Saturday 31 October 2015

Mystical Forest Collection From Art Deco*

*Press samples

Misty autumn days in the woods aren't too common in downtown Vancouver. Rainy drenched autumn days are more likely but no matter because the Art Deco Mystical Forest collection is perfectly suited for those as well.

Friday 30 October 2015

PSA: The First Make Up Thing I've Been Excited About in a While

A photo posted by Jerrod Blandino (@jerrodblandino) on


SAY WHAT?!

Have I told you that I literally eat peanut butter (all natural with no added sugar pls) right out of the jar and in frequent quantities? I'm trying to tell myself it's not a problem but the pounds around my waist suggest differently.

Make up gods...make this palette worth it...make each shadow pigmented and buttery. Please and thank you.

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Dior Fix It*

dior fix it 2-in-1 prime and conceal review

Just fix it! If only it were that easy. I still haven't figured out the perfect way to conceal pimples. They're raised, usually have flaky skin around the perimeter and concealer seems to vanish so much faster on white heads or dried pimpled areas than they do on any other part of my face. I was hoping that the new Dior Fix It 2-in1 Pimer and Conceal* ($40CDN, 0.12oz) would be a good solution.

Monday 26 October 2015

Addicted to Blush Tag


I have 33 products that can be used as blush, 6 face finishing powders/highlighters and 7 bronzer/contour products. This doesn't count the blushes I have in palettes and the few blush things i have in the PR-to-test bucket. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! I'm not even that into blush....

Saturday 24 October 2015

Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream* #lovingLaneige

*Press sample
laneige water bank gel cream review influenster

The Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream* ($42CDN, 50ml) is part of Laneige's Ultimate 24-Hour Hydration system and I got to try it out because of Influenster.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Decisions with Annabelle

annabelle smokey nude stay sharp and brow show review

Even in the depths of my purge and de-clutter mindset, a new product still manages to take hold within my collection and some of the latest from Annabelle have kept a surprising grip on their place in my makeup drawer.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Currently Reading #7


For whatever reason stories and movies set in WWII are very interesting to me. Here the narration splits between two storylines, one of a young boy in the Hitler Youth interested in radios and engineering, one of a blind french girl who's father is tasked with transporting and keeping safe the most expensive diamond in the world. Though it might be a lengthy book (...if you consider 540 pages lengthy, I think its more medium length) the narration compellingly describes the experiences of Saint-Malo, France during WWII. The characters and their lives are touching and everything is so artfully detailed and described.

I shouldn't say that I'm currently reading this because I've been 'currently reading' this for a very long time. I absolutely love films and I bought this book in 2006 as a way to help me keep track of which movies I've seen and how they've contributed to cinema in some way. I love how this book is broken up by decades, starts with the very beginning of film (shorts, black and whites, no sound) and includes international films as well.  They update this book every year or so and as films get added on, other films are removed. I'm pretty happy to keep this first edition even though the films don't go past 2006 since 1001 movies is a lot and I'm not too concerned about watching the 'right ones'.  I'm about 14% done the list now. It helps that I've seen a lot of movies from the 30s-50s and some of the ones from the 20s too. 


Sunday 18 October 2015

Smelling like a Man Redux



Gym rats know that there's nothing quite like the scent that comes after an intense workout. The not-so-faint aroma of a hard days work mixed in with the sweat from weight lifting, added onto the diffusion of everyone else's gym smells is...something. It smells like achievement! It smells like glory! It smells like...you really need a shower. 

Friday 16 October 2015

Potions (Ft Estee Lauder Lip Potion in Not So Innocent)*

estee lauder lip potion liquid lipstick not so innocent review swatch

For a very brief moment in time, probably just a handful of weeks, I was very interested in the Occult. Not so interested that I started wearing pentagrams and breathing curses to my enemies but interested enough to take out some library books about the healing properties of stones and potions. 

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Sight and Honey*

L'occitane melting honey exfoliating sugars body scrub and  hand cream, review

Another charity campaign that's going on this month is L'Occitane's Shea Honey Collection for World Sight Day (which was on Oct 6th). I've previously explained my discovery of L'Occitane's support for people with visual impairments; this was a natural campaign for them to launch. Proceeds from this collection help the 17,000 women they employ in Burkina Faso who produce the Shea Butter that goes into L'Occitane's products. Purchase of certain items also help fund glasses for individuals in Burkina Faso.

Monday 12 October 2015

Reversa Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 30*

Reversa sun screen anti-wrinkle cream spf 30 review

My attempt to continue with sun protection throughout the year is still going strong and I've been switching in and out of different things but the Reversa SPF 30 Anti-Wrinkle Cream* ($45 CDN, 50ml) with 8% Glycolic Acid and UVA/UVB filters is in my rotation. 

Saturday 10 October 2015

Pink with a Purpose*

*Press sample
clinique cheek pop berry pop review swatch pink with a purpose breast cancer awareness month

For women, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in Canada.
In BC, an estimated 3400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

This month you can support the fight against Breast Cancer, which affects women and men, through beauty by purchasing a Clinique Pink with a Purpose Cheek Pop* in Berry Pop.

Thursday 8 October 2015

Clarins' Breakout Star for Fall*


Clarins is launching some new items this Fall and from the bunch I received there were a few standout items which ought to be tried, especially the Joli Rouge lipsticks.

Tuesday 6 October 2015

The Thing...in the Bathroom*



The Thing, in the bathroom, has found you.
It waits and comes out when you are gone. It waits and comes out, out of the pipes, out of the bathtub, into your home.
The Thing, in the bathroom, is learning about you.


Sunday 4 October 2015

Rachel McAdam's Hair

dove advance hair series rachel mcadams tiff hair tutorial

Having short hair is great! It takes no effort to dry. It is reasonable tidy most days. If your cut is interesting enough, there's instant style without really trying. But short hair...can get boring and I don't have any idea how to style it. 

Friday 2 October 2015

Using Up the Buttermilk: Fried Chicken with Two Sauces


Finding a $5 waffle iron at a church sale means David and I can make and eat waffles but it also means we end up with a carton buttermilk that we need to finish. And what better way to finish it up than to make some fried chicken. 

I've never deep fried chicken before, partially out oil burn fears and partially out of the belief that I didn't have the proper kitchen equipment. But David told me we could deep fry in our cast iron skillet and that solidified our dinner plans that evening.