Katy Perry OPI Collection

The Katy Perry collection in Montreal has been SO hard to find! Suppliers have told me that since it has sold out in the US, it hasn't trickled up to Canada. My last beauty supply store stop today told me that the Texas collection might be in before Katy Perry! I did manage to find mini's, but no Shatter. I will not give up! Untill then, here are some quick shots of the mini's.

in a line up:

On the index finger: "The One that Got Away". A ruby red with red microglitter. Reminds me of a darker "Let Me Entertain You" from the Burlesque collection
On the middle finger: "Last Friday Night". A blue microglitter with slightly larger flecks of silver.  
On the ring finger: "Not Like The Movies". A silver with silver micoglitter in it.
On the pinky: "Teenage Dream". Pink microglitter with larger holographic flecks in it.

Nail of the Day

This is "Pamplona Purple" from OPI's Spain collection.

Ahhh I'd love to visit Spain!

Wet n Wild Pallet

When I think wet n wild I think inexpensive, bad quality products to pass over. But as of late I have watched countless beauty gurus gush over these that I had to pick one up to test myself. Of my choices I went with the "Lust" pallet of the Color Icon collection.

The set comes with a sponge and a brush applicator, of which I never use.
The back features some basic info on how you can use the colours, for brow bone, crease and lid.

The back also says the set includes 3 mattes and 3 shimmers. I wouldn't call the 3 on the left 100% matte. If you look closely they do have a hint shimmer in them. The 3 on the right however are most definitely shimmer colours!

From left to right, the first is a pink toned highlight colour; a more yellow toned shimmer highlight; The next is an eggplant purple; a gunmetal gray with silver sparkles. Down on the left is a brownish-purplish colour, and lastly, a deep brown with pink toned shimmer. Here are my best shots of swatches over my inglot eye shadow base.

The first pink-toned highlight colour didn't show up at all. The second highlight colour you can barely make out the sparkles.
Here are the darkest colours.

The eggplant translates more into a wine red. The gunmetal came out beautifully! The dark brown/purple is meh, and the last I expected more shimmer to come through. From this pallet I am most excited by the gunmetal shimmer. Even if that's the only colour I end up wearing, it was pretty worth it at the $5.95 I paid at Walmart, for me anyways. Will I pick up more of these pallets? Probably not.

Nail of the Day

From the Swiss collection OPI's "Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous"

Can you tell I've been on a dark gray and glitter kick lately? This polish is my two loves combined: gunmetal gray with silver microglitter.

Saving Dry Skin

Not only does winter bring cold weather, the flu and long hours of shoveling snow, but it also brings dry skin. Personally, my skin gets so bad in winter that it gets itchy beyond normal. My remedy to that? Add some oil to your cream! So far I alternate between some sweet almond oil that I bought at a health food store, and a Mary Cohr Argan Oil, only available in spas.

My after shower routine includes moisturizing, mixing in my hands one part cream to one part oil. Voila, problem solved! You could opt for any oil, even olive oil. Well, although I like to smell nice, I wouldn't want to smell like salad. The fact is, all oils or fat soluble substances form an occlusion on your skin, therefore not letting hydration escape. Vaseline will do the same thing. What saves your skin in the winter?

Nail of the Day

In early January MAC released a "Peacocky" collection that i realllly think should have included this China Glaze colour called "Rodeo Fanatic".

Doesn't it remind you of a peacock? My best description of this colour is a dark shimmery turquoise. My apologies for the pictures..its just so hard to capture!

Fab Find

I've been rocking side-swept bangs recently using boring old bobby pins. During my last trip to Forever 21 I discovered these:

Bows are my weakness, the perfect symbol of femininity.  Plus I adore the pattern; these make me so excited for spring! How much were they? Ohh only $1.50! Ahh I love finding good stuff for cheap!

Nail of the Day

The perfect nude: "Tickle my France-y" by OPI.

This came out with the France collection. Is it just me, or do nudes remind you of Kim Kardashian? No matter, I still adore this on my nails.

Nail of the Day

Its back to work/school tomorrow and as a little pick-me-up from the monday blues I decided to get a little funky. This is Colour Club's "Puccilicious"

I added some slicks of black art polish for added fun. Monday won't be sad for meee!

Moroccain Oil

I'm a little late on the bandwagon, but I finally got my hands on some Morccain Oil! A sweet friend got me a 10 ml sample size and i've been trying it out for the past few weeks.

So far, me likes! It make my ends soft, shiny, healthy and feels luxurious. The smell is also lovely, but sadly it doesn't last all day. The product is easy to use, and you don't need a whole lot of it. Simply run through the ends on your hair when still damp after washing. Then, style as usual. I have heard, however that retailers in Montreal will no longer be carrying the line..distributors dispute perhaps? Get it while you can, or I've seen dupes for it by Babyliss and "Exotic Nectar" by the brand Live Clean sold at pharmacies and Wallmart.

Renaissance Glove

I feel like exfoliation doesn't get talked about enough on the interweb. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells off the body. It can be done chemically (using enzymes that eat away at your dead skin, much like pac man), or mechanically (using grains or rough tools that will slough away dead skin). Exfoliation is important for face and body because it enables the skin to better absorb products..think if there are so many obstacles in your way, what is the likelihood of your creams and serums penetrating? It will also give you a glow, in the way of removing dead skin, and revealing newer skin. Exfoliation will also help reduce ingrowns and blackheads from forming. And it will stimulate cell renewal, important for those ladies and gents who have had many birthdays (my nice way of saying "older").
One of the tools on the market is the Renaissance glove. It is made of 100% viscose, and not at all feeling rough and uncomfortable like sandpaper! The original comes with a body glove, a little face scrubber and a pamphlet.

It states that the glove can be used daily with shower gel, or for exfoliation purposes, with water only. The directions say that you should be immersed in water for 5-10 minutes to open your pores. Next, ring out your glove and go for it! In about 8 minutes you should get your entire body done in circular motions, then rinse. Upkeep of the glove is pretty easy, wash it in lukewarm water with soap and hang to dry. I do it in the shower! Or you can pop it in the washing machine. It is also recommended the glove be changed every 3-4 months of use.
Whats my opinion of it? To be honest, the face scrubber got passed onto my brother. I have slightly sensitive skin, so I prefer chemical exfoliants for my face. But for body, I love it! It comes in the shape of a gift bag, with an elastic top. Just slide your hand in you are ready!

It is easy to use, easy to clean. It has helped my waxing a lot; instead of removing dead skin and some hair, now waxing is faster and removes all my hair! It makes my skin soft, and I feel that I look more healthy, even in the dead of winter.
It comes in a few other colours, and in a longer format, with thick strings at the end to exfoliate your back. Order online (http://www.renaissanceglove.com/), or get one from your aesthetician!

Trends: Marine Chic!

Retailers have already starting rolling out spring styles and one of those is the Marine/Sailor theme. I feel this is a reoccuring style, using reds, blues, whites and stripes that seemingly rolls out each spring. I'm still addicted to my winter colours, but I'll share with you subtle ways that I'll be be incorporating the marine theme in my wardrobe.

First, China Glaze has an "Anchors Away" collection, of which I picked up "First Mate".

This offers the perfect way to add that pop of marine blue colour. 

I also started using an Estee Lauder gift with purchase tote with blue and white stripes, with pink handles! The blue is shiny vinyl and the white is a crisp cotton. The inside is lined with pink!

Lastly, I ordered from ebay Betsey Johnson Anchor earrings. You'll see these on my ears very, very often.  It offers me a little accent of marine theme and some bling, since it has little rhinestones in it.

How will you be rocking the marine style this season? Blue mascara perhaps?

Nail of the Day

Here is CND's "Asphalt"

I am so excited to have bought a few CND colours! The bottle is pretty sleek and the cap has a gel lining. The formulation is amazing, the pigmentation is strong and perfect coverage is achieved in one coat! Dry time is fast..I will definitely be purchasing more of these! Plus this is the perfect dark gray..I'm a pretty happy camper.

BBW: Warm Vanilla Sugar Sampoo and Conditioner

My last trip to Bath and Body works yielded a surprise: they make Warm Vanilla Sugar, my favorite fragrance, into a shampoo and conditioner! What I saw was a small selection in a few signature scents, and in two formations "Volumizing" and "Hydrating". I have fine hair, so I went home with a set of Volumizing. Did it do anything for my lack of volume? No, not particularly. Even more disappointing is the fact is that the scent doesn't last. I mean, I smell it while I wash my hair but it doesn't last until I put my hair towel on. The packaging is nice, but besides having a pleasant olfactory experience in the shower, this duo has no benefits. Now, to find someone to take this off my hands.. 

Necklace of My Dreams

I recently discovered a local jewelery designer that has me lusting after a certain piece made by her hands. The lovely Joumana Dassouki is the designer behind be-jou. Based in Quebec, be-jou features unique, original fashion jewelry. They can also be custom suited to you using the color, type of stone and ribbon that you prefer.They have some already made models on their website, and a certain necklace has caught my eye called "Pink Drop" .

Don't mind the tag..the necklace is simply stunning!

Here is a close up.

Classy, funky...I think I'll make it a graduation gift to myself once i finish my program!
Find all of her work here: http://www.be-jou.com/

Nail of the Day

China's Glaze's "Ingrid" from the Vintage Vixen collection.

Pretty brown with a sheen. I like China Glaze a lot, it has great formulation, fast dry time, and each bottle contains nail hardeners. Why did it take me so long to discover this brand?

Lush Love: Grease Lightning

What do you do when you feel that sore spot on your face, the one that you know in a day's time will turn into a pimple? Personally, I apply "Grease Lightning" from Lush.

It is promoted as a cleanser, but I use it as a spot treatment. The pump applicator allows me to use a small amount and I dab it on to that sore spot with my clean fingers. And guess what? Next day, no pimple! I do have to admit, I cannot use it with makeup, the stuff just peels off, which leaves keeping it on overnight. And, it is ineffective when you already have a pimple; It works its magic before the volcano erupts. I bought my current bottle at the end 2009, and it is still pretty full. It has saved me from some potentially horrific skin explosions. Find it in Lush stores, or order online!

Nail of the Day

On my nails today is Orly's "Enchanted Forest" from the "Once Upon a Time" collection.

*swoon*

Brush Rave

Make Up For Ever's Kabuki brush (41900).

I LOVE how this feels. I use it to apply my mineral make-up for a natural look. I picked it up when I visited the ProLoft in downtown Montreal. The trainer was so nice! The company has a great history..started in 1984 geared for makeup artists in Paris. Although now owned by LVMH, the founder, Dany Sanz, still maintains creative control. I like how they don't spend time, effort and money on the packaging, but put their hearts into the products themselves. I feel the love when I use this brush!

Nail of the Day

In continuing with the Burlesque Theme: "Show it And Glow It!" fro OPI's Burlesque collection.

This glitter is so unique! The base sparkle is purple, and added in is silvers and greens. Fun to wear, a pain to remove..

Smashbox for Burlesque

I have been on the hunt for the perfect red lip for what seems like ages. On a recent trip to Sephora, my prayers were answered and I found my ideal red in a lip gloss. Downside, it happened to be part of a set. At first it annoyed me ("Thats all i want, why must i inherit this other junk", I thought). But I must admit, I'm pretty happy with this set. Smashbox for Burlesque contains 4 items: a limitless liquid liner pen in "Jet Black", a shadow quad in "Risque", a loose shimmer in "Burlesque", and a double ended lip gloss in "Peep/Show".

Now, my thoughts on each of the items:
The pigmentation in the liquid liner is opposite of wimpy, so you better know what your doing. I need to practice.
Pièce de résistance: The double-ended lip gloss. Perfection. I even like the pinky ended side. Win-win baby!

The quad has all the colours I'll ever need. A perfect item to take on short trips to create a gorgeous eye.
The loose shimmer = LOVE! I have close-set eyes, so a hint of shimmer is necessary in my inner corners. I've been getting pretty tired with my regular ol' white shimmer. Well, enter this romantic, pinky-toned shimmer and life becomes un-boring. I even use it as an all over lid colour on days I am rocking a basic look.
The packaging should even get a mention; the lids feature a fishnet design on both the quad and the shimmer. 

Find the set at your local Sephora. I haven't seen the movie yet, but if its anything like the Smashbox for Burlesque set, I'll love it!

Joico Leave-in Detangler

Confession: I have a LOT of products. I share a bathroom with 2 other people, and 96% of the items in there belong to me. I hear complaints about it constantly. So when I saw this product a few months ago, I jumped at the chance of saving space. Joico's: Daily Care Leave-in Detangler is also a thermal heat protectant! I normally don't have a good impression of "Two-in-One" products ( I cringe at the sight of two-in-one shampoo and conditioner), but this is not one of those products to pass up. With all the products packed into my daily routine, it feels good to skip one. Enough about convenience. Lets talk about the product itself. Its lightweight. Unlike previously tried products that leave a film and alter the fluffiness of my hair, i can hardly tell I have product in my locks. I also feel good that it is protecting my hair from the onslaught of heat i subject my hair to; I blow dry and straighten each time i wash my hair. Its the first product I spritz in after I have towel dried my hair. I will definitely repurchase this! Find it at salons that use Joico, or hint hint, Winners!

Nail of the Day

My i present, "Chinchilly" by essie.

 in natural light:

I LOVE grey! Definitely a fall/winter colour.

Note: My best friend has a chinchilla, and Timmy isn't this colour at all..so i don't know where they get this reference. Still adore this colour.

The Carrie Diaries

I go to Value Village for second hand books and a futile hope of finding an amazing vintage bag for $12.99. The bag search never turns up, but books..i regularly land on great finds. Recently I picked up Candace Bushnell's "The Carrie Diaries: Meet Carrie before Sex and the City". And what was the fantastically fabulous Carrie doing before taking over NYC and rocking Manolo's? She was a teenager, falling for the wrong guys, falling-out with friends, fighting with siblings, making her first gay friend, and worrying about losing her v-card. Yeah...i don't read intellectually stimulating novels. Pick it up (or borrow it from me) if you'd like a reminder of the silly, nonsensical decisions you made in high school concerning boys, pranks and fashion.

Nail of the Day

Meet "Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees" part of the Spain Collection by OPI.

 in natural light:

Its not true black, but a black with a hint of gray. I like it a lot more than a straight black, which tends to make my skin seem pale as snow!