Beauty, Daily

Beauty Buys I’m Loving Right Now

2 Comments

Dior abricot nail cream

Dior-ApricotMy cuticles are the only reason I like to go to the nail salon. They always seem to peel, crack or look nasty. The first time I used this product, is when the new Dior free standing store opened up in my local mall. When I opened the product in store, I was all ‘Eww, weird‘. But then the sales associate sucked me in and suggested that I only apply this at night to let it sink in. It’s not sticky, but more in between a grimey feeling (gosh I’m describing it terribly) and semi-sticky. But you wake up with hydrated cuticles for the full-day! Even throughout washing your hands. Unheard of around my dry scaly hands (I’ve been told by a guy once I have lizard-hands). A must-buy! [Dior Abricot Nail Cream]

Lancôme Juicy Shaker

A hydrating product and perfecting timing with their release right before summer hits. If you’re looking for more colour to your lips, I’d suggest the deeper tones of Juicy Shakers as they’re not as pigmented as one may think. But they do nourish the lips and act like a balm to the lips, leaving it with a glossy finish turned into a stain. The product itself will only last about an hour or two on, so be sure to cart it along in your purse and reapply throughout the day. [Lancôme Juicy Shaker]

Philosophy Whipped Body Cream

Amazing-GraceThis will come as no surprise, as any time I talk about anything beauty related Philosophy plays a major part in the role of my skincare regimen. On my birthday Mr. Spiffykerms took me to Ulta (so we could buy more sunscreen!) and he picked me up another tub of my favourite whipped body butter. It has the most soft delicate scent to it, and reminds me of my wedding day (although, I wore the Living Grace scent on my wedding day). But still! [philosophy amazing grace]

HABIT Nail polish

Habit-Polish-on-nailsEither my nails are painted a nude/white shade, or they’re jet black/darkest as dark can be. This one is a super dark shade of brown. I spotted the Habit brand of polishes first at Lou + Grey in Santana Row. [Habit Nail polish*]

AHAVA hand cream

AhavaI had been using AHAVA hand creams when I lived in Canada, and I went through tubes and tubes of them at work. I even got a couple of my old co-workers hooked on the one original scent. I never did look into buying any more once moving to California, but luckily I’m re-stocked up now as the brand sent some more scents to try out. They’re just as fantastic as the original (also shown). They don’t leave your hands greasy feeling at all, and they seem to last throughout 1 handwash which, hey, is rare! Lovin’ it. [Ahava hand cream*]

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine

YSL-LipsticksI’m all about the lip products that feel hydrating on the lips and I don’t mind reapplying. Like the Burberry Kisses lipstick I reviewed, this has been getting a lot of use and is constantly in my purse, ready for reapplying. Plus, look at that packaging. Unreal. The rouge volupte shine shade I’ve been rocking lately is in the colour 09 Nude in Private. [YSL Rouge Volupte Shine]

Burberry Cashmere Concealer

Burberry-concealerI purchased this during the Sephora sale back in April and have been using it quite a bit. Due to the porcelain shade I purchased, it has this gorgeous brightening effect on my under eye area and it doesn’t crease throughout the day. [Burberry Cashmere Concealer]

Burberry Eyebrow Definer

Burberry-eyebrow-definerDon’t get me wrong, I still love my Hourglass Arch Brow + Dior Universal Brow combo on my eyebrows, but having one solid product is better than two getting the same job done! See my review on it here which includes before/after photos. It’s great! [Burberry Eyebrow Definer]

Tom Ford Bronzer

Tom-Ford-bronzerLate night Sephora shopping kills me. But it all paid off, because I am loving this gorgeous Tom Ford bronzer in 02 Terra. Luckily it’s in between a cool-toned contour shade, and a nice warm bronze shade to warm up the skin. I apply this to the outer areas of my face (okay, basically everywhere since I love looking tan!) and down the nose too for a little sunkissed look. [Tom Ford Bronzer]

Dare you tell me your recent buys and subconsciously persuade me into buying some of your new favourite items? Hehe!

Disclaimer: * = products were sent for review. Opinions are my own, since I would’ve bought it with my own money anyway!

Continue Reading

Beauty

MAC Dare Hue! Brow Pencil (in PINK!)

No Comments

MAC-Pink-PencilMAC Cosmetics brow pencils from the Dare Hue! collection are gel-gliding pencil that coats brows in 6 fun colours.

While I don’t think I’ll ever be colouring in my eyebrows a pink shade, I think it’s pretty fun. I mean there’s always the chance I’ll colour them in pink for breast cancer awareness month come October. I do have to be honest. I’m not fussy on the formula, nor the colour payoff of the Dare Hue! in the colour Pink Confetti, so unfortunately I feel like this one is a bit of a dud due to the lack of pigment (I swatched it a couple of times over in the same spot and it’s still quite a light colour on the back of my hand). It’d be interesting to see how long it would take to fill in my eyebrows to be a pastel pink shade!

I’m not sure how well the other 5 colours apply, but it’d be nice to see the colour called “what a highlight” (described as a soft white gold highlighter) applied under the eyebrow highlight shade, or inner corner!

MAC-Pencil-swatched

Colours available:

  • blonde not blande (pastel peach)
  • clearly groomed (nudy beige)
  • frishy fresh (soft mint green)
  • pink confetti (pastel pink)
  • violet infused (soft lavender)
  • what a highlight (soft white gold highligher)

I love the idea behind the Dare Hue! launch, but how likely is it that you’ll be wearing these pastel shades in your brows? I think MAC Cosmetics comes out with the most fun launches from any brand, and of course this would be great item to have in your makeup collection if you’re an editorial makeup artist. It’s always awesome to have a bit of fun with the makeup, but it’s not for the boring-makeup-wearing-person (like myself).

MAC-Pink-BrowShop the Dare Hue! collection ($16.50 each).

Disclaimer: MAC Cosmetics Dare Hue! brow pencil was sent for review.

Continue Reading

Daily

Get to know me

No Comments

My pal Teri over at A Foodie Stays Fit did this questionnaire not too long ago, and I thought it was way-over due that I did something a little more personal on the blog.

1. What brings you the greatest joy? Scott. My nephews!!! Alfie posing for pics lol. Laughing. Cruising around California (honestly I love it here). Fun upbeat music.

2. What are your vices? Going to coffee shops. I guess it’s not that bad of a vice. Wait. Candy. I guess candy…because: sugar. Mmm.

3. What is on your nightstand? My nightstand is pretty tiny since it’s just this table. I keep 2 rose lip balms on there (dior, and bobbi brown), a dior apricot cuticle cream, my iPad and my phone (plugged in).

4. Do you have a secret talent? YES OMG. I can chirp like a bird! LOL. I used to work in an office and one of my co-workers (Hi Gloria!) fell for it every time, looking up at the ceiling thinking that a bird was stuck in the tiles. Ha!

5. What is your greatest indulgence? Ugh. Junk food. Espresso drinks. Popcorn. Candy. I love makeup too though.

6. What should everyone try at least once in their life? Living on their own! Traveling alone. Eating at a restaurant alone. (I stole this answer from Teri who took it from Christina, but I 100% agree with all of these also!). While I haven’t lived alone, ever (I’m not sure I’d be okay with that)… I travel solo a lot, and eat alone a lot too! I don’t mind.

7. What makes you laugh? Scott. Alfie. Immature jokes. Friends.

8. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?  I guess it’s my ‘party trick’ from back in the days when I climbed 5-6 times a week. I could do multiple pull-ups/chinups on door frames. Watch a really really really old video of me doing it here. I also competed in the Nationals (once) back in the early 2000’s, I guess I don’t tell many people that. While I still climb (21 years of climbing!), I’m not as hardcore as I used to be.

9. What is on your bucket list?  Buying a house! I want to travel more. I love exploring with our little family of three (Me, Husband Alfie), and want to do that more. I still want to visit places all over the world (Germany, Italy, Australia… I could go on!).

10. What is on your feet right now? I’m barefoot sitting here at the computer. But I just wore my cheapie Charlotte Russe brown flip flops (seen here) to grab an iced espresso.

11. How did you make your first dollar? Well Teri’s answer was so cute, selling rocks! Haha! If I’m not counting my first real job (Tim Hortons!), I would probably say singing Christmas Carols with my older brother at the neighbours houses all down our street. They gave us money to sing, and we were all about it! Haha.

12. What superstition do you believe in? I always seem to throw salt over my shoulder if I spill it on the table. I also knock on wood. I guess those count!

13. What items in your closet do you wear the most? I’m a huge fan of Zara jeans. Although they don’t seem to last me more than two years, but they fit the best and make my toushy look nice. I also wear my Target faux-slip on vans every.single.day (I have them in both black, and white). I also wear basic tee’s from Forever 21 pretty regularly. I’m just a jeans ‘n’ tee type of person. Love the look. I really want a pair of white slip-on chucks, like these I found at the outlets not too long ago.
14. What is the best gift you’ve ever received? I have to say there are two situations here. One being my Samsung NX 10 camera my husband surprised me with one Christmas. It’s what I use for most of my blog photography, it definitely gets a ton of use. And secondly, my surprise combined wedding gifts and going away party (moving to California) with my co-workers in Canada. It was simply the thought that counted but omg they gave me a whole lot of Fossil goodies (watch, purse, bracelet) — because they knew how much I love Fossil.

15. What is on your liquor shelf? We have a wine-cabinet in our kitchen, but don’t drink often. So we have a full stock pile now. I just counted 5 bottles of wine, a liqueur, and a whole lot of beer.

16. What is on your kitchen counter? Oh man there’s a lot. We have a lot of flat surfaces in our kitchen (in fact, I think it’s the biggest kitchen I’ve ever had in a home). I have Alfie’s food that needs to be put away. A half-roll of paper towels (select-a-size!). A Nespresso Dolce Gusto (see my review lol). A printer. Some decorations from Newfoundland. 2 Pineapple jars with lids (I love them). A toaster. An air fryer. And on our kitchen island we have the Amazon Echo (have you guys used one of those? They’re so cool). I think that’s it…

17. What would you never leave home without? Such a boring answer for me but, cash, ID, and phone.

Question for you: What’s on your nightstand?

Continue Reading