Well folks, we are officially in that weird week before Christmas and New Years where no one knows what day of the week it is.
The holidays this year were definitely a little (or rather, a lot) different, but it was nice to actually take it easy at home and not feel obliged to go out and see a million people. Now that Christmas is over and we are heading toward New Years Eve (NYE), I’m actually kind of looking forward to taking it easy at home. NYE is actually my least favourite holiday since I feel you are always pressured to do things and everything is overpriced and it’s always so cold out.
Anyways, even though NYE will be low-key this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still sparkle and shine a little. A makeup collection I’m totally digging is from Lise Watier’s holiday offering.
First up, the Diamond Dreams collection is what NYE looks are made out of. This collection features an eyeshadow palette, a highlighter palette, a blush/highlighter brush, a lipstick, gloss, and a liner/shadow collection.
The Diamond Dreams Nine-Colour Eyeshadow Palette (C$55) contains nine shadows in matte, satin, and metallic finishes. These shadows are simply stunning and are very creamy and pigmented, making them stunning when applied. I love the shade range they included since there are more neutral tones, as well as jewel tones and pinks, making it perfect for any eye colour and just about any look. Plus, the finishes of the shadows are stunning and perfect for the holiday season (especially that metallic/glittery grey in the middle).
Pair your glittery eyes with an ethereal glow thanks to the Diamond Dreams Blush & Glow Blush and Highlighter Palette (C$49), which is a stunning highlighter palette that also doubles as blushes.
This palette opens up to four universal shades that can be used separate or together for a beautiful and healthy glow. These highlighters are also silky smooth and leave you with a stunning finish that is sure to turn heads (virtually or IRL).
While you’re already at it, grab the Diamond Dreams Blush & Highlighter Brush (C$34). This brush has a faceted rose gold handle in the shape of a rough diamond and is perfect for applying either brush or a highlight to the high points of your face.
For the lips, apply the Rouge Intense Supreme Luxury Edition lipstick (C$28), which is an exclusive mauve lipstick that comes in a jewel decorated case. This lipstick is very creamy and hydrates the lips, leaving them with lasting colour. Although this shade isn’t one I would typically reach for it is a really pretty colour and definitely a shade that is very universal.
This lipstick is perfect for the holiday season and I found you can definitely wear this with either a nude eye or a more dramatic one, depending on the look you are going for.
Pair the lipstick with their Universal Lip Gloss (C$25), which looks purple in the tube, but actually applies translucent. This gloss leaves lips hydrated and with a lustrous finish, without feeling sticky at all.
Finally, if you want to smell amazing this holiday season, spray a little of their Ivresse perfume on. This scent has been around for over 45 years and is one of the brand’s most classic fragrances.
For the holidays, Lise Watier came out with a holiday set (currently on sale at Hudson’s Bay for C$42.55) that includes a hand and body lotion and a 100 ml bottle of the eau de parfum.
This fragrance includes top notes of jasmine, bergamot, and rose, followed by heart notes of cistus, lily of the valley, and orange blossom. Finally, it has base notes of vetivier, ylang ylang, and musk.
I really love the Lise Watier collection and adore both the formulas of the products, as well as the packaging. Every item in the makeup collection contains beautiful crystal-inspired packaging and is sure to be a real gem in your makeup collection.
Did you pick up any of the Lise Watier products during the holidays?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
Like what you read? Check out these related posts:
Well folks, this is it.
If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping just yet and are in a scramble, a store that I can always depend on is Shoppers Drug Mart. The retailer has definitely upped their game in the past few years and not only do they carry drugstore cosmetic lines, but you can find more luxury ones there as well. Oh, and the fact that they have way more than just beauty as well (a box of chocolates is always a good idea).
If you want to gift something more affordable and unique, then take a look at their in-house beauty brand, Quo Cosmetics, which recently got a rebrand earlier this year. This line is super affordable and offers up everything from makeup, accessories, hair, and more.
We’ll keep the intro short and sweet since I’m sure you have some shopping to do, so let’s dive right in.
Starting first with the eyes, the Quo Beauty All is Bright eyeshadow palette (C$25) is a great gift since you get 12 cool-tone shadows in here. Perfect for an intimate holiday dinner or a Zoom party, this palette contains shadows in shimmer and matte formulas.
In case you haven’t tried Quo’s shadows before, they are very pigmented, creamy, and blendable and since you have 12 shades to choose from, you’ll be able to create a variety of different looks for the holidays and beyond.
Gift the shadow palette (if you can find it in store, it’s currently sold out online), with their Must Have Brush Kit With Roll (C$55). Quo brushes were my first high-end brushes I ever received (they were a gift from my dad) and I still use them, more than 10 years later.
This set includes 10 brushes plus a roll to store them in. You get a powder brush, a blush brush, a rounded foundation brush, a highlighter brush, a multi-purpose brush, a crease blender brush, an all-over shadow brush, a liner brow brush, an eyeshadow smudge brush, and a rounded concealer brush. All of these brushes are made with easy-to-clean fibres which are cruelty free and 100 per cent synthetic.
For the lips, a set that will really come in handy is their Triple Threat Lip Prep Trio (C$18). This set includes three jars with product that will help treat the lips. First you get a brown sugar scrub to exfoliate lips and remove any dead skin cells. After, apply the lip mask, which contains vitamin E and jojoba seed oil which helps to restore hydration. Finally, you get a lip balm, which contains soothing shea butter to condition dry and irritated lips.
Use the scrub and mask a few times a week (the mask is also great for before bed), and apply the balm as you need it. This set is great since who doesn’t need some TLC on their lips. Even though we may be wearing less lipsticks and glosses, a lip balm and some care is always needed, especially in the winter.
Another great gift staple are lip glosses, which although they aren’t the greatest to wear with masks, they are always great gift ideas. Quo has a ton of different sets at all price points and these are great add-on gifts or small gifts option ideas.
One gift that I absolutely loved from last year that they brought back is the Save The Day Beauty Emergency Kit (C$20). This little pouch opens up to reveal a number of items that are will help save the day in a pinch. I got this set last year (it came in a gold glittery pouch) and find that I toss it in my often during date nights.
Open up to find a compact mirror, an emery board, nail clippers, mini tweezers, a pack of blotting papers, three hair elastics, three foam tip applicators, four bobby pins, clothing tape, and a mini blending sponge.
A great little add on to gift with any of these products is the Hydrogel Lip Mask, which is a mask for your lips and is designed to give you soft and kissable lips. I love to load up on mask time during the holiday season and this one is something different to try out. Plus, with al that mistletoe laying around it’s important that your lips are kissably smooth.
While you’re at it, also throw in the Eye Heart You Gel Eye Pads (C$8), which would make great stocking stuffers. This package includes two gel masks that are designed to wake up and calm tired eyes. Throw them in a freezer beforehand for a nice treat.
Speaking of eye masks, I’m kinda obsessed with the Sweet Dreams Satin Cat Eye Mask (C$12), which is a soft and plush eye mask (and also super cute). This mask has little cat ears and embroidered lashes so you look extra cute while you get your beauty sleep.
Pair the mask with the All Tied Up Headband, (C$12) which will give you major Hello Kitty vibes. I actually brought this headband with me to Montreal and its the cutest and softest headband to spot while you are washing your face or throwing on a face mask. It features a baby pink blush material with a super cute that is removable.
Of course Quo has tons of other products available as part of their holiday line up. The items I mentioned here are currently sold out online, but I mean, by this point, you’re not ordering online anyways since there’s no way it would get here within the day. Since there are so many Shoppers Drug Marts around, I think you should be able to find some of these items in store.
What’s left on your wish list or gift list that you still have to shop for?
Like what you read? Check out these related posts:
Time is ticking folks!
Okay, so the last scramble for gifts is here and if you still have people to shop for you on list, then a brand that is always a tried and true option is Bath & Body Works.
The retailer unfortunately does not have online shopping for Canadians yet (I heard that one is in the works though), but luckily, since soaps and lotions seems to be an essential item in a lot of provinces, you can probably still shop in store for some last-minute items. And by last-minute items, I don’t mean gifts that make it obvious that they are in fact last-minute items. Bath & Body Works (BBW) has so many festive treats in store this season that I’m sure that in addition to gifts for someone else, you’ll probably want to pick up a few items for yourself as well.
Starting with the classics, if you have someone on your list that loves Vanilla Bean Noel, Twisted Peppermint, and Winter Candy Apple, then you’re in luck, since these fan-favourite items are back for 2020.
Pick up any of these seasonal scents in their fine fragrance mist, hand soaps, hand sanitizers, shimmer fizz body lotions, candles… the list goes on and on. I’m a huge sucker for these scents and there is a good reason why they are classics. All three of them sum up the season and are sure to create nostalgia for anyone you gift them to.
Speaking of candles, BBW is known for their candles, especially the three-wick ones, which always make great gifts (especially since they are so affordable!). These come in practically hundreds of scents and the brand always releases special seasonal ones every year as well.
A holiday classic is definitely Fresh Balsam, which features woodland balsam, crisp eucalyptus, fir branches, and cedarwood with essential oils. These candles are topped with a decorative lid that can also double as a coaster (when the candle is all burned out there are so many fun ways to transform the jar as well). All their three-wick candles are made with natural essential oils, feature a soy wax blend, and fill the room with incredible fragrance.
If candles aren’t your thing then take a look at their Wallflower Air Fresheners. Start first with one of their wall plug-ins (they have basic versions or more fun ones) and then choose your favourite fragrance to plug in.
You plug these into your wall and then your room is filled with fragrance for 30 days. For the holidays, choose the Frosted Cranberry one, which features iced cranberries, blonde woods, and red apple with essential oils. I love these since sometimes I get paranoid with candles, but these can be left alone and BBW usually offers great deals on them too (right now you can get five for $24!).
The one gift that is sure to be a hit this year is their PocketBac hand sanitizers. These are truly the real MVP of 2020 and would make such great little gifts or finishing gifts. In the BBW media Zoom call she also recommended even putting on everyone’s plate before your holiday dinners as a decorative item.
The PocketBac Hand Sanitizers are infused with essential oils, shea extract, vitamin E and aloe, meaning that these won’t dry out your hands. These also kill 99.9% of the most common germs, and are small enough that they will fit in even the smallest of handbags.
If you want to make your hand sanitizer extra festive, then put it in one of their cute PocketBac holders. They sent me the gingerbread one shown in the photo, but they have so many cute designs (including one featuring a rhinestone fringe).
To pair with the hand sanitizer, gift one of their Hand Creams, which comes in a handy tube, making it perfect to carry with you on the go.
These hand lotions contain moisturizing shea butter and Vitamin E and quickly absorb on the skin, leaving them feeling soft, smooth, and nourished. I love the Frosted Coconut Snowball scent since it mixes two of my favourite fragrances, but they also have these in every other scent imaginable. Pair it with the hand sanitizer for a killer combo.
For more luxe gifts, take a look at their Ultra Shea Body Cream. Since our skin gets dry in the winter time, this is perfect to throw in someone’s gift. These creams contain shea and cocoa butters, as well as skin-soothing aloe. These creams are clinically tested for 24 hours of moisture and the formula isn’t greasy, meaning you can apply it after your morning shower and before you get dressed (the feeling of pulling up your pants after applying lotion is the worst).
For the holidays this year they have released the scent You’re the One, which is a blend of soft rose, winter woods, and a drop of strawberry nectar.
Another great gift idea is the Aromatherapy Spearmint Body Wash and Foam Bath, which honestly, after the year we all had, will come in handy for just about anyone.
This body wash contains an oil blend and is made with aloe and bamboo extra. It foams up when wet and leaves the skin feeling clean, soft, and smooth. This one in particular eucalyptus and spearmint to calm the mind, body, and soul.
Finally, for the guy in your life, take a look at the Forest Deodorizing Body Spray. This all-over spray is great to wear in the morning, after the gym, or whenever your guy needs a touch up. It contains a scent that is a blend of bergamot, sage, and crushed cedarwood.
Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg of the products that BBW has to offer, not just for the holidays, but in general. Although it’s always nice to gift a seasonal scent, of course they have so many classics in store as well that would make great gifts for just about anyone in your life.
Are any products from BBW on your wish list?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
Like what you read? Check out these related posts:
