MAC x Proenza Schouler: Ocean City Blush Ombre

I'm so excited I managed to get my hands on this blush! When I visited my MAC counter the day the MAC x Proenza Schouler collection was released, they hadn't received their blushes from the collection in yet, but they said they'd put one on hold for me and call me when they came in. Well, I finally got the call this morning so I hurried over to the mall (in the worst rain I've seen in over a year, too) to pick this beauty up! When I was at the mall I also spotted the issue of Company Magazine that Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella on YouTube) was on the cover of, so of course I had to get that too (and it came with a free mascara!).

The MAC Blush Ombre in Ocean City is a satin finish blush that has a peachy-beige that fades into a bright coral. In my swatches above you'll see the beige colour, the coral, and then the two colours swirled together. All 3 colours you can get using this blush are absolutely beautiful. I'll probably wear them swirled together in most cases, but I love that bright coral on its own too! The beige tone would look lovely worn on the eyes as well I think. Also how amazing is the packaging of this blush? The green-yellow-purple mirrored ombre compact is just beautiful. I'm so excited I was able to get one of these blushes since I know how popular and sought-after they were. It was definitely worth the wait though, I'm in love!

MAC x Proenza Schouler: Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Dynamo

When the MAC Proenza Schouler Collection was released last week I went to go check it out. I hadn't originally intended on buying a lip pencil from the collection but when I was wiping my swatches off my hand before I left the MAC counter I noticed how well this lip pencil hung on and I thought it might be worth it to buy it since it seemed to have really great staying power. This is the only lip pencil I own now, so I'm quite new to them, but so far I'm really loving this one. It's such a beautiful bright pink shade that's perfect for spring and summer. It also has fantastic staying power.

So far I've worn this lip pencil alone and layered under MAC Toying Around lipsick, and it wore really well both ways. I find I can wear this for 4-5 hours before needing slight touch-ups. Worn alone this was really dry on the lips however, so I'll likely be wearing this with a lipstick or gloss on top most often.

I also had my eye on the blushes from this collection (who didn't though) but my MAC counter hadn't gotten the blushes in by the release date, so they put my name on a list and said they'd contact me and put one on hold for me when they do get them in! I'm hoping to get my hands on the Ocean City blush so you'll see a post on that if I can get it!

Mani Monday #12

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well and had a good weekend! Sorry I've been kind of absent the past couple of weeks. I finished my internship and college and then I ended up with 2 ear infections that lasted me a week so I've had a bit going on. This week I'll be back to posting regularly though!

Here's a manicure I did based off of this nail tutorial because I thought it was a cute look and it used this Sally Hansen nail art kit that I bought about a month ago but haven't used yet. The studs were surprisingly easy to apply and I'm making this post 4 days after doing this manicure and none have fallen off or come loose yet! I just applied the studs to wet polish and applied my top coat as usual to seal them on the nail. You'll definitely be seeing me use these studs a lot more in future Mani Monday posts!

The polishes I used for this are Julep Monaco, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Black Satin, and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White On.

MAC Playland Collection: Toying Around Lipstick

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted much in the past week. I've had a really bad ear infection and then a few days later my other ear got an infection too so I haven't been feeling the greatest. I did manage to go to the mall one day this week and when I did I decided to check out the new MAC Playland Collection. I wasn't planning on buying anything from it because I have my eye on some items from the MAC Proenza Schouler Collection that comes out later this week, but I ended up trying on the lipstick in Toying Around and I couldn't not buy it!

Toying Around is an amplified finish lipstick. This means the formula is really pigmented and creamy and has a slightly glossy finish. Toying Around is described as a "hot coral pink" and I'd say that is very accurate. I don't think I have any corals this bright in my collection as most of my bright lipsticks lean more pink than coral, but I can't wait to wear this all spring and summer!

Etsy Beauty Finds (+ Wishlist!)

In the past week I've spent quite a bit of time browsing Etsy for different beauty brands and products and I've come across so many shops offering beautiful and unique products! I thought I'd share with you some of the shops and items I've come across and hope to buy some products from in the future!

Impulse Cosmetics / This shop offers a very wide range of matte lipsticks and in so many unique shades! They all look to be very opaque and creamy and I'm dying to try some! The Opaque Matte Lipsticks are only $7.85 CAD each which is a very fair price! This shop also sells gorgeous duochrome eyeshadows, cosmetic glitters, and more! This shop is not for the neutral or timid makeup-wearer, but if you prefer a bold look then definitely check this shop out!

Soapopotamus / Though the photos above look like delicious freshly baked treats, these are actually soaps! I can't get over how well made and delicious looking the soaps from this shop are. The prices of these lovely soaps are so affordable too, ranging from $4.50 CAD to $8.44 CAD per single soap (there are also some bundles available). I definitely recommend going over to the Soapopotamus Etsy page and browsing through the delicious selection of food soaps! Soapopotamus also offers other products from lip butters to perfume and cologne!

ModLacquer / ModLacquer is an Etsy shop selling nail polishes that are totally unique. They come in a range of finishes from holographic, to matte glitters, to jellys. One of my personal favourites is the Pink Tart Nail Polish ($4.50 CAD) - a milky light pink base speckled with pink and white glitters.

Orange Thyme / Orange Thyme sells soaps, perfumes, lip balms, and more, but the product I've found myself drawn to are these Cuticle and Nail Balms ($5.63 CAD/ea). They come in 4 different scents - Lemongrass, Pink Grapefruit, Lavender, and Blood Orange (all of which sound delicious), and they come in a tin and shaped like a flower (fruit scents) or a bee (lavender scent). Lately I've been wanting something to hydrate my cuticles and these look like they'd do a great job of that!

Polish Me Silly / Polish Me Silly is another nail polish brand on Etsy and they sell a huge selection of homemade nail polishes. Their range includes glitter nail polishes, multi-chrome nail polishes and toppers, and, as shown above, thermal colour-changing nail polishes! The colour-changing polishes change colours when they are warm and cold. The colour combos are all gorgeous and they all have complimenting glitters in them too. I love the blue/purple mix of the Misty River Colour Changing Thermal Nail Polish ($7.31 CAD)! I definitely want to try some polishes from this brand as they're all gorgeous and unique and at a good price point too!



Glory Boon / Glory Boon sells handcrafted makeup, skincare products, haircare products and lots more. One thing that caught my attention are the Lip Scrubs ($10.11 CAD) as they come in a variety of yummy sounding flavours such as Homemade Frosting, Red Velvet Cake, and Pink Lemonade (among many others). As a frequent matte lipstick-wearer it's essential I keep my lips smooth and free of dry or dead skin and these lip scrubs would definitely do the trick!

Fat and the Moon / Fat and the Moon sells a range of cosmetics, cleansers, and much more in their Etsy shop. Two products in particular that have my interest are the Lavender & Cocoa Dry Shampoo (($15.82 CAD) and the Lapis Eye Coal ($20.34 CAD). This dry shampoo is different than the typical spray dry shampoos I've used but I like the idea of a loose powder dry shampoo. With cocoa powder and lavender essential oil I bet it smells delicious as well! The Lapis Eye Coal would be such a fun shade to play with in the spring and summer!

 

Have you ever purchased beauty products from Etsy? Are there any other shops I should check out?

REVIEW: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

One of the things I purchased during the recent Sephora 15% off sale was the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. I've wanted this palette since it first came out and I had recently bought this palette for my best friend for her birthday, and then the week after I bought it for her the 15% off sale was on so I went and finally bought one for myself! One of my favourite type of looks to do is an all matte, neutral eye with thick winged liner and a shimmery highlight in the inner corner, and this palette allows me to create looks like that beautifully and it's all in 1 palette! The shadows in this palette are all very smooth and fantastically pigmented. None of the mattes are chalky. If you're a fan of matte, neutral shadows this palette is a must.

Below is the first look I created with this palette and I've worn a similar look everyday since. I love it!

REVIEW: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Electric Fuchsia

Last month I went to the L'Oreal warehouse sale and when I was there I picked up this Maybelline Vivids lipstick. I've been a fan of this range of lipsticks since they came out last summer, so I was really excited to find one of these lipsticks there in a limited edition shade I didn't previously own and for only $2.00! I got the Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in the shade Electric Fuchsia. Electric Fuchsia is a very bright cool-toned (almost neon) pink. This shade has been compared to Candy Yum Yum by MAC so it is definitely for those who are more daring with the lip colours they wear.

The formula of this lipstick (just like the other Vivids lipsticks I've tried) is very creamy and smooth, not tugging at all when applying to the lips. This lipstick lasts very well throughout the day needing very minimal (if any) touch ups, and leaving behind a slight pink stain. This lipstick is very comfortable on the lips as it has a cream finish, but it doesn't slip around on the lips either, staying put all day. If you haven't tried this range of lipsticks from Maybelline and want to try something bright and fun for spring, I definitely recommend the Vivids lipsticks!

Mani Monday #11

I was inspired by the warmer weather we've been having and wanted something fun and bright on my nails, so I went for OPI I Just Can't Cope-acabana from their recent Brazil Collection! This is the best yellow polish I've ever used. The formula was creamy and easy to work with and it applied completely smooth and opaque in 2 coats. I love this sunshiney yellow for spring and summer!

Friday Favourites

Above: I love these planters so much! / These salted chocolate chip cookie pretzels look amazing. / These cat nail decals are so cute! / This photoshoot of Darren Criss because, I mean, just look at the photos.

Below: I love this double winged liner look! / This manicure is so simple but so cute. / I'd love to get this for my pool in the summer time! / I'm obsessed with the floral/stripes combo on these flats.

Spring Nail Polish Picks

Instagram Round-Up #5

Hey everyone! Sorry there's no new Mani Monday post - I'm still wearing my manicure from last week! I'll have a new one to post next Monday though. I thought I'd do another Instagram Round-up post since it's been a couple weeks since I've posted one of these!

I went to Waterloo this weekend to visit some friends and I went shopping and got some things I've been wanting! I got a KESH x American Apparel crop top that I've wanted since last fall because Hayley Williams wears it a lot playing Paramore shows and I love the graphic print on it! I also went to Sephora for the 15% off sale and picked up the Naked Basics palette and a Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Streak which I'm so excited about! Lastly, American Eagle had 70% off all their sale stuff and I bought 2 things for myself off the men's clothing rack - a camo baseball tee which I got for $6 and a mint crewneck sweatshirt for $9!

When I was in Waterloo my friends took me to the cutest little bakery called Honey Bake Shop. The decor and branding of the bakery was so adorable. I didn't get any food because we had just gone there from brunch so I wasn't hungry, but next time I go I'll be sure to get a cupcake or some macarons!

These are the friends I visited, Courtney and Robyn! We just spent the weekend shopping and catching up and we had a movie night and watched Frozen too!

I picked up this adorable Saturday by Kate Spade ombre case for my iPhone on clearance at Winners!

My kitty was all snuggled up in a bunch of blankets and it was just the cutest!

At my internship last week there were some gourmet doughnuts in the office from Jelly Modern Doughnuts and they were so pretty and delicious!

I'm so glad the weather is finally warming up so I've been able to dress a little more springy and I broke out my favourite white sunglasses from last summer too!

I really like black and white stripes so I bought this dress from H&M and a pair of striped flats from Payless too. I also got a couple summery scented candles from Bath & Body Works when there was a buy one get one free sale and they're so fruity and delicious smelling!

This is an outfit I tried on at H&M but didn't end up buying. I recently got a coupon for $10 off a $40 purchase at H&M though so I might have to go back and buy it!

So that's what I've been up to/bought over the past couple of weeks!

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