Finally!

So if any of you follow my YT channel you all know that I'm obsessed with applying Sunscreen. Lordy how I wish I had started sooner but no use in crying over split milk. I just thank gawd that I finally came to my senses. But I've always been really miffed about this whole re-application business. I mean most of us wear makeup and usually just have to apply it once. Well if even the highest SFP only gives you about 4-6 hrs of protection how the heck am I supposed to reapply it without my makeup looking like a hot mess! I mean do I really want to spread my contour, blush, highlighter all over my face just so I can have a little protection? The answer should be yes as all these things we use to beautify ourselves wouldn't really mean much when you have a face full of spots, cracks and crevices! Not to mention the dreaded C word. Well no need to fret any longer. Finally someone was using their noodle! The Peter Thomos Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 is the perfect solution. It's in powder form so you can lightly dust it over your perfectly made face. I forgot to mention in my video that it's talc free and also contains wonderful yummy vitamins A C & E.  But of course living in Canada means that we actually live in Siberia so unfortunately this beauty of a product is not to be found here. But fear not, you can order online.

Now it does look like it has a tint but when applied it's translucent.

You just pull the bottom down to reattach the cap

Do not push the bottom all the way up as that releases the powder. I leave a little gap as shown so that it stays closed.

Nail of the Day

Hello All!
I actually wanted to get this post up a lot sooner but I needed to do a little investigating first. If you saw my "Gifts from the UK" video you'll know that the wonderful Shuting had sent over a bevy of goodies including 4 Barry M nail polishes. Navy is said to be a dupe for the much acclaimed Chanel Satin Blue. Now when I googled it, it did indeed look very similar but after seeing it in person they are quite different. Satin Blue is really a black with a hint of blue whereas Navy is most certainly a much more vibrant blue. The good thing is that if you wanted to mimic Chanel all you would have to do is put a layer of black under the Navy or just add a few drops to the bottle. Quite frankly I prefer the Barry M. Just another example of how the cost sometimes has very little to do with a product's fabulousness!

Obviously this is the Chanel. In person it looks like any other black polish. It's very difficult to see any blue. You really have to turn the bottle to catch just the right light.

Wow when you see the 2 pictures they looks so close but don't be fooled.

For those of you lucky enough to have access to Barry M I think this is a must have! What do you think?

Shoppers!

Hello All,

Sorry it's been a a little while since my last post. Hopefully it won't be so long the next time. Let me preface this by saying that this particular post will only be pertinent to those lucky enough to live in Canada.  Go Canucks!!  It's all about the Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points Card. The reason I wanted to showcase this is...well because I sure wish I had come across a post telling me how brilliant this little card really is. I've only had one for about a year but boy do I wish I had it sooner! Unfortunately I am notorious for zoning out whenever anyone starts with a spiel about signing up for this, that, and the other. Luckily one day I had a fantastic SA...the kind where they make the experience feel more like your yakking with a girlfriend while  showing you some really cool stuff. Anyhoo as we were making our way to the counter with a bevy of goods, she casually mentioned the points card and for the first time I found myself saying the following..."oh that sounds so interesting...do tell me more."

Basically every few weeks, Shoppers has a promo that if you spend $75 or more, and it can range from beauty products to kitchen products, absolutely anything that you would pick up at a drug store. When

you spend that amount, you collect 25 times the points. In essence you get back $25. That's huge! It's literally a third of your money back. How often does that happen?  These bonus days used to happen every month of so but in the last 6 months it seems that they have them every two weeks. I usually just wait for one of these days to pick up sundries for the home. Before long your able to rack up $150 worth of points that you can spend on anything. The have many other types of points days so it's well worth it to just bookmark the site. I usually check once a week to see what the deals are and off I go. I mean we are in constant need of toothpaste, toiletries, shampoo etc, why not make money back when buying these things, and I have to say $300 ain't no chump change. What's also terrific is that they have a Beauty Boutique where they carry a few higher end brands such as Christian Dior and Guerlain, as well as Shiseido, Benefit and other popular brands. So for all you Canadian gals out there that were like me and totally put off by being constantly pitched about something. You may want to perk up your ears so you don't miss out on the amazing deals!

               This is one bit of plastic I don't mind.

The Infamous Nude Delight

I thought it only fitting that since I just uploaded a lipstick collections video that I would finally post a swatch of the now infamous Rimmel Nude Delight. I believe it was only a month or two ago when I picked this little gem up and since then I have been wearing it religiously. As you know I'm very much a nude lips kind of girl. This is by far the best nude for me that I have come across. It's has a very peachy undertone as I've mentioned countless times. Rather than washing me out as a lot of nudes tend to do...can someone say YSL Rouge Volupte? This one really brightens the face. It's rare to find a nude that looks just as good with a very natural minimal eye as with a very dark smokey one. I can't tell you how moisturizing it is which makes it a double threat. I find it more hydrating than the Chanel Aqualumiere's and those are really quite creamy. Now I know that it's not readily available in the US except for the odd CCO, but for those lucky few who have managed to hunt one down the response is always the same...OMG it's frikin AMAZING!!
Hopefully one of these days you'll all get to experience the awesomeness that is Nude Delight..and retailing at just $7 canadian your wallet will agree!

Jewelry Cases

Hello all!
As stated in the video I wanted to post some pictures of what I keep my goodies in.  When I was originally looking around for a jewelry case, I saw ones that were mammoth and thought to myself, who the heck would buy something that big! Not to mention where would you keep it....seriously this thing was huge.
The SA said I would be surprised how many people are looking for ones that size. In fact she was eyeing the puppy herself. She stated that once you start collecting it's amazing how fast you acquire things. Well I did a pfftt to myself and told her to wrap up the roomy and very discreet little number you see below.

To the right is the little travel size that comes with it

Quite roomy don't you think?
Well the answer to that is NO! That SA was absolutely right! I should never have pashawed her! She knew what she was talking about. 3 yrs later I find myself on the lookout for one of those humongosauris cases. When you think that jewelry is something you'll collect for the rest of your life, a case this size simply won't do. I don't know when I'll ever be able to upgrade as the uber deluxe size is insanely expensive.  I guess they figure, if you can afford to fill it you can afford to fork out the bones. I have had to be a little creative, and decided to convert my BB makeup case that I picked up years ago, and use it in the interim. It actually works quite brilliantly. I just love new ways to use the things I already have!

I have put in an order for a very inexpensive yet very lovely jewelry roll. I have never used one before so I'm excited to see how it works. As mentioned before I hope to do more jewelry videos in the future. Thanks to all that requested it ;-D

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

What I failed to mention in the video was the exact amount and price of this puppy. It is 2.6 oz / 75 g and retails for $72 Canadian. Honestly for the amount you get it will last you forever! For those of you who exfoliate on a regular basis this certainly has to be up there with the very best!

I tried to get really close so that you could see the texture but, unfortunately it was at the price of some clarity. Hopefully you can see that it is quite powdery. Most definitely a product worth getting.

Just a Pinch

I am such a novice when it comes to Mac...well I am now. There was a time when my collection was almost exclusively Mac. They were fresh and new, pushed the boundaries and...Canadian. So what was there not to love! But that was when they first launched, so quite awhile ago. Then I discovered there were so many other amazing product lines that Mac fell by the wayside. Just when I had almost written them off. I stumbled upon some amazing glosses and now...this. The lovely Elaine sent this to me awhile back and I just love it! It is the perfect natural flush. Like walking into a warm room after a day out in the cold. The texture is beyond silky! Sadly this was limited edition, but from what I hear it's never completely gone. They tend to re-launch them over and over with different collections. If anyone ever hears of them bringing this back in other colors (as I don't really follow Mac) please give me a heads up. They sure got it right with this one!

As I mentioned in the video, not only is it gorgeous on the cheeks, but with a little lip balm on your lips and this really rubbed in, it gives a "your lips but better" effect that is stunning!

aahh BAGS!...this one is for the lovely Gina.

So I'm not sure if any of you have seen my requested bag collection video, but it seems to have triggered an obsession with some and a buying frenzy with others. Now I don't know if I should congratulate them or apologize to them. Seriously, my love of bags has honestly driven me mental sometimes. So many bags and not enough funds! I'm doing this post especially for the wonderful Gina from ginabinawina99....I think I actually got it right this time..yay!
She found herself a cream version of my beloved Kooba Chiara, but wanted to make doubly sure that she got the real goods. There is nothing worse than being scammed...hmmm well there actually are many things that are worse. Starvation, animal cruelty, homelessness just to name a few, but in keeping with the context of this blog, paying good money for a fake wannabe bag sucks! Therefore the purpose of these pictures are so that she can compare her bag to mine. Hopefully you all will find it somewhat interesting as well. So without further ado...here are a few pictures of two bags from the video she particularly liked.

Here we have the Kooba Chiara

I love how it decided to hold a pose

And now for Isabella Fiore

I'm so glad the camera was able to catch a little bit of the gold marbling that covers the bag, although it really doesn't serve it justice.

So there you have it. Gina I hope after seeing the pictures you can put your mind to rest and enjoy the heck out of your authentic Kooba bag!!

Product Rave: ELLIS FAAS

As much as I love the idea of a blog it has been a bit of an undertaking. As I'm sure you've already noticed, I'm not a natural born writer. I'm a natural born talker. But it's times like this where I'm so glad  that I decided to bite off more than I can chew. I wanted to serve these products justice because I think they deserve it! There was certainly more that could have been said and shown but of course I'm a slave to the boundaries set forth by YT. What I wanted to add in regards to this wonderful line was that the products layer beautifully. It's the perfect product to use when going from day to night. If you happen to use the milky eyes in the day you could go over it with the creamy eyes and it would be flawless. You wouldn't get any patchiness or look as though your makeup has been on all day. The eyeshadows are enriched with flower and coffee extracts. The blushes are made with Vitamin C and E and the lip products are paraben free and also enriched with vitamin E. I also wanted to add that although I think it is a bit pricey,  I mean that in terms of ordering from Canada, what with the exchange rate of Canadian dollars to Euro and of course the added tax and shipping. If one was to live In Europe I think it's actually very reasonable for what it is your getting. Ahh yet another excuse to add to an already long list of reasons to cross the pond.

                                          C'est tres belle ..non?

As you can see from the swatches the creamy eyes (top two) are very pigmented and the milky eyes (bottom) are sheerer but they can be built up to be as dark as the creamy colors. From top to bottom E104, E105, E205

 Oh so many colors!...hmmm which ones to choose! Hopefully all of them!

The blush ( on top) is S302 and it gives a beautiful natural flush. It's amazing how well it blends into the skin. The bottom is milky lips L208 and it's a wonderful peachy nude. I topped it with Mac's Ember glow in the video.

As I stated in the video, since I've started using these products I haven't grabbed for anything else. They are so quick and easy to use, yet gives a totally flawless finish. I'm sure if you tried just one of her eyeshadows you'd be hooked!

Going Squirrelly!

As I mentioned in the long winded video, I first came across Squirrelly bread quite a few years ago and I've been hooked ever since. It's really delicious which is a must! I mean how is one supposed to keep things up if it doesn't taste good? I really do hope that this is available everywhere. One of my favorite things to eat is a slice of this with organic peanut buddy and banana slices...YUMMY!..hmmm I'm actually going to have to get up and make myself one of those right now!

They actually do make quite a variety of different breads so I'm sure you can find one that suits your taste buds! Please leave a comment below if you ever get to try it!

The One Must Have For My Skin

If anyone was to ask what the secret to glowing skin was, without missing a beat I would say Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. Now I'm just going to get it out of the way and say that this sucker is pricey. About $140 Canadian for 30 ml. I'm sure in the US you can get it for less...even though our money is at par right now! Don't even get me started! Anyhoo back the CE Ferulic. I would urge you to get a sample of this to try first before committing. If not for your sake then at least for my peace of mind..LOL! As I said in one of my earlier videos, I was at the doctor's office reading a magazine that had an article focusing on the wives of plastic surgeons. They were asked what their must have products were and CE Ferulic was the one product that kept popping up. In fact 4 months earlier I was reading yet another magazine and a leading dermatologist had stated that she would never think of leaving the house without...guess what....CE Ferulic. Well of course this immediately sparked an obsession! Luckily one of my usual haunts carried said product (only 2 places carry it in Vancouver) and also gave out samples. I took the little vial home, anxiously waiting for morning to approach so I could test the veracity of those praises. After cleansing and toning I put the serum on and...kapow! The effect was immediate! My skin was transformed into a glowing luminous thing of beauty! I had never tried a topical Vitamin C product before. I was now hooked. Once it is applied to the skin it is absorbed, cannot be washed off and stays in your system for 3 days. It is said to block 95% of the harmful rays from the sun. It is most effective when used in conjunction with a sunscreen. At first you will feel a tingling and the odor is...hmmm..how can I describe it? Well kind of like hotdogs. I know, not very pleasant but Skinceuticals is not a beauty line per say but more of a scientific approach to beauty. I made the mistake of keeping the bottle on my bathroom counter and within a month the color started to change from a clear liquid to a dark brown. This means the product has oxidized, rendering it inactive. Basically wasting your hard earned money. I now keep it in the fridge and it stays clear until the bottle is done. One bottle lasts for about 5 months with daily use...so yes it is an expensive habit to have. I did go off it for a few months as I wasn't sure that I wanted to incur the cost of keeping it in my regular beauty regimen. I'm sure you can guess what happened. My skin took a downward spiral...there was no more glow, the firmness dissipated and the hyper-pigmentation reared it's ugly head again. Needless to say it has found a permanent place in my beauty arsenal. Now just to let you know, I think this product is best for dry skin as the vitamin E really moisturizes. I believe they have come out with their latest super antioxidant Phloretin CF and that may be better suited for oily skin although I can't vouch for it's effects. Simply put, this product has changed my skin dramatically!

C E Ferulic^® is a revolutionary antioxidant combination that delivers advanced protection against photoaging - neutralizing free radicals, helping build collagen, and providing unmatched antioxidant protection. More protection means more youthful looking skin and better defense against environmental aging.

• Maximum anti-aging results - better than any one antioxidant alone
• Neutralizes free radical damage and protects against oxidative stress - the factors that lead to premature aging, loss of elasticity, and hyperpigmentation
• Once absorbed, can't be washed or rubbed off - excellent for use in conjunction with suncreens

Now I will add a link to Amazon but please don't feel that you have to purchase through them. You may find a better price elsewhere;-)

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, 1-Ounce Bottle

If anyone does decide to try it please let me know how you like it!

Chanel Quad in Kaska Beige

So just to reiterate I believe this may be limited edition. I definitely do find the 2 shimmery bottom colors to have more color payoff and are much easier to work with. I can see why Chanel eyeshadows may be a bone of contention to some but this particular quad is beautiful. Once again I have Elaine to thank for opening my eyes to products I may not have necessarily gravitated towards.

I know that the cream color does get lost a bit in this picture but it is on the far left.

Nails of the Day Pt2

Oh my gosh guys!  Can you believe I made a post about a nail polish and didn't even write the name of it?
Oh Lordy!  I swear it will get better!  Thanks Poli for bringing it to my attention.
Anyhoo the below mention nail polish is Revlon's No Shrinking Violet     ;-D

Nails of the Day

So I though I might make this a regular thing as so many seem to be curious about the nailpolishes I wear in the videos. I just took this puppy out for a ride and I quite like it. I guess it's about as close as I'll come to wearing a vibrant color... lol! I loved the depth of it and the beautiful metallic sheen when I saw the bottle. I put it on late last night and thought it went on much darker and vampier than I thought it would..yay!! But in the light of day it is much more true to how it looks in the bottle...yay!! I think it would also look fabulous with a darker color underneath. Paired with my beloved Seche Vite I can't see this sucker chipping for at least a week! In fact as is usual with the combo of Revlon/Seche Vite I usually have to take it off before it starts to chip away just to be able to enjoy some variety. Let me know if you ever give it a go!!

Ahhh don't you love the swirls?

Although it's not a pastel or really bright purple I think it would be a fantastic color for spring!
What do you think?

Favorite 15 Eyeshadows

Hello All!
So this is my first attempt at a blog so you must forgive the few somewhat blurry pictures. I did try many stabs but alas that was the best I could come up with. Also pay no attention to the dry and somewhat amputated looking hands/fingers. The dryness is due to the massive washing off and putting back on of products to bring you these wonderfully lackluster pictures..LOL!! As far as the amputated (oh and I'll add bulging vein) shots...let's just say I have a new found appreciation for those lucky few who model their appendages. I have tried to block them off in sections and although they always say "A picture says a thousand words" In this case perhaps...Not? Take my word for it these shadows are gorgeous!!...please do not hold them accountable for any second thoughts you may have. They are innocent. Alright well onto the stage where I will attempt to load said pictures. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

                                  
  We Have Cordura on the left and Brousse on the Right

And of course to make it more difficult for you we now have Cordura on Right and Brousse on the Left

  

Ah here we have an example of before mentioned blur...what a shame but I hope you get the jist.
We have on the left bottom Java and above it Corset and to the right Nomadic

From top to bottom is Java, Corset and Nomadic...ah there's a little thumb peeking out thank goodness.

      Clockwise Margaux, Seasame, Topaz, Patina

From Left to Right Sesame (love that it blends right in my skintone) Topaz, Margaux, Patina

Okay so for some reason these pictures do not like to be in the center and prefer to lean more to the left...well to each there own I say. Top Left is CK in Sandstone Top Right is Napolean Perdis # 37

Middle Left is Mac Paintpot in Groundwork and Middle Right is Mac Paintpot in Soft Ochre and 

finally at the bottom (but of course it's tops with me) we have Shu Uemura in ME 990. I will warn

you the following swatches are a jumble and not done in the same configuration....sigh...it will get

better I promise! Perhaps in the future it will just be one product at a time....sheesh!

From top to bottom CK Sandstone, Shu Uemura 990, NPerdis #37,  Mac Groundwork, Mac Soft Ochre which you can't really see because it blends right into my skin...which is brilliant actually...and ignore the two side by side colors until you see the next picture.....oh heck I might as well just tell you now....left is Mac Friction and Right is Mac Club....both are duo chrome and Fabulous!!!

Oh what a frightful looking picture. Can you believe I tried 8 times and wound up with this? Club on Left... Friction Right. And lastly......

Ahhh Chanel Eyegloss....

I know you can't see the gold (bottom) and Silver (left) as well but that's a good thing I think as I usually use them as highlighters and you really don't want them screaming for attention....

And here they are sheered out a bit.

Well there you have it folks. Again I assure you I am a quick learner and my next attempt will be better!

Feel free to comment below and let me know if you've tried any of these and what your thoughts were;-)

* As it turns out after posting, all the pictures decided they were willing to work together and instead of forming a leftist movement decided to go with the norm and remain decidedly in the middle ;-)