There is something special about the winter season. Sure, there are drawbacks, like shoveling and snow plows, but it is also a magical time when the world slows down a little. In recent days, I have been forced to slow down, since I am still under the weather. But I suppose this was the ideal time for it to happen – if there is such a thing as an ideal time to be ill. To make myself feel better, I have been looking at all sorts of winter inspired photos and have been keeping winter background videos on. I find the snow peaceful and calming, so I thought it made sense to share a little of that here on the creation of beauty is art.
There is a lot to love about the winter season. Even though the temperatures are lower (depending on where you live) and the snow and slush are piling up, there is a stillness that makes the world feel downright blissful at times. As has been said, “Winter is a time to cherish the simple joys of life.” That is something that I am focused on this season. From moments under warm blankets to familiar movies and nights curled up with a good book…this really is the ideal time to cherish those simple joys.
How are you staying inspired this season? Do you enjoy the winter months?
Some brands stand out. Laneige falls into that category as far as I am concerned. Their Lip Sleeping Mask has been a lifesaver on many occasions, especially during the cold and dry winter months. Each holiday season, the brand releases different sets with popular products, and I was fortunate enough to be gifted two of them: the Divine Lip Duo and the Midnight Minis.
Laneige Divine Lip Duo. The first Laneige set that I received over the holidays was the Divine Lip Duo, which includes the Lip Glowy Balm and Lip Sleeping Mask. The balm is in the scent Candy Cane and the mask is in the scent Peppermint. Both of these products are ideal for this time of year, thanks to the cool minty scent. The Peppermint Lip Sleeping Mask is 0.28 oz, so there is a decent amount of product and the smell is fabulous. Like the other masks, this is thick, creamy, and ultra hydrating. The Candy Cane Lip Glowy Balm is easy to use on the go and is also thick and hydrating. The mint scents are refreshing and ideal for the winter season. Another bonus? This set (as well as the Midnight Minis set) came with two Laneige samples. That was such a nice surprise and a fun way to test out some of their products outside of lip care. The samples were the Cream Skin Toner and Moisturizer and Water Bank Cream Moisturizer. Since the brand does hydration so well, it is nice to test out these extras.
Laneige Midnight Minis. The other seasonal release that I received from the brand is the Midnight Minis set. This is something that the brand tends to release semi-regularly, though the scents vary from year to year. (Click here for a peek at the set that was released last year, which included scents like Mango, Mint Choco, Vanilla, Berry, and Gummy Bear. This time around, there is Berry, Gummy Bear, Mango, Watermelon Pop, and Peach Iced Tea. I love that there are some old favourites (the Gummy Bear one is a standout) as well as some different offerings (like Watermelon Pop and Peach Iced Tea). All of these Lip Sleeping Mask scents are fabulous and there is 0.10 oz of product for each. There is also a small little spatula to make application mess free. Out of the new scents, my favourite is the Watermelon Pop. I love the two colours on the packaging and the fresh smell. These masks will definitely come in handy over the next several months. I am grateful to have so many wonderful items.
Have you tried any of the Laneige products? Which scent is your favourite?
Back in November, there was a short shopping trip across the border where a handful of items came back with me. (Like several boxes of the iconic Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes, which certainly made my holiday season delicious.) One of those items was the JoyBright by Ulta Beauty Box: Happy Hues. At the front of the Ulta store, there were a few JoyBright items, which were essentially different makeup sets for the holiday season. I debated over the different offerings, but ultimately, the happy face details won me over and the Happy Hues item was chosen as a pre-holiday treat for myself. Over the last couple of months, this beauty set has been put to the test. Here is a review (with some pros and cons) as well as a #FOTD.
JoyBright by Ulta: Beauty Box Happy Hues Review. There is a ton included in this set, making it (or something similar) an ideal item for any beauty enthusiast or interested beginner. The Happy Hues set came with sixty six eyeshadows, four tinted lip balms, three liquid eyeshadows, three blushes, three bronzers, two eyeshadow crayons, two under eye gels, two creaseless hair clips, one highlighter, one illuminating lotion, one eyeshadow brush, and one blush brush. All of these products come in a sparkly and sturdy blue makeup box with adorable happy face zipper pulls. This is adorable and offers a lot of variety. There are all sorts of items included in the mesh zipped pouch, including brushes, hair clips, under eye gels, eyeshadow crayons, tinted lip balms, and the illuminating lotion. Some of the products are more impressive than others. The hair clips are cute and functional, but somewhat flimsy. The under eye gels are cute (with a star design on the end and silver glitter inside) and work well. Though the brush handles are lightweight plastic, the actual bristles are ultra soft. The eyeshadow crayons are fabulous. The warm gold and icy blue crayons are nicely pigmented, creamy, and easy to use. The tinted lip balms look nice and have a decent amount of colour, but I am not wild about the way the actual products feel on the lips. The illuminating lotion is beautiful and adds lots of glow to the skin. On the bottom of the beauty box is a ton of eyeshadow and cheek products.
As mentioned there are sixty six eyeshadows inside. Though the pan sizes are fairly small, there is a lot of variety in terms of the colours and finishes. There are mattes and shimmers available in pinks, greens, blues, purples, browns, reds, and various neutrals. In terms of the quality, there are some shadows that are not that impressive, but the majority are actually really nice. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with so many different eyeshadows, but there are some wonderful options. I’ve been doing my best to put them all to the test. My absolute favourites are the icy blues (those colours are ideal for winter inspired makeup looks) and the cool taupes and purples. There is also an olive shimmer shadow that stands out. In addition to the powder eyeshadows are three liquid eyeshadows. My expectations were low, but these really wowed. Unfortunately, these do not have names, but there are two shimmers and one lilac shade. All of them work well and are easy to use. I will be disappointed once these run out. Finishing it all off are the cheek products: three blushes, two bronzers, and a highlight. I like all of them and was impressed with the level of pigmentation. I especially love the Matte Fuchsia blush, because it is a unique colour in my blush collection. There is one drawback to the Happy Hues set. The eyeshadows and cheek products come in a clear plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is flimsy and often frustrating. This means I need to purchase an empty magnetic eyeshadow palette and then move the products into something sturdy and easier to use. There is a lot to love about the Ulta set…but not the plastic sheet!
For this #FOTD, some of the cool toned eyeshadows were used. Since the winter weather has arrived in full force, my makeup choices seem to reflect the snowy conditions. I find myself reaching for cool tones, icy blues, and wintery white shimmers. This particular makeup look put all of them together. The Matte Periwinkle eyeshadow was applied all over the lid, then a bit of Periwinkle Shimmer on top, with some Iridescent Blue Shimmer on the inner corner. Matte Blue Gray and Navy Shimmer were used in to deepen the outer corner and to add colour along the lower lash line. The Light Matte Bronze was used on the face and the Matte Cool Pink was added to the cheeks. The brown tinted lip balm was used on the lips to complete the look.
The JoyBright by Ulta Beauty Box: Happy Hues offers a ton of different products. Though some of the products are better than others, most are impressive. I especially love the eyeshadow products (powder, crayon, and liquid) and the cheek products.
What beauty products have you been using lately? Have you tried anything from the JoyBright line?
The last day of January is here. Truthfully, this makes me a little relieved, because I have been dealing with the January Blues for much of the month. There isn’t a particular reason that I have been so down, but for the last few weeks, I have felt unfocused, unsteady, and unsure. Despite that, there were some good moments…and some events to look forward to now that January is coming to a close. This post is a look back at the month that has passed and a look ahead at some resolutions.
January was an interesting month. It started off slower, mostly because I struggled to re-establish my routine after the holiday season. Day after day, I found myself struggling to drag myself out of bed at a decent hour and be productive. (The word that best describes my January: struggle.) Some days were harder than others, but I am hopeful that things will start to really shift in the next little while. Despite the mental and emotional difficulties, there were some good moments scattered throughout the month, like seeing the musical, 42nd Street, with my mom, heading to the movies with a friend (the Mean Girls musical, of course), and hanging out with my husband. I also spent time working out, watching Love Is Blind Sweden, reading books, working through a self-love workbook, watching Christmas DVDs, and generally trying to pull myself out of this January funk.
At the end of each month, I always like to look back at my New Year’s Resolutions. This process allows me to check in and better determine what short-term goals I need to work on to check off some of those longer-term items. There are all sorts of resolutions on my list this year. Some are beauty related (to use more of what I have, be more consistent with my skin care routine, and do something different with my hair colour). Though I haven’t been entirely successful in that area…I am planning to book a hair appointment in the next month or so. Fingers crossed I work up the courage to do something different with my hair in the not-so-distant future. (I am terrible with change. Even when it is positive change.) There are health and fitness goals on my resolution list as well, which I feel good about overall. I’ve been exercising regularly and focusing more on healthy foods.
As for my writing and reading goals, there has not been a ton of success on the writing side recently. I’ve been so down, that it is has been difficult to focus on my mystery novel or much of anything else, to be honest. Next month, I hope that will not be the case. There are all sorts of organizational tasks on my resolution list as well and I am slowly (very slowly) picking away at those. Over the weekend, my plan is to totally redo my home office. My husband bought me a new bookshelf at IKEA the other day, because I managed to fill all of my other bookshelves. (Reading is a must!) So, a new one will be added and everything will be reorganized from top to bottom. Though I don’t look forward to the task itself, I am looking forward to the end result. So long January! Whether this month has been wonderful or a bit of a letdown, here is hoping that February is full of beauty.
Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions? How did the month of January treat you?
Sometimes, a simple makeup look is a must. Especially when that to-do list feels overwhelming and the schedule is a little too full for comfort. That seems to sum things up for me lately. The last remaining days of January have decided to be full, busy, and downright hectic at times, between work, family stuff, and various personal responsibilities. Though I struggled a lot to get focused and check tasks off of my to-do list during the first couple weeks of the new year…I am being forced to get my head in the game. Thank goodness for no brainer beauty products. One that I have been reaching for the last several days is the neutral eyeshadow quad from FMG Glimmer, Goddess. There are some easy to wear neutrals included as well as some shimmers that make it possible to quickly and easily elevate a simple but glam makeup look. Keep reading for all of the important details….
According to the brand, the Goddess Eyeshadow Quad makes it possible to “create simple to dramatic looks with perfectly coordinated matte and shimmer shadows.” It is also described as an ultra-pigmented and versatile eyeshadow palette with four shades to achieve a neutral daytime or evening look. Clearly, this is an easy to use neutral palette that still adds a little sparkle and shine. (And if there is one thing I like, it is shimmer.) There is a sparkly gold, sparkly white, shimmery champagne, and matte brown. When I am running short on time, one of the sparkly shadows is applied all over the lid and then the matte brown is added through the crease for a little contrast. I love that it is possible to create a bold and dramatic look in minutes.
The packaging for the FMG Glimmer palette is fairly standard. It is red and black plastic and there is a mirror inside. This set also comes with a double ended sponge-tip applicator. Though I prefer using makeup brushes to makeup sponges, the applicator included works really well on the shimmers. (The shimmery products apply more intensely with the sponge-tip applicators.) The matte brown has a nice level of pigmentation and the shimmers are ultra sparkly and have a gorgeous finish. All in all, the quality is good and the products work well. It is nice to have this eyeshadow palette on hand when I only have a few minutes to throw myself together. A little shimmer and a matte brown is all that is needed to create something fabulous.
Finding Hard Candy products has become a little more hit or miss over the last couple of years. The brand stopped being sold at the drugstore nearest to me – with only limited items available at a drugstore a little further away. The exception? Holiday items from Hard Candy that were found in the seasonal section. So, imagine my shock and delight when the Hard Candy Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palette in All That Rose Gold was at the dollar store for a mere $5 CDN. It was too good a find to overlook, especially given how inconsistently Hard Candy products have been available lately. This is a brand that I have long loved. Honestly, it was partially responsible for kicking my love of makeup into high gear. In the past, Hard Candy had lots of trendier beauty products for a fraction of the price. It was the perfect way for me to experiment with different colours and finishes…without overspending. Needless to say, Hard Candy is one beauty brand that I hold near and dear to my heart. On that note, here is everything you need to know about the All That Rose Gold eyeshadow palette from Hard Candy.
This particular eyeshadow palette looks the same as all of the other Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palettes and has a clear plastic cover with a studded detail on the front and a sturdy plastic base. To open the palette, there is a small button on the front that you press in. Though the materials are basic plastic, the little details, like the studs and the push button on the front, elevate this drugstore makeup experience. As for the colour story? This is right up my alley. There are lots of warm neutrals, pinks, reds, and different metallics thrown into the mix. The palette has a combination of matte and shimmer shades (which is always a plus) and has light, medium, and dark eyeshadows to choose from. This is a versatile and well rounded release. I love that it is possible to create daytime looks, evening looks, and everything in between. Something to note? There are eyeshadow names printed on the back of the palette. Though it is always preferable for those to be printed on the inside of the palette, drugstore releases don’t always have eyeshadow names at all, so I like that time was taken to add in that extra detail. Even better is the fact that all of the names are loved themed. Some examples include: Love Affair, Roses, and Heart Beat. With Valentine’s Day not so far off in the future, the love and romance theme is especially delightful.
Now to talk about the actual quality of the palette. Does the Hard Candy Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palette in All That Rose Gold work well? Was it worth the $5 CDN price tag? In short, yes. These shadows are really nicely pigmented. Especially that black eyeshadow, which really packs a punch. The pinks and reds are also gorgeous. I love the shimmers as well. Those finishes are stunning and the colour payoff is impressive. I especially love Heart Breaker (shimmery red) and Marry Up (shimmery gold). The colours are beautiful and this is one eyeshadow palette that I am certain to reach for over and over and over again.
All in all, the All That Rose Gold palette was a wonderful find. The discounted price was a bonus, but it was worth far more than $5 CDN. I love the combination of shimmers and mattes, the overall quality, and the themed eyeshadow names. This Hard Candy palette was a real winner and definitely one to add to your cart if you come across it on your travels. What do you think of this eyeshadow palette? Have you ever tried Hard Candy products?
For the last few years, my mom has gifted me different Lise Watier products around the holiday season. Specifically, the Lise Watier Eye Glitter Liners. The reason? Those Eye Glitter Liners are ideal for seasonal makeup looks. Adding on a little extra glitter is always a good idea, but it is especially wise once the winter weather arrives. This year, she gifted me a replacement set of the glitter liners as well as some other products from the brand. It has been a lot of fun to put everything to use. Ready to find out more? Keep reading for some mini reviews and a makeup look featuring some Lise Watier products.
Lise Watier Glitter Eye Liners. The best place to start is with the products from the brand that are familiar to me. This set is the same as the one from last year, which means these check off all the boxes for me. It is wonderful to have replacement liners to use. There are three colours, Opale (iridescent white), Silver Stars (classic silver), and Smokey Glow (warm gold). Though all of them are wonderful, the Opale colour is my favourite. I love the gorgeous iridescent finish. These are described as glitter eye liners, and they are, but these are also really great glitters in general. I have applied them all over the lid before just to add on an extra splash of glitter – without needing to reach for a glitter glue. Whether worn as a liner or as a fun and sparkly add on, these Glitter Eye Liners are fabulous. It has been such a delight to use these…because glitter is always a must.
Lise Watier Magnifix Lips. Next is the Magnifix Lips product, which is a lip primer designed to smooth and soften the surface of the lips so lipsticks apply better and stay put for longer. This is such a great product and it works just as advertised. When it comes to lip products, I am a pretty low maintenance person. I don’t like to reapply over and over again, which is why lip stains and liquid lipsticks are my preference for a day (or night) out. It’s great to have a lip primer that can increase the wear time for some of the other lipsticks in my collection. This has become a new must have product for my makeup collection.
Lise Watier Rouge Fondant Supreme in Freida. Another new to me Lise Watier product was the Rouge Fondant Supreme, which is a lipstick that combines “the benefits of a lip moisturizer with the power of antioxidants. Infused with concentrated Labrador Tea extract, this lipstick glides on easily, provides a lustrous finish, and leaves lips feeling incredibly soft and luminous.” I love the fact that this lipstick is ultra hydrating, because I cannot stand having dry lips at all. (I always have a lip balm on hand. Literally always.) True to the brand claims, the Rouge Fondant Supreme is hydrating and glides on easily. As for the colour, Freida is a gorgeous berry colour with a nice shine. It is definitely the kind of lipstick colour that I love to wear.
Lise Watier Stardust Eye Set. The final item from Lise Watier is the Stardust Eye Set, which includes three different Glitter Liner and Shadows. The three colours above are Pegasis (pink), Vega (purple), and North Star (black). These can be worn as liners or as eyeshadows. Essentially, these are similar to the Glitter Eye Liners, but have a lot more colour. Though I love all of these, North Star is especially wonderful, because it can be added over a black liner to create a glittery effect. Since I adore black liner (which is clear if you have been reading my blog for any amount of time) it is a really wonderful add on. The other two colours are great as shimmery and glittery eyeshadows. I absolutely adore them o their own or paired with other products.
Above is a makeup look that put some of those products to the test. I used Pegasis and Vega on the eyelids and then wore the lip primer and lipstick on the lips. Since I have used the Glitter Eye Liners many times before, it made sense to highlight some of the new-to-me products instead. All in all, these Lise Watier products were a total success. I have absolutely loved using them.
Have you tried Lise Watier products before? What do you think of these makeup items?
Hard Candy and the holidays are a perfect match. For many years now, there have been Hard Candy holiday themed items added to my collection during the month of December…and this year was no different. There is a lot to love about Hard Candy in general. The brand offers some stellar products for pretty affordable prices. Their holiday releases are especially easy on the wallet. The three sets above ranged from $5 CDN to $10 CDN. Ready to take a closer look at these budget friendly products? Find out whether these Hard Candy holiday sets perform well? Here is everything you need to know about these items…
Eye Candy Shadow Palette Trio. The most expensive item was the Eye Candy Shadow Palette Trio, which included three different eyeshadow palettes. There was Lap of Luxury (warm neutral palette), Indio-Ing Steady (cool toned purples and greys), and Berry Delish (warm berry tones and neutrals). Each one of the small palettes has eleven eyeshadows with a combination of matte, shimmer, and glitter shadows. Something to note? The packaging is really terrible. Some of these are difficult to open and shut property – and the plastic used is super cheap. On the plus side, the quality of the actual shadows is impressive. I especially love the Indigo-Ing Steady palette. Purple eyeshadows are often difficult to get right, but these are fabulous. I also really love the cool toned greys included. That is easily my favourite palette out of the three, but all of them perform well. However, it is important to remember that the glitter shadows in each of the palettes need a glitter glue in order to adhere properly. That being said, for just over $3 CDN per eyeshadow palette, these Hard Candy products were a real holiday delight.
Glow Getter Highlighter Set. Another purchase from Hard Candy was the Glow Getter Highlighter Set, which was about $5 CDN. There were three different highlights: Rose Gold, Fix My Halo, and Put A Ring On It. The Rose Gold highlight is one that I have had a full sized version of in the past, so it was nice to see a smaller version of an old favourite. It delivers a gorgeous rose gold glow to the skin. The next was Fix My Halo, which had a silvery white finish, ideal for wintery makeup looks. The last was Put a Ring On It, which looked the most interesting right off the bat. I love the blue marbled look and had hoped that this would have a blue-ish kind of finish, but ultimately, this was a glowy champagne shade instead. All in all, these were great highlights for an unbeatable price. Hard Candy really excels at cheek products and the highlights included are no exception.
Hydrated Ever After Lip Balm Set. I love a tinted lip balm. A lot. I especially love when there are tinted lip balms that are colourful and comfortable on the lips. This Hydrated Ever After Lip Balm Set checks off all the boxes and then some. There are four different options: Barely There (no colour), Strawberry (berry colour), Flushed (pink and gold shimmer), and Caramel (warm brown). I love all of the tinted balms, but the Caramel one is my personal favourite. These have a nice amount of colour, are creamy and smooth, and feel ultra hydrating on the lips. I am super picky when it comes to lip products, so the fact that these are so moisturizing and add a little colour is fantastic. The balms smell sweet and pleasant, which is another bonus!
The makeup look above made the most of these Hard Candy holiday products. On the eyes were the cool toned purples and greys from the Indigo-Ing Steady palette, the Rose Gold highlight on the cheeks, and the Caramel lip balm to finish it all off. I love the combination of cool and warm colours. (It is always fun to mix and match!) So…does it work?? All of the Hard Candy products this holiday really wowed. Though the packaging could have been better for the eyeshadow palettes, the actual quality of the eyeshadows was solid. I love the colour stories and the level of pigmentation. The highlights and lip balms were also fantastic. These products added to the holiday season and are sure to make the winter months feel extra special.
Are you a fan of Hard Candy products? What beauty items have you been using lately?
Life has certainly been busy lately. I suppose that is always the way around Christmas time. There is so much to get done…there are so many activities…and of course, there are so many holiday specials to watch! This season has been a bit different. Unfortunately, some of my loved ones have been under the weather. (COVID strikes again.) That has put a damper on the season – and has made all of the decorating, wrapping, and baking at my family home feel very last minute and thrown together. Normally, we do things bit by bit over the month of December, but we really have had to just do our best with the time remaining. The next couple of days are sure to be hectic, as we desperately make up for lost time. In the meantime, I am taking a moment to pause and look back at a few seasonal highlights. This month, there have been trips to the mall, advent calendars, holiday movie nights (my husband and I went to see The Grinch and The Polar Express in theatres), gift drop offs to friends, and drives around to look at all of the Christmas lights. Even though this holiday season hasn’t been exactly what I imagined, I am doing my best to focus on the good. So, here are some pictures of my decorations, some sweet treats, and even some holiday themed makeup brushes that I have been using recently. Keep reading for some seasonal inspiration…
Even though the holiday season hasn’t felt quite like I imagined this year…it is nice to pause and remember the special moments that have happened so far. The little moments, like shopping trips, movies, lights, cookies, and of course, Archie comics. (It just wouldn’t be Christmas without Archie.) All of the details have made this less-than-perfect month feel beautiful.
How have you been celebrating the holiday season? Are you all ready for Christmas?
Rare Beauty is not a brand that I have tried a lot from, but everything that I have tried so far has been stellar. Something I love about the holiday season is the fact that there are normally different sets released. This year, the brand had the Blush & Glow Four Piece Mini Set available. It came with two liquid blushes and two liquid luminizers. Since my previous experience with those products was positive …I decided to treat myself to this holiday set.
The Blush & Glow Four Piece Mini Set from Rare Beauty came with two different mini versions of the Positive Light Liquid Luminizers. There was Magnetize (described as a set-exclusive light gold liquid highlight) and Transcend (described as a rose gold liquid highlight). Both are gorgeous and add such a beautiful glow to the skin. Magnetize, the golden luminizer, has been the one most used by me so far, just because gold looks wonderful with lots of different seasonal makeup looks. That being said, I can certainly see myself using Transcend, the rose gold luminizer, a lot in the spring and summer months. These are nicely pigmented, blend effortlessly into the skin, and last all day. The quality is super impressive and I just adore the finish.
Also included in this Rare Beauty set were two mini versions of the Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes. Since a little goes a long way with the liquid blushes (no…really…use these sparingly, because the blushes are ultra pigmented) the mini versions are actually preferable. This Blush & Glow Four Piece Mini Set came with the shades Wisdom (described as a set-exclusive mauve plum) and Virtue (described as a soft terracotta). Though both are beautiful, my favourite is Wisdom. I love a mauve coloured blush and had been looking for something that colour for ages. That shade was actually the reason I decided to purchase the set. It was exactly what I had been searching for. The liquid blushes are very pigmented, blend well, and last all day long.
See what I mean about pigmented? These Rare Beauty products really deliver. Not only are they beautiful, colourful, and easy to use…but the products are vegan and cruelty free. Additionally, the brand states that both products are free of parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS and SLES, triclocarban, and triclosan. The products also contain less than one percent synthetic fragrance. As for the Blush & Glow Four Piece Mini Set, it cost $46 CDN. Though it is a little pricey, it is not too bad for four different products. Since a little bit goes such a long way, the minis are all that I really need, so this set works especially well for me.
Have you tried any Rare Beauty products? What do you think of the items included in the holiday set?
