N¥E . PRE PART¥ PREP

It's hard to believe that this glitter filled, champagne popping, slightly dreaded celebration, in which we welcome the new year, is already upon us. But it doesn't have to be dreaded if you go into the night with low expectations, surround yourself with great friends who you wouldn't mind kissing at midnight, and plan a party prep routine, complete with a badass playlist to set the mood and get you moving.

My morning prep began quite early – it was either my excitement or this horrid flu that wouldn't let me sleep in. I did a quick dry exfoliation of my entire body with my Merben Dry Brush to prep for my aprés-shower self-tanning session, followed by a long hot shower to cleanse my hair and shave all my bits and bobs – ever so important in case you find a cutie for midnight. I've been loving the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse for all my tanning needs – it gives a subtle hint of colour when left on for an hour or a truly bronzed look when left for three. I chose the latter time frame and while waiting for the mousse to dry, which usually takes 15-25mins, I applied my face savior – the boscia Luminizing Black Mask. This product is pretty harsh, and therefore not for everyone, but it gives my skin a fresh start, leaving my complexion smoothe, clear and bright – but beware of the redness that is surely to ensue (hence why I use it so far in advance of my party). The last thing I did for this portion of my party prep was getting my lips countdown-ready – aka I loaded on Lush's Popcorn Lip Scrub, ate half of it, and let the rest slough away dead skin. Don't worry the dead skin part won't be included in any of my pick up lines tonight.

Everyone rocks a different look for NYE, but there is one thing that is always incorporated, glitz & shine. And I have a group of glitzy faves that are perfect for the evening ahead – and truly any other party you attend this year. I incorporate glitz all the way down to my primer, which is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance – it leaves a subtle, healthy glow and ensures that my makeup will last through the dancing and champagne showers. Once I have my makeup look set, I like to go back in with a bit of my MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study to further highlight my face – focusing on the brow bone, down the center of the nose, inner tear ducts and of course cheekbones. Bare Study is the perfect middle ground between gold and silver, so it pairs well with any look I choose.  I also want to add some shimmer to my legs now that they are nice and tan, and I do that with a bit of the Gleam Body Radiance in Rose Gold – hint: applying it down the center of the legs and arms will help you appear slimmer. Once that's complete I'll slip into my dress, apply some Atelier Cologne in Vanille Insensée to lure in my pray, and stash my Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil in my bag to moisturize throughout the night.

How do you prep for the wild night ahead?

AM¥     XO

LIP SERVICE . AU REVOIR DRY CHAPPED LIPS

The drastic drop in temperature we've experienced this week took quite the toll on me, both emotionally and physically. And in an instant I realized that the days of fall jackets, smooth lips and co-operative hair would quickly be replaced with winter parkas, chapped lips, and that dreaded frizz. We've been dealing with this weather, or what I consider the 'prelude to the polar vortex', for less than a week now, and yet somehow my skin and lips have already taken a beating – most likely due to how sudden the change was. Rough, dry patches have begun to form on my chin and cheeks – cue the Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask – and my once kissable lips have been transformed into a battlefield of rough skin.

Times like these call for a dynamic duo that will rejuvenate your lips and remove any signs of dryness so that you can once again compliment your outfit with your favourite lipstick, and not your favourite lip balm. A good dynamic duo MUST feature two things: exfoliation and hydration. To exfoliate the lips there is one product that I will never stray from, the LUSH Lip Scrubs, and there's a rather simple explanation for my dedication; you will never find another lip scrub for $6.95 that works as effectively, and is as delicious. The lip scrubs are available in four sugar-based flavours, and are meant to scrub the lips to smooth perfection and then be licked off when done –  when my lips are seriously chapped I steer clear from the temptation because, well... no one wants to eat their dead skin, right? Gross. That aside, your lips should now feel smooth, kiss-worthy and ready for a burst of moisture. I personally like to match the scent of my Lush Lip Scrub to an intensive lip balm that has a co-coordinating scent. This can be a difficult task since not all lip balms are powerful enough to tackle winter dryness, but lucky for you I've mastered the mix and have a few of my favourite combinations to share.

Lush Lip Scrub in Bubble Gum & Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment ($23) – This is my go-to  combination for days of 'girly vibes'. The bubblegum flavour is fun and youthful, yet pairs beautifully with the green apple scent found in the Argan Lip Treatment, which is loaded with Vitamin E to soothe and condition lips.
When I use this pair: after a sweetly-scented bath, and anytime I'm watching Mean Girls.

Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips & Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint ($8.50) – If your lips get seriously dry and cracked then this is the combination for you – but be prepared to man up before you use it. The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is my HG lip balm – it features the most intense mint scent I've ever experienced (seriously, beware) and has a thick formula that instantly brings lips back to their original condition. Together, Mint Julips and the Intense Therapy Balm compose the dream team for combating sore, winter lips – and the combo is totally unisex!
When I use this pair: whenever my lips feel like they are going to fall off, and before a date – the minty scent remains fresh for hours and my lips are left kissable ;).

Lush Lip Scrub in Popcorn & TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixir in Salted Caramel ($8) – I almost hate to admit it... but this pairing is so good taste-wise that sometimes I have a difficult time not using the scrub twice just to get a little more of that intoxicating flavour. That being said, this combination is more about pleasure and less about purpose for me. The Popcorn Lip Scrub still works as effectively as the rest, however pairing it with the TokyoMilk Salted Caramel Lip Elixir provides a fantastic taste, but doesn't result in the same improvement in the look/feel of the lips as the other balms do.
When I used this pair: after a vanilla-based bath, and whenever it's snowing outside – the scent instantly gives you that comforting feeling and pairs well with your Salted Caramel Latté.

How do you combat your dry, chapped lips?

AM¥     XO

LUSH COSMETICS . CHRISTMAS GOODIES

After having a difficult week in the city I longed for a night of comfort and relaxation, so I headed into LUSH to pick up a few bath must-haves. To my delight the Lush elves had been hard at work filling the store with some of my favourite Christmas bath products. So, I completely ignored the permanent range, as you do, and set my sights on some old Christmas favourites, alongside a few new (and totally adorable) friends.

The Christmas Hedgehog • Bubble Bar ($7.25) - My little hedgehog friend looks slightly defeated with his sunken in eyeballs and small blue nose, but cute nonetheless. Layered with a floral scent and topped with blue hair made of shea and cocoa butters, this adorable bubble bar is seriously relaxing and creates the silkiest of waters, all hidden beneath a foot of bubbles. At the end of a long day the combination of lavender, rose and ylang ylang oils magically allows my thoughts to subside, as a sense of calmness comes over me – just what the doctor ordered.

So White • Bath Bomb ($6.45) - The So White bath bomb is one of my absolute favourites, and is a product that, in my opinion, should be part of Lush's permanent line up. Although it's outer appearance may look a little dull, the inside of So White contains a secret pink center, which fizzes away to lightly colour your bath. But the real reason I keep coming back for more of this bath bomb each and every year is the intoxicating apple scent – it's fresh, fruity and uplifting thanks to the inclusion of bergamot and neroli oils. The perfect Fall scent.

The Christmas Penguin • Bubble Bar ($7.45) - This little guy was WAY too adorable to pass up – plus an ex boyfriend and I had a thing for penguins so I always seem to find a soft spot in my heart for anything penguin related. The Christmas Penguin, inspired by Little Penguins found in Australia is a bubble bar – meaning it will fill the tub with mountains of orange-flower and bergamot-scented bubbles. Bubble baths are SO necessary on cold winter days, and I'm saving this guy for one of the coldest days so that I can transport my tired mind. The inclusion of Sicilian mandarin and lemon oils, along with the azure coloured waters it creates is reminiscent of the tropics – and in my mind I'm already miles, miles away.

Snow Angel • Bath Bomb ($7.95) - When a Lush product is described as part bath melt, part bath bomb you kind of stop caring about anything else going on in the world, because you know that the cure to all your woes rests in a single bath. Snow Angel is exactly that – woe whisperer, shimmer advocate, and skin softening wizard all in one. With the same Marzipan scent as their Christmas classic, Snowcake, this bath melt/bomb creates a creamy almond bathing experience that delights the senses and leaves you shimmering (literally). One more reason to feel magical.

Butterbear • Bath Bomb ($4.95) - One of the first bath bombs I ever tried from Lush was Butterball, and this year it has been transformed into the Butterbear – you would almost think Lush is trying to create their very own zoo. While this bath bomb is, well lets face it, is the equivalent of a 'basic bitch', it does create beautiful vanilla scented waters and contains heaps of cocoa butter to leave skin feeling smooth and hydrated. The most enchanting thing about this bath bomb (aside for the shape) is the possibilities for layering products to create an indulgent bath that is entirely your own. My favourite combination: a Butterbear and Floating Island bath followed with a generous layer of Vanilla Dee-lite to seal in softness.

With so many amazing releases from Lush this Holiday season it was difficult to only pick up 5 products. That being said I've already begun making a list of products that I missed out on in this haul, so be sure to let me know what your favourite holiday Lush products are so that I can grab them on my next visit. Northern Lights is a definite must – have you seen those starry waters!? To die for.

AM¥     XO

LUSH LOVE LETTUCE & BB SEAWEED FRESH FACE MASK

From the very first moment I walked into a LUSH store I was hooked. Over the years I have come to incorporate quite a number of their products into my beauty regime, which also means that I have accumulated A LOT of their black pots. Luckily, LUSH has a great recycling program that allows you to bring in 5 Empty Black Pots in exchange for 1 Fresh Face Mask. This time around I had enough pots for 2 Fresh Face Masks, and while I couldn't stray from my beloved Love Lettuce I did decide to test out BB Seaweed, a face mask that is entirely new to me.

Love Lettuce will always be my ride or die when it comes to LUSH's Fresh Face Masks. Made up of a kaolin clay base to tighten pores and loaded with ground almonds to exfoliate and brighten, your skin will never look more radiant. LUSH also blends in french lavender oil, seaweed and honey to nourish and soften skin, as well as balancing oily T-zones. I love it because the kaolin clay really tightens and minimizes my pores, while the ground almond buffs my skin to reveal a healthy glow. And it doesn't hurt that the scent of the french lavender oil puts me into a total state of bliss after a long work day.

BB Seaweed may not have a wonderful scent like Love Lettuce, but it sure does make your skin look beautiful. Similar to Love Lettuce, this fresh face mask is made up of a kaolin clay base and loaded with ground almonds to exfoliate your skin, revealing a brighter complexion. However, BB Seaweed is better tailored to those with sensitive skin than Love Lettuce is thanks to the inclusion of calming ingredients like aloe vera gel and rose absolute, which can also help to diminish redness. I truly notice a difference in my skin after using this mask; the redness seen in my cheeks almost completely disappears, my complexion is radiant and my skin is left ultra hydrated thanks to the combination of honey and olive oil.

LUSH Fresh Face Masks retail for $6.95CAD and are only available within stores, as they need to be refrigerated and have a 4-week shelf life. What mask is your favourite?

AM¥     XO