MONTHL¥ FAVOURITES . MARCH EDITION

Each month I encounter a handful of products that I cannot seem to get enough of. Ultimately by the end of the month these products are viewed as 'mandatory' and would inflict some serious mental damage if they went missing.

MAKEUP

I've slowly started to come out of my makeup funk this month (must be the weather), and have recently been experimenting with neutral lips, bold eyes, and ever-glowing skin. Since I'm still reppin' that vampire complexion the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer for Radiance in Blue ($43) has kept my skin radiant and on point all month long. I've used this primer two ways: a) all over my skin for an angelic, Dita Von Teese inspired complexion, and b) as a spot highlighter to bring radiance to the high points of my face – both of which reveal luminous results. For eyes I've been introduced to two basics this month that in my opinion no woman should ever go without: the new Roller Lash Mascara by Benefit ($29) and the Brow Gel by Eyeko ($24). The Roller Lash Mascara creates lashes for days that truly form, and hold the curl, while the Eyeko Brow Gel tames brows of any shade with ease. For lips I've been rotating between two lippies: the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil in Oh My Gold ($35) and Bite Beauty's Matte Créme Lip Pencil in Glacé ($28). Both shades are rather neutral, however each offers infinitely different results. Glacé creates a Kylie Jenner inspired lip with a matte finish, while Oh My Gold adds a beautiful sheen and provides a comfortable texture and feel. Finally for colour, the Essie Nail Polish in Garden Variety ($9), a new shade for Spring that has yet to leave my toes! This is a great pop of colour for the girl constantly in black and white.      

MISC.

Last month I spoke of my love for the Algenist Complete Renewal Eye Balm ($81), and that love has yet to fade away. This eye balm uses Alguronic Acid to fight visible signs of aging, while hydrating and soothing the eye area to reduce puffiness and dark circles. I was also introduced to the Phyto Phytodéfrisant Botanical Straightening Balm ($29), a straight-haired girls saviour. This heat-activated balm is formulated with ferula, horseradish and sage, which hydrates, softens and protects unruly hair, prepping it for a smooth, manageable look. My hair instantly looks and feels more polished and  extends my style for days, minimizing my need to wash and refresh my hair. Plus, the straightening effects increase with extended use. 

What products were you obsessed with this month?

AM¥      XO

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...

For the past few weeks I've had Heems' latest album Eat, Pray, Thug on repeat – an album he has described as 'post-911 dystopian brown man rap'. The theme and horror of 911 is heavy in the album with songs such as 'Patriotic Act', 'Al Q8a' and 'Flag-Shopping' depicting what life was like for a Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and basically any brown person post-911. The line "And we yelled 'I'm just like you' as quietly and calmly as we could / So as not to raise too much attention and be labelled as a trouble maker" reminds one of the racial and religious struggles of that time. Heems also paints a picture of going flag shopping to show patriotism and to be displayed as a symbol showing his fellow Americans: 'I am not Osama'. In commemoration of Heems' struggle, and to celebrate the brilliant complex nature of this album I present you with the American Flag accent nail. 

To recreate this design simply paint all nails with two thin coats of a red polish. Once this base has dried create a small rectangular box in the left corner of your ring finger with blue polish, allow this section to dry completely. To complete the flag you'll need a striping tool, dotting tool and a white polish. Create thin vertical striples along the ring finger with the stripping tool, the switch to the dotting tool to create dots within the blue rectangle to mimic stars. Finally seal in the design with a fast-drying topcoat such as the Seche Vite Fast-Drying Top Coat. 

Would you wear patriotic nail art?

AM¥     XO

NAILS . ESSIE . SPRING 2015 COLLECTION

When you live in a country that experiences all four seasons you're bound to have a beacon for Spring – a sign that indicates the cold, bundled-up days have almost past. For a beauty blogger that beacon is the anticipated release of the year's Spring nail polish collections. And the collection destined to rule them all this Spring is the Essie Flowerista Collection. 'Whether the look is futuristic minimalism or nouveau bohemian, the name of the game is flower power. The Spring 2015 Collection is in full bloom, celebrating the fresh perspectives and energetic nature of the spring season.'

This collection brings added excitement as it marks the first collaboration with designer Rebecca Minkoff, who is joining Essie as their Global Colour Designer. Together, Minkoff and Essie have created a collection consisting of six polishes, three brights and three neutrals, for a refreshing twist to the typical floral-inspired collection. I was enamoured with all six shades when I saw the release on Nail Polish Canada, but it was Garden Variety and Petal Pushers that came home with me in the end. I presume that Garden Variety will be the only brightly-coloured polish making its way into my polish collection this spring given my current addiction to neutrals. The deep, creamy teal blue polish had me at first swatch and has left me day dreaming of outfits to pair it with ever since. Petal Pushers on the other hand is a shade I'm much more comfortable and familiar with. Described as a cool rain slate, this shade will undoubtedly become a go-to of mine year round and will work wonders when incorporated into nail art designs – especially when paired with Garden Variety. 

What are your thoughts on Essie's Spring Collection?

AM¥     XO

5 THINGS . PREPPIN' FOR VALENTINES DA¥

Let's not be prude, Valentines Day is as much about the bedroom as it is about the dinners, flowers, chocolates, and I love you's – this coming to you the valentines-hating scorpio. Either way we all reach that moment when we want to feel, and look sexy for our husband, boyfriend, man of the moment... whatever, who am I to judge. And the way to do that? With smooth, bronzed skin that glistens like Kim Kardashian's ass on the Paper Cover, of course. 

I began working on the tan earlier this week with the Karora Gradual Tan Buildable Colour[*], which is a daily face and body moisturizer that gradually builds a golden glow suitable for your skin tone. I've developed a brilliant base colour, yet still tonight I plan on exfoliating with my Cake Milk Made Body Scrub, and self-tanning with the St. Tropez Self Tan Dry Luxe Oil[*]. A regime I will repeat on Saturday. This ensures that my skin is as silky and bronzed as humanly possible. I've really enjoyed the Cake Milk Made Body Scrub, but once it becomes an empty I'll be purchasing the Caudalie Divine Scrub, which I've long wanted to try. It looks so luxurious, and I've become addicted to the fragrance thanks to the Divine Oil. As for the tanner, the St. Tropez Self Tan Dry Luxe Oil is one of my favourites because it's packed with hella gold shimmer, and never transfers to my clothing or sheets. And, yes, despite it being oil-based I still want my skin to glisten further, ahem... Kim's ass, so before the big night I'll also moisturize with the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil.  

The other ever important thing is the lingerie. I've spent days, weeks, months.. dreaming about owning a lingerie collection that I could never afford. I think it all stems back a co-worker, who once told me that she always wore a matching set for fear that she would die unexpectedly and there would be hot fire fighters, police men, or coroners around. Ha! I've avoided this by sticking with black intimates – they always match. But Valentine's Day calls for something sexier, more romantic, which is why I have my eyes set on these...

The final touches before the big night involve painting my nails and choosing a sensual scent. Since I am so truly against the hearts, flowers, and related Hallmark bullshit, I'll be avoiding nail art and wearing a simple red nail. Now to decide between Essie's Fishnet Stockings and Leading Lady. I have a love-hate relationship with red nails, but if there was any night to don them Saturday would be it. I've had an even tougher time deciding on the scent – Aerin Amber Musk, Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée, Victor & Rolf Flower Bomb are all so amazing, but eventually I think I've settled on my go to Elizabeth and James Nirvana. Nothing better suited for the sheets than that.    

How do you prep for a special night?

AM¥     XO

[*]Some of the items in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.

NAILS . LITTLE LITTLE BAM-BAMBI

Dear higher power, please bless my roommate and the new Essie Cashmere Matte collection. Why? Well, bless my roommate for finding an entirely new season of Project Runway All Stars to keep us occupied as I embarked on a two hour struggle to remove my shellac manicure. And bless the Essie Cashmere Matte collection for being so damn stunning – that's reason enough, right? The end result of my nail-athon, a matte manicure that is reminiscent of Bambi's cute little derrière.

Being an impatient beginner with a shaky hand doesn't bode well when you're a nail art lover, but thankfully there is the dotticure manicure, which looks stunning, yet requires minimal effort or talent. To re-create this look you'll simply need to apply three thin coats of Essie's All Eyes On Nudes over your favourite base coat – I've been a slave to OPI Nail Envy for years. Once dry, simply use a dotting tool and the Essie polish in Wrap Me Up to create various sized dots at the tip of the nail. I achieved the variation in size by using a heavy or lighter hand while dotting. Being that the polishes have a matte finish I chose to forgo a top coat, although you could apply a matte top coat, like the Nicole by OPI Matte Top Coat, to seal in your design.

I'm certain that this won't be the last nail art design I create with this collection.

Have you got your hands on these polishes yet?

AM¥     XO

ESSIE . CASHMERE MATTE COLLECTION + SWATCHES

I've had one hell of a time trying to track down the latest Essie polish release, the Cashmere Matte Collection, after it almost instantly sold out online. But luckily my local Shopper's Drug Mart had just received them and the sales associate was kind enough to scour through the newly delivered shipment to find the four shades I had my eyes set on from the get-go: Wrap Me Up, All Eyes On Nudes, Comfy In Cashmere and Just Stitched. The collection is totally unique, with a satin-matte finish that dries quickly, leaving a suede-like texture – and two of the polishes feature a pearlized matte finish that is beyond gorgeous.

All of the polishes are on the thicker side and therefore a little tricky to apply, requiring three thin coats for the best results. But if you've got patience the pay off is totally worth it. Wrap Me Up is a beautiful soft white with the slightest bit of pink – it's romantic and totally office worthy if you're looking to avoid a stark white. The other nude in the collection, All Eyes On Nudes, is a camel-toned polish that looks so luxurious when paired with gold accessories. I'm just hopeful that it will still look as chic when summer comes around and I have a tan as some polishes can look muddled when there isn't enough contrast between your skin tone and the polish. Next up is the darkest polish I went for, Comfy In Cashmere, a taupe polish filled with a blue iridescence that can be seen at all angles. Out of all the polishes in this range this one was by far the easiest to work with and was some-what self-leveling. The final polish, Just Stitched, is also filled with a blue iridescent shimmer but the finish is a little more subtle. I usually steer clear of baby pink polishes, but the pearlized matte finish and subtle iridescence make it a must have.

There are two more shades available from the collection, Coat Couture and Spun In Luxe, however I simply didn't gravitate towards them – too dark, too matte, too something... just not my style.

THE SWATCHES

Swatched in Natural Light . Wrap Me Up, All Eyes On Nudes, Comfy In Cashmere, and Just Stitched

Have you spotted these polishes yet? What shade is your favourite?

AM¥     XO

GLITTER OVERDOSE . MY FAVOURITE GLITZY POLISHES

Deck the nails with lots of glitter fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la. That's how the song goes... right? Christmas is only 10 days away and if you don't have glitter coursing through your veins then I only have one question – WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? I've been on a glitter binge for the duration of December with no end in sight – it's coating my floors, my skin and of course my nails. So today I bring you 10 glitter polishes that even glitter queen and Christmas songstress, Mariah Carey, needs in her vanity.

Topping the make-shift polish tree is the Kinetics Nail Polish in Splatter It! – the perfect polish for the artsy type. I've worn this polish over every shade of grey imaginable, yet still nothing can compare to the impact it gives when layered over a simple white. A more obtainable version of this polish is the Formula X Xpolsive Top Coat in Chaotic – available from Sephora. The next layer features three favourites from Essie's Luxe Effects Line – Shine Of The Times, As Gold As It Gets, and Set In Stones. It's almost a sin to consider yourself a beauty blogger without owning the entire Luxe Effects line-up, but if you must only choose three effects then these are it. The subtlety of the Shine Of The Times and As Gold As It Gets make easy work of transforming a basic polish to an extraordinary one, while Set In Stones looks beautiful as a gradient below the cuticle. The third layer shares four of the most exquisite OPI limited edition glitters [in my opinion] – Muppets World Tour, Which Is Witch?, Wonderous Star and When Moneky's Fly. I love the way each polish features various forms of glitter and subtle holographic details ensuring that your nails are the star of any party you attend this holiday season. The final two polishes, and most recent addition to my collection, hail from Julep's Diamond Mystery Box – Sky and Chantel. There is something so lavish about the diamond shaped glitter and holographic elements seen in these top coats. I love layering Sky over a shimmering royal blue like Austen, and Chantel over a deep aubergine, such as Nic.

THE SWATCHES

Swatched left to right // Julep – Chantel, Sky, OPI – When Monkeys Fly!, Wonderous Star, Which Is Witch?, Muppets World Tour, Essie – Set In Stones, As Gold As It Gets, Shine Of The Times and Kinetics Nail Polish – Splatter It!

I so dearly wish that these glitters were more widely available, but hopefully this post helped inspire you to add a little glitz to your manicure this week! We could all use a bit more sparkle.

What is your go-to glitter polish?

AM¥     XO

NOTD . WHITE MEETS CONCRETE

It feels like I haven't seen sun in days and it's reflecting in my manicure. Today's nails are inspired by the rugged concrete jungle we call home and my hopes for the snow to come and mask its existence. I began with a base of Essie's Nail Polish in Blanc before using a technique I discovered through The Nailasaurus to create a 'Waterfall Manicure' – a must know for any nail art junior [AKA me]. To create this effect I used a few different polishes including, Essie Nail Polish in Find Me An Oasis, Julep Nail Polish in Nancy, Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Striper in White, and OPI Nail Polish in Muppet's World Tour. Alternating between polishes I simply created thin lines running halfway up the nail before finishing with the Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Fast Dry Top Coat. 

 What colours would you combine for this manicure?

AM¥     XO

ST¥LIN • COMFY KNITS, DETAILED PANTS & TURQUOISE

My style is constantly evolving, but lately I've been opting for a more basic approach – classic pieces in black, white or grey with intricate details. This week I purchased 4 new pieces from Zara that are perfect for the season and pair beautifully with one of my favourite colours, turquoise. I've been gravitating towards over sized knits paired with detailed skinny jeans and adding a hint of colour through my nail polish and accessories. These Essie polishes are 5 of my favourite blue/turquoise shades. And although they may not be considered fall/winter colours, grey and turquoise go together like Childish Gambino and Chance The Rapper, adding a pop of colour to an otherwise colour-less outfit.

THE PIECES

White Knit ($59.90) - Zara

Two-tone Jeans ($49.90) - Zara

Grey Knit ($49.90) - Zara

Black Motto Pleather Pants ($59.90) - Zara

Bracelets - Aldo, Stella & Dot

Necklace - Vintage

Polishes - Find Me An Oasis, Parka Perfect, In The Cab-Ana,  Turquoise & Caicos, Naughty Nautical

AMY   XO

BEAUT¥ BU¥S TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARNESS

Nowadays it's becoming eerily rare to meet someone who hasn't been affected by Breast Cancer in some shape or form. October marks the month of Breast Cancer Awareness, a time to 'think pink' and show your support – which is made easier with commemorative products. From a fun glitter polish to a lash/brow enhancer with the Cancer Survivor in mind, these fun – and adorably pink – products deserve a spot on your vanity, regardless of whether you needed a new pink lipstick or not.  

Wink Natural Cosmetics • Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer ($39)

The desire for longer lashes and thicker brows is one felt by nearly every girl I know, and I can only imagine how true that is for the cancer survivor. This October, Wink Natural Cosmetics launches their Buy One Give One For The Cure campaign – with every purchase of their Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer, the company will donate one tube to a cancer survivor. Each 5ml tube supplies enough product for 3 months of application, with visible results seen in just 2 weeks. I've been using this 2 in 1 serum for roughly 2 weeks now and can definitely say that I notice a difference in my lash length and brow volume, however full results are only seen after 8-12 weeks of use, at which time I will show off my complete results. 

Another feel good reason to enhance your natural beauty with Wink? This product is formulated without: parabens, sulfates, hormones/prostaglandins, artificial fragrances and artificial dyes. 

Essie • Nail Polish in Pinking About You ($9) 

Every October a slew of nail polish companies, including Essie, OPI and China Glaze create bubbly, pink collections to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year Essie released a gorgeous pink glitter top coat, called Pinking About You, with pretty pink pailettes that I couldn't resist. And while none of the proceeds of this polish directly support cancer research, Essie Weingarten, the founder, supports City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, with a one-time flat donation of $10,000. And that alone was reason enough for me to don this top coat over Essie Blanc – although the internet has led me to conclude that Essie Pink Happy is the more appropriate base.

Origins • Drink Up Hydrating Lip Balm in Pink Guava ($17)

When a hydrating lip balm comes disguised as a lip gloss and supports Breast Cancer Awareness you simply say yes. This year Origins has released their Drink Up Hydrating Lip Balms in two colours; Berry Splash (LE) and Pink Guava with commemorative pink packaging to help support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation – a donation of $3.50 will be made with each purchase. These lip balms are ultra nourishing thanks to apricot kernel and avocado oils, and add a beautiful shine to your lips without feeling sticky like a gloss. I went for Pink Guava, a milky pink that appears rather transparent on the lips, meaning it can be worn to enhance your natural lips or paired with a lipstick to add a sexy sheen. And with the tingly, minty scent it will quickly become your 'partner in kissing' – pucker up.

Clinique | Pink With A Purpose Long Last Lipstick in Power With Pink ($19)

This lipstick set, complete with the small, yet versatile two-toned bag, is about as pink, bright and girly as it gets! And at a mere $19 it is the perfect way to test out Clinique's Long Last Lipsticks – which like me, you've probably overlooked – all while letting your generosity shine. Clinique will donate $3 from each purchase of this set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from now until 01/31/15, and trust me you don't want to miss out on this LE shade. Power With Pink is a medium-toned rose with subtle shimmer that offers 8 hours of crease free colour, housed in the brands classic, sleek silver packaging. The perfect everyday lip colour for all ages.   

How do you show your support?

AM¥     XO

ESSIE DRESS TO KILT COLLECTION + CAMOUFLAGE NAILS

When a collection is inspired by 'espionage and the thrill of the chase' you just know it is going to be good. Essie's latest release for Fall 2014 is Dress To Kilt, a collection of 6 polishes featuring a thick easy to apply formula with a killer shine. While most bloggers were bored by the dark, and 'mundane' shades in this collection, I found myself smitten. There is something so charming about the simplicity of each of the polishes individually, but also an excitement about what they will create when they are combined.  

I grabbed 3 polishes from the Dress to Kilt Collection; Take It Outside, Fall In Line and The Perfect Cover Up. The shades are stunning individually. There is no shade as perfectly sophisticated & edgy as Take It Outside, no camouflage manicure will ever be created without using Fall In Line again, and nothing can compare to how BAE The Perfect Cover Up becomes when a matte top coat is added. Together the polishes create a modern teal-based camouflage print that I consider the perfect manicure to welcome my favourite season, Fall.

AM¥     XO