ALL ABOUT THAT BASE . GLOWING SKIN

This season the runways were riddled with fresh-faced beauties rocking luminous skin, barely-there makeup, man-made freckles, and slicked back hair. I fell especially hard for the makeup looks seen on the models in the Erin Fetherson, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Donna Karan runway shows – each model looked ethereal, angelic, and naïve with a hint of sophistication. 

I've always admired those who are able to rock the minimal makeup look on a daily basis – it says a lot about a persons confidence and priorities. And at the age of 25, I finally feel that my skin has an even texture and tone, and remains blemish-free long enough that I'm able to ditch the heavy makeup for the majority of my work days. I always begin my foundation routine with a primer and I've currently been loving the Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer Nourishing Primer[*], which contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, giving an even texture and feel to my skin. Plus, the velvety-rich formula melts into my skin quickly and truly extends the wear of my foundation, which for a luminous look is, of course, the Estée Lauder Double-Wear All-Day Glow BB Moisture Makeup[*]. This BB cream is spectacular in terms of it's wear-time, radiance, and coverage, and never feels heavy or suffocating on my skin. To hide the darkness below my eyes I paint the YSL Touche Éclat in the shape of an inverted triangle and then blend it out with my Real Techniques brush. In order to maintain the glow of this foundation I've decided to skip powder completely, and instead add extra radiance using a cream product, the Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer Radiance Primer in Blue. By tapping this primer into the inner corners of my eye, as well as the high portions of my face I instantly amp up the luminosity of my look, giving my complexion a fresh-glow. To finish off the look I've lightly filled in my brows using the Victoria Jackson Taupe Brow Pencil, and curled my lashes for a wide-awake look using the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara. Now simply top with a light spritz of the Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix and rest assured that your minimal makeup look will keep glowing all day long. 

How do you achieve glowing skin?

AM¥      XO

BENEFIT COSMETICS . ROLLER LASH MASCARA

At this point I've heard too many good things, and seen too many jaw-dropping photos of curled, lengthened lashes not to purchase and test out the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara ($29) myself. And unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably well aware that this is the latest must have mascara. 

Benefit has always been a wizard when it comes to long, lush lashes. They first got me hooked with BADGal Lash, which I quickly tossed to the side when They're Real came around, and today I forget about every mascara I have previously encountered thanks to the Roller Lash Mascara – except for you, Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash... we can never part ways. Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara was inspired by the curling rollers often used to curl hair, and features their 'Hook and Roll' brush specially designed to grab lashes with the help of strategically placed hooks that guide the lashes upwards to add curl. The formula is quite special as well, featuring a 12-hour setting powder to hold curl in place all day long, as well as inky black pigments, and lash conditioning ingredients provitamin B5 and serine. The end result is perfectly curled, long lashes even without the use of an eyelash curler – and thank god for that, at 6am it feels nearly impossible to curl my lashes without pinching my skin.  Plus the curl truly holds for the entire day, and despite my initial concerns the Roller Lash Mascara still remains easy to remove come bedtime, even when the gentlest cleanser is used. The only thing missing: volume. 

Have you tried Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara?

AM¥     XO

WHAT I PACKED . THE PART¥NEXTDOOR AFTER PART¥

Tonight I'm headed back to Hamilton to celebrate The Juno Awards the only way a rap fiend knows how: partying with the OVO crew at the PARTYNEXTDOOR after party. The only problem... what  the hell to pack!! Since I've spent the majority of the weekend working I haven't been able to plan out my outfit, let alone my makeup for the night, which makes packing a real struggle. My solution: versatile products that will offer me variety when it's time to prep for the night, but won't weigh down my backpack. 

Two products that I knew would be coming home with me regardless of my outfit were the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse and the St. Tropez Luxe Dry Oil. These are must haves when it comes to prepping for a party or night out because I know I'll be showing off a bit of skin, and that skin must be golden – especially for the OVO boys. The Karora Express Bronzing Mousse helps me create a gorgeous base, while the St. Tropez Luxe Dry Oil further deepens my tan and adds a beautiful shimmer to my skin. To prep my face I've brought along my Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, which awakens my skin, helping it boast a luminous glow, even texture and smooth feel – creating the perfect base for my Marc Jacobs Beauty Marvelous Mousse Transformative Oil-Free Foundation. This is my go-to foundation for nights when I want flawless, heavy coverage that won't budge. Another go-to, and truly a packing no-brainer is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I did a full review of this palette seen here, and I still can't get enough of it. The shades are versatile for a variety of skin tones, and are heavily pigmented yet blend out with ease, making the chiseled look accessible to everyone, even the contour newb. The remainder of my look is completely up in the air until I settle on one of the three outfits I've brought to my parents house with me. And given that fact, I figured I'd bring an eyeshadow palette that offered me a lot of versatility alongside some high-impact colours, in the event that I felt super daring. The palette I speak of is the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette, of course, which includes 14 shadows that magically transform with the addition of water, giving each shade either a more intense, more metallic or sparkling swatch. I'm pretty positive that I'll be sticking with a dark eye and muted lip for the night, but at this point who knows!!

Do you have any suggestions for my look tonight?!?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured 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.

GET THE LOOK . ZENDA¥A GRAMM¥ AWARDS LIP

Each and every year I highly anticipate the arrival of award season – although, my excitement has little to do with the award shows themselves and more to do with the televised red carpet events. I merely want to see the stars flaunt their perfectly done hair and makeup, model a custom gown, and fingers crossed, drunkenly tell Ryan Seacrest how much the jewels their adorned in cost. 

But my favourite red carpet event of all: the Grammy Awards – the reason being the stars are able to take more fashion and beauty risks given that this is a celebration of music and creativity. This year Zendaya, a disney starlet/young Miley Cyrus if you will, wowed at the Grammy's with a pixie cut and the most stunning, sensual lip colour I've come across in a while – see her complete look here. To my surprise this lip was so easy to re-create that I may end up wearing it daily until Spring. Simply begin by filling in lips with a dark brown lipstick – here I've used the Bite Beauty Matte Créme Lip Crayon in Cognac. I swear I'll own every shade of this lip crayon by the end of the year – they apply beautifully, feel comfortable on the lips, and provide a pigmented, long-lasting lip colour with a matte finish. To add some dimension, making my lips appear fuller, I've added a touch of Benefit's Watt's Up to the center of the lip before applying a bit of my Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Amy with my finger. This golden nude lipgloss is packed with gold shimmer and adds a beautiful shine, completing the look. 

What look caught your eye this award season?

AM¥     XO

ARBONNE . FOR THE SUN OF IT . BRONZING KIT

Arbonne celebrated 35 successful years in business this past January with the release of three limited edition products, which will remain available for the entirety of 2015. Since 1980, Arbonne has focused on developing products that combine the very best of emerging science and nature. The limited edition 35th Anniversary products "demonstrate our continuing commitment to re-evaluating our products to find ways that we can update formulas to deliver best-selling products, with enhancements that new research brings us,” said Michael D’Arminio, Arbonne Sr. VP and Chief Creative Officer.

The release includes the RE9 Advanced Intense Hydration Overnight Mask ($81), RE9 Advanced Instant Wrinkle Filler ($53) and For the Sun of It Illuminating Bronzer & Kabuki Brush Set ($56). I recently reviewed the RE9 Advanced Intense Hydration Overnight Mask, which can be seen here, but today is all about the For the Sun of It Illuminating Bronzer & Kabuki Brush Set[*].

The For the Sun of It Illuminating Bronzer & Kabuki Brush Set includes just that, a universal bronzer paired with a luxuriously soft kabuki brush for seamless application. The bronzer is a beautiful shade, especially for those with paler skin tones, and features a matte, soft-lit effect through the use of Optilight Technology. It's also loaded with Arbonne age-defying botanicals, such as algae extract and plant-derived hyaluronic acid to hydrate, smooth and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I personally enjoy it because it's a 'healthy' alternative to my long time love NARS Laguna, and the shade is actually better suited for my skin tone. Plus the Optilight Technology truly does provide a luminous effect to my skin without the addition of shimmer, meaning I can use it regardless of where I'm headed. It's a real shame that this bronzing duo will only be around for a limited time. I guess I better stock up! 

Arbonne products are vegan, formulated without gluten, dermatologist-tested and allergy-tested. All products can be purchased through their extensive network of Independent Consultants, or online at www.arbonne.ca.

Do you own any Arbonne makeup products?

AM¥     XO

[*]The item featured in this post has 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.

VALENTINES LOOK . MAKE UP FOR EVER . GIVE IN TO ME KIT

My loathe for Valentine's Day stems back quite a few years. To be truthful I can't recall ever celebrating the hallmark holiday, despite having a boyfriend/man friend in my life for the past decade.  But my strong feelings against Valentines didn't stop me from creating a soft and romantic look for the day with the new Make Up For Ever x 50 Shades Of Grey Give In To Me Kit [*]($90). I did a complete review on the kit earlier this week, seen here, and even got to attend a pre-screening of the movie. It was a great night with a lot of ooh's and ahh's every time Jamie Dornan shed an article of clothing, but to be honest the movie itself had no plot and I probably wouldn't spend money to see it. However, I was inspired by Anastasia Steele's humble, 'girl next door' makeup seen in the movie and decided to create this ethereal look for Valentines using the Give In To Me Kit. 

After applying my typical base of makeup I began creating a neutral eye look with underlying pink and lavender tones. I swept the lightest shade, I-514, all over the lid to create a shimmering base then to add depth to the eye I worked small amounts of the taupe grey, S-556, and continued blending to create a shadow in the crease. I then took a shader brush with the metallic copper brown shade, ME-612, and packed this shadow onto the lid to add warmth. I finished the eyes with the Graphic Eyeliner along the upper lash line, followed by 3 coats of the Smoky Extravaganza Mascara. For the lips I simply layered the products in this kit: the Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N4 and the Lab Shine Lip Gloss in D14. I love how simple this lip is from afar but how dazzling it becomes up close thanks to the gold shimmer seen in the lip gloss. Definitely a look I will be re-creating in the future. 

THE KIT

What style are you wearing this Valentine's Day? Romantic or Sexy?

AM¥     XO

[*]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.

VALENTINES LIPS . ARBONNE . LIPSTICK IN STRAWBERRY

Yesterday I talked about my Valentine's Day prep regime, and today I'm talking about something equally as important for Valentines Day, a killer red lip. After going to an event at The Detox Market on King St. in Toronto I've found myself gravitating to health-conscious cosmetics. One of those cosmetics happens to be my favourite red lip colour at the moment as well, Arbonne's Lipstick in Strawberry[*] ($31), a bright creamy red with long lasting hydration. I think I love this lipstick so deeply because it can evoke either that 1950's hollywood glamour feel, or take on a rock and roll vibe when paired with a smokier eye – both looks I am deeply found of. More importantly, it's all natural, and botanical, using wild mango butter, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, and pomegranate extract to supremely hydrate the lips. This is by far the most moisturizing lipstick I own, and yet that has no effect on the pigment or lasting power of this lipstick. I got a solid, and comfortable 4 hours of wear before needing to re-apply, and there was ever a stain left behind. 

With 14 other shades available I'll need to start saving up so that I can incorporate more health-friendly cosmetics into my collection. 

What is your go to lip colour this Valentine's Day?

AM¥     XO

[*]The item in this post has 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.

THIRST¥ FOR... MAR¥-KATE & ASHLE¥ OLSEN MAKEUP

My mind has officially been blown. Did you know that Byrdie posted an article detailing the EXACT MAKEUP PRODUCTS that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen use? Where have I been all this time?! If you are someone who knew about this article and didn't tell me... well consider us officially at war with each other. Everyone else... I like you, and you can read the full article – here. 

I've always loved the 'Olsen look', it's minimal, natural and effortless. And ironically enough, the Olsens and I seem to have similar taste in beauty brands – the Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Makeup is hands down my favourite foundation,  I rarely leave the house without smelling of Nirvana Black, and Benefit's Erase Paste, as well as the Anastasia Brow Gel frequently find themselves in my makeup kit. The friend of mine, Steph, who showed this article to me, had already purchased the lip and cheek products the girls use, so I've had a chance to play around with those and will definitely be adding them to my collection. Especially the Stila Convertible Colour Blush in Lillium – the cream formula blends into the skin flawlessly, leaving a natural flush. 

The one product I've included in this post that the Olsens actually haven't used is the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Color Field. The girls actually use the Kat Von D Ladybird True Romance Eyeshadow Palette, however that palette has since vanished, and I figured the Modernist offered a fresh new, sleek idea. Last on my list are the Eye products! All three look enchanting, especially the Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara – that tube! And I love how affordable the Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner is. Has anyone tried these mascaras? Which one would you recommend purchasing first?

THE PRODUCTS

Did you know such a wonderful article existed?!?
Will you be updating your collection now?

AM¥     XO

MAC VIVA GLAM . MILE¥ C¥RUS LIPSTICK & LIP GLASS

MAC Cosmetics latest Viva Glam spokeswoman is the one and only Miley Cyrus – and the release of her bright pink duo couldn't have come at a better time with Valentine's Day lurking around the corner. I've always been a fan of Miley, especially since her recent shift to the twerking, drug-loving, superstar she is today. She isn't afraid to speak her mind on the use of marijuana, and at the end of the day she doesn't care about what anyone else thinks about her life. I can totally respect that and I've always been a huge supporter of MAC's Viva Glam program, which donates all proceeds to help those living with HIV/AIDS – so obviously I needed these new additions.

The Viva Glam x Miley Cyrus Lipstick ($16) is a stunning hot pink shade with a glossy finish, featuring the signers signature on the inside of the bullet. I originally was only going to purchase the lipgloss because swatches of the lipstick revealed a shade that simply seemed to 'barbie'-esque for my style. However, in person there is a subtle orange undertone to this lipstick that makes it a must for spring/summer. The lipstick can be worn solo or paired with the Viva Glam x Miley Cyrus Lip Glass ($18), which is described as a hot pink with sparkling pearl shimmer, also featuring the signers signature, this time found on the tube. When swatched the hot pink tone is muted quite significantly, revealing a barely there pink with loads of glitter. I almost enjoy the lipgloss better when it is layered over a nude lipstick than it's hot pink companion. This is one of the more fun Viva Glam releases we've seen come from MAC, so I'm hopeful that Miley Cyrus will be collaborating with them again in the future.     

THE SWATCHES

What do you think of this collaboration?

AM¥     XO

6 THINGS . HOW TO ACCENTUATE ¥OUR E¥ES

I've found myself lost in another's eyes more than once. It happens quite frequently to be honest. No matter the colour, there is something of interest residing inside them – a freckle, a sense of pain, or even a kindness. I've also found myself wondering what their view is like, if they see the same colours and shades, what they've endured and will continue to endure, how many tears have been shed... the list goes on. There is a magic within ones eyes that no other body part can reveal – a true sense of soul.

I've been blessed with an eye colour that even I cannot pin point – it lies somewhere between blue and green, with a dark outer ring enclosing the iris, and at times a bright yellow hue surrounding the pupil. They are without a doubt my favourite facial feature, and as such I like to accentuate them whenever possible. This is rather simple – frame them with perfected brows, add depth with matte brown shadows, and make them pop using liner and mascara. The tricks may be old, but the result is truly 'eye-catching'.

I begin by sculpting my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow in Medium Brown. This pomade is a must for any beauty junkie – it applies smoothly, creating a distinct and defined shape that doesn't budge all day. Two other products that everyone should own are the Urban Decay Primer Potion and Naked Basics Palette. The primer is necessary as it ensures my shadows apply with ease, appear vibrant and pigmented, and will not crease or fade throughout the day. I sweep a wash of W.O.S., from the Naked Basics Palette, all over my lid to even out my skin tone before adding depth to the crease using a mixture of Naked2 and Faint on a fluffy brush. I finish with a hint of Venus, the only shimmering shade in the palette, along the brow bone and the inner corner. I then further define my eyes with the Make Up For Ever Ink Liner[*] along the upper lash line, and smudge the Make Up For Ever AquaMatic in Satiny Warm Brown[*] along the lower lash line – this shade is great for you blue-eyed beauties. To complete the look I apply a fiber mascara, like the Too Face Better Than False Lashes Mascara, to add an excessive amount of length, instantly creating 'notice me lashes'. This look is one of my favourites because it can be worn on a daily basis without appearing to heavy for work, and can be transformed for a night out by simply adding a bold lip.

How do you accentuate your eyes?

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.

FACE OF THE DAY . MINIMALIST FT. A STRONG BROW + LIP

A new year and a new me – transforming into a woman who is going to be bold with her choices at the vanity and beyond. Bold choice number one: matte skin, heavy brows and a dark lip with minimal to no eye makeup. I saw this look on a girl working at an Urban Outfitters on Queen St., always ahead of the trend, and was taken back by how striking it was. Her face was a pale canvas and the only thing the artist had painted was eyebrows and lips – I loved it. But the old me would never dare to try a bold look like that – it was shockingly beautiful and demanded attention. But why not demand attention? So today I step outside of my comfort zone to re-create the look that had me in awe.

There are two key products for this look, a gel brow product and a deep aubergine lip product. Application must be meticulous, which means finding the right tools and beginning with a primed, perfected base. I shaped my brows using an angled brush and a tiny amount of the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade in Medium Brown. This pomade is heavily pigmented, can easily create defined lines and won’t budge all day, making it my go-to brow product for every look. Once you’re happy with your brow shape, simply give them a quick brush upwards with a brow gel and move onto the lips. For me, a deep aubergine lip can be created using a single product, the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu. This is a staple for beauty junkie’s everywhere, and is a favourite of Beyoncé’s – the colour is perfection, housed in a pencil so it’s easy to apply, and it’s long wearing. The final look falls somewhere between 80’s grunge and eclectic chic, setting you apart from the rest.

Products Used: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, Marc Jacobs Beauty Marvelous Mousse Transformative OilFree Foundation, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, Urban Decay Original Primer Potion, Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade, Benefit Gimme Brows, No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner, and NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu. 

AM¥     XO

LUXE BOX BY LOOSE BUTTON . WINTER EDIT

A lovely surprise arrived in the mail the other day – it was the Winter Luxe Box by Loose Button. I've been off the beauty box game as of late, but the recent arrivals of Birchbox and Glossybox to Canada have reignited my initial excitement. 

Luxe Box by Loose Button was the very first beauty box I subscribed to when I began blogging years ago, and has been the only subscription service I've maintained. If you haven't been introduced yet, Luxe Box is a quarterly beauty subscription service, which offers 7-8 deluxe sized samples with a minimum worth of $70 for as low as $24. They also ofter a variety of seasonally curated boxes – this Winter there was the Zoomer Edition, Chalet Chic, and The Enchantress. But since I love the thrill of the surprise I always choose the regular box.

I absolutely love skincare products, and this edition was chalked full of skin-saving beauties. The first, and personally most exciting, is the Biotherm Aquasource Cocoon Ultra Comfort Balm-In-Gel. I've absolutely loved each and every Biotherm Aquasource product I've ever tried so I have high hopes for this one – they deliver an absurd amount of hydration for something so lightweight. The other facial product in this box was the Suki Transformative Purifying Masque – a potent salicylic acid mask meant to even out skin tone or to be used as a 'spot' treatment overnight – just in time as I can feel a blemish forming above my lip, urgh. The final skincare product, Paula's Choice Clinical KP Treatment Cloths, are meant to eliminate those annoying red bumps that form on arms and legs when skin is too dry – they'll definitely come in handy with this weather. The remaining goodies include: the E.Vulcano Hair Wash & Creme, a Loose Button Eyelash Curler, So Susan Flutter Mascara, and a mini Nicole by OPI Polish in Mer-Made For Eachother. I used the Flutter Mascara this morning and loved the thin formula and blacker than black pigmentation, and the Nicole polish shade feels hand-picked just for me – totally embodies my persona.

Overall I was so delighted with this edition of the Luxe Box by Loose Button. They are such a great company and always deliver amazing curated boxes. If you haven't tried this subscription yet I highly recommend you get on board for the Spring edition.

AM¥     XO

SORR¥ NOT SORR¥ . SEPHORA VIB EVENT HAUL

This weekend marked Sephora's Annual Holiday VIB Event, a time when those holding VIB status or higher receive 20% OFF their entire purchase... all weekend long. Knowing that this weekend was coming up I've held myself back from making large purchases at Sephora, but yesterday I let loose, buying whatever my little eyes desired and God it felt good – retail therapy really is a thing. 

All of the products featured will be reviewed in depth over the upcoming weeks, but being that today is the final day to cash in on the 20% OFF I figured that I would share my haul for some last minute inspiration :). I was also a bit cheeky this morning and ordered one more item online; the Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment ($29) to help with the random breakouts I've been experiencing. Don't tell my Mom.

THE SETS

Peter Thomas Roth | Skinstant Mask Magic ($52) - Despite that this size is unavailable online, there is a slightly smaller version (0.5oz vs. 1.7oz), which still allows you to try this mask trio, including: the Cucumber Gel Mask, Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Mask, and the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. If at any point I go missing this week you can find me getting high off of the intoxicating scent of the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask.

Sephora Favourites | Dare To Oil ($40) - I'm in dire need of a new facial oil – it's reached the point where I have to tip my Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil bottle upside down for 5 minutes before the right amount of product comes out. And while I've had my sights set on the Keihl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, I couldn't pass up the chance to test out 4 more oils before making my final decision. Those on the chopping block include: the Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil Light, Tarte Maracuja Oil, Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Vitamin C Youth Activating Oil, and the Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil. 

Smashbox | Step-By-Step Contour Kit ($52) -This is such a great set for anyone just getting into contouring! The majority of contour kits/palettes simply contains two shades: a contour and highlight, but this palette contains a third, middle shade to help diffuse the contour for a more natural effect. It also comes with a step-by-step guide for placement of the contour based on your face shape, as well as a brush.

THE INDIVIDUALS

Benefit Cosmetics | Gimme Brows in Medium/Deep ($26) - Considering this will be my third or fourth tube of this product I'm sure you can understand how great my love for it is. On days when I'm on the run, Gimme Brows, makes my brows look my best – naturally filled in, in a fraction of the time of my normal routine. 

NARS | Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu ($31) - After my mission for Make Up For Ever's Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in 49 Satin Blueberry failed, I turned to the help of a Sephora employee to help me find a similar shade. From the moment Train Bleu was swatched I was sold. 

Hourglass | Veil Mineral Primer Travel-Sized ($21) - I've yet to hear a bad word spoken in regards to this primer. But since I wasn't ready to shell out the $60 for the full sized and the Best Of Houglass Set I had been after was nowhere in sight, I figured this was the best way to see if the hype was legit.

Bumble and Bumble | Sunday Shampoo ($25.50) - I used to relish in a evening of pampering come every Sunday, but between the crazyness of the move and settling into the city I fell of track. I'm hopeful that this clarifying shampoo will give me one more reason to re-start my weekly Sunday rituals.

Bumble and Bumble | Creme de Coco Masque ($32.75) - No Sunday ritual would be complete without a hair mask, and while I originally wanted the Phyto Phytospecific Ultra-Smoothing Mask, the scent of Creme De Coco couldn't be beat. Plus... it's Bumble and Bumble. 

Make Up For Ever | Aqua Matic Eye Pencil ($25) -  After falling in love with these eyeshadow pencils back in September when I tested the shade Iridescent Turquoise, I knew that it wouldn't be long before I grabbed a few of the more versatile shades. I decided to pick up Metallic Golden Taupe and  Diamond Golden Grey to provide a quite pop of colour rimmed around the eye on days when I want to look put together with minimal effort.

THE BONUSES

Jack Black | Performance Ready Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair & Body - Because I wasn't a big fan of this years Women Birthday Gift I decided to ask for the Men version instead. Not only is this a (seriously) deluxe sized sample, I kind of love using mens body wash – the scents make you feel so fresh and so clean, clean.

Urban Decay | Urban Obsession Kit - I rarely cash in my VIB points, but the 500-point perk this month, the Urban Decay Urban Obsession Kit, totally stole my heart. Included in this set are 4 of their best-selling shadows in Skimp, Bust, Guilt, and Oil Slick, as well as their 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero- black and a single use of the most-loved Primer Potion. The perfect from day to night on-the-go palette. 

What products did you purchase this weekend? And what products would you like to see reviewed first!?

AM¥     XO