinique Brush-on Cream Liner in "True Black"

~~-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 9 "Caress Pink"~~

~~-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 13 "Peach Passion"~~

-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 27 "Rose Paris"

-NARS eyeshadow duo in "Silk Road"

-Chanel Vitalumière Aqua foundation

~~-MAC lipstick in "Hue"~~

~~-MAC lipstick in "Blankety"~~

-MAC lipstick in "Crème Cup"

~~-MAC eyeshadow in "Bamboo"~~

-MAC eyeshadow in "Cork"

~~-MAC eyeshadow in "Wedge"~~

-MAC eyeshadow in "Vapour"

It really is amazing how quickly a wishlist can change, and I don't just mean in terms of products acquired thanks to a VISA giftcard. I'm not only constantly adding new items to my wishlist, but crossing them off as well! For example, the YSL lipstick in No. 27 "Rose Paris" has been taken off the list altogether (not the literal list, but the list in my head) and replaced by the YSL lipstick in No. 1 "Nude Beige." Then there are a few items on my list that I'm not quite as eager to get anymore, such as the NARS duo and the MAC eyeshadow in "Vapour."

I haven't yet received the items from MAC, but they are on their way to me! I am thoroughly impressed with each and every one of the things I bought from Holt Renfrew, however. In fact, I even added a nice little Chanel lipstick (Rouge Coco in "Cambon") to my wishlist last minute. And I'm so glad I did! But I have a video coming up on my YouTube channel very soon where I'll go more in-depth talking about the products I purchased, as well as some of the new products I've added to my wishlist. :)

Until then........

<3 Laura xo

NOTD: OPI "Pompeii Purple"

2011-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hello again,

I'm coming to you today with another NOTD:

This is OPI's "Pompeii Purple." At first I had trouble figuring out why on earth they would label this colour as being purple - but now I think it might be because of the blue/violet flash, which is actually quite prominent, especially in certain lightings. I've been really loving duochrome and blue/violet flash polishes lately, so it didn't take me long to decide that this particular one deserves a home in my collection.

"Pompeii Purple" actually looks very much like another polish I purchased at around the same time, which is Essie's "Jam 'n' Jelly." I haven't gotten around to applying that one just yet, but when I do I will be sure to post comparison pictures here! (In the bottle they look nearly identical).

I have to say, this colour is just so bright and uplifting. The application is great and with a good base- and top-coat the longevity is good as well. Some people, of course, say this is a polish best reserved for summer. Personally I think it works just as well in the dead of winter as a cure for the winter blues!

If you are looking for a little pick-me-up at any time of the year and you don't mind adding a bit of boldness to your fingertips, you might want to give this one a try! It really is a stunning colour.

Would you wear a colour this bright/bold in the winter?

Would you wear it at all?

Love,

Laura xo

What's on my Beauty Wishlist?

2011-02-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

What did you do today?

Personally, I spent the better part of today admiring a whole slew of beauty products online. I was given a $100 VISA giftcard for Christmas and have been waiting for the right moment to use it. I think the moment has arrived. Here are some of the lovely products I've been eyeing:

Photo Courtesy

1. Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in "Dragon"

---I currently own only one Chanel lip product and it's a Glossimer that was given to me as a gift. It's just hard for me to justify spending so much on a single beauty product. However, once in awhile I think it can be justifiable, and this is one of those instances. Chanel "Dragon" is the most beautiful shade of red I've ever seen. I originally saw it on Temptalia's pout and have been pining after it ever since. When Temptalia raves about something over and over again, you know it's probably worth having in your collection.

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Photo Courtesy

2. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté lipsticks in #9 (Pink Caress), #13 (Peach Passion), and #27 (Rose Paris)

--- I have one Rouge Volupté lipstick, and it's #7 Lingerie Pink. While the colour is pretty, it isn't the most wearable lipstick I've ever owned. It's this extremely light, milky pink that is almost too pale for my strongly pigmented lips. As for the packaging and formula? To die for. Seriously. The packaging alone would almost be worth the 30-something dollars it costs, even if there was no product in it. In any case, I would like to own just a few more of these luxury lipsticks and the three mentioned above are the ones that have grabbed my attention. They all seem like they would work much better for me colour-wise.

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Photo Courtesy

3. NARS eyeshadow duo in "Silk Road"

--- I own several NARS eyeshadow duos and they never cease to impress me. "Silk Road" is not one that I have heard a whole lot about, but it is one that I am certain I would love to add to my collection. The first colour looks like it may have some similarities to a couple of my favourite eyeshadows, namely: Stila's "Kitten" and MAC's "Naked Lunch." The second colour looks as though it has pure gold woven through it, and I have a feeling that it holds potential of becoming a go-to shade for me.

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4. Chanel Vitalumière Aqua

--- I blame the Pixiwoo sisters for this one. I have never owned a Chanel foundation. I was quite tempted by the Chanel Vitalumière, but always decided to pass for one reason or another (usually as a result of the pricetag). What's more, though, is that while I love the look of dewy, glowy skin, I don't like the look of slippery, slimy skin and I worried that's what I would get with Vitalumière. After watching the Pixiwoo sisters apply this and hearing them say that it gives you dewy skin but not to the extreme of Vitalumière, I decided it was a better option for me. Right now I have several foundations that I need to get through before I can justify purchasing another, but this one is most certainly on the list!

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Photo Courtesy

5. Dior eyeshadow palette in "Incognito"

--- I have been lusting after this palette for such a long time now. Firstly, the packaging is nothing short of incredible. Secondly, those colours are just screaming out my name. Loudly. I don't know how much longer I can handle the screaming.

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6. Clinique brush-on cream liner in "True Black"

--- The reason I haven't purchased this yet is because I still have over half of my MAC "Blacktrack Fluidline" and over three-fourths of my Stila Sumdgepot in "Black." However, the Stila Smudgepot is bordering on ununsable and the Blacktrack Fluidline is not much better. They've both dried out significantly. I'm working Jillian Michaels style to make them go the distance as I hate being wasteful. Rumour has it that the Clinique gel liner lasts much longer and glides across the eyelids very smoothly. As someone who knows just how annoying it is to have so much product dry out on you (care to discuss MUFE Smokey Lash mascara anyone?) I appreciate a product I can actually hit pan on and it is a welcomed addition to my wishlist.

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Photo Courtesy

7. MAC lipsticks in "Hue," "Blankety," and "Crème Cup"

--- I already have what I feel is an extensive MAC lipstick collection (though it probably pales in comparison to a lot of other beauty bloggers), but it should be pretty obvious by this point that my major weakness is lip products in general. These three lipsticks are staples for MAC collectors - cult favourites, if you will. Therefore, it makes good sense that as an avid lipstick collector I feel like I probably need them. Think of it this way: if you collected hockey cards or stamps, you know you'd yearn to add the most sought-after ones to your collection. And in this case, it doesn't hurt that all three colours appear to be extremely flattering.

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Photo Courtesy

8. MAC eyeshadows in "Bamboo," "Cork," "Wedge," and "Vapour"

--- If you view the links to the swatches of these eyeshadows, you'll see that I'm still on a neutral kick. I don't think that will change anytime soon. It's not that I don't love colour - because I do. However, I'd choose bold lips over bold eyes any day of the week. A result of this is that the purples/pinks/blues/greens in my eyeshadow palettes are not the recipients of a whole lot of love from me. :(

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If you could see my Sephora shopping list or my MAC "favourites" list, you would know that this is certainly not an exhaustive list. Nevertheless - these products have really stopped me dead in my tracks and I am hoping to use my VISA giftcard to make a wonderful (albeit small) dent in this list very soon!

Do you have experiences with any of these products? What is on your beauty wishlist currently?

Love,

Laura xo

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Read My Palm

2011-02-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

This is the lovely "Read My Palm" (no applicable coloured text available - my apologies) from Sephora by OPI. The Sephora website describes this as an opaque light jade green, but I would say that on me it leans a little more towards turquoise. The gorgeous colour of this grows on me more and more each time I look at it. I just love the way it flatters my short little nails.

Because the application, opacity, and wear are all good in addition to the colour being beautiful, this is quickly becoming one of my favourites. "Read My Palm" is limited edition, though, so if you're interested in it I wouldn't wait too long to add it to your shopping cart!

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the whole range of Sephora by OPI nail polishes. They have some of the most beautiful colours out there, and the quality is nice as well.

So, what do you think? Is this a colour you would wear?

What are your favourite Sephora by OPI nail polishes?

Love,

Laura xo

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Feelin' Minty

2011-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hello dear readers,

Today I come to you with one of my favourite nailpolish colours ever: The infamous "Mint Candy Apple" by Essie. I feel like you'd be hard pressed to find a nailpolish lover who doesn't have this baby in his/her collection, as it's quickly becoming a classic.

This polish has the ability to transform nails into something of a work of art. It's unusual and it's sophisticated. I know that this polish came out with Essie's Winter of 2009 collection, but when I like something I like something - whether it comes from 1932 or 2011.

As is the case with most Essie colours of the pastel variety, I find the formulation leaves something to be desired. This is a colour I have to be very careful with when applying. In general I value instant gratification - with nailpolishes that translates into something I can quickly slap on the nails to admire right away. For me, application of this polish takes patience. Perseverance, even. But oh, how it's worth it. I give it a 4.5/5.

So, do you own this colour? If yes, do you love it as much as I do?

If no, why not?

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Purple is my Happy Colour

2011-02-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

The other day I decided to venture into my nailpolish collection and wear something I hadn't worn in awhile. I looked beyond the OPIs, the Essies, the China Glazes, even the Revlons, and feasted my eyes upon this beauty:

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri fast dry nail colour in Pronto Purple. Our love has been rekindled.

It's just such a vibrant, beautiful shade of purple that has pink and light purple microshimmer. It's one of those colours that I cannot not stop looking at once it's applied to my nails.

Not only do I simply love the way this looks, but it applies like a dream. Out of all the polishes I own I find this one has the smoothest, easiest application. The brush is fantastic - unless of course you don't like bigger brushes. Personally I like being able to coat an entire nail in one swipe. The really cool thing about the brush, though, is that it tapers at the end which makes it slightly easier to work with for people who have teeny tiny nails. The above photo is a comparison of the OPI pro-wide brush, and the Sally Hansen brush. The Sally Hansen brush is significantly wider. The OPI brush does not have a tapered tip.

As it is with most things in life, there are both pros and cons. The one and only gripe I have with this polish is that it chips like nobody's business. Granted, I did not use a base or topcoat, but I don't with a lot of my other polishes either. This one chipped within 24 hours and needed to be taken off within 48.

So, the price is on point, the colour is on point, the application is on point... but the longevity leaves much to be desired. It is for this reason that I give it a 4/5. HOWEVER, I don't expect my less-expensive polishes to wear as long as my higher-end ones, so the chipping is something I can kind of cope with!

Have you tried any Sally Hansen polishes? If so, what do you think of them?

Love,

Laura xo

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Get Rid of Tired, Puffy Eyes

2011-02-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

So, my latest video is a much different format than the others I've done up to this point. Personally I enjoyed making it and even editing it - it allowed me to get a little creative with things as opposed to just sitting down in front of a camera and talking like I usually do (which I still quite enjoy by the way and will continue to do on a regular basis).

Dark undereye circles are in my genes - and so I've been collecting various tips for awhile now on how best to combat the little buggers. This video is an itty bitty compilation of those tips! I hope you enjoy it! I worked hard on it! And hey, if you don't like it - that's okay too! We're all entitled to our preferences. :)

So, what do you think of the format? Yay or nay?
-Laura xo

P.S. I've included my two favourite eye creams (that I searched for on Amazon) below. However, check out this article that discusses the futility of "eye" cream!

I Certainly Love Lucerne-tainly

2011-01-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

Oh. Em. Gee.

And I rarely ever use that phrase.

This very well may have just made its way into my top 3 favourite nailpolishes of all time.

The name? OPI's Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous. It's from their Swiss Collection. And to be honest, the name is why I bought it in the first place. Not this past summer but the summer before I went on a backpacking trip through several European countries. When I went to Switzerland, I stayed in the city of Lucerne and was completely charmed by it. It's incredibly scenic, quaint, and it has the best chocolaterie known to humankind.

I always do my research on products before I buy them. I check out swatches, read reviews, check out more swatches... read more reviews...

After completing said research on this polish, I wasn't completely sold on the colour. But I bit the bullet and bought it anyway because I knew that everytime I wore it I would have good reason to reminisce about my short time in that beautiful city.

Well, let me tell you. Even the people in my life who stick entirely to neutral nailpolish colours complimented me when I wore this. But what's more is that I fell in love with it from the first swipe. It's this gorgeous, shimmery, foily, grey with an ever-so-slight tinge of green. And it stayed on my nails for days without chipping. That NEVER happens!

So, I am inclined to give this a 5/5. Perfect colour. Perfect application. Perfect staying power. Perfect name (after a perfect city).

Have you tried it? If not, what are you waiting for???

Laura xoxo

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Lushity Lush Lush

2011-01-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

I never thought this day would come, but here it finally is. I've been converted - in the most undeniable, blog-worthy kind of way.

I took baths on a regular basis, of course, as a child. However, as my age increased so too did my list of responsibilities, and slowly the idea of taking a (relatively) quick shower began to seem more logical than soaking my skin in a bathtub for hours on end - until my fingers and toes shriveled up like prunes.

Well, today I am here to express my renewed passion for the bathtub, and to share exactly what it is that has made me see the light.

Lush.

Wait, hold on, don't 'x' out of this window just yet all you time-conscious, 'baths-are-for-the-birds,' shower advocates. I was you, just a couple of months ago.

I too lacked any interest in "Lush Hauls" on YouTube. Wished people would stop making them, even. Then, one day, I thought: "you know, if EVERYBODY loves these bath products so much, maybe I really am missing out on a good thing." My curiosity got the best of me. I placed an order. I received the order. I made this haul video.

In short, since then, I've rediscovered the art of pure, unbridled relaxation. And it feels good.

Now that I've had a chance to try all of these products, let's talk about them a bit.

First I tried one of Lush's most famous bath bombs, the Butterball. It's this vanilla scented ball of moisturizing stuff, and if I'm honest, I wasn't overly impressed with it - so it probably wasn't the best first choice for me. The scent wasn't strong enough for my liking, it didn't turn my water into a spectacular colour, my skin didn't feel much more moisturized than usual, and it dissolved in the matter of a minute or so. It just left a lot to be desired. It was nice, I suppose, but nothing earth-shattering. I wanted earth-shattering.

The next thing I tried was:

The Christmas Eve bubble bar. Right off the bat, it's cute, and that matters. But in addition to the obvious cuteness it turned my bath water blue and I got to enjoy a plethora of bubbles as I indulged in a good book. It didn't take me long to realize that I am a bubble bar kind of girl. Whereas 'Butterball' was sort of anticlimactic what with its one-minute life span, the Christmas Eve bubble bar released a lot of fragrance and gave me something to hang onto and enjoy throughout the entirety of my bathing experience.

Next up:

Cinders bath bomb. This one smelled wonderful. It also turned my water a bit yellow, but not of the disgusting pee-like persuasion. It was an enjoyable yellow. I also felt like this one lasted a bit longer than 'Butterball', but that very easily could be something that only happened in my head. My Cinders didn't crackle (as a result of the pop-rocks) as some people have stated theirs have, which was slightly disappointing. It also didn't make me feel like I was sitting by the fireplace. However, it did release a very warm, comforting aroma and gave me something to enjoy long past the short-term 'fizzing'. So while I still think I'm more of a bubble bar type of gal, this is a bath bomb that I would probably repurchase in the future!

Last but not least:

'The Comforter' bubble bar. I had a massive chunk of this baby and just cut it up into six separate pieces. This morning was actually my first time taking a bath with 'The Comforter' and it is what incited me to write this blog post.

Love. It.

It smells heavenly, turned my bath water a gorgeous shade of pink, and produced thousands (millions?) of the frothiest bubbles known to humankind.

After using the previous Lush products, I acquired a pretty strong understanding of all the Lush-hype. After using this product, the deal has been sealed. Highly recommend, 'A' plus plus plus.

Even without all of the Lush products though, I am so happy I've rekindled my love for the wonderful world of bathing. As a student, it's been awhile since I've had time to read 'for pleasure.' I'm reading for pleasure again. What's more is that after a good bath, I feel refreshed, recharged, and ready, once again, to face the world.

Sometimes we just need to close the shower curtains, light a candle, slink deep down into a sea of bubbles, and lose ourselves in a world that's different from our own.

-Laura xo

Photo credits:

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Matchy Matchy

2011-01-21T22:37:00.000-08:00

Matchy Matchy by lauraraelynn featuring butterfly jewelry

RED VALENTINO ARCNL236 BLACK VISCOSE/POLYAMIDE/ELASTANE 51673
219 GBP - farfetch.com
Black tops »

MINI SKIRT WITH FOLDS
210 EUR - mytheresa.com
Pockets skirt »

Shoes - Woman - New collection - ZARA Italy
80 EUR - zara.com
Zara boots »

Proenza Schouler / PS1 Medium Bag
$1,595 - lagarconne.com
Zip handbag »

Greenwich Jewelers - Melissa Joy Manning Peach Zircon Ring
$400 - greenwichjewelers.com
Melissa Joy Manning rings »

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Ring
$195 - ice.com
Butterfly jewelry »

dELiAs > Rose Stud Earrings
$9.50 - delias.com
Stud earrings »

Acetate round-framed sunglasses
$103 - theoutnet.com
Retro shades »

Buy NARS Powder Blush Cheek Color, Sex Appeal Online at Beauty.com
$30 - drugstore.com

Amazon.com: NYX Trio Eye Shadow: Beauty
$8.25 - amazon.com

MAC Lipstick -Angel (Frost)
alluringgirl.com

OPI | Black Onyx
news-parfums.com

(Prices in Canadian: $350, $285, $110, $1,595, $400, $195, $9.49, $105, $30, $8.24, $17.50, $9.99).

This look may be a little too "matchy matchy" for some, but I love it. Most of the items I'll likely never be able to afford, but hey - a girl can dream!

To create this look, I began with the skirt. Pantone has recently revealed the 2011 colour of the year as being honeysuckle, and so I thought it would be appropriate for me to at least try and incorporate it into my first style creation of 2011.

I love these clothing pieces, though I can only imagine the terrible time I'd have walking in those shoes. I think the makeup and accessories complement the outfit nicely. It has a nice: "Oh hey, I'm from New York and about to go meet somebody real important" look to it.

So, what do you think? Would you wear it?

-Laura xo

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"Red Brought out More of my Personality" - Bob Edwards

2011-01-13T20:09:00.000-08:00

Due to my inability to keep a nailpolish on for more than one day (two, max)... here is another NOTD post for you!

Before I get into the dirty details, it has to be said that my unequivocal, undying love for nailpolish clearly surpasses my skills as a manicurist by a long shot. It's true. I am a terrible nail-painter. But at least I'm honest about it.

Now, the colour is the famed OPI by Sephora Personal Shopper. (((Like how I changed the font to the nailpolish colour there? Nice, yes?)))

This is the perfect 'true red' in my opinion. It applies smoothly and has a fair drying time. However, being the failure of a manicurist that I am, I always have to go back in with nailpolish remover and a Q-tip to "clean up the edges" after application of this one (can't take points off for that, though, since it's a shortcoming of my own rather than the polish itself!)

But, I don't find it particularly long-lasting either. While I'm definitely hard on my manicures, this one chips faster than Lays. ha, ha, ha. Ahem. Seriously though, it's a bit of a weakling of a polish in terms of resistance.

However, because it's a beautiful red and the application is nice, I give it a 3.75/5.

Unfortunately, it's only available at Sephora!

I actually featured this baby in my favourite nailpolishes of 2010 video on YouTube, which you can view HERE.

So, what are your favourite classy red polishes? Enlighten me!

-Laura xoxo

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A Little Summer in your Winter

2011-01-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

Since it's only been, you know, two-thirds of a year since I last posted - I thought the most appropriate way for me to make my comeback would be to do a NOTD post.

Now, I know some of you will look at my polish of choice and shudder. Some of you may even roll your eyes in disgust at the fact that I'm so blatantly bending one of the unwritten rules of the beauty community.

Yes, I do it. I wear traditionally "summertime" polishes in the winter.

Case in point:

Polish: Essie's Van D'Go

Rating: 3.5/5

Van D'Go was one of the go-to polishes of this past summer for a whole lot of people. It's not hard to see why. It's this gorgeous peachy-pink sunrise kind of colour that has a brightening effect when applied to either the fingers or the toes. The three-and-a-half rating for this polish stems entirely from my love for the colour. Other than that it was an absolute horror to apply: streaky beyond belief and drying much too quickly for my slow-and-steady application pace.

So now, the question remains..... am I alone in my rebellion? Do you tend to stick to the typical vampy reds and deep, mysterious maroons at this time of the year, or do you branch out and wear whatever colour that happens to tickle your fancy at a particular moment in time?

-Laura xo

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Bonjour Mes Amis

2010-05-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile.

I have completed all of the necessary courses for my Master's degree, and now only have an internship left. Well, that is if you don't count the fact that I also have to carry out a massive research study and write an even more massive thesis on it. But that requires discipline- something that isn't my strongest point. Clearly, I would much rather write on my neglected blog than worry about some silly research project. :)

To those of you who are new here, WELCOME! To those of you who are not, I'm sorry! Please don't hate me!

I put the following look together a couple months ago, so the entire thing may be completely out of style now. BUT, I still quite enjoy it and that's gotta count for something.

I feel like this is a "classy lady" kind of look. Very feminine and chic. If you live in New York, some might call it "office appropriate attire." Personally, I've never seen anybody in an office dress in a way that comes close to paralleling this. I'm not even sure what kind of situation I'd have to be in to wear this, maybe a fancy dinner at a fancier restaurant? It's tough for a girl like me, who prefers practical food over fancy food. Alas.....

Nude Frill Front Shirt - $43 CAD - www.missselfridge.com

Black Satin Look Lantern Skirt - $46 CAD - www.missselfridge.com

Charlotte Olympia Suede Leaf Open Toe Ankle Boots - $1220 CAD - www.luisaviaroma.com

Guiseppe Zanotti IB9111 Clutch - $725 CAD - www.endless.com

Amrita Singh Allie Bangle Set - $105 CAD - www.amritasingh.com (often sells on Hautelook)

Vintage Chanel Gold Tone Drop Drop Logo Round Earrings - $475 CAD - www.asos.com

Gloss Pur, 47: Pure Peach - $31 CAD - www.barneys.com

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks - $23 CAD - www.nordstrom.com

Black False Lashes - $6.23 CAD - www.mydivascloset.com

Satuesque Eyeshadow by Lancome - check local Lancome counter - (MAC's carbon would work just as well)

NARS nail polish in Zizi - $17 CAD - www.barneys.com

So basically, it's pretty, but where on earth would I wear it, realistically? Where would you wear it, or would you at all? I think all of the pieces individually are quite wearable actually - but I just feel like if there's anything worse than being underdressed, it's being overdressed.

I hope to do a blog post in the near future about some of my favourite YT personalities (makeup and fashion-wise, of course). I watch a lot, but there are just a handful whose videos I get excited to see showing up in my subscription box.

Love!