SALL¥ HANSEN X MADELINE POOLE . ECKHAUS LATTA A/W '15

One of my favourite aspects of New York Fashion Week is viewing the makeup, hair and nail styles that are paired with each collection – especially when the nail artist is Madeline Poole, Global Colour Ambassador for Sally Hansen. 

This season Madeline Poole has created a trending layered nail look for Eckhaus Latta's Fall/Winter '15 Runway Collection that is actually quite simple to recreate. Using a wide spectrum of fashionable colours from Sally Hansen's line, Madeline was able to create three distinct looks that require zero tools! Each look pairs well with an upcoming or current season, starting with our absolute favourite, Winter... note the sarcasm. "We've chosen three different colour ways based on the palette," says Madeline of her nail look, "We're using a mint green, metallic burgundy, camel, deep mauve and rose gold. The nail is a layered, distressed texture. By wiping the majority of polish off of the brush we are able to make organic brush strokes that when layered, look similar to cells under a microscope, creating a unique pattern on each fingernail." The shades used include the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure ($8.95) in Camelflage[*], Gilty Party, Commander in Chic, Jaded and Wine Not[*]. 

To re-create the dark burgundy nail, which is perfect for the current season, I've used a base of Wine Not topped with random, dry strokes of Commander in Chic, Jaded and Gilty Party. The next look, better suited for early Spring thanks to it's mix of mint green and deep mauve, uses Jaded as a base and is accented with random, dry strokes of the shades Commander in Chic and Camelflage. Finally, the easiest look of them all, which also features Jaded as the base, is simply accented with Camelflage and a hint of Commander in Chic to create a nail design that has me longing for the summer. 

Will you re-create these nail looks? What nail artist inspires you?

AM¥     XO

[*]Some of 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.

5 THINGS . WTF WINTER . RESCUE KIT

The snow may be absent but there is no doubt that we are well into winter now – negative temps, bundled bodies, and the always-anticipated-but-not-so-welcomed dry skin. I've always had a few products that I reach for at this time of the year, but never have I been so confident and content with my 'winter skincare rescue kit'. It's the perfect mixture of soothing and hydrating products packed alongside one creamy exfoliator to ensure my skin is soft, smooth, and nourished all season long.

Whenever I arrive back at my condo after braving the frigid temps the first thing I long for is a hot, steamy shower – it not only warms me up, but instantly puts me into a state of relaxation. And it's times like these when I reach for The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub – the scent takes me to a tropical paradise, while the creamy scrub softens my skin without stripping it of moisture. Once I run out of this scrub I'll definitely be turning to the newest range from The Body Shop for the Wild Argan Oil Rough Scrub because it looks incredible! From here on out it's all about the moisturizing products, and for my body there is no brand I trust more than Josie Maran, especially the Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream. Although it may be a hand cream, this stuff works wonders on the backs of my hands, arms, elbows, even my heels – if there is a rough bit on my body this product will ensure it vanishes. 

My face has been loving the new Biotherm Aquasource Cocoon sample, which I received in my Winter Luxe Box. This is the invisible balaclava of this skincare world – it truly does nourish your skin like a balm, lasting for hours, yet has the lightweight feel of a gel. But there are still days when my face feels absolutely beaten by the wind and is in dire need of a moisture miracle. These days call for the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque, a clear gel which envelops skin in a moisture barrier that works overnight to deeply hydrate and protect. It takes some time to get used to wearing this mask overnight as your face literally sticks to the pillow, but now that I'm accustomed to the stickiness I wake up feeling refreshed, with softer, rejuvenated skin. Last but not least, is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Mint, which I apply as frequently as possible. I've spoken of this product a million times over because it's just that amazing for winter, especially as a preventative measure before you have to face the cold.     

What are you essentials for braving the cold and coming out of it with beautiful skin?

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

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