I Wish I Had..

"I wish I had more vacation days."-unknown

Well here we are. Almost the very beginning of September and it is just starting to finally feel like summer (with the odd theatrical intermission that includes some dramatic thunder, lightening and torrential down pours). With summer being late I have a feeling winter will be late and that we are going to have the most wonderfully warm fall. A fall that will hopefully include swimming in the ocean, back yard fires, apple picking and a healthy dose of sunshine. With wedding/beach season coming to a close and boot/scarf season falling quickly upon us, I thought I would share some favourtite beauty products that will help carry your summer look into the fall and some tips on how to use them including an at home manicure that is easy and gives professional results at home! Happy beautifying all!
-m

The best summer-to-fall nails..

Who doesn't love a good mani/pedi? Pampering yourself is important but if you want to save some money and keep your nails fresh, at home manis and pedis are where it is at. As far as at home manicures go, Essie provides some of my favourite colors and products. I always start with a quick trim and file. I follow up with some Sally Hansen cuticle removing gel- this stuff is seriously the best. Leave it on for a few seconds and overgrown cuticles easily push back and can be clipped off providing a perfect canvas for some bright polishes. For a base coat I use Essie's "Ridge filler", I read about this product a while ago and I have been using it every since. One quick coat and it fills ridges and evens out nails for a smooth surface that takes nail polish far better than a naked nail. Next apply two coats of your favoutite Essie color. My current color obsessions for the summer months include "Bikini so teeny" for my toes- it's the perfect bright powdery blue that covers well and looks fabulous with summer kissed skin. For my fingers I am loving "Peach side babe"- a fabulous peach/coral pastel. The Essie fall line up this year is a collection of deeply pigmented jewel tones with some beautiful greys. I am lusting after "The perfect cover up" which is a charcoal grey with blue undertones and "Fall in line" which is a mossy green with grey undertones. To finish of my nails I use one coat of  Essie "Good to go" topcoat. This helps them shine and makes your nails last up to a week (in my experience). Best part? All of the products above can be easily purchased at any local drug store.

The best skin...

The best skin is moisturized, protected and dewy whether it is summer or fall.  I am still in love with Josie Maran Light argan oil for keeping my skin smooth and moisturized. I use a couple of drops every night before bed focusing on dry spots (in my case my nose!).  I also love Aveeno suncreen made specifically for the face, I find it doesn't clog my pores like many other products do and it offers long lasting sun protection. In general I don't go out without SPF on my face whether it is just straight up sunscreen for the beach or if it is in a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. I don't want to look like a raisin when I am older and I am hoping sunscreen will help! I also make sure I wash my face thoroughly at the end of the day to take off makeup and sunscreen and let my face breathe a bit.

The best coverage...

As far as makeup with natural coverage, I am still a big fan if Garnier BB cream. It smooths, evens and it is light and airy on my face. If I need a little more coverage I am absolutely in love with Nars "All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation". This product goes a long way. It has no preservatives and it is like air on my face all the while evening out my skin and making it look airbrushed. Tips for this product- because it has no preservative make sure you mix/shake it well, it will separate if you don't. Also one pump should do your whole face and instead of using a brush the Nars representative at Sephora encouraged me to use my hands for an even application while using less product. Win-win.

 The best summer-to-fall blush...

Nars Orgasm blush is a cult classic for a reason. It it peachy-pink, it reflects light and looks great both on fair skin and dark skin tones. This is a color that will never go out of style and it's hyper-pigmentation means a little goes very far.

The best bronzer...

I have tried buckets of bronzers. Drug store, high end and anything in between and I always come back to MAC's bronzing powder in "bronze".  It gives a natural sun-kissed finish without the harmful rays and without looking like a bad contouring job. It is natural enough to help carry a summery glow easily into the fall without looking too done.

The best eyebrows...

Duh! Summer, winter, spring, fall Anastasia Dip Brow pomade is the best eyebrow product I have ever used. Throw out your gels, your fibers, your pencils and your powders and make way for the best eyebrows you have ever had. A pot lasts for a year or so and applies very easily in small brush strokes with an angled brush. It is waterproof but washes off easily with facial cleanser and it holds down longer stray hairs. Use as little or as much as you would like to help create as dramatic or natural of a look as you want!

The best waterproof mascara...

Water proof mascara is good for the beach, the pool, for sweatin' at the gym and for all of the emotional moments at your bestie's weddings. Make Up For Ever's Aqua Smokey Extravagant mascara lengthens, fills and doesn't flake. It stays in place until you wash it off and I promise it won't run when your bestie says I do.

The best inexpensive lip...

Matte lips seem to be a trend that is hanging around. Surprisingly, Rimmel has an amazing line of exceptional, inexpensive lipsticks and the matte ones are worth discussing. They are the Kate Moss line and although the are dry, as all matte lipsticks are, they don't flake around the lip and they will stay put all damn day. There is a crazy number of on point colors ranging from pin-up reds to classic nudes and priced between $5.99 and $7.99 these are serious bang for your buck. Check out color 104 for a pinky-taupe that will look good on any skin-tone and that can easily transition from sun-kissed beach babe to fall fashionista. For the best natural/neutral pink I have always loved MAC's Modesty lipstick but Rimmel has a color in their Kate Moss line that I may prefer even more and the color number is 08. This is an amazing find considering I have been wearing Modesty for at least five years.

Happy beautifying all!
-m

Honey, I am Going To My Grave..

"Honey I am going to my grave with my eyelashes and my makeup on!"- Tammy Faye Bakker

Prepare for a long one gang, today I want to talk makeup. My makeup routine is pretty basic. I haven't left the house without a little mascara in years and recently I have started to feel naked if I don't fill in my brows just a touch. Maybe it's the fuller brow trend or maybe it is because it enhances the shape of my face drawing attention upwards to my eyes (that's what I tell myself). I think the reality is that those two simple steps make me look and feel awake. Other than that I am a cheap BB cream girl who loves liquid eyeliner, a touch of blush and lipstick if I am feeling frisky (which is often!). I can count on one finger the number of times I have worn foundation and if I have on some eyeshadow, it must be a really special occasion. I am big on basics that enhance what 'cha already got.

Flashback four years ago and I was a girl who was, to put it bluntly, a mascara whore (*cough, cough). I had tried them all, the cheap drugstore ones (Maybelline, Revlon, Covergirl etc.), any mascara Benefit produced I have owned, as well as Clinique, MAC and Make Up Forever to name a few. Out of all of the above I always have come back to MAC's "Zoom-fast" in black and for water proof (what can I say, I attend a TON of weddings) I love the Make Up Forever "Aqua Smoky Extravagant". To all the ladies who LOVE the original Maybelline in the pink and green tube, I wish I felt you but I have tried and I don't. My lashes aren't short but just like my hair they are fine and surprisingly light for a dark haired lady like myself. Seriously I look like I have no eyelashes until I put on a very wet, very separating mascara (hence why my faves are my fave).

Flashback to 2013, my beautiful friend Stella was in cosmetology school, she needed a lash model for testing extension application and asked if I would do it for her. Well, those lashes changed everything. They were beautiful, I always got compliments and frankly I looked as though I had gotten an easy 14 hours sleep every single night and then woke up and had a triple espresso (honestly, I looked that awake!). For two years I had an on-again, off-again relationship with extensions (but really more on than not). I loved them. Eventually the cost of maintenance became excessive (100+ to get them on and 50+ for a fill every 4-5 weeks) and in January I gave them up. It was shockingly hard to do (I felt mega naked) and at first I was convinced my lashes were ruined. They were most certainly not ruined, I just forgot what my natural ones looked like! I hopped back on the mascara train.

Now fast forward to ten days ago. My friend Courtney encouraged me to try a new product she was in looooove with. Now Courtney is the sweetest momma of three equally as sweet boys and she is not a liar so I listened to what she had to say. I had heard of Younique before, I had googled it, seen all the pics on instagram. I thought it was an exaggeration, that if it did work I would look like I had tarantula eyelashes (tacky!) and I was not really on board with any "pyramid" type businesses. I had tried Arbonne, and I hated it (sorry Arbonne die hards, it gave me acne). I wasn't willing to try something in that bracket again. But like I said, Courtney is not a liar, she is too sweet to even tell a fib so I joined the Facebook group, placed an order and thought to myself "there goes another forty bucks".

My order arrived yesterday, in a massive truck with a surprisingly handsome delivery man. I had been gardening and was absolutely covered in black mulch (to give you all a bang'in visual). I ran a bath, scrubbed my face/stained black appendages and decided to try this stuff out. It was surprisingly easy to use. One eye at a time and three simple steps (one good coat of transplanting gel, a good coat of fibers and another coat of gel to seal it). I did one eye and stepped back to inspect not only my handy work but the products success and to say I was shocked is an understatement. I was so surprised I instantly sent my sister and friend Joanne a pic with one eye done and the other naked. It wasn't clumpy, it wasn't too thick, it looked fairly natural and considering I have been working non-stop and not sleeping the best, I looked awake. Now I am not suggesting everyone rush out and buy it and sing "hallelujah" at the top of their lungs because maybe something that works for me may not work for you. I am however, saying that so far love it and I feel a tiny bit bad for being so negative about it to begin with. I have a sneaky suspicion that it will find itself permanently in my makeup rotation right along side of my brow filler. If I can make a suggestion, if you use any type of concealer or very hydrating product (like a BB cream or foundation or tinted moisturizer) place a tissue under your eye . The fibers do come off the brush a little bit and will likely stick in the hydrating products so just let them land on the tissue instead! Also to note, I was pleased at the fact that the fibers didn't migrate into my eyes and that it is far easier to take off than regular mascara with just a little cleanser and water (no raccoon eyes!). Win-win!

For more info on how you can get your hands on this product and some before and afters of my tired eyes (seriously excuse the bags, they are big enough to take shopping with me!) check out the pics and links below.
-m

It comes in a cute little "leather" case!

Two tubes is all you need!

No shadow or liner, Just one coat of Younique on the left and my naked lash on the right! I am told you can put more coats on for more drama but that hardly seems necessary to me!

Yes, the lighting is weird...Different day, it was more sunny! Anyway, eye liner on both, left eye one coat of Younique, right eye one coat of my trusty old mascara (quite the difference).

One coat of Younique, both eyes, no shadow, no liner, just my new fabulous fiber lashes and not a very flattering camera angle (my nose looks so big!)

If you wanna order some, click here and get it from my girl Ruth! For more info about the product, click here .

The Best Makeup On A Woman Is....

"The best makeup on a woman is passion but cosmetics are easier to buy."- Yves Saint-Laurent

In January I made a list compiled of my favourite new products from the year before (here). Some were cult classics and some were happy accidents that I luckily stumbled upon. This year I have compiled a new list and decided to share it before Christmas (just in case anyone out there is looking to improve their beauty regimen for the busy holiday season). Find my "New Favourite things" list below! Happy beautifying!
-m

A Few of my Favourite Things...2014 Edition

#1 Nars Blush

This product has changed the way I feel about blush. My friend Kailee introduced me to it a few months ago and I haven't looked back. I bought it the very day I took hers out for a test drive. Desire is the colour I am hooked on. It is a hyper-pigmented, bright pink that looks a little overwhelming at first (bright is an understatement). A little goes a long way and it lasts all damn day. Did I mention I get complimented every time I wear it? I have since bought it in orgasm, which is a cult classic among beauty buffs. It is a soft, shimmery, peach that is lovely in the winter months.

#2 Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

I don't know how I lived without this product. It may seem dramatic but my eyebrows have never looked better. This product is similar to a gel eyeliner and it goes on easily with an angled brush. It not only darkens and defines my brows but because it is a pomade, it holds my less tame brow hairs in place. This is why it is far superior to powders and pencils. A little goes a very, very long way and it comes in eight different shades, making it easy to find the perfect match!

#3 CND Vinylux

I love nail polish. It is very rare for me to have naked nails but because my hands are always busy, nail polish doesn't last very long. I have tried shellac and gel nails, both of which ruined my nails for months after trying them (honestly, my nails are still peeling!). Nothing lasted until I found Vinylux. It's a two step process, two coats of a colourful base coat followed by one coat of the seven day top coat. It hardens almost instantly, it is shiny like shellac and it lasts for well over a week on my fingers (and weeks on my toes!). Best part is it comes off easily with regular nail polish remover and doesn't strip your nails. 

#4 ELF High Definition Powder

For a measly four dollars, this product is the perfect finishing powder. Lightly dust on your face after makeup applications for a flawless "airbrushed" finish. It hides fine lines and makes everything look smooth and even. All of that for the low price of a latte!

#5 Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner

I know, I featured a different eye liner last year. That one truly was my favourite, until I met this one. It comes in a massive array of colours, stays on perfectly until it is washed off and the brush is fine for perfect application. Trendy cat eyes are no sweat with this stuff. I own it in a few colours now but my all time fav. is a colour called smog, which is a green-gold that is positively stunning!

#6 MAC Lipstick in Rebel

I am convinced this colour looks great on everyone. It's a lovely deep colour that ranges between very blue red, plumb and a deep wine depending on your complexion and how heavily you apply it. For this reason, it is one of the most versatile lipsticks that can provide looks ranging from retro-glam to vampy-chic. Win, win, win!!!

#7Say Yes To Carrots Moisturiser

This is a drug store find that I accidentally stumbled upon. I still am obsessed with my face oil but this is fantastic on my dry, winter skin. My thirsty face thanks me in the morning by not peeling (peeling noses make you look like a crocodile-not attractive). Added bonus- it is 98% natural and paraben free. No clogged pores from this stuff!!

Sugar, Sugar...

"Pour a little sugar on it honey, pour a little sugar on it baby..."- The Archies

I am soon to be travelling down south for a wedding and after a long, cold, dry winter, my skin is in need of both some bad ass moisture and some intense exfoliation. I recently hunted for the perfect "miracle body scrub" and after visiting a few stores, I was hit with an idea. Why spend money on something that may or may not work when I have raw sugar and coconut oil in my pantry?

Coconut oil is big right now. Not only is it a healthy, organic oil to cook with (which is why I keep it) but it also has approximately 1561 other uses (this may or may not be an exaggeration that I may or may not have pulled out of my rear end...).  It has anti-microbial properties and is a wonderful moisturizer for your body, lips and even your hair. I know people who use it to remove eye makeup and people who use it as a healthy source of good fat. You can even use it to season cast iron pans! Like I said, it is big right now and for good reason.

My body scrub took a little bit of trail and error to find the right ratio of ingredients but it was more than worth being a mad scientist in my kitchen. I couldn't be happier with results, my legs are smoother and softer than they have ever been. Package it all up in a little mason jar and tie on a little ribbon or use some cute-sy fabric on top and you have a lovely, hand-made gift that will leave your friends feeling pampered and special. Recipe below! Happy exfoliation all!
-m

Coconut-sugar body scrub..

In a small mixing bowl combine 1.5 cups of raw brown sugar (regular brown sugar would work too!) and six tablespoons of melted coconut oil (not hot, just barely melted!). Mix thoroughly and take a sniff (it's smells soooo good). If the dreamy smell of sweet coconut is not for you, you can always add a few drops of an essential oil to your liking (lavender would be the bomb-diggity). In an air tight container this should last for six months or so. Tips- apply in a circular motion to damp skin and be sure to rinse your tub afterwards. Coconut oil is slick on the bottom of a tub and we don't need head injuries now do we?

The Only Way I Would Be Caught Without Makeup....

"The only way I'd be caught without makeup is if my radio fell in the bathtub while I was taking a bath and electrocuted me and I was in between makeup at home. I hope my husband would slap a little lipstick on me before he took me to the morgue."- Dolly Parton

Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God's final word on where your lips end.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryseinf131554.html#Ca7GjBJgFZRpWsKm.99

I do enjoy makeup but clearly not to the degree Dolly does! I like subtle makeup for the most part with the exception of lipstick. I could go years and never buy an eyeshadow. I could go six months and never a brush of shadow stroke my lid, but lipstick? I can hardly walk buy a display without taking a second or third glance. I avoid MAC unless I have a freebie with their recycling program because I know that I will not be able to just buy the one I went in for.

Lately matte lippies have been popping up everywhere and in every shade imaginable. I must say, they are beautiful and dramatic. They are also versatile but boy, they are not very user friendly.  They are dry, they pull at your lips when you apply them and they sure make it hard to stay inside the lines. Jerry Seinfeld very bluntly once said...

" Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not the color, but to accept Gods final word on where your lips end.."

Although this is solid and straightforward advice (from someone who I am certain has little experience with the product) that doesn't make it any easier. Below are some very simple steps that I have formulated over the past few years to help you stay within the lines and achieve the perfect matte lip.

Matte Lip 101..

• Dry lips crack and cause lipstick in general to cake. This is exceptionally true with matte lipstick. Most of the time it is the equivalent to putting an artists pastels on your lips..dry and chalky. To exfoliate and moisturize my lips, I skip expensive products and I reach for either a clean/ new mascara brush or a children's toothbrush (both work and both are easily accessible at most drug stores/ beauty suppliers). Next I take my favourite lip balm, Carmex is my go to but Vaseline would work too and I slather some on my lips. I then rub the clean, dry brush back and forth across my lips. This exfoliates dead skin and helps lock a little of that moisture in! Moist lips will allow that bad boy to glide with ease across your lips instead of hitting them like a kid flipping over their handle bars and grinding to a halt. Easy enough right?
• I recommend a lip brush for step two. Lip liner would work as well but lets face it who wants to buy a coordinating liner for every lipstick, we are not millionaires here! Take a lip brush and with that apply lipstick to the edges of your lip, NOT extending past your natural lip line and ensuring to get into your cupids bow, maximizing the natural (and lovely) shape of your lips.

• Now you are ready to slide that lipstick over the rest of your lips, travelling over the line you already made but never extending past.  Blot your kissers together and stand back and admire beautiful you! You can always add a little gloss to the centre of your lips to add dimension or to change the matte to a gloss. Mood dependant!

 Lipstick Basics/ Suggestions

• New to lippies and feeling a little like a clown? Start with a color that is just a bit brighter than your own natural lip color. Modesty and Hot Gossip by MAC are my go to's for a natural every day color. Your own color but brighter will be the most versatile lipstick you could possibly own.
• Red lips will go far...and farther and even farther. Classic and cool, you will look like a movie star even in your sweats and ready for the town with nothing else on your face. Warm complexions pick blue-reds, cool choose orange-reds but for the most part I suggest getting a professional to help you pick the perfect red that will serve you for years to come.
•  Makeup brushes are an investment, but they don't have to require re-mortgaging your home or selling or first born. Quo, the Shoppers brand has lovely brushes that go 40% off monthly. They are reasonable without the sale but it is worth holding out. Target has reasonable professional quality brushes as well! 
• Don't hop on every trend train you see. Just because a best friend of mine can pull off a deep, earthy, brown or a beautiful, punchy, orange lip doesn't mean I can (I know I can't!).  Know your limitations and that what you like, you like for a reason.
• Don't buy into new product lines that are limited edition. Limited edition means they will only be around for a few months and often they sell out before they have run their course. Those lipsticks will not be available again so don't let yourself fall in love with one that will be gone. It's just a tease. I personally won't even try them on for that reason.
• Lip liners are wonderful if you have an important occasion...let us say your wedding day. They do prevent you from reapplying and really do give dark, dramatic colors staying power, but they are not a must. If you are using a liner, the best tip I was ever given was to line your lips and color them in with the liner....sounds crazy I know. Then apply your lipstick over the top. This will give your color mega staying power while preventing you from looking like Lil'Kim in the 90's (you all know exactly what I am talking about!).
• Most of all have fun and feel beautiful because as Audrey Hepburn once said "Happy girls are the prettiest girls". 

Think this!

Not This!

I must apologize for my lack of personal pictures above...I am potentially the worst "selfie" taker in all of the northern hemisphere. My nose looks exceptionally large and one eye looks west while the other looks east. Its not pretty! Along with poor selfies, I also now realise that I can easily ramble on about almost anything since I wrote a piece solely on lipstick. Do you have something you have been wishing I would ramble on about in the future? Write a request in the comment box.  I am always looking for a little inspiration! Happy lippies everyone!

-m

Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God's final word on where your lips end.

Jerry Seinfeld

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryseinf131554.html#Ca7GjBJgFZRpWsK

Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God's final word on where your lips end.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryseinf131554.html#Ca7GjBJgFZRpWsKm.99

Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God's final word on where your lips end.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryseinf131554.html#Ca7GjBJgFZRpWsKm.99

Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God's final word on where your lips end.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryseinf131554.html#Ca7GjBJgFZRpWsKm.99

I Hope That in This Year To Come....

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
-Neil Gaiman


Now that those formalities are out of the way I thought I would compile a list of all of my new (and old) favourite products of 2013. Some of which I love sooooo much my fellow friends and colleagues must have them drilled into their cute little heads.


Beauty Products

I am a firm believer in decent moisturizer, washing off your makeup before sleep and a good hair cut. All of which have been ingrained in me since I was a little girl. As much as I am a bit of a product whore, I don't always believe you need to spend a lot of money to look good and many of my staple products can be found at drug stores.


#1 Benefit's "Fake-up"

Rounding the top of this list is Benefit's "Fake up". This is a super hydrating concealer that promises not to cake in fine lines and last all day. It totally lives up to both of those statements. It is light weight and goes on smooth with no pulling (which is very important especially to delicate skin around the eyes). I am a shift worker and have very disrupted sleep habits, often going on very little to none. This concealer brightens my eyes, hides dark shadows and is hard to discern to even the most enquiring of eyes. No cakey, flakey mess to be seen! My previous favourite concealer has taken the back burner even though it is still a product worth investing in, fake-up takes the make-up cake.

#2 Josie Maran Light Oil

I know what you are thinking...Oil? For what? Well Josie Maran makes 100% pure argan oil products that are quickly becoming cult favourites. The "light" oil is an ultra light-weight oil that absorbs quickly and leaves my face looking flawless and dewy. I was highly skeptical but after doing a little research and taking a sample home for a test drive, I am hooked. Although I have been using the same moisturizer since I was barely a teenager, my skin has never looked brighter or felt softer. It hydrates without leaving any oily residue, it doesn't clog pores (my number one concern when I heard about face oil) and it has actually shown to make oily skin less oily. If you have very dry skin, you may want to try the original but my "normal" skin loves the lightweight. If you are still skeptical, pop on over to Sephora and ask for a sample.

#3 Volcanic ash Exfoliator by MAC

I am a lover of MAC makeup but have not bought into their skin care line, ceature of habit I suppose. My dear friend Janna who is also a lover of products gave me a sample of a black volcanic ash exfoliator to try that she was positively smitten with. Turns out it was MAC and turns out I LOVE it. It's a sugar scrub so you must work a little fast ('cause sugar melts in water) and I do find that you have to be very careful to rinse well, especially under your chin (it is very black and very streaky if not rinsed well). My face is sooooo soft after I use it! It is a little expensive; I use it only once a week alternating with cheapy and awesome St.Ives green tea exfoliator.

#4 Benefit's Watt'sUp

This highlighter is the bomb. I had been a big fan of High Beam by Benefit until I received a birthday sample of Watt's Up- amazing under my brows, corners of my eyes and anywhere else that needs highlighting. It blends easily and has just a hit of shimmer making it one of my go to products.

#5 EOS Mint lip balm

Although Carmex will always be my jam when it comes to lip balm, EOS mint is a sure fire runner up. It is smooth, easy to toss in your purse and the peppermint tingle feels wonderful on chapped lips that are trying to survive the east coast winter. I do however HATE the fruity flavoured ones because they not only smell sweet, they also taste sweet. Gag.

#6 Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm

Every single time I wear this in public, someone asks me what I have on my lips. I have been asked if it is MAC, YSL and even Bobbi Brown. For six bucks, I proudly exclaim what I am wearing, tell them all about how it lasts for hours and that the color I wear is called "Flirtatious". I whole heartedly feel this colour would look great on any skin tone- its a deep pink without being red, it goes on smooth, lasts for hours and doesn't dry up. Not to mention has a slight amount of sheen without really being glossy. Win-win!

#7 Sephora Creme Stain

I have been wearing this products for a couple of years now and own it in two red tones. It applies like a lip gloss- wet and with a sponge tipped applicator. This makes riming the edge of lips simple and hassle free. It dries matte and stays put all day- seriously all damn day. It is great for a night on the town and is just as great for rolling out of bed and looking put together with no effort. Red lips can do that, they can trick people into thinking you showered. Prime example- before Christmas, I rolled out of bed after working a night shift- slapped on a little and ran into MAC and Sephora looking to replace a lipstick I had finally used up. Two employees at MAC asked me what I had on (one even wrote it down...) and then three employees stopped me in Sephora to ask the same. All of which were shocked when I told them what it was. "Strawberry" is my favourite.

#8 Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream

Yes...a BB cream, womp womp. I have used tinted moisturizers for years and years. MAC, Benefit, Smashbox...almost all of the big brands with big fans. Out of all of those, this BB cream is my fav. It's hydrating and super light weight, with just a bit of coverage. I don't wear foundation and for the most part, this evens out my skin without feeling heavy and cakey. I use it on the daily often with "fake-up" and just a little bit of powder dusted on top for a flawless finish.

#8 Marcelle Liquid Dip-Pen Liner

I have been using liquid and gel liners for over ten years now. I LOVE them. Gel or creme liners are good (MAC-Fast track is great) but don't always give the defined line I am looking for. MAC liquid liners are all great but I find them hard to wash off and expensive. I hate the liners that are like felt tip markers (they are never dark enough, and they never work right). I prefer a firm- felt tipped end that you dip into the liner... Enter Marcelle's Liquid dip liner. Same packaging as MAC...identical....but easier to wash off and almost half the price. It says it is water proof...I generally don't do water proof anything but it washes off easily and lasts all day.

Happy testing everyone!
-m

A Girl In A Bikini Is Like Having A Loaded Pistol On Your Coffee Table...

"A girl in a bikini is like having a loaded pistol on your coffee table- there is nothing wrong with them, but it is hard to stop thinking about it."- Garrisson Keillor

Bikini or Bust. That is how my last few weeks have been. Not even a bikini, just anything that would be appropriate for lounging on the beach or swimming up to a pool bar in Jamaica. 'Cause that is where this chick will be in approximately thirteen days.

I understand that no one likes bathing suit shopping (at least not the average lady). It is brutal. We are pale, maybe even see-through from wearing parkas, scarves and fleece lined leggings during the eight month phenomenon known as an atlantic Canadian winter. Those fluorescent lights that exist only in malls are also a problem. They have probably been put there to encourage people to spend money on fat-burning pills at GNC, vigorous gliding on an ellipticals and intermittant crying into morning coffees. I swear, they even my fingers look lumpy...it's marketing magic. I would bet Don Draper came up with it himself.

All of that said, I have a problem and it is a little north of the boarder. I am chesty, a little too chesty, especially when it comes to bathing suits. I tallied it up today; grand total of bathing suits tried on in two weeks- forty-nine. To break that down mathematically, of the said forty-nine suits, exactly forty turned out to be glorified nipple covers (as in little to no coverage and probably illegal in at least ten states...). Three, I had no words to describe and one was a beauty that fit like a dream but the top alone was over two hundred dollars. It had this budget-savvy-diva seeing dollar signs flinging here there and everywhere (feuw-feuw-feuw..the sound they were making as they whizzed by me). Bikinis, tank-inis and even the one-pieces were no-goes, they fit everywhere but the bust. Sets were just as bad. If the bottoms fit, the tops looked like dental floss or yarn (which is obviously both very flattering and supportive, not to mention dead sexy..). If the top fit (which lets face it, it didn't really) then the bottoms could have been used as a parachute if the plane unexpectedly crashed (safety first!) on the flight down. Sigh..

After hours of working the bikini-beat and after ingesting an entire crop of coffee beans, I settled. Yes, settled for a top I already owned but never loved. It fits enough to cover the danger zones and some mix and match bottoms should suffice. They had the top in six colors- obviously only two came in my size. Neon orange and white, nothing like attracting extra attention to an already attention grabbing area right? Double sigh..

So, here are some tips.

1) Don't beat yourself up, there is always gonna be someone who looks worse than you (ha!)
2) Don't get frustrated...hard but important.
3) If the lighting is terrible- wear your sunglasses and remember that natural light is always the best light.
4) Remember that bathing suits tend to run a little smaller then regualr clothing so sizing up is not a shameful, it is flattering
5) More coverage can add extra fabric that can exagerate problem areas you are trying to hide.
6) Tequila (otional) may help things along
7) ...and finally give yourself lots of time, you don't want to settle if you don't have to.

She Got Her Looks From Her Father...

"She got her looks from her father...he is a plastic surgeon."-Groucho Marx
 
Did you know that average woman may spend 200,000 hard earned dollars on beauty products in their lifetime. That is just a little under the cost of my house! The beauty industry is currently a nine BILLION dollar industry, and I am sure that number will continue to grow.

That said, make-up can be a quick pick-me-up at a small price. I have mentioned before how lipstick sales sky-rocket during a recession. It's inexpensive, ranges from $3 to $40 and can instantly pick up your mood. I LOVE lipstick for this reason and it can change an entire look. A little black dress can instantly go glam with an application of red lipstick, whether it is an expensive frock or a jersey knit you have had in your wardrobe rotation for years. Plus there is just something fabulous and very 50's about a bright pop of color on your lips! I am not recommending you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on makeup...less is more but for the mid-winter blues, I think everyone deserves a pick me up once and awhile.

So here are my go-to's and lusts from MAC, happy lipstick-ing!
-m

My everyday color:

Modesty

 My coral hit (one of my favorite go to's):

See Sheer

 My berry tint:

Capricious (less red in real life!)

 One I LOVE but am nervous to try:

Girl About Town

 Always a classic:

Ruby Woo

 Could be the perfect neutral: 

Twig

 

Flowers Always Make People Better...

"Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul."- Luther Burbank

My little gardens are teeming with flowers. I have tiger lilies over running one side of my houseand a hardy wild rose bush on the opposite side (that has managed to bloom even though I cut it to pieces when I first moved in). I have bachelor buttons, bleeding hearts, pansies and irises. Pinks, begonias and hostas galore. Still I feel as though it is not near enough and I want as many as I can get my hands on! I find them inspiring. I am loving the bright colors and recently have applied that inspiration to my nails. Yes nails, you read that correct. I am a nail polish junkie. A believer that OPI and trendy colors can brighten a day (at least my day) and even though I am not allowed to wear it to work, I revel in painting my nails. It is now part of my turn around day routine. A long lover of OPI colors, I have recently switched to Essie and am really enjoying the change. For the summer I am feeling bright pinks, nudes, oranges, greens and glitter. Garden colors, which is a welcome change from the ballet pinks and dark greys and taupes I rocked all winter long. Ah such a cheap thrill nail polish is!
-m

Cute as a button, Action, Turquoise and caicos, Mamba and Set in stones, all my go to summer shades!

Odd man out on my ring finger, inspired by the always fabulous Janna Goodwin.