FOTD+VOTW: Snow Bunny

Today, as I was waiting for my mom to get ready so we'd go shopping, I decided to do a more elaborate makeup than my normal eyeliner+mascara+lipbalm look.
For some reason, Jessica Harlow's latest tutorial "Snow Bunny" had an impact on me since I really felt like recreating the look.
Here's how it turned out:

Not the most flattering picture, I know. But it's the one where you could see the look best... And excuse the red marks on my nose, it was because of my glasses.

So, since Jessica's video really made me want to create this look, I thought I would share it with you. It's really flattering on brown eyes, but I think it would also look amazing with blue eyes!

Obviously, if you have other colored-eyes you can still wear this :P

Enjoy!

What are your favorite colors to wear during winter? What is your favorite cold-weather accessory?

Review: Clairol Nice 'n' Easy Foam Hair Dye

For the love of everyone's hair, I thought it'd be good to give you my opinion on a hair dye I used today.
I believe that everyone has different experiences and different criteria for what a good product is, so my opinion may not be the same as yours.

Today, I tried Clairol's Nice 'n' Easy Foam hair dye in the color Medium Brown. I wanted something close to my natural color because my hair grows out fast and roots are always a problem. I bought this particular hair dye because I wanted to try out the Foam formula, and this was on sale when I went in my local pharmacy.

First of all, I find that the color payoff I got was pretty similar to what the box indicated, if only slightly darker. No, I didn't find the right color to match my natural hair color.

Secondly, the Foam texture had pros and cons. It was easy to apply, but the hair seemed to stick together more than it does with liquid formulas, which made it hard to distribute the hair dye everywhere after a certain point. It doesn't work like they show in commercials, that you simply use it as a shampoo. As soon as the foam touches the hair, it becomes liquid.

The biggest problem I had with this hair dye was the product itself. It had a very powerful and overwhelming smell of chemicals. It was so intense that I had to open a window and stick my head outside to breath fresh air. I also felt like the smell lingered in my nose all day! Seriously, I felt like I inhaled tons of toxic chemicals. I had a very hard time enjoying the dyeing process because of the smell.
It also stained way more than other dyes. I got some on my sink and it wouldn't go with water and soap, whereas other hair dyes with a similar color would wash off, even after drying. Let's not even mention how much I had to exfoliate my neck to get it off...
Rinsing out the product also made my hair feel really dry and even applying the conditioner it came with didn't seem to be enough. I have healthy hair but for those who don't, I think you should avoid this. I had to use Moroccan Oil to make it feel soft.

Final thoughts? I'd rate this product 1.5 stars out of 5, and I certainly won't repurchase this ever!
Have you tried this hair dye before? What are your thoughts? What's your favorite hair dye?

FOTD: Let it snow

I haven't done Face Of The Day posts ever, I think! For those who don't know, it basically consists of posting a picture of what your make up of the day looks like and listing all the products used below! So here goes:

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Blues from Coastal Scents Smokey Palette
Matte Dark Brown shadow smudged on lower lashline from Smokey Palette
Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner Pen
L'Oréal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara
Rimmel Soft Kohl White Liner in lower waterline

Face: 
Covergirl Blush in Natural Rose (doesn't really show up because of the flash)
Physician's Formula Stick Concealer in Yellow
Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in lightest shade

Lips
EOS Lipbalm in Sweet Mint
Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Take a Chance

What's new??

• I quit my job and my boss really didn't take it well... but I'm glad to be out of there!
• I got a haircut! Redid my side bangs and got some layers.
• I. am. not. motivated. to. clean. my. room! It is so messy, it's ridiculous. 
• I love my daddy :) He's the most positive and calm person I know.
• My cat slept on my bed today for the first time in a couple of months! She was so cute :)

What other Holiday related posts would you like to see on my blog?

Open Box: Coastal Scents Smokey Palette

*This is not an in-depth review; it's my first impressions after a couple of uses*

On Black Friday, I was determined to purchase something online. There were all these amazing sales and I didn't know where to start! 

I ended up purchasing only the Smokey Palette from Coastal Scents, which was at $9.99 instead of $19.99. With shipping and taxes, it came up to $18-something... for 36 eyeshadows, I'd say that's a pretty good deal! So I purchased it on the November 25th and on December 6th, it was at my door, so I must say shipping from the U.S. to Canada wasn't that long...

Anyways, here are the pictures!

Packaging for this small palette was insane... So much stuffing to make sure it wouldn't break!

I even had huge bubble wrap around it! This reminds me, I gotta go play with it after I post this...

They also sent me a sample of one of their pigments!

This is what the cardboard box of the palette looks like. When I opened it, the palette was also sealed with fine plastic. Come to think of it, eco-friendly people must be going insane with all this unnecessary packaging... but I must admit I would've been PISSED if anything was broken.

The palette itself! It has a nice sleek matte finish, which is great for those who hate fingerprints on their stuff. It also closes well so you don't  have to be afraid it'll pop open.

The colors! There is a nice variety of shades, both matte and shimmery. The concept of this palette is that you get 6 sets of 6 eyeshadows that are great to create different smokey eyes. From top to bottom, left to right, you get: golds/warm colors, greens, purples/plums, neutral/black, blue, and pink/violet shades.There are also a bunch of colors that are great to use regularly, such as the matte black which is pretty well pigmented, and some nice shimmers for all over the eyelid. It's great if you want to start experimenting with color, which was my purpose for buying this.

Picture of the shadows with flash. We can see the shimmery shades better on this one... 

Overall, for the price I got this palette, I think it was totally worth it and I can't wait to experiment with it more! I might share with you pictures of looks that I'll create with this palette if any of you are interested.

If you have this palette, what are your thoughts on it, or on any other Coastal Scents products? If you don't, would you purchase it? What palette is on your wish-list this year?

Merry Red Christmas

As I you might know, I'm an eternal procrastinator. This is what I'm doing right now. Instead of studying, I'm playing around with Polyvore. It's been such a long time and I just felt like creating an outfit.
So here it is! An outfit inspired by the colors of the holiday season. I wish I could have found a way to rock red and green in the same outfit... Maybe another time!

Tell me what you think of it, and what you plan on wearing this New Year's Eve!

Dorothy Perkins red blouse
$44 - dorothyperkins.com

Donna Karan short mini skirt
£355 - harveynichols.com

Hue hosiery
$18 - piperlime.gap.com

Wet seal boots
$30 - wetseal.com

Love Rocks bullet jewelry
$33 - asos.com

Barbour beanie hat
£30 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Lancome L'Absolu Nu Replenishing and Enhancing Lip Color
$29 - neimanmarcus.com

On my way back

Lovelies, I haven't forgotten about you!

I have three days of school left before finishing my first semester. Last weeks have been pretty intense. After I finish my semester, I will have way more time to dedicate myself to my blog! I have definitely missed it...
I am planning on sharing with you my gift ideas, some holiday inspired looks, and hauls, among many other goodies!

If you have any specific requests of articles, let me know!

See you soon!

NOTD & Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Review

I showed you this nail polish in my birthday haul and I decided to write a review because I thought you might be interested.

The nail polish in question is Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri in Grape Going!

First of all, the color is really hard to describe. It's sometimes blue, purple, grey, or green, depending on how the light hits it. 

It is not a glittery color, I simply added glitter on my ring finger.
The brush is very wide, stiff and flat, which took some getting used to. It seemed hard to distribute the color on the nail smoothly.
The consistency of the polish seems more gooey than regular nail polishes, which was again weird to me. The first coat went on very sheer. It took 2-3 coats total to get a solid color, and even then, it seemed there were spots where you could sort of see through.
As far as the quality goes, I don't really know what to say. It does dry pretty fast, which is what it's meant to do. However, after finishing my manicure, I realized I had little bubbles on my nails. Was it because of the nail polish or the top coat I used? I cannot tell...
Also, the third day of wear, which is today, I went to work with it. I usually wear gloves but I work in a pastry shop so I have to use my hands a lot. It did start to chip, but it isn't very noticeable.

So, you be the judge!

By the way, I got my second MAC product! Expect a review soon :)

Tell me: What's your favorite brand of nail polishes? What's your favorite color of the moment?

Cupcakes!

Yesterday, I followed my impulsion. I really wanted to bake something, so I decided to go for an ingredient I had never used before: pumpkin filling.

I had tasted pumpkin pie at my workplace (pastry shop), and was surprised to see that it was really good. So I remembered Blair Fowler's baking tutorial where she showed her recipe for pumpkin cupcakes, and I remembered she used cream cheese frosting on top.

So I bought the cupcake mix with spice flavor, the pumpkin filling and the cream cheese frosting.
I was able to make 18 cupcakes, and not even a full 24 hours later, only 6 are left, the ugliest ones:

I thought I'd share with you Blair's video because I think it's really well-done and it's a nice recipe to add a little bit of warmth to your cold season.
Enjoy!

Grateful :)

It's been a while, I know! But better late than never!
I wanted to share beauty related things I got for my birthday, plus a few extras which I wanted to share, and to say one thing: thank you. Thank you to those who read me, those who wished me a happy birthday, those who spoiled and those who care about me. It really means something to me :)

Let's get on with the beauty products! Some were gifts, some were purchased by me.

From left to right, top to bottom:
1. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Face Primer
2. Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Grape-Going!
3. Ralph Lauren Rocks Perfume
4. Rimmel Exagerate Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil with smudge-tip
5. L'Oréal Voluminous False Lashes
6. Maybelline New York EyeStudio in Made for Mauve
7. Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Take a Chance
8. Physician's Formula Happy Boosting Powder in Translucent
9. Physician's Formula Gentle Cover Corrector in Yellow 

So far, I'm happy with all of these products, except the mascara. It's kinda clumpy. I haven't tried the polish yet, I'll do a NOTD post when I do :)

Here's a special mention to my boyfriend, who offered me a beautiful gift: a super nice watch, which I didn't really need, but am in love with. 

And to my parents, who finally gave me what I wanted for such a long time! :D This is partially why I haven't blogged in a while... still clumsy with the keyboard and still got a few things to set up in order to feel "home".

And finally, a huge thanks to two of my best friends for offering me some great entertainment: Just Dance 3! Gosh, I love you girls, and the game! :)

Tell me, what was the best present you ever received, and for what occasion was it?

New glasses!

As my birthday was on Thursday, October 20th, and I celebrated Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, I haven't quite been able to blog about it.
However, I will be posting a Birthday Haul article shortly if you guys are curious to see what I got! (I got a lot of sweets, so by the time I take pictures, they might not exist anymore...)
But, here's something I received recently in the mail that I was really excited for.
I have a pretty bad vision and I wore contacts most of the time because I hated my glasses. The contacts aren't very good to wear all the time, but I would wear mine from 6 a.m to 10 p.m., which was way to much and my eyes would get very dry. However, I ordered new glasses through Clearly Contacts, and I looooove them! So, I think that I'll be wearing glasses more often now. Plus, they were sooooo cheap! Not even 100$! For those who have glasses, you know that's a great deal.

Yeah, I am au naturel in this picture... 0 makeup.  It was the morning after my birthday party organized by my boyfriend! It was so nice :)

What do you guys think of my frames? Do you wear glasses (like it or hate it)? How bad is your vision?

Collective Haul (Sept.-Oct.)

I finally got the time to take a picture of what I bought during the last weeks and thought I'd share it with you guys! 

From left to right, top to bottom:

1. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 200, Strobe Light

2. Revlon Nail Enamel in 791, Midnight Affair

3. Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment, Base & Top Coat

4. Revlon Nail Enamel in 478, Tuscan Sun

5. Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara in Clear

6. NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Big Apple Blush

7. NYC Lipstick in 314, Petal

8. Wet n Wild Natural Wear Lip Shimmer in 106

9. Nivea Energy Breeze Invisible Anti-Perspirant, Fresh sensation with Lemongrass extracts

(Had to mention this even though it isn't makeup because I looooove it. I've always had trouble finding a good deodorant and this one does the job perfectly!)

10. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black

Now... onto fashion! I only got 2 pieces...

This top is from Dynamite and I got it for 20$. The color shows up perfectly in the picture... It also has some tight stitching on the side which creates the sort of wrinkles on it. The sleeves are done in the same way. It is veeery comfy. 

This cardigan is from Simmons. It is a round neck, and has 5 large black buttons. The inside is a nice floral pattern so if you keep it open and bend the edges, it looks very interesting. It came in several other colors I believe.

What have you recently purchased that you absolutely love? Do you want a review on any of the products mentioned?

Birthday Wishlist

I thought I'd do a super quick post right before going to bed about what I wish to get or buy for myself for my birthday, October 20th.
I know I'm getting a laptop so I won't include that in the list ;)

• Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki brush from Sigma 
  
• Travel Kit Nice in Pink from Sigma
  
• Just Dance 3 Wii Game
  
• Faux Leather Jacket (black or brown)
• Ankle boots or booties (black or grey)
• NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow pencil in Milk & other colors maybe
  
• Frame for a Prom Picture

I will continue to update this soon but that is pretty much it for now!

When is your birthday? What do you want to have? What did you get?

VOTW + updates :)

Sorry for being so MIA lately. I have a sort of "early" mid-term. I'm swamped with exams during this week which means lots of studying!
I've also joined the school newspaper and I'm responsible for the Fashion and the Movie Review segments so that adds on some additional work. As you can imagine, that extra time I had to write articles is kinda limited due to this.
I hope you can understand!
However, I still want to share a video which I really appreciated!
Since October is almost here, let's get into the spirit of Halloween! Credits to xBeingNEONx for this great video. Enjoy :)

Recent purchases! + First MAC product??

Finally! I'm taking a break from studying and thought I would use my time wisely by updating my baby (my blog)

Here's what I purchased during the last weekend!

From left to right:

1. See that teeny tiny little black box on the side? No? Let me give you a zoom:
   Yes! I got my very first MAC product! I wanted to get something I was almost 100% sure I'd like and wouldn't mind paying a substantial amount of money for, so I went for the classic old paintpot. I got it in Bare Study, and it cost me 21$. I haven't touched my Urban Decay Primer Potion since!
2. I got this teal shirt (it's a bit darker in real life). It cost me 5$, from Urban Outfitters. Very comfy!
3. The two camis were 5$ each from UO as well. I haven't worn them yet but they can be very practical for layering, which will come in very handy for fall.

That's about it! Pretty small article but better than nothing, right?

Speak up! What was your first MAC product? Which one do you really want to get?

Why I'm (mostly) Against Plastic Surgery

Today, I came across yet another article about plastic surgery in the celebrity world and I just thought I should state my point. Heck, what else is a blog for?

The pictures below were featured in an article on Yahoo! From the first picture, you might notice a resemblance with Lindsay Lohan. Yes, it's her sister Ali Lohan.

Ali in 2009 (left) and in 2011. (Gary Gershoff/WireImage, Splash News)

I'm sorry, but to me, she looked better in 2009 (although that picture isn't necessarily very flattering) than in 2011. Now, she looks scary, pale, and unhealthy. The article speculates that it might not be surgery, but the difference is too big so I doubt it.

Let me be clear here: I'm against plastic surgery when it is used excessively and for the wrong reasons.
I know people who had plastic surgery to remove huge bags under their eyes when they were only 30. Yes, usually at 30, you don't have huge bags, so I can understand that. However, I'm soooo against Botox, so I think we should embrace our wrinkles.
I'm also pro-surgery when it's for medical reasons. I know someone who had such droopy eyelids that they were preventing her from seeing well. Or surgery after an accident, fine!

I also understand surgery if you want to correct some sort of malformation or something.

But surgery to "make yourself more beautiful" is dangerous, because it can spiral out of control! 

Take Heidi Montag as an extreme example! 

She looked cute before, yet now she looks like a plastic doll, straight out of a cardboard box.

Look at Ali's 2009 picture. Was she "ugly"? Did any of her features handicap her from living a normal life? 

Of course not! Why did she need to go through this transformation?

I believe that self-esteem comes from the inside. It's a mental process that we all go through to accept or at least "cope" with who we are and what we look like. I don't believe that going under the knife will solve that problem. 

However, I must state a case with which I sympathize. Marlena from MakeupGeekTV had a tummy-tuck after working very hard for a year to lose dozens of pounds. It was her way of completing her hard work, because the extra skin almost hid the result she got after all the hard work. That skin was almost a handicap, because it made her look like still had extra weight on her belly, which was not the case!

Marlena used surgery to complete her hard work so she could enjoy the result. She did it for the "right reasons".

Using surgery to change the way you look, however, I can't support.

Ultimately, it is your choice. The "wrong reasons" for me might be "good reasons" to you.

Tell me, are you pro or anti plastic surgery?

What do you think of Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Thompson, forming the "British Anti-Cosmetic Surgery League" ?

VOTW: A perfect combo

So, I know it's been a pretty long time since I posted something on here but I decided that it's time to get back on track. My life has actually started to be more "on track" so my blog certainly needs to follow!
Before I tell you what has been going on with me lately, let's get on to the topic: my favorite VOTW.
I thought this was the easiest and most simple thing to do...

So, this week I decided to show you 2 videos, hoping to make it up to you for the lack of posts ;)
The first one is from Bubzbeauty, a youtuber I really like because she is very... bubbly. She put together this amazing video where she shows us 40 (!!!) outfits in 3 minutes (!!!). This is peeeerfect if you're looking to amp-up your wardrobe because most of the things showed will probably never go out of style.
Enjoy it!

The next video is by none other than Xsparkage. This girl is daaa bomb. Ha ha ha, no but seriously, I love her! She recreated Nicki Minaj's VMA makeup look perfectly. I wouldn't actually wear this but I love how she manages to recreate something so accurately. Also, she uses pretty interesting techniques in this video.
Check it out!

What's new with me??

• I got a job!!! I work in a pastry shop. It might sound like it's nothing, but my first day was sooo exhausting. 
• It's been my second week in college. It was pretty nice! I bet some nice people but already have loads of work, obviously. 
• I've been on a healthy kick recently! I've been eating very healthy snacks and meals in general. 
• I will make 2 videos for both my channels to explain more things. 

xox :)

Thank you to my followers!

I just wanted to make this quick post to tell you how much I love you guys and how much it means to me that you're following my blog! Even if it's your first time here, thank you so much for stopping by! Your support means the world to me and every time I get a comment, it makes me smile and makes my day brighter. 

I love you all and thank you!

Macadamia Review: Moisturizing Rinse

The second step in this kit is to condition your hair!

This lasts way longer than the shampoo, since you don’t need as much conditioner as you need shampoo, so I got to try this more than the shampoo.

The product: It is color-safe, sulfate and paraben free. The consistency is pretty thick, just like any conditioner.

The smell: I feel like this should smell good, because it’s the last product you use in the shower. However, it just smells kind of herbal. Come to think of it, maybe the fragrance should be switched between the shampoo and conditioner.

The effect: This really made my hair feel so soft after shampooing. You don’t need much to get the result you want. Use like any conditioner, avoid the roots!

Overall: I enjoyed this conditioner, but I wouldn’t repurchase it because of the price and the smell. It costs 21$ for 10 fl. oz.

Macadamia Review: Rejuvenating Shampoo

On with the first step of this set!

Obviously, the size of this shampoo bottle is really small, so what I tell you about this product is what I’ve experienced during and after 2-3 uses.

The product:  The consistency of it is very similar to any other shampoo. It is a clear, slightly peachy color. However, I find that it doesn’t foam as much as other shampoos, which made me feel like I needed more to actually clean my hair and scalp. It is color-safe, sulfate and paraben free.

The smell: I find that it smells like cantaloupe! It took me a while to put my finger on it, but I’d say the smell is pleasant. It doesn't stay on veeery long.

The effect: Since it doesn’t foam up a lot, I find that you need to use more in order to be sure that you clean your hair properly. It doesn't leave the hair feeling dry or all tangled. 

Overall: I enjoyed this shampoo, but I wouldn’t repurchase it because of the price and the fact that it doesn’t foam enough to my taste. It costs 21$ for 10 fl. oz.

Macadamia Products Reviews!

This first post on the Macadamia products is just to introduce you to the line, if you haven’t heard of it, and also to give you my overall impression of this set.

Macadamia Natural Oil products are known for mixing “two of the world’s most valuable and beneficial oils, Macadamia and Argan, to provide the ultimate in hair rejuvenation and maintenance.” A popular brand of Argan oil is Moroccan Oil, which is also amazing stuff! If you want to read more about the benefits of Argan and Macadamia Oil, click here.

Basically, I heard about the Deep Repair Mask from Elle Fowler, and when I stumbled on this travel set, I told my mom we had to give it a try, since I heard these are amazing products.

In this travel set, you get for 25$:

• 30 ml (1 fl. oz) of Deep Repair Mask
• 60 ml (2 fl. oz.) of Rejuvenating Shampoo
• 60 ml (2 fl. oz.) of Moisturizing Rinse
• 60 ml (2 fl. oz.) of Nourishing Leave-In Cream
• 60 ml (2 fl. oz.) of Healing Oil Spray

Overall, I’m really glad we purchased these and gave them a try. I think it was worth the price and I wish I could afford to continue to use this line. In the next posts, I will review separately each product and give you my impressions of them, so stay tuned!

Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored by Macadamia Natural Oil for these posts. I am 100% honest in my reviews. These are more like “first impressions”, since I haven’t been able to try out the products for a long time, due to the size of these.

My trip and a little makeup haul!

First things first, I think I gotta apologize for the lack of articles during the past week. 

As those who follow me on Twitter might know, I was on vacation and although I really wanted to update my blog, the wi-fi there was pretty unreliable so I couldn't do much!

I had a blast in Maine. I was there with my boyfriend and his family, including his sister who's hilarious! We were laughing all along and it was great. We went to the beach, played mini-putt, watched Crazy Stupid Love (great movie!), shopped in Boston, and took it easy. I really enjoyed my time there and I hope I can go there again soon with them! Here are some pictures which were actually taken last year in the same place (I didn't have a camera this year with me!) :

Now, onto the haul! As I was in the United States, I knew I could find cheaper makeup than in Canada. So there I went, destination: the drugstore! Let me just add that my boyfriend didn't let me get unreasonable and spend as much as I could have. For $28, here's what I got:

Wet n Wild Trio in Knock on Wood

I got this because I really wanted a sort of burgundy shade and that bottom one is amaaaazing. 

These swatches are without primer. Look at that crazy pigmentation! And it was only like 3-4$. FYI, these are shimmery shades, but it's not chunky glitter in them.

Garnier Skin Renew Anti Dark Circle Roller
I got this as it was in one of my wishlist articles. It retails for over 20$ here, and there it was 13! I've tried it 2-3 times and so far, I like it! It's slightly pigmented and also gives a light to medium coverage on your dark circles!

NYC Smooch Proof 16H LipStain in Coral Reef.

I think it was about time I got a lipstain so my boyfriend won't complain about getting lipstick all over... This shade is really cute!

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in Pure White

I really wanted something for the lower waterline to make me look more awake! This is gonna be my best friend during school, although it's not suuuper long lasting.

Wet n Wild Single Shadow in Brulee - From what I've heard, an excellent dupe for MAC's Brulee!

You can't barely see it and that's the point: it matches my skin tone awesomely! This is gonna be my go-to nude color for my eyelids!

Tell me, what have you done and where have you been this Summer??