GRWM || Smokey Duochrome Eyes + Vampy Lips

Hey guys! Here's a deep, vampy look for you guys today. I'm sorry the duochrome in the eyeshadow I use doesn't pop right on my eyes on camera, but I swear it looked cool in real life!

Also, I was planning to record a voiceover for this video, but it turned out quite short so I didn't feel it was necessary. I put in some titles for anything I did want to point out, but otherwise, I hope you enjoy this as a GRWM. Let me know if you want to see me do more voiceovers, though!

As always, if you have similar colours from other brands, you do not need the ones I use here, but all the same, the products I used will be listed in the video's description.

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

Chatty GRWM || Soft Gold Eyes & Red lips || Using my Ride or Die tag products!

In which I use most of my answers to the Ride or Die tag to do my makeup! I thought it would be a good way to show you the products in action, instead of just listing them out and not showing how they perform at all. Hope you enjoy the look and seeing some of my holy grail makeup products!

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

GRWM + VLOG || Urban Decay Metrotown Store Opening Event || Plum & Gold Eyes w/ Pink Lips

In which I share some pieces of my day with you from the day of the Urban Decay store opening party at Metrotown, including a GRWM of my makeup for the event.

I didn't finish the vlog properly, which I explain at the end, but I filmed a lot before the event, so I wanted to share that with you anyways. There's cute doggy footage!

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

TAG || The Perfect Palette Tag

Hey guys, as asked for by a couple people on my Perfect Palette 2 Tag video, here are my answers to the original perfect palette tag! Link me if you've done this tag as well! Enjoy!

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

TAG || Perfect Palette 2

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

Chatty GRWM || Smoked Gold Eyes

I'm so in love with the way this makeup look turned out, so I hope you enjoy it too! I was looking for a new combo to make out of my beloved UD Naked palette, and this is what I got pairing two colours I wasn't sure would work together!

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Let me know some of your favourite shadow combos from the Naked palette if you have any!

Thanks for watching!

GRWM || Boyfriend's Birthday Party + Canada Day Makeup! {video}

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

|| Chatty GRWM: Friend's Birthday Party || Bright Purple Lips & Neutral Gold Eyes || {video}

Click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

|| Chatty GRWM || Naked Palette + Berry Lips || {video}

Your options, should you choose to accept one: click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

|| GRWM #9 || Silvery Eyes & Limecrime's Babette || {video}

Your options, should you choose to accept one: click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

Dark Lips & Smokey Eyes Tutorial Ft. MAC Cyber Lipstick {Video}

Since I have this gorgeous new lipstick, and because I'm so excited for dark Fall makeup, I thought I'd do something completely different from usual for this tutorial! Enjoy!

Your choices: click here to watch in HD, or watch below:

Thanks for watching!

VIDEO: GRWM #5 || Long-Lasting Summery Makeup Ft. MAC Morange Lipstick

Click here to watch in HD on YouTube, or watch below:

***

Thanks for watching!

VIDEO: GRWM #4 (Playing with Naked 1)

Just another quick post to tell you that my new video is now up on my channel. Just a simple Get Ready With Me video this time. To check it out, click here to see the HD version, or simply watch below:

Thanks for watching once again! DFTBA <3

Tutorial: My Signature Makeup Look (Video)

Hello again! I just posted a new tutorial yesterday morning on my YouTube channel. If you're interested in seeing my bronze eyes and bright lips tutorial, click here to view on YouTube in HD. 

Thanks! Let me know what you think and if there are any types of videos you'd like to see from me!

Collective Mini-Haul

Hello again! It’s been more than 2 weeks since my update post, so it’s about time I got back into this. I thought it would be good to start off with an itty-bitty collective haul for you, so here are just a couple of things I’ve acquired over the past couple of weeks.

1.Nicole by OPI Nic’s Sticks in “Rainbow’s End,” “Don’t Leaf Yet,” and “Stick With Me”:

I think these are a pretty old product since the majority of the results when I googled them I got several reviews from 2011 and 2012, and nothing newer, so they probably aren’t available in stores. That said, however, I don’t think that’s much of a loss, as these are pretty terrible. I got these, along with the next product from a girl that David works with since she never uses them, and I can see why! The idea seems to be that these are portable and convenient, but I just found them awkward and frustrating. The top of the pen clicks to release product into the brush, which you then brush onto your nails, but it’s very inconsistent, hard to control, and watery! The picture below is two coats of each colour on my nails, since I had no intention of wasting space on a nail wheel for these. (Which is  a little unfortunate, as that gold is a really pretty gold holographic, but it’s so impossible to use!)

2. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails polish in “Peony”:

As I mentioned above, I got this polish from the same girl as the Nic Sticks. This, however, is a full bottle of this gorgeous shimmery pink polish that goes on beautifully in two coats (see the swatch below). I will get plenty of use out of this!

3. Tresemme Split Remedy Split-End Leave-In Conditioning Spray:

I was looking for a new leave in treatment since my Argan Oil is almost gone, and this was on sale at Shoppers Drugmart for only $4 for this big bottle, so I decided to try it out. It’s not your usual leave-in spray, since the formula is thicker and creamier. I actually thought it just looked like conditioner in the bottle, but it sprays out fairly evenly, and you’re meant to use it on damp or towel dried hair anways, so it spreads through your ends fairly easily. I’ve only used it once so far, but I definitely like the smell and it did seem to do good things for my hair’s softness and shininess!

4. Urban Decay Naked 3 palette:

I want to do a more in-depth review post on this palette later on—even though I’m pretty sure most of you have read and seen tons of other reviews already—so I won’t go too much into my thoughts on this palette just yet, but I wanted to show it to you so you would know that that review is coming! I’m so glad I finally have it, though; I’ve been drooling over these colours ever since I got to swatch these shadows in-store a couple weeks ago. So that review post should be up sometime in the next week or so, once I’ve had a chance to use more of the shadows.

***

Also! I would like to start doing more reviews of individual products, so if there was anything you’ve seen in a previous post you want more of my thoughts on, make sure to leave your suggestion in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

Four Year Anniversary Makeup (+ my new Michael Kors bag)!

Hello again! I thought today I’d post a quick look at how I did my makeup for my fourth anniversary date with my boyfriend, as well as the fantastic MK bag that he bought me as an anniversary gift!

For makeup I went pretty simple, considering my makeup the next day was going to be pretty intense… (Our anniversary is the day before Halloween!).

I used my Skin 79 BB Cream and set it with my Rimmel Stay Matte powder. I also used my Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soliel bronzer to lightly contour my face, and used my MAC Soft and Gentle as a highlight on my cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow.

For my eyes, I used my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze as a light wash across my lids, and highlighted the inner corner and brow bone with Virgin from my UD Naked palette. I lined the top lashes with my Wet’n’Wild H20 proof liquid liner, and the waterline with my UD pencil in Perversion. For mascara, I used two coats of my Revlon Lash Potion. Finally, for my brows, I used my NYX AUTO eyebrow pencil in Taupe.

Sorry for the over-exposure of these next two images, but they were the only non-blurry ones I got of my full face with my lip colour! I’ve tried to colour-correct them a bit, and this is the best I’ve managed.

Anyways, for my lips, I used my NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Addis Ababa, which I absolutely love not just for the colour, but also because it sets quickly, lasts a long time, and fades nicely (at least in my experience). I’d love to try more colours of this product.

One thing I’ve started to notice about my makeup, or at least the looks I love enough to take pictures of, is that I’m developing my own “classic” sort of look, which pretty much always includes a bronze or gold eye, flawless skin, perfect brows, contouring, and a bright pink-ish lip! =P

And now for my present:

I actually got this bag about a week before our anniversary, when my boyfriend and I were going downtown, and he said we should stop in at the Michael Kors store to visit the bag I have been lusting after ever since the day my best friend bought hers. I wasn’t sure they still made it, since it isn’t on the site. I had a tiny suspicion that I might get the bag, but I didn’t want to believe that in case I didn’t… I mean, it’s a very expensive bag, in my opinion, at about $250 bucks! But when I tried to put it back after trying it on he stopped me and I got the beautiful bag!

It’s called the Jet Set Zip-Top tote… so it doesn’t have a cool name or anything, but who cares?! I love it so much, I think it’s so simple and beautiful… and the leather is sooo soft! Also, unlike lots of designed purses, it has lots of pockets inside, and even a clip for your keys so they don’t get lost at the bottom!

So yeah, I’m super excited to have it, even like 2 weeks later. I’m actually probably much too excited about this considering its just a bag… but that’s alright.

Anyways, thanks for reading!

Random Face of the Day

I don’t often get a chance to do as much makeup as I like to do, but this Friday I managed to make myself wake up early enough to do a full face, so I thought I’d share the results.

What I used:

• Garnier BB Cream in Light/Medium mixed with Lancôme Color Ideal (not sure the colour)
• Benefit Coralista blush
• NYX mechanical brown pencil in light brown
• Urban Decay primer potion
• Urban Decay Virgin on the whole lid and Toasted in the crease and outer corner, from my original Naked Palette
• Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Zero
• Maybelline Colossal Volume Cat Eyes mascara followed my Maybelline Turbo Volume Express in Very Black
• NYC Moisturizing Lipstick in 353A
• Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray

I hope you liked this post, thanks for reading!

December 2012 Favourites

It’s the 7th, and almost midnight at that, but at least I’m getting this out before the end of the first week of the month! Anyways, here are my December favourites! Instead of giving you a super-short post, I’ll show you a couple favourites from the month, and also re-mention some past favourites that I’m still loving!

1. Argan Oil

This stuff is amazing, and it has pretty much completely replaced the Baby Buttercreme from last month in my hair routine.

I use this when my hair is still slightly damp. First, I brush out my hair and part it like usual. Next, because my hair is so thick, I part my hair in half in the back of my head, and use about a nickel-sized amount of the Argan oil for each half. If you have thin hair, you might be able to use about half what I do, since a bit of product goes a long way, and you don’t want to weight down your hair.

Then I warm up the oil in my hands before working it through my hair from the ends to about ear level on both sides, and I make sure to get some on the ends of my bangs, which are trying very hard to grow themselves out! When that’s done, I brush the oil through and let my hair dry naturally.

I've really felt a difference in the softness of my hair, and I also really like the soft, subtle scent. Also, this brand wasn't even that expensive, which is great! Will almost definitely repurchase once this bottle is empty!

 

 

2. Candles

This is probably not much of a shock. It seems like pretty much every beauty blogger around loves her candles, especially the ones from Bath and Body Works! I mean, come on, who doesn’t love when a room smells nice? Also, fire is pretty, and I can’t be the only one who thinks that, otherwise there wouldn’t be a fire-place channel on TV during the holidays…! Pictured are the majority of my current candle stash. I’m currently trying to work my way through that giant vanilla pillar candle before actually getting into the B&BW candles, though I couldn’t stop myself from trying out one of my French Baguette candles (which I burned almost half of!).

Repeats (to see all my past favourites, click here):

1. Burton Crystal File

I’ve actually said this before twice, once in my first Favourites post, and again when I got my travel file. These are so great for my nails! They don’t shred, like other files tend to, and actually help to seal the layers of your nail together! I carry one of these with me everywhere, and refuse to use anything else!

2. Maybelline Turbo Volume Express Mascara

I’ve tried several mascaras since my May Favourites post, but I’m pretty sure this is still my favourite. There is one I’m starting to like from my BeautyCrazed Canada prize pack (I’ll post it soon, I promise!), but I think this is still better so far! I love the volume it gives my lashes, and it isn’t as temperamental as I find the Falsies mascara… this mascara and my lashes just seem to get along!

3. Urban Decay Naked Palette

Another obvious favourite! This is just so versatile; you can create great natural or bold looks with this, and all the colours go together. Plus, with the Primer Potion, these basically last all bloody day! Love!

4. Urban Decay 24/7 Liner Pencil in Zero

(Sorry about the quality; I can’t find these images on my computer, and this one looks like it was taken before I got my good camera, but since the rest of these repeat pictures were taken from the original posts, I wanted to continue the trend.)

This is definitely the best liner I’ve ever used! I have and use Perversion, but I retract my statement that it is a favourite; I definitely prefer Zero to Perversion. It stays longer, for one, it seems like Perversion is too pigmented and soft to last. And sometimes Perversion is just too black to look right with a look.

Non-Beauty Favourites:

1. Merlin

Image from 3-Monkeys.co.uk

Working my way through British tv shows I want to watch, I’m now on the second season of Merlin, and it is fantastic! This is a show basically about Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, etc. when they’re young. The final season is currently airing (I believe), so I have to try to avoid spoilers a bit, but since this isn’t really big (at least in Canada, I honestly don’t know about elsewhere) that isn’t hard. I’ll admit that sometimes the effects are a little cheesy or cheap looking, especially at the beginning, but the show is wonderful, and I love it! I definitely recommend giving it a try if you like fantasy, historical fiction, Arthurian legends, or British TV!

2. Lord of the Rings

Image from hyderabad.olx.in (This is what my boxed set looks like)

This is a long-time love, but I just wanted to mention it, since I’m re-reading the books right now, and also just refinished watching the extended editions of the movies in preparation for seeing the Hobbit on Friday!

After ten years since the last time I read these books, I’d forgotten how beautifully written they are. Tolkien is such a wonderful author, and I honestly have no sympathy for anyone who thinks he is dry and boring. His descriptions are wonderful, and his characters emotional and moving, and everything is just so real! I’m constantly running into passages that I want to quote and remember and share. Maybe I’m just a massive nerd, but I think this is one of those books that everyone should read. (And yes, technically the Lord of the Rings is one novel, in three parts, not a trilogy of novels. I’ll stop being a nerd now.)

I also wanted to mention that I finally have a bit of money now, and I would love to finally do that giveaway I mentioned last summer! Let me know what kind of prizes you’d be interested in winning!

Thanks for reading!

Before and After, or “What I look like without makeup”

I just want to preface this post by saying that not too long ago, I wouldn’t have had the courage to post something like this, and I probably haven’t left the house without at least mascara on since grade 9 (about 7 years ago). However, after seeing so many other posts like this on Reddit, as well as makeup tutorials on Youtube, I’m a tiny bit less critical of how I look without makeup.

That said, I did take these pictures, originally to post to r/MakeupAddiction on reddit, but decided to also post them here, along with a list of the products I used to create the look.

Before:

Please excuse my messy brows. They got very thin over the years due to over plucking, and I have been growing them back before I get back to work cleaning them up. I am enjoying not having almost invisible lines for eyebrows, though!

After:

I apologize for the odd colouring in the first couple pictures, I’m not sure what my camera was doing.

This is a very derpy picture…

Close-up, with closed eyes so you can see the contouring.

I’m actually wearing less makeup today (and in these pictures) than I sometimes do, but I still think this is a pretty good representative of an everyday type look for me. To create this look I used:

• Sephora Mineral Foundation Compact in Light
• NARS Blush in Orgasm
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Urban Decay Naked Palette:
• Naked as a base colour
• Sidecar over top, for sparkle
• Darkhorse on the outer corner and crease
• Sin on the inner corner (though I don’t think you can see it)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero on my waterline
• Maybelline Turbo Volume Express Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

I also sprayed the ELF Mist and Set spray over the look when I was done. I’m not entirely sure that this product does anything, but I like to believe that it does. For the most part, though, I think it just adds a little hydration to my skin, and can prevent my skin from looking too dry if I used just powder, instead of my BB Cream. I would really like to get one of the Urban Decay setting sprays, which I do believe help my makeup last longer, since I often test them out if I get a chance to walk into Sephora at my mall.

I’d love to see your before and after pictures, so post a link for me in the comments if you have them!

February Favourites!

I know we’re already a whole week into March, but that’s why I’m making sure I get my favourites up now before it gets even later!

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette:
   
   
   This was definitely my favourite product this month, even if it almost counts as cheating, since it is in fact several products! I’m so glad I finally bought this, as I have had so much fun playing around with these colours. My absolute favourites are probably Sin, for being so wearable, and Half-baked, for being beautifully pigmented and just gorgeous.
   
   For a while I was taking pictures of most of the looks I did with this palette, so below are two of my favourites:
   
   
   
2. Seche Vite:
   
   
   I wouldn’t say that this is a necessary product for anyone, but it is pretty brilliant! If you are the type who, like me, gets really impatient waiting for her finished manicure to dry before she can do other things, then this is a fantastic topcoat! It dries very quickly and is very shiny when it dries. It was a little pricey, but since you only use it one coat at a time, it should last a good deal longer than a regular polish.
   
   One thing to point out, though, is I’ve heard complaints about this polish from people who experienced shrinkage with Seche Vite. I didn’t but perhaps that is because I paint all the way to the cuticle (and usually over >_<) before cleaning up, whereas others like to leave a small space between the cuticle and the start of the polish. However, if you are like me, I definitely suggest trying this one out if you can handle the price (this cost me about $14).
   
3. Urban Decay Primer Potion:
   
   
   This is just the little one that came with the Naked Palette, but I’m completely in love with it! I have tried the ELF mineral primer, but it didn’t do too much. This one is fantastic, and makes my shadow last all day!
   
4. Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Perversion:
   
   
   This liner is even blacker than the colour Zero, which used to be UD’s only black liner. I haven’t used this too much, because I only just bought a new Zero pencil just before this came out, but I love using it when I want to look really good. Its basically the same fantastic formula is super-black!
   
5. Chloe Eau de Parfum:
   So for this one I’m showing you a picture of the actual full-sized bottle because all I actually own is the tiny little sample bottle that I got in my one and only Luxe Box (I think in September, though it might have been October.)
   
   I’m completely in love with this scent, though I’ve been hesitating to purchase it because a) it’s way more than I usually spend on perfume, and b) because it contains rose, to which my mom is allergic. However, I have been wearing this perfume for a while, and as long as I don’t put in on if I’m going to be spending time with her, I’m sure it would be fine!
   

So those were my cosmetic favourites, and now below are my other favourites for February!

1. The Big Bang Theory:
   
   
   I’ve watched this on and off when it was on TV for a while, but a little while ago, I decided to get the episodes and watch through them from beginning to end, and I have to admit I’m completely addicted! I’m completely in love with all of the characters (except for Howard and Leslie Winkle). I’m currently just finishing up season two.
   
   Honestly, this is a major reason why it’s taken me so long to get around to this post and my February Glymm box post. But I have to try to be better; it’s so tempting to just curl up with tea and Big Bang, but I have homework to do, reading to finish, and I have to get my room clean if I ever want to bring home my beautiful new computer that my boyfriend helped me build!
   
2. Hunger Games Trilogy:
   
   
   I know I mentioned this last month as well, but I had only read the first book then and was waiting on the library or for my ordered copies to come in the mail. They came (on three consecutive days, in separate packages) middle of February, and I finished the last two in a couple days each. I’m so completely in love with these books that I’m really sad there were only three of them! I’m also so excited for the movies and I’m dying to find myself a Mockingjay pin!
    
3. Pringles:
   I have a weakness. >_< Especially the Original flavoured ones. Not sure why I’ve been so in love with them the last little while, but I have been.
   
4. My Camera:
   
   
   The above is a panoramic picture taken with one of my camera’s awesome settings, which allows you to take three pictures that the camera then stitches together for you! Also, almost all of the pictures that I post on here now are taken with my camera (that I got for Christmas), and I love how good quality they are!

Thanks for reading! What were your February favourites?