SEPHORA HAUL.. FINALL¥

It feels likes AGES since I've done a Sephora haul. And to be honest, I only purchased four of the items here – the other two: one a gift, and the other a PR sample. But I felt compelled to share them as well because they have quickly become favourites. 

The product that drove me to Sephora in the first place is the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade in Soft Brown ($23). Since beginning my quest for Sienna Miller Golden Globes hair (only two more sessions to go) I've felt that the shade Medium Brown is too dark. So, since I love how long-lasting, easy to use and versatile this pomade is I simply purchased the appropriate shade. I was kind of obsessed with Sienna's entire look this night, and also wanted to find a lip shade similar to the one she wore. I've been dying to own the Bite Beauty Matte Créme Lip Crayon in Glacé for quite some time now, and since it's only a few shades darker than Sienna's I picked it up. The formula of the Matte Créme Lip Crayon is like no other, which why I also purchased the shade Cognac, a dark brown. And my love for them shows. This week it's Glacé whose been most loved in my collection, especially when topped with my Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Amy –which my friend Teresa from What T Loves bought me. I'm sure you can guess why :).

THE SWATCHES

L-R: Bite Beauty Glacé & Cognac, and Buxom Amy.

The final two products are ones that I've been told such good things about, and after using each this week I understand why. The Phyto Phytopolléine Botanical Scalp Treatment ($50) is AH-mazing, as long as you're into the herbal thing. A friend was asking me why we use treatments on our hair and not our scalps when the hair is dead and the scalp is feeding new growth. I couldn't answer. So when I heard about this treatment I knew I had to try it. It seemed daunting at first but to apply it you simply divide hair into four sections and apply directly, and only, to the scalp, massaging it in as you go. It's meant to work as a pre-shampoo serum, so you apply it 20 minutes before your shower and shampoo as normal – and trust, the scent washes out immediately. I'll continue this treatment once to twice a week and should notice results in 2 months. I just want to add some shine... hmph. The final product is the Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix[*] ($34), a makeup setting spray that is said to extend the wear time of your makeup to 12 hours. All I know is that it gets me through the work day and that's enough for me. But be sure to hold your hand far away from your face. I thought the mist would be similar to the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, however it was not and almost had my mascara running the first day I tested it.

Are any of these products on your wishlist?

AM¥     XO

[*]This item 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.

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

GLOSS¥BOX . MARCH 2015 EDITION

I thought that I had lost all hope for beauty boxes.. and then the March Glossybox arrived at my door. Back in the day I absolutely loved Glossybox, but the service was unfortunately pulled from Canada until this past November when it was reintroduced by Glossybox US. Since being reintroduced, Glossybox has taken Canada by storm and is arguably the best beauty box on the market. For $21/month + $5/shipping (USD) you get 5 surprise luxury beauty products packaged in a glossy pink gift box. Sign up here to get your own Glossybox!!  

This month each Glossybox will feature a hair product meant to create shiny, healthy locks that will dazzle for Spring. There are five possible hair products that could end up in your box, which can be seen here. I can't deny that I was hoping for the Ouidad 12-Minute Deep Treatment, but I ended up with the Ouidad Color Sense Color Preserving Shampoo & Conditioner – a great product nonetheless. This hair cleansing duo smells absolutely amazing, is sulfate free, and is so moisturizing that I accidentally mistook the conditioner for a mask at first. But it wasn't the only highly moisturizing product featured in my March Glossybox! I also got my hands on the OROGOLD 24K Multi-Vitamin Day Moisturizer, an ultra-nourishing moisturizer loaded with vitamins. If I had the $178 this moisturizer costs you can bet it would already be in my skincare regime – seriously the ultimate hydrator!! 

Onto the colour cosmetics, which are arguably more exciting. The first product I reached for was the So Susan Concealer Quad, consisting of four concealer shades formulated with Marula Oil. The four shades allow you to customize the colour in order to create a shade that seamlessly matches your complexion. Plus, the fact that it's travel-sized means that I can contour on the go. Next up is the bellápierre Cheek & Lip Stain in Pink – a product that I could honestly care less about. The shade is subtle, pretty and blends with ease... but there is just something about cream cheek products that screams 'I'm a HUGE hassle.' So for now I'll stick with powder blushes. The final product, Model Co's More Brows in Medium/Dark, is nearly identical to Benefit's Gimme Brow, an absolute favourite of mine. The two not only share a similar product name, but also feature a small brush with a tinted gel formula to easily tame and fill brows. The main difference? More Brows is $10 cheaper (and slightly more difficult to track down). 

Overall I was thrilled with the contents of my March Glossybox, and will definitely be turning to this subscription service in the future to fill my beauty sampling needs. It turns out that you truly do get what you pay for when it comes to beauty boxes. 

Have you re-subscribed to Glossybox?

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.

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.

MONTHL¥ FAVOURITES . FEBRUAR¥ EDITION

February has been beyond hectic! I'm unsure whether it was the shortness of the month, or the fact that I've simply been busier, but it flew by within a blink of an eye. Given that I was constantly on the move, February was about finding beauty products that left me polished in a flash – and I can't forget the release of Fifty Shades Of Grey, of course. But the following products have done just that, kept my look simple yet chic, mixed with a few skincare favourites that kept my skin hydrated despite the historically cold temps. Can't it be spring yet? 

SKINCARE

I was absolutely gutted at the beginning of the month when I finished my Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, but the Monteil Élixir Métamorphose Pro DNA Serum[*] came along offering the perfect upgrade. This luxurious cream serum leaves my skin feeling velvety soft, while halting premature aging of the skin by protecting the DNA in the skin cells nuclei. I wish I could afford this serum year round, but at $95 it's a little steep, meaning I'll be back to the deluxe samples next month. I've turned to my sample bin for a few products lately, including a daily moisturizer and eye cream, stumbling upon the Biotherm Aquasource Cocoon and Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm, which have become fast favourites. Both feel nourishing, hydrating, and feature ultra-thick formulas, three things I've needed this month given the harsh winter conditions – my skin is seriously craving moisture. But my absolute favourite moisture packed product for months like February: the Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask to Quench Skins Thirst. The apricot-scent, the silky formula, the quick absorption time.. absolutely everything about this mask is perfection. Plus you can either wash it off completely or simply wipe away the excess with a tissue depending on your skins needs – hell, sometimes I just use it as a moisturizer when my skin is extremely dry. But regardless of how I use them, these four products have my skin on the right track for a *fingers crossed* foundation-less summer.

MAKEUP

Another minimal makeup month – this one slightly heightened thanks to a universal bronzer, an eyeshadow palette inspired by Fifty Shades Of Grey, and a lip combo to create the perfect nude lip. First up the bronzer, which was released in the For The Sun Of It Illuminating Bronzer & Kabuki Brush Kit[*] for Arbonne's 35th Anniversary. I've declared that this bronzer is better for pale babes than NARS Laguna, and I mean it – especially given it's versatility thanks to it's matte finish. Versatility is the name of the game this month, and it's exactly what I found in the MAKE UP FOR EVER Give In To Me Kit[*], which features 4 Artist Shadows, full review here, and the Smoky Extravagant Mascara. This kit, inspired by Anastasia's look in Fifty Shades Of Grey, has given me the ability to keep my look simple for day time, while providing the option to amp up my eyes for a night out. For day to day wear I use the pale champagne shade, I-514, all over the lid, with S-556, a cool taupe, smudged into the crease. I also created a romantic look for Valentines Day using this kit, which can be found here. And finally the pale lip combination that has me feeling all types of feels this month – MAC's Lipstick in Angel topped with the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly. The beautiful nude shade created from this combination features the slightest tint of mauve, bringing warmth to my lips. I know these two won't be leaving my purse anytime soon.

What products were you obsessed with this month?

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.