THIRST¥ FOR... SPRING BEAUT¥ WISHLIST

Spring has sprung in Toronto – well sort of. The past two days have been absolutely wonderful weather-wise, but we all know it's bound to get cold again. For now though the smell of spring is in the air, and I've even noticed a few bold Canadians wearing their trench-coats – brrr! But for a beauty fiend like me it's simply caused me to lust for all things spring. Ahem, this wishlist. 

First on the list is the NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Frenzy ($52), which allows you to amp up the intensity of the colour and finish simply by using a damp brush. To be honest I was really only a fan of this shade and Fervor from the collection – the swatches tell all on Temptalia. Next up is the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Shape Contour And Blush Brush No.15 ($48), seeing as contouring is all the rage for spring. The shape reminds me of the MAC 109 Small Contour Brush, however it appears slightly more dense and precise. And after reading the reviews complimenting the brushes softness I can't wait to feel it myself! Another thing that's all the rage currently is the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara ($29), and you bet I can understand why. Have you seen the reviews? This mascara truly curls and lengthens, giving girls the look of false lashes, leaving me hella jealous. Must. Purchase. 

Since I've only been digging neutrals on my nails recently I've decided that I need the Formula X White Party Set ($27). The four polishes, Dainty (ivory white), Delightful (dove grey), Precious (mint white), Blushing (cotton candy pink) are so fresh and beautiful for spring and fit my newly discovered 'no brights philosophy'. But I can still get a little silly, and the kid in me is dying to own everything from Tony Moly, including this adorable Mini Cherry Lip Balm ($10). He also has a Peach Lip Balm, Panda Brightening Eye Base and Apple Hand Cream – be still my heart. Last on my wishlist: more of the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil, specifically in the shades Cherry My Cherrie and Crush Me Orange. The colours are beautiful for spring, and the formulation on these lip products is beyond comfortable. Now if only this weather will stick around so that we can all be in true spring mode.

What's on your wishlist? 

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