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 1

hello everyone! i've missed y'all so much. i went with family to the USA for Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend for a little mini getaway. i was sooo looking forward to being away from work and all of that for just few days.. and i unfortunately spent quite a lot of money.. whoopsie. 

since i purchased so many make-up items i decided to split it up into 2 parts so that this post wouldn't be too long or too boring for you guys to read. these items are all from K-Mart and 'The Dollar Tree' (strange, i know). also, i am in no way BRAGGING about buying any of these items, i am actually having buyers guilt at the moment because of what i spent. 

Wet n' Wild "rose champagne glow" by Fergie $5.99

I have been seeing TONS of blog posts about the Fergie line by Wet n' Wild. all of the items looked so beautiful and it really took Wet n' Wild to a whole new level. my goal in the USA was to purchase items that aren't as easy to buy in Canada, so when i came across the wet n' wild stand at K-Mart i just had to have a look. this is a beautiful illuminating powder. i love the swirly-ness of the powder, it looks amazing. when swatched it is just a really nice champagne/pink colour. 

E.L.F blush in "mellow mauve" $3.00 

in Canada (well at least in my area) we don't have any e.l.f stands or displays at our stores, so we have to buy the products online, but i have seen E.L.F in dollar stores and Winners (oddly enough). but i found the e.l.f display at K-Mart, and since i love the products so much, i needed to pick up something. i wanted some plum toned blushers for Autumn so i seized the perfect opportunity to do so. unfortunately my camera didn't catch the exact colour of the blush, it is darker in person. and i have to say that i am obsessed with the packaging of this. it is so sleek, and comes with a mirror. for only $3.00 you can't go wrong with e.l.f. 

Wet n' Wild Limited Edition coloricon eye shadow trio "a regular at the factory" $1.70

again, another product i have seen all over the blogging world. i couldn't find these limited edition wet n' wild eyeshadows in Canada, even though i'm sure you could find them at Wal-Mart or something.. anyways, this one was in the Clearance for a $1.70. i'm not even a huge fan of the colours of this, it's a little too out there for me, but i figured for Halloween or something i could work with it. it was so cheap that i just bought it without really thinking. oh well. 

Maybelline 24 hr Colour Tattoos in "pomegranate punk" $7.00 

i also wanted more berry toned eyeshadows for autumn, and at K-Mart their maybelline products were "buy one get one for 50% off," so i bought the colossal (which you'll see at the end) and this colour tattoo for the 50% off. i am obsessed with Maybelline's Colour tattoos, i think that they are amazing quality. i can't wait to play around with this shade, and i think it will look really nice on brown eyes. 

e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in "Praline" and "Rich Red" $1.00

these were my big "dollar tree" purchases! i love going into a dollar store and end up finding decent brand items for really cheap. i have a few of these Matte Lip Colors already and i love them so much, and for a dollar, i'd be silly not to buy these. they aren't too matte where it dries out your lips or anything, they have a really nice formulation to them. they are really easy to apply because they are like a lip liner/lipstick in one, so you are really precise when applying these. love them! 

Colossal "smoky eyes" instant volume mascara $7.00 

and lastly, i bought this mascara because i had previously saw it on MacBarbie07's september favorites video, and thought that i should try this out, because -to be honest- i wasn't a huge fan of the original colossal mascara, and she said that this one was better. this one was the other item i purchased with my 24 hour color tattoo to get the 50% off deal. i can't wait to see how this one turns out! 

alrighty guys, that was all of part 1 of my beauty haul from America, and then i'll be posting part 2 beauty haul, a fashion haul and a miscellaneous haul from the USA as well. so keep posted for those! 

thanks for stopping by, little loves. xx

NEW MAYBELLINE BABY LIPS | berry bomb, strike a rose, pink shock

i promised myself that i wouldn't buy any other makeup product for a while since i am running out of room to store any of it, but of course.. the drugstore i work at just stocked on the new Maybelline Baby Lips shades, so what else could i do ?! they were also on sale for $3.00, so i just thought i may as well test them out for the heck of it. 

the colours in the packaging are SUPER intimidating because they are soooo neon bright. that is what made me have a hard time picking three shades that i thought would be wearable colours, but honestly the colour payoff is pretty subtle. baby lips are meant to be a "tinted lipbalm" anyways. the "berry bomb" shade (purple) is hardly noticeable on the lips at all. i wish it had a little more of a richer berry colour. 95- strike a rose is actually a really pretty coral shade even though it looks orange in the packaging, it has a bit more colour than "berry bomb" it's a good colour to wear on it's own, it does add a little bit of a pop on the lips. shade 70- pink shock is also a pretty colour on the lips, it is pretty noticeable, but it's definitely not overwhelming or as bright as it looks in the casing. 

i do really like "strike a rose" and "pink shock", i think that they would be good shades to carry around in your purse for easy application. they moisturize very well, and are a non sticky formula. the packaging states that it has "8 hour moisture", i'm not sure if i believe that to an extent.. 

i'm pretty disappointed in the colour payoff of "berry bomb", it looks like such a deep purple but goes on almost clear, but for $3.00 it doesn't really bother me too much. 

i will definitely get some use out of them, the shades are decent and there are a lot more in the collection but these particular three were my favourite. don't let the "neon" bit scare you off, they are neon in the packaging but not when they're applied. 

only seven days left to enter my giveaway, click HERE

BROWN EYED GIRL | popping with purples

 yesterday i decided to do something a bit different with my eyeshadow colour. when i go to work i always stick with bronze and golds. but i thought why not try some colour this time. i know purples are the best shades to make brown eyes pop, and sometimes brown eyes are really hard to make stand out. especially against people with blue or lighter shades of eye colour.

to start i used Maybelline's Colour Tattoos in shade 70- barely branded, and lightly coated my entire eyelid (lashes to brow bone) as a base. this shade makes a really nice highlight colour without all of the fuss. if you wanted you could just use this as your eyeshadow and you'd be set for the day.

 next, using my  E.L.F everyday eyeshadow palette ($5 eyeslipsface.com), i used the very last two purple shades, lighter one being more of a mauve and with my E.L.F eyeshadow brush, swiped the mauve on my eyelid. then i used the deeper purple shade

on my crease to add more depth to my eyes. after this is done i used my E.L.F eyeshadow blending brush to blend together the purples slightly to make it look more put together. also - use the darker shade of purple and carefully swipe it underneath your bottom lashes. it pulls everything in, and looks very sultry. 

to really make your eyes pop i used the Chella ivory lace nude eyeliner in my waterline. a lot of people use white, but the nude is a little less obnoxious (trust me, i like a good white eyeliner) but i've been really keen on nude eyeliners lately. this is the key to making any eyes look bigger and more alert. i already have big eyes, but i still love the look it gives them.

lastly, for my mascara i have two different kinds for my bottom and upper lashes. for my top lashes i use nothing but Maybelline Volum' Express One by One mascara (waterproof, two coats) and for my bottom i use Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Love Mascara (one coat) because it has a very small brush which is perfect for getting every little bottom lash. but make sure to curl your lashes to make them fuller. i curl mine BEFORE i apply mascara, i find that works best for me without my lashes clumping. 

all of these items i have featured in either "monthly favourites" or on "review" blog posts if you're interested in learning more. 

P.S. my official giveaway will be unveiled EITHER saturday or sunday. 

thank-you guys for all of the love recently, i appreciate your comments and follows. i hope you enjoyed todays post, and i will see you all again soon. <3 lots of love x

MAYBELLINE FIT ME! SHINE-FREE FOUNDATION | review

Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation Stick $8.99

shade 115 - ivory

i look scared, don't i? hehe 

hello friends.
i decided to pick up something a little different than i usually would. i'm very picky with my foundations, and when i find one that i'm happy with, i am literally glued to it. the Rimmel Wake-me up foundation is that for me as of late. but i think i may have found a new contender.
i am a fan of this foundation, well first- because of the obvious; it looks like a lipstick. it is such an easy product, i couldn't believe it.
i had an early morning shift today at 8:00 AM , therefore i don't have a tremendous amount of time to get myself ready, like on any other morning. the foundation is simple. do what i have done in the last photo, on your forehead, chin, nose, and of course other cheek and blend with either your fingers or a foundation brush. i used a brush. it blends fairly easy and it actually controls the shine very well. i have moderately oily skin, and after four hours, my skin was still matte. definitely impressive.
it would be an amazing product for travelling with or throwing in your handbag because it is so compact. just a little bit bigger than a lipstick, useful for touchups during the day.
i'd say this has medium coverage- and is very build-able.  my shade is in 115 - ivory. i have always been afraid to try any sort of foundation from Maybelline because i always had to make sure my foundation would have a decent coverage to hide my blemishes, and i'm afraid to spend the money if i'm not going to be content with the product. i love Maybelline's mascaras, lip products and of course - their colour tattoos...- but i am definitely a big fan of their Fit Me! Foundation Stick. 

what do you think of Maybelline's Fit Me! Foundation stick?

MAYBELLINE ONE BY ONE VOLUM' EXPRESS MASCARA | review

hello long lost friends. it's been a while since i have tried a product that i have actually really really liked. when it comes to mascaras i'm very picky. i'll usually use two different mascaras to get the look i want... long full lashes. a girl i work with told me to try maybellines' 'one by one' volum' express mascara as it is the one she always uses and said that it was her favorite. although i literally have about 8 lightly used mascaras i thought that it wouldn't hurt to buy this one because it was on sale for $4.97.. for a mascara..that is pretty good. anyways, the first time i tried it, it was an 'oh my god where have you been all my life' moment. i did the usual curling my lashes before applying mascara. 'one by one' is an amazing product it gave me volume and fullness and thats with only two coats. i always buy waterproof because my make-up does tend to smudge throughout the day because i tend to get oily while i'm at work. in my drawer i have the 'mega plush, colossal, falsies' but this one is by far my favorite mascara out of every single brand i've tried without buying a high end brand. i hope you guys will try this product out!