Tuesday 30 June 2015

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara*

*Press Sample
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara review

I've heard a lot of buzz about the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara* ($11CDN) especially from La Belle Sirene.  This semi-latest (there's the Chaotic Mascara, recently out for summer) mascara has a liquid volumizing formula which contains "black pearls" and a specially made wand which is supposed to fan out your lashes.

Monday 29 June 2015

In the Moment #31 (Situation Analysis #2): Meeting Charlotte TIlbury


Yet again fervour arose over a major celebrity in the beauty world and I am less than in the know. Apparently Charlotte Tilbury is the #1 Makeup Artist in the World, something we were often reminded of at her appearance and launch of her eponymous makeup line at Holts on Bloor. For the occasion, the store was bedazzled in showlights and British Flags and I ran into more than a handful of the local beauty community while I was there.

Sunday 28 June 2015

PSA: There's Nothing Wrong about Having a Virgin (cocktail)

the body shop virgin mojito body scrub and body butter review

For those of you who want to get their 'drank on' without actually drinking, The Body Shop has released their Virgin Mojito line of body products. Raise your hand if alcohol and you aren't a match made in heaven. *Raises hand* Just me? As someone who suffers from low abilities to break down alcohol, and is generally frugal with money and calories, I don't often drink. 



Friday 26 June 2015

Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls*

*Press Sample

Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls swatch review

The phenomenon of the Guerlain Meteorites continues to amaze me. These magic balls (ballz) seem to either win people over with their blurring and perfecting effect or leave people wondering what they're missing when they don't notice a difference when used. I feel like you'll either be in one camp of another and it makes me wonder if there is a placebo effect of some kind. The latest Meteorites Rainbow Pearls (LE, $71, 25g) has a magical property I did notice though.

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Current Skin Care: Pimply Skin Edition

*Press Sample

dermalogica medibac clearing breakout control review

Well the seasonal "jenn-skin freak out" has been upon us and I feel like I'm through the worst of it (fingers crossed)but the recovery period is still a little dicy. The areas around my nose and chin have been amazingly clogged and at one point, started to re-inact not-so-fond memories of my high school years. Nothing is quite as reminiscent of youth than large white heads and under the skin pimples.

Monday 22 June 2015

Drowning in your Morning Shower and Citrus Shampoos

L'Occitane Verveine Agrumes Fresh Shampoo review

For the longest time I have been, solidly, consistently and religiously, a 'night-showerer'. There is nothing more near-godly than taking a shower after a long day's work or a long night's outings (fewer and farther between for these old bones). No further proof of the superiority of night showering was needed after I tried, one day and only out of necessity, to take a shower in the morning. 

Saturday 20 June 2015

Catching Up to the Competition - Western Cleansing Oils

vichy purete thermale purifying cleansing micellar oil review

I have to give it up to my Asian homies because skincare is their game. Honestly, the Asian market is so much more into perfecting skin as compared to the West that I almost blindly trusted their skincare items, especially cleansing oils.  You gotta pick the guys that have been doing it the longest you know? That's expertise. That's experience. That's the difference between straight years of championships and the up-and-comers who don't have a chance. But I also have to say that the Western market is finally catching up and there are two cleansing oil options that are pretty worthy of my Canadian dollars.

Thursday 18 June 2015

Clarins Aquatic Treasures for Summer 2015*

*Press Samples

clarins aquatic treasure review swatch

Clarins is channelling a mysterious aquatic nymph in their summer collection and I'm getting cozy with the idea of greens and golds for everything. It also really helped that my friend kept complimenting the green shadow shade when I wore it to brunch. 

Tuesday 16 June 2015

MAC Haul, A Big One

MAC extra dimensions and huggables haul

The MAC Huggables ($24, 0.11oz) and Extra Dimension ($24, 1.3g) shadows really weren't on my curiosity list. They both seemed like yet another MAC release and not something I should jump on but then Denise somehow managed to change my mind with her swatches and what wasn't even on my radar suddenly become a must try. Once I swatched the ED shadows and tried a Huggable on my lips, I was such a goner and the result was a rather sizeable purchase from MAC.

Monday 15 June 2015

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Gloss*

*Press Sample
maybelline baby lips gloss review swatch

There have been many times when my opinion of a product has changed. One example is my opinion on the original Baby Lips. In my intial review, I wasn't blown away and in general I still don't think they're that moisturizing, but over time, I saw the benefit of having a tinted lip balm that had SPF in it. Maybelline just came out with the Baby Lips Moisturizing Gloss* ($6CDN, 5.5ml) and I've changed my mind a few times with these while I was playing around with them.

Sunday 14 June 2015

On Lip Colors and Smoky Eyes

Dior ciel rose fluid stick essence day smokey look swatch review

Color perception is a curious thing. The same mechanisms that make this square look much darker than it actually is, is the same mechanisms that makes me misjudge color cosmetics when they're in their tubes. When I first looked at Ciel Rose* ($35CDN) it seems so dark and unflattering, almost dull but when I put it on, it was an amazingly vibrant MLBB rosey shade. It was so appropriate to pair with a day smokey eye.

Friday 12 June 2015

Nail Stamping Noobs

* Press Sample

how to stamp nails born pretty nail stampling plate 21 l020 review notd

Once again, whenever I see nail art I wish that I had the hand/eye coordination and dexterity necessary to achieve, what appears to be, a very easy look. Stamping is no different but, being awkward of limbs and wobbly of hands, I'm more likely to stamp my palms than my nails. If Born Pretty hadn't send along some stamping plates, I probably wouldn't have even tried.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Dior 5 Couleur Designer 808 Purple Design Palette*

Dior 5 Couleur Designer 808 Purple Design swatch review

Dior's 808 Purple Design Palette* ($63CDN) is my second favorite of the lot. Here are my general opinions of these palettes.  Again, the color combo, like Nude Pink Design, give a more contrasted look instead of the gradients we found in the blue, green or taupe palette, and that is the type of looks I prefer.

Monday 8 June 2015

The Man has Spoken #2: Dove Men +Care*

*Press Sample

dove men's care review Pro-moisture shave cream and deep clean face scrub

Featuring men's products on my blog is only fun because of the things David says about them. For someone who has gone through years of education, is considered to be quite bright, and can go on and on (and on and on and on) about one topic or another, David has very little to say about skincare. I forced-fed him the latest from Dove, just for my own entertainment. Here's how our conversation went. 

Saturday 6 June 2015

Dior 5 Couleurs Designer 718 Taupe Design Palette*

Dior 5 Couleurs Designer 718 Taupe Design swatch review

Dior's 718 Taupe Design* ($63CDN) is a good taupe option for those who need a safer color choice and want to try out the new 5 Couleurs Designer range. Here are my general opinions of these palettes. 

Friday 5 June 2015

Currently Reading #5


Lately, I've discovered a few books I didn't think I would like, but have ended up really enjoying.

 I don't usually read autobiographies/memoirs but a few books by female comedians and entrepreneurs have been making their way around the internet lately. I tried reading Lena Dunham's but that didn't really take and I haven't quite gotten started on GirlBoss or Mandy Kaling's yet. For whatever reason, Amy Poehler's Yes Please has worked for me and this funny, though so far, randomly integrated, collection of stories has been an unexpected pleasure. Maybe its her frank nature or maybe its because she reminds me of Vanessa's style of humour, but Poehler has somehow succeeded in grabbing and maintaining my attention more than the other authors previously mentioned have. Not a must read, but something quick and entertaining even for non-SNL lovers.

I'm only going to compare this to the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series out of laziness and the loose thread that this and that are both thriller novels set in Scandinavia. The villains seem purely evil in the most believable of ways (which make them all the more horrifying) and Jooner Linner (the main character) is more than your typical hard working investigator. Not all mystery books from that region do it for me. I've tried reading some other translated authors but Lars Kepler's books have the perfect pace and level of darkness that I enjoy.

This book has also been making its way around social media. The premise made me curious, if there was some magical way of making my life more meaningful and less cluttered, sign me up. But I wasn't entirely on board with this in case it turned out to be too new-agey or exceptionally dry. My friend, Tian, was done with her copy so she lent it to me. A push in the right direction. Though at times it does go in for the false cheery confidence I dislike,  Marie's interesting and expertise in tidying up is genuine and her methods seem sound. I'm especially looking forward to using her technique on my glut of makeup once I have it all in one location. Who wouldn't want to keep more of 'what they love' and get rid of everything else?

What have you been reading lately?

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Thursday 4 June 2015

Spending on Subtley

chanel tisse vendome review swatch

I assume that designer makeup will automatically be awesome. If I'm going to pump money into that shiz, I'd better look like I pumped money into that shiz when I use it. For a while, Chanel makeup (so iconic, so chic, so French) just seemed like it would make me win beauty pageant when used (Did you sleep with the judges? No, it's Chanel dahhhllling. Chanel, helping pageant contestants avoid further awkward mistakes since the 1920s). But I also knew that their original quads were sheerer and not really my kinda thing. I assume that when I spend on designer makeup, it will show up on my face. 

When Chanel relaunched their Ombre quad formula, I thought maybe this would be the time to drop a little cash and give it a try. I bought Tisse Vendome at the Duty Free store after much swatching. 

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Though I love food, I can be pretty lazy and I've always fall back to roasting huge amounts of chicken with some olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper. These ingredients roast up in 30 mins at 350 degrees to make savory chicken that has a bit of smokiness and is great for packing lunches. Edit: My oven works at 350degrees for chicken but another blogger has tried this and her over didn't quite work out as well for that temp. You may wish to try 450 degrees instead.