MONTHLY FAVOURITES | FEBRUARY

soap & glory " scrub your nose in it "  $21.00

l'oréal "true match lumi" foundaiton $14.00

covergirl + olay "eye rehab CC cream" $9.00

hey guys, sorry i've been MIA for the last couple weeks. I had all four of my wisdom teeth out and i was literally in a coma (or what felt like it) for approximately 8 days. and then it took a while for me to get back into a routine with work and what not. but it feels good to be back to life, and back to blogging. anyways, BACK TO BUSINESS! 

i'll admit that i haven't actually done a "monthly favourites" in quite a few.. well... months. and that's because i hadn't been trying any new products, i was just sticking to the same routine. but then it seems as though jan/feb were the months of new launches of products, and it made everything exciting again. i have been trying really hard to branch out a bit and stray away from my comfort zones when it comes to makeup and brands. without further ado, here are my february monthly favourites :

to start, skin care has been a huge priority of mine in the month of february. i've been really trying to take care of it, and pamper the heck out of it. with a long, draining winter, my skin has definitely felt the effects of the cold, which has left my face and body extremely dry and dull.  i've been absolutely loving the Soap & Glory "scrub your nose in it" scrub/mask. i had blogged about wanting so desperately to try the soap & glory line, but it was way too expensive here in Canada. FORTUNATELY for me, my sister bought me this scrub for Christmas, and i was probably way too excited. i can definitely understand why this brand is so popular and hyped up in the blogging/youtube world. when you use this product it soaks up all the excess oil on your face to leave you with a matte complexion (which i personally like because i have combination skin). and you can see that your pores appear smaller and your skin just looks overall cleaner. another note on this, is that it doubles as a face mask that you only have to leave on for 3 minutes, which is perfect for the days when you want a boost in your complexion but don't have the time for a 15 minute + face mask. definitely a thumbs up from me. 

 secondly, foundation has been at the top of my shopping list for the last month. i have been on the hunt for the foundation that works best for me, therefore i have purchased everything from matte, to luminous, etc..etc... so far, i have been really keen on the L'Oréal True Match Lumi foundation. my shade is n1-2 which is kind of an "in between" shade. trust me- i have the hardest time figuring out my skin tone. but this one works. this foundation just makes you look so radiant, and awake. i love how healthy my skin looks when i apply this. i even find that it looks good even hours later, it just gets dewy throughout the day, and i personally love that look - especially right now that my skin is so dry. it does the trick. i have written a whole blog post on the L'Oréal Lumi concealer and foundation here. 

thirdly, do NOT even get me started on my under eyes this month. literally a hot mess, it looks like i haven't slept for the whole month of february. my under eyes are puffy, dark and dry. i figured either i need to see the sunlight OR i need a good concealer. man, shopping for a concealer is the hardest thing. i never realized how many OPTIONS there are. i already have a thicker consistency concealer for blemishes and what not, but i wanted something a little bit lighter and hydrating. when i have been putting concealer under my eyes it has creased, and clung to the dry patches. eventually i went to the Covergirl station in my drugstore and saw the Covergirl + Olay collection. i have used the foundation in the past and i really liked it, so i thought 'why not give the concealer a try?' this one is called "eye rehab CC cream concealer," and the back of the product reads, "instantly conceals dark circles to brighten the eye area and evens your skin tone, reducing the look of discolorations, fine lines, and wrinkles, while the serum hydrates over time." when i looked up reviews of this, they were mixed. this concealer is very light, easy to blend, and i found nicely hydrating. a VERY LITTLE goes a long way, you literally need a 1/4 of a pump and it conceals the under eyes no problem. 

physician's formula "happy booster- Glow and Mood boosting blush" $15.99

when looking through my blush collection, i realized that i didn't have very much in the way of variety. all of the shades i own are basically the same or too bright for an every day use. i would never normally spend almost $16.00 on a blush, but i love Physician's Formula products (and always have). plus i wanted to get into mineral makeup a lot more -side note- when i was in high school and battling severe acne, Physician's Formula mineral loose powder foundations were the ONLY products i used, and i loved them. now that my skin is miles better, i'm curious to visit the old friend and see how i get on with it now. -back to the point- the packaging in this blush is adorable, i mean come on. i'd be lying if i said the packaging had no part in the final decision. i own the shade "natural", and it's mostly a peachy-light natural pink that gives you just the perfect glow on your cheeks. this product is so easy to blend, and very buildable. and apparently this stuff is supposed to boost your mood but i personally haven't experienced any difference on that point. 

Maybelline colorsensational "the buffs" lipstick in shade 920- nude lust. $9

so this lipstick has been making it's way to the top of the blogging scene. it's unbelievably creamy, and smooth. and i love the abundance of nude shades they have. i couldn't decide which one to pick up first so i just went with nude lust which is a really pretty pinky-brown nude, i wish this picture did the colour justice. i find that it's perfect for my skin tone and it's just the lipstick i've been reaching for everyday, because it's just so easy to wear and pair with ANY makeup look. i'm planning on picking up a few more shades, but for now i have been loving this one. and it looks great with a pink toned lip gloss on top (for example i've been using the Nyx Butter Gloss in merengue on top, and i love them together. 

anyways guys, i'm sorry this was a lot of reading, but i had a lot to say this month and PLUS i have not posted at all in two weeks so why not come back with a bang? hahah. let me know some of your february favourites in the comments below ! xoxoxoxo 

AMERICAN BEAUTY HAUL | part 2

hello again, here is my part 2 of my "american beauty haul"! there's just a few goodies on this one and most of them are a packaged deal of some sorts. 

Clinique "all about shadow- quad" 

01- french vanilla (matte)

02- peach pop (soft shimmer)

03- at dusk (super shimmer)

04- olive in my martini (super shimmer)

so this quad i actually received apart of Clinique's bonus month. if you spent $25.00 or more you received the free 8 piece bonus bag. they gave you a choice of neutrals or purples, and i went with neutrals, because i know that i'll use them everyday. the shades are beautiful and really pigmented. i can't wait to use them. 

so in order to receive the bonus bag i ended up purchasing Clinique's "chubby stick'' in shade "07- super strawberry," it's a really pretty neutral pink. i actually received the "04- mega melon" in the 8 piece bonus bag, so i thought that was really amazing. it's a gorgeous coral shade. 

i also purchased the "chubby stick for eyes" in "09- lavish lilac". i love purple tones and they look especially nice on brown eyes, so i was curious to try it out. i have been hearing about them around youtube and such. i seized the opportunity. 

Pacifica "color quench lip tint" 

i found these actually on clearance at Target for $1.45 each, i didn't really think twice about buying them. they don't have a lot of colour pay-off at all, but they smell fricken amazing! almost like perfume or something. i was absolutely amazed at how good they smelt. 

CoverGirl classic colour blush in "Iced Plum" $3.99

i am trying to switch out my summer make-up for fall/autumn shades, therefore i needed some new blush. i saw this shade and thought it was beautiful, and just from the name of it alone i knew it would be a great fall blush. i also love the packaging on this, it looks so sleek. 

anyways that's all for today, keep your eyes peeled for my "american fashion haul" which will be coming probably tomorrow! love you all. 

APRIL/SPRING FAVORITES

another month has passed ALREADY! wow april went by so fast. i wouldn't complain except that where i live there is still snow on the ground and i'm pretty upset about that. all i want is to be able to sit outside and tan my pasty vampire skin! but alas, i won't let some snow bring down my spring fever. i've been enjoying bright colours and pastels this month (as i'm sure 99.9% of you are aswell..) and also i have been loving scented things...candels...lotions...my scentsy warmer with the melts..mmmm. i can't get enough, let's just say that. 

to start things off.. i've been wanting a new perfume for a long time now because i've just been spraying an abundance of body sprays and things like that. but i wanted something a little more potent than just a spray. something that would last. i will eventually go to one of the booths and get a higher end perfume but i was in bath an body works and i saw this little guy called "be enchanted," and of course *SQUIRREL* the bottle amused me. it has sparkly branches and it's just so dang pretty, and i liked the scent too... so that was good. it is one of their new fragrances and i quite like it. i'm a big fan of sweeter scents. not too floraly, just somewhere in between. i can't even describe this scent to you, but it's really lovely. just an easy scent to have on no matter where you're going. it is just a pretty girly scent, and i recommend that some of you take a whiff of this next time in you're in bath and body works. ($34.99) also, i don't have pictured separately but they're in the first picture..but i bought two new candles from bath and body works called "pineapple mango," and "bahama fizz." oh my god, they smell incredible. i always have a candle burning in my room and just recently tried out the "pineapple mango," its amazing. i'm saving the bahama fizz for later, because it is definitely my favorite. bahama fizz smells like a fruity coctail. it's just ahmazing. GO SMELL. also... i received a lotion for free so i picked out the "bali mango," wow... it smells incredible. see, i told you i love scents.. it's awful. i just love this lotion, i'm not using it because i don't want to use it up yet.. i still have so many to use up first. 

and to keep on the bath and body works train i bought the Rose Salve balm. but this is no ordinary lip balm..oh no.. it can be used for face, lips, cuticles, elbows and knees. pretty cool, right? for one i love the tin, it looks so vintage. the scent is nice, and subtle. nothing overpowering. it does work nicely as well. i put it on my lips before bed, and it lasts all night. it is $6.50. another lip treatment that i have been using religiously is of course EOS lip balm - $4.00, but i forget what scent it is.. something fruity. this lip balm of course is not the best one i've ever tried, but i still really like it, it's a handy little thing. 

        another item i have been enjoying are my coral rose earring studs from Joe Fresh at any superstore in canada. they were $8.00, and i just think that they're so cute and add so much to any drab outfit. nice and spring/summery and just the perfect pop of color without any effort. (my favorite kind). 

a lip colour that i have been liking this month is revlon's super lustrous lipstick in matte 002 pink pout. i've said before that i'm a huge fan of matte lipsticks, i know that it is a hit and miss with most people. but i have been really enjoying them. i love this shade, it's super natural with just the right amount of pigment. a very easy colour to throw on when you're in a hurry to get out the door. it goes with any look, and it is just a nice light pink, but not a barbie pink.. i hate that. i find that it lacks some moisture but it's great with a lip balm applied underneath. it's about $8.00 at any drug/grocery store. 

        i have pictured in the first picture a blush i have been loving lately. i have just recently been getting into wearing blushes every day. it adds some flush to your cheeks, which i appreciate because i haven't been getting any sun at all. it's by covergirl and it is called "instant cheekbones" contouring blush in shade 230 refined rose. it has three different shades in the pan, but i swirl my blush brush in all three and sweep it over the apples of my cheeks toward my hair line. i have some intense blushes in my possession, but this one is nice and subtle. i don't want it to be obvious that i'm wearing a crazy amount of make-up, especially with blush. i often see a lot of girls who pile on the blush to the point that it looks like they've been slapped across the face. not particularly the look i want to go for... i have more of an olive skin tone, so i find this shade works the best for me. i don't look too overdone. i don't remember how much this blush is.... i think maybe around $6.00 ( but don't quote me on that).
        and last but not least i have been LOVING hair wraps this month! they look cute with your hair up or down. it looks very island-y. i like to wear them if i'm just sporting leggings with a white or plain coloured sweater or shirt, and a hair wrap basically transforms your look. the two i have pictured at the top there are a couple of my favorites. the paisley one is from forever 21 and was about $4.50. they had a couple different colour versions of this but i'm a big fan of anything red, so i went bold. and the coral one is from a shop we have in this city that individually owned with a lot of trendy pieces it was $12.00, and i believe the shop was called "out of the blue." i also have a polka dot bow one, that's so adorable, but i have unfortunately misplaced it somewhere in my hurricane of a bedroom.... oops. it'll turn up someday.

anyways, those are all of my april favorites... and i can't wait to try out some more products for may, etc. sorry that this post was all over the place, i couldn't control my thoughts, they were just flying all around. feel free to tell me what your favorite items were this month so that i can perhaps try some new things out!

xx, love

IPSY GLAM BAG | march

hello! this week i received my ipsy delivery in the mail! which is my first one from them! and i have to say that i'm quite thrilled about it. more thrilled than my glossybox i think. only because it came with mostly makeup and i really have been enjoying everything i've tried so far. the glam bag came with...

• MICA beauty cosmetics loose powder eyeshadow in 72-earth
• be a bombshell cosmetics blush in beach please 
• healthy sexy hair soy renewal nourishing styling treatment 
• sation nail lacquer in love at first byte

and it all came in a simple white makeup bag with a bright pink zipper. very cute. the blush is very pigmented, it's a very bright pink, so a little definitely goes a long way. the eyeshadow is a super pretty pink with little gold shimmers in it. i haven't tried the nail polish or the healthy sexy hair yet but i'm sure they'll be nice aswell. but so far so good! i'm really impressed, and for only $12.00 i think it's worth it!