Hi all! So way overdue but I finally got around to my May favourites.  It’s already halfway through June but I just had to do one, I’ve just been so busy/lazy!  And I’ve also been so excited about other posts I have been doing so I kept putting this one off.  Nevertheless, better late than never right?  I promise that I’ll get June’s up in time!

MAC Eyeshadow in Phloof!

I love this eyeshadow!  I got it in pan form because I have the Pro Palette so I just stick it in and it’s all organized and in one place.  But that’s for another post…

The thing I love about this colour is you can use it as a highlight, a base, a lid colour, etc.  It’s a perfect milky beige colour that should be a staple in everyone’s eyeshadow collection.

NARS Lose Yourself Blush/Bronzing Powder Duo and Lipgloss Set

So remember when I said in my NARS cult collection post that I really wanted the Laguna bronzer? Well, I got a gift card from Sephora for my birthday (thanks Allison!) but I didn’t necessarily want to buy the bronzer because I already have three of them from different brands that haven’t even hit pan.  Then I saw this set that comes with a blush/bronzer duo in Laguna and Angelika with a travel-size Angelika lip gloss.  So I bit the bullet and got my mom to chip in the rest for a birthday gift.  I absolutely love the duo.  I don’t think there is anything special in particular about Laguna.  Don’t get me wrong, it looks nice but on my skin it looks like any other bronzer I have.  I will say however, that it’s not as obvious a bronzer than other ones I have, it’s subtle but in a good way.  The Angelika blush is also gorgeous; I use them together for the perfect summer look (I also tried Laguna and Orgasm together and I think they work awesome as well).  It’s not as pink as it appears in the packaging and I didn’t notice an abundance of glitter on my cheeks (it’s super glittery in the pan).  I would definitely recommend this blush.

As for the Angelika lip gloss.  It is definitely more pigmented and longer lasting than Turkish Delight. I also find it stickier than it as well, however, maybe the stickiness makes for the long-lasting wear it presents… who knows?  It’s a pretty gloss, not the same shade as the blush, but still a pretty fuchsia pink.

This set is available at Sephora, Sephora online, and I believe The Bay (it’s apparently a “Sephora exclusive” but I think I saw the box at the NARS counter at The Bay).

ELF Taklon Powder Brush

So it seems like in every favourites post I feature an ELF brush.  Well, this post is no different.  I absolutely love ELF brushes, they are so fantastic and the best part is they are like $3 USD.  Amazing right?!

I picked up this powder brush at Target and the thing I like about it is it has a flat top, so it’s perfect for contouring.  I usually use this to apply bronzer on my cheekbones and then use a blush brush to apply blush.    If you are looking for inexpensive brushes, definitely check out ELF (in particular their Studio line, I wouldn’t bother with the other lines).  They are super cheap (in price), soft, synthetic, and vegan-friendly.  Whenever I’m in the States I seem to always pick one up.  I don’t think they sell ELF items separately in Canada (you can find the gift sets at Winners and Zellers around the holidays), but you can order online, although I heard that it takes forever to ship.  If you live near the border and near a Target then I would for sure check them out.

ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

Speaking of ELF…. I absolutely love their makeup wipes!  I find MAC Wipes so expensive for what you are buying so I have never even bothered getting them.  For $3 USD you can get the ELF version and they are so great.  For the price you wouldn’t think that they would do the job, but they remove even the toughest of makeup and are super gentle.  The only thing that sucks about them is that there is only 20 wipes.  I need 100! Oh well, for $3 you might as well stock up.  Definitely recommend these.

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #19 Frivolous Pink

My holy grail of lipsticks, YSL Rouge Volupte may be expensive but it’s worth every penny.  From the gorgeous casing to the mango scent to the SPF 15 to the creamy texture, this lipstick is pretty much perfect. I am truly obsessed, so much so that when my friend asked what I wanted from Vancouver I said one of these right away (he got me #8 Fetish Pink by the way).  These lipsticks are just so creamy to apply and the colour goes on very pigmented and not to mention long-wearing.  They are quite pricey, $37 CDN (my friend’s text – “I got you the #8, 42 dollar lipstick!!!!!!”) but if you want to splurge on something luxurious then this is it.

Matthew James Root Lift Spray

I was given this product by my neighbour who was going to toss it in the garbage because she thought it “smelled bad” so I grabbed it, and I’m glad I did!  I’m always skeptical on products that say they “lift your roots”, I figure that a little hairspray and a teasing comb is the trick to volume.  That was until I tried this product.  This spray is in your hair all day, unlike hairspray which can fall flat after a while. My hair still feels as much backcombed at the end of the night as it did when I first did it in the morning.

To be honest, I don’t know too much about this brand other than you can pick it up in beauty supply stores and salons.  But if you see it, give it a try, it really does work.  And for the record, I didn’t think it smelled bad…

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse

I am a huge user of self tanners.  I don’t tan very well in the sun and I’m quite scared of using tanning beds, so self tanning is the way to go!  I was sent this product at work for review and trial (we featured it in one of our magazines) and I think it is a great tanner.  It is quite pricey ($40 CDN I believe) but if you want a good self tanner that gives you a tan right away, this is it.  One application of this bad boy will leave you with a gorgeous bronze glow, not orange, bronze.  I often apply it at night and then in the morning rinse it off (it says to rinse off after four hours) and if I want something deeper I will apply it twice a week.  According to the St. Tropez website it also reduces the aroma of tanner by 70 per cent.  It isn’t as noticeable as other tanners out there (Jergens I’m looking at you) but it still has a scent to it (more noticeable if you are working out).  I also wouldn’t wear this in a hot tub (but then again all self tanners come off in a hot tub).  Anyways, if you are looking for a self tanner that leaves you with a true bronze glow, then this is it.

Phew!  Long post!  I didn’t think I had that many things to report on but apparently I did!  What were some of your May favourites?  Have you tried any of the products I mentioned?  Love em or hate em?  Leave me a comment!

Hair, makeup, and photography by yours truly!

Hi all!  So I had a photoshoot today for photos to accompany an article I wrote for Clippings magazine on hair trends.  I had so many photos that I thought I would post some on here so I don’t feel like they were wasted.  One of the trends I talk about in the article has been seen on everyone from celebrities to even the runways of some of the hottest brands.  Wanna take a “wild” guess? Yup, it’s feathers!

Basically what they are are rooster feathers that you can straighten, curl, and wash.  They are attached using a microloop and then fastened on a small section of hair.  They are relatively inexpensive and add some flair and a pop of colour to your hair instantly.  It’s a neat trend for summer for sure and have been spotted on such celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Ke$ha among others.  In fact, they have been so popular that fishermen have been complaining because people interested in the fad have been buying the feathers that are for fishing.  It’s being said that the hair industry has single-handedly wiped out the rooster feather industry and there are some shortages to get your hands on those colourful feathers.

Some salons offer them or you can always order the supplies online and do it yourself.   There are a number of online retailers and manufacturers that you can get them from.  If you don’t want them attached semi-permanetely, you can also get yourself a pair of temporary clip-in feathers from Sultra ($25 USD, available at Sephora).

They are super fun and definitely my go-to hair trend for summer.  And, if you want your furry friend to spot that same trend, Puppy Locks offers fur feathers that you can apply onto Fido (Condition Culture, the company that makes Puppy Locks also make Feather Locks for humans).  How cute is that? I’m not sure that Ziggy would like it but it’s still pretty cool regardless. So what do you think? Are you on the feather bandwagon or are you gonna let this one fly by?

So for the past few years I have been in love with zebra print anything.  And then came Keeping Up With the Kardashians and that totally escalated my love for animal print to a whole new level.  I am pretty much obsessed.  Seriously.  I cannot have too many leopard print anything.  Well actually, that’s not true, there is some gross leopard print stuff out there.  But the point is, if it is animal print, I love it.

L-R: Forever 21, Forever 21, Sace

The thing about animal print, although wild, is it’s a nice burst of colour and print.  If you don’t like floral things (they can tend to be a bit grandma) then go for some fun leopard or zebra, or even giraffe, I have been noticing an increasing amount of giraffe print clothing and accessories.  Now with that being said, make sure you don’t go over the top and do head to toe animal print.  It works wonders as a statement piece, not as a whole ensemble.  Like take for instance, if you are doing a leopard print top, I would match it with some dark denim and nude pumps or black stilettos.  If you do a zebra print dress, pair it some some neutral coloured shoes.  As for accessories, make a statement while wearing an LBD with some leopard print heels or clutch.  The pairings are endless.

Zebra print dress by Soho (Mexico)

Zebra print cardigan from Wet Seal

You can have a lot of fun with animal print as there are many ways to wear it. Some of my favourite pieces are a zebra cardigan from Wet Seal (which goes with practically anything), a giraffe print clutch from H&M, leopard heels also from H&M, and a leopard print shirt with 3/4 length sleeves from Forever 21.

Clutch from H&M (bought in May 2011)

Shoes from H&M

Sequin zebra print flats from Forever 21

If you don’t have some wild patterns in your closet already, go out and pick up some key pieces.  My favourite stores to shop for animal print anything are Forever 21 and H&M, not only do they have on-trend items but they are affordable as well.  So what are you waiting for?  Go wild!