Beauty Look | #NYE Evening Glam Look - Featuring the #Tarteist Pro Palette

Here is another makeup inspiration that is a take on a #NYE Evening Glam look! This is a softer yet glam makeup look that uses a classic smokey eye with soft shimmer on top! This was a fun look to do because it was a mix of neutral colours as well as colour shimmers. To balance the look, I paired it with a Neutral medium toned Pink Lip.

This looks features the Tarteist™ Pro Palette which  I am sooooo happy that I bought! I love that the majority of the palette has Matte shades, with 4 really pretty duo/chrome/shimmer shades. The blue shimmer shade inspired me to do this #NYE Evening Glam Makeup Look!

PRODUCTS USED:

Face

• Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer
• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Shade 8
• Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in Shade 2
• Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer in Medium 40
• Laura Mercier Universal Setting Powder
• NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
• Giorgio Armani Cheek Fabric in Shade Blush

Eyes

• Tarteist Pro Amazonian Clay Palette for Eyes
• Lid - Vintage
• Crease - Fierce & Vamp
• Transition - No Filter
• Brow Bone - Classic
• Mid/Outer Lid - Trendy & Minx
• NYX Cosmetics Matte Liquid Liner
• YSL Couture Kajal in Shade 3
• Giorgio Armani High-Precision Brow Pencil in Shade 1
• Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Black Pearl

Lips

• NYX Butter Gloss in Shade Merengue
• Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani Lipstick in Shade 500
• Beautique Lip Pencil in Mocha

This look has a lot more drama on the eyes, but overall with a softer lip it's a great #NYE look for date night or a party at home :) Be daring and try something different, this is the one day of the year where there is no such thing as "too much".

Happy #NYE!

Beauty Look | #NYE #GlitterMakeup

Glitter will ALWAYS be tied to Makeup for #NYE! Of late, there have been tons of really beautiful and inspiring makeup looks on Instagram and I wanted to try this look! Glitter can be tricky, so scroll down for my easy tip!

Here is my version of the #GlitterMakeup look!

PRODUCTS USED:

Face

• Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer
• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Shade 8
• Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Shade Deep
• Laura Mercier Universal Setting Powder
• NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
• Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in Shade 2
• MAC Cosmetics Blush in Passionately Tempted

Eyes

• Tarteist Pro Amazonian Clay Palette for Eyes
• Lid - Innocent
• Crease - Whimsy
• Outer Lid/Crease - Smoked
• Transition - Innocent
• Brow Bone - Classic
• Mid Lid - Ethereal
• NYX Cosmetics Matte Liquid Liner
• Makeup Forever - Aqua XL - Extra Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil 
• Giorgio Armani High-Precision Brow Pencil in Shade 1
• NYX Face and Body Glitter in Bronze (This glitter is Gorgeous! Click Here)
• Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Black Pearl

Lips

• NYX Waterproof Lip Liner in Shade Nebula
• MAC Cosmetics in Media

Makeup Tip: Glitter is very tricky to work with since there is major fall out and pretty much can end up all over your face! Therefore use the following: Eye Drops! If you don't have lash glue or any other mixing medium, a few drops will allow you to mix and then apply on the lid.

This was such a fun look! I am very happy with the warmth the Tarteist Pro palette allowed me to do. The NYX Cosmetics shimmer really ads the right amount of pop!

Good luck with your NYE Glitter Makeup looks!

Product Love | My Daily #Foundation Tag Team :)

 

For the last few years, these two Giorgio Armani products have been my daily go-to when it comes to foundation! Now truthfully, Giorgio Armani beauty products are on the higher end when it comes to the price point, but the pay off is a good quality finish on the skin.

The Luminous Silk Foundation by Giorgio Armani, is perfect for everyday wear because it mimics radiant skin once you wear it. A few drops (dime size amount is the max) is all you need. This is not something you want to cake on, because it's not needed. Unless you prefer a full face, you can achieve it, however, this foundation is meant to give you a healthy glow, therefore, the "less is more" rule works best.

This Foundation is great for:

• Everyday wear
• Bridal Makeup
• Boosting your skin's complexion
• Medium to full coverage

Fluid Sheer by Giorgio Armani I have raved about non stop already. It's gorgeous, light, shimmery and natural looking but you can also intensify the glow you want. I also like that in the summer, I can use it to add warmth to my foundation shade! It comes in a range of shades and my top 3 are Shades #2, #10 and #11.

Fluid Sheer is great for:

• Mixing with your Foundation
• Putting it on as a sheer glow all over
• Spot Glowing highlight
• Primer for eye makeup

If you want to treat yourself, than definitely invest in these goodies from Giorgio Armani Beauty! They are worth the extra $$ and your skin will look amazing!

Happy Glowing!

Beauty Tip | Affordable #eyeshadows by #CoastalScents

So let's be honest, if you are a Makeup Artist or a Makeup Junkie, the costs of buying makeup add up when there is so many products & tools you have to invest in. With Social Media, it makes it harder to resist to add new items to your collection or kit because everything you see looks good ;)

The way we find info on makeup is really easy, just look at your phone! You can do your research via YouTube Videos, blogs and you can get recommendations by asking other makeup artists or friends. Doing your research before you buy anything, may help you save some money in the long run.

I came across CoastalScents via YouTube through Makeup YouTubers and I noted that they had a lot of affordable makeup products. Their eyeshadow palettes were SUPER popular and I ended up purchasing a number of palettes and other makeup as well. The products have worked well for me both personally and professionally.

What I LOVED the most is that the 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette had shades that were similar to MAC eyeshadows and the cost ($11.95 CDN)! I have shared the swatches below and the MAC shadows they dupe for:

• Naked Lunch
• Nylon
• Soft Brown
• Haux
• Expensive Pink
• Jest
• Beauty Marked

• Hush
• Vanilla
• Phloof!
• Tempting
• Cork
• Era
• Mythology

• Gleam
• Creme Royale
• Wedge
• Sable
• Amber Lights
• Corduroy
• Patina

• White Frost
• Quarry
• Grain
• Blackberry
• Brown Script
• Brown Down
• Carbon

This is one way to help get you a large quantity of eyeshadows for a lot less. The 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, is a great palette if you are:

• Starting out in Makeup
• Looking for a perfect Bridal Eyeshadow palette
• Interested in getting a high quantity of eye shadows that are affordable

Happy Shopping!

Fun Makeup | How I used "regular" Makeup Products to create this #Halloween Skull #Makeup Look

I'm so excited to share how I created this Halloween Skull Makeup look! Firstly, I'm happy to tell you that I didn't have to purchase special "Halloween makeup" that we typically find in the month of October. Secondly, I did this without having to spend $ on buying new makeup just to create this Halloween look, I used what I already had at home :)

The best rule of life is the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep it Stupidly Simple)! This can pretty much apply to any aspect of life. I wanted to apply this rule to creating my latest Halloween look. I wanted to show that I did not have to spend $ on buying "Halloween" makeup products, rather using what I already had to get the look I wanted. So, there you go...the K.I.S.S. rule!

Thee Best Halloween memories I have are the ones where I created either a DIY Costume or a Makeup look. One year I was an aging woman, which I used eyeliner to create the aging effect, 80's girl following that, and one year it was the "Robert Palmer" makeup look (Sidebar: If you don't know what this is, you MUST look this up right now!) This look was created using the borrowed (aka secretly took my mom's) Charlie Red Lipstick and black eyeliner! It totally worked!

I did the Skull last year and with practice and doing it on repeat, each year this look will get better and better! Here is the breakdown of the products I used and the order in which I did as well!

Skull Makeup Look Products (Everything was on hand):

1. NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil  in 02 (Milky Nude Pencil)
2. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric (DC) in 0.5 (This is the lightest shade & I wear 5, just to give context)
3. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 5 (I wear shade 8)
4. NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette
5. MAC Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Definedly Black
6. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick (Eyeshadow Stick) in Tuxedo
7. Quo Vinyl Liquid Liner in Black
8. Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette
9. Giorgio Armani High Precision ReTouch (Concealer) in 2

The reason I didn't want to use white makeup for the skull is that anytime I have ever seen a Skull in books or at the museum, they were decayed looking, with almost a beige like tone. Rather than use the Halloween White shade, for me what worked was using a really light shade of foundation! It works out well. :)

BONE SKULL CREATION:

DETAILS:

SHADOW & DIMENSION CREATION:

A really important tip I wanted to share, is to really take your time on the Bone "skin"creation. Be sure to layer the foundation evenly and take your time blending it on the skin. This will give you a great base for the rest of the Skull Details.

Last but not least, have fun when creating wild makeup looks like this one I did for Halloween. Be mindful that it doesn't have to cost a lot of $, just a bit of time, inspiration and creativity!

Enjoy!

Books | My haven for books (and more)! Indigo @ CF Sherway Gardens

So...yeah...it's been awhile, but like with everything in life, you need to take a step back and gain perspective. As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder! (LOL)

Anyway, before I could come back to blogging, I needed to recharge and decompress. In my time away, here's what I have been up to:

1. READING! (When I was younger, I always had a book I read before Bed and I'm glad to say that the love of reading has been reignited).

2. Obsessed with my new fave TV Show: Power! If you don't know about this show, you need to LOOK. IT. UP!

3. Spending time reviewing lots of makeup videos (Basically getting re-inspired)!

I think it was important for me to take some time away, before I could come back and feel excited to share things that make me happy and smile! One thing I've learned is if you feel forced to do something, you lose your authentic self, which is what I didn't want for the blog.

So without further ado, I am sharing one of my many loves, which is my love for books! A perfect time for me to share my 1st visit and my overall experience of the NEW(ish) Indigo Bookstore at CF Sherway Gardens!

First Impression:

• Loved the layout, if you are into books, you can get lost in there, in a good way!
• Each section of the store is it's own room/space with comfy chairs and gift ideas
• The shelving displays are angled which displays the books perfectly, they're calling to be picked up
• Bright, airy and modern
• They have a PIANO on the second floor! (Yes, I played it with ZERO experience but IDGAF)

Here are a few pics from my visit to Chapters CF Sherway Gardens: 

1. Angled Shelving and Accessories for Inspiration

2. Beautiful Candles, Photographs and more!

3. My other love, COOKING and this section was amazing!

4. The EPIC Mug Wall - With the best sayings and quotes

5. Every notebook in every colour and size!

I also like how the space overall has a great vibe and flow. A few things I loved was:

• They have a beautiful American Girl section which I legit got lost in, and wished I could buy them all. (If you are not familiar with what American Girl is, you need to find out, the detail in their packaging and look of their dolls is epic).

• The epic MUG Wall! These mugs are perfect for work, for tea, for coffee and most of all...Makeup Brushes! Can I get a #YASSS :)

I would highly recommend to visit to Indigo CF Sherway Gardens! It's perfect for gift ideas, inspiration and a great place to find the next best book.

Happy Reading my fellow #booklovers!

Beauty | Want glowing skin? or an epic Makeup Highlight? Keep reading ;)

Photo Courtesy:  https://ca.caudalie.com

This product is epic. The.End.

Seriously though...The Caudalie Divine Oil is legit. Multi-purpose product, good for your skin and there's more to love...

Caudalie Divine Oil:

• I can use it mixed with my Foundation (Always Giorgio Armani)
• I can use it as skincare (Apply it on cleansed skin, on days I am makeup free)
• I can use it on top of Makeup as a highlight (This is the EPIC portion of why I love it)
• It contains Antioxidants = Great for your skin
• Dry Oil which can be used on Face, Body and Hair

Now there are a million ways to highlight your face to achieve the ever popular "insta" glow, but if you are looking for something easy to use and can be worn naked on skin, this is the oil to try. BONUS POINT: It smells great!

Here is a pic of me using it on top of my makeup, right after I set it with Powder. I patted it on very lightly and then used my foundation brush with the same motion.

Check it out if you get a chance, worth it to add to your Skin AND Makeup routine!

Beauty Tip | From your everyday #Makeup look to #Summer ready!

Summer time makeup can be tricky because usually its hot AF outside (Let's be honest)! However, on the days that you do wear makeup, here is an easy tip that I like to do to switch it up.

It basically works with any makeup look you want to do. Whether it's neutral or super smokey, you just add a pop of colour, softly underneath the eye and that's it! Summer Ready :)

PRODUCTS USED:

FACE

Giorgio Armani CC Cream 5

Giorgio Armani Blush - Peach Tone

EYES

BH Cosmetics 28 Neutral Eye Palette - Peachy/Brown Tones

NYX Black Eye Pencil & Matte Liquid Liner

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewoo

POP OF COLOUR: Giorgio Armani - Teal/Blue Eyeshadow

LIPS

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani Lipstick 500 (Medium Mauve Pink)

Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil in Bobbi (Grey/Brown)

NYX Butter Gloss in Merengue (Bright Pink)

This look is my everyday makeup look but the lined shadow underneath makes it fun for Summer. You can pretty much do any colour underneath to coordinate with your mood or your outfit.

Enjoy experimenting! 

Beauty | Goodies from NYX Cosmetics

NYX Cosmetics Canada made a game changing decision for Makeup lovers when they opened their shop at Square One Mississauga.Typically, you could find NYX at select Rexall locations, but a standalone shop was exactly what Toronto/GTA Beauty lovers needed. All my fave goodies in one place and affordable!

I got these goodies a while back but they are SOOO worth this post. I have listed the items I got, their price point and my overall feedback. Take a look below:


1. Highlight & Contour Pro Palette | Cost: $27.00

• 8 Shades
• Highlight Shades: Ice Queen, Soft Light, Cream & Nectar
• Contour Shades: Tan, Toffee, Sculpt & Hollow
• Customizable shades that you can choose from their Pro singles

I like this palette because it gives you so much versatility in shade choices (especially as a Makeup Artist). These shades can work on all skin tones! I prefer the powder formula, because it really gives a diffused finish on the skin

2. Face & Body Glitter in Bronze | Cost: $6.00

• 12 Shades
• High sparkle pigment
• Can be used on eyes and body

I'm all about glitter and sparkle!! I love that a tiny amount can be used all-over the lid or as a liner. The glitter is fine and reflects beautifully on the eyes! Be sure to use a liquid product to help control your application. I tend to use liquid highlighters by picking up a bit on my brush and then picking up the pigment from the lid.

3. Matte Liquid Liner | Cost: $10.00

• Matte Finish - Similar to a gel liner look
• Think and flexible brush
• Get classic or bold looks

I was not used to using Gel liners but I loved their finish. That's why I love this liner because the matte formula gives me the gel liner look but with the control of a brush. Long lasting, doesn't fade/move and is great for Summer makeup looks!

4. Collection Noir Liquid Liner | Cost: $8.00

• Fine Tip Brush
• Precision and control
• Long lasting

This liquid liner for me is exactly like the traditional liquid liners that I have grown up using. So my comfort level is high! I love the finer brush and how easy it is to create thin to thicker lines.

5. Soft Matte Lip Cream | Cost: $9.00

• Creamy Application
• Matte Finish
• Transfer proof
• Shades: London (Nude/Brown), Tokyo (Light Pink), Copenhagen (Burgundy) & Monte Carlo (Red)

These lip creams feel incredible! A little product gives a beautifully painted lip! What I love is that it leaves a super matte finish that doesn't transfer or bleed! Great with gloss or alone.

If you are a makeup lover, like me and want to try the new makeup trends, NYX offers great quality products for an affordable price point! Be sure to check out the NYX stores in Toronto/GTA!

Happy Shopping!

Skincare | My Escape to France via Caudalie Boutique Spa

I wish I was in France, but the experience I had at Caudalie Boutique Spa at Sherway Gardens, made me feel that way!

Growing up, we are told how important it is to take care of your skin. From our early teens we are told to take the right precautions from moisturizing, drinking lots of water and staying out of the sun! If we must be in the sun, wear SPF. As we near our mid twenties, we are advised on preventative skincare and eventually as we go through life, we want to to increase hydration and minimizing wrinkles.

Now as a Makeup Artist, it's CRUCIAL to have a regular skincare routine. However, it's important for everyone to take care of their skin. You want to use the right products, that help deliver the solutions for your skincare needs. I had the pleasure to experience an amazing facial treatment at Caudalie.

Here is a little bit of information on the brand:

• Caudalie is a French skincare brand, created in 1995
• Favoured the use of Natural & Environmentally friendly active ingredients
• Paraben, Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Phthalates, Synthetic Colourings Free
• Products use Grape-seed Polyphenols - the most powerful anti-oxidant in the plant world 
• Click here to know more about their products: Caudalie Canada Website

Toronto Boutique/Spa Details
The Caudalie Boutique Spa opened in Toronto at Sherway Gardens in 2015, the 3rd location in Canada. You can buy your Caudalie skincare products as well as enjoy their exclusive Spa services, which is amazing! Here are some pics of their beautiful boutique:

Arrival:
I was greeted by the Caudalie skincare specialist who walked me into my beautifully soothing room and explained to me what was going to be involved with the Facial.

After I was tucked into my warm and soothing bed, I was ready for my facial. The Facial I chose was called the Premier Cru-Facial - Ultimate Anti-aging. The room had a light scent but wasn't overpowering, the music was soft and not distracting and once I was in the midst of the spa facial, I was in my own personal utopia!

I loved that I received the following from my Caudalie skincare specialist:

• Provided details from the start on what was involved
• Reviewed the menu and types of Facials that were available and allowed me to provide input
• Softly explained what steps were happening and what products were being used
• Explained the importance of each product and how it would help with my concerns
• The warm/heated bed was a great treat along with the hand/arm massage I received

Results

• My skin felt awakened and was brightened and glowing 
• In order to receive the full benefits, I went makeup free for the rest of the day
• I felt relaxed which was a great stress reliever and felt revived

The products I ended up purchasing was the Eye Cream, Polyphenol C15 Anti-wrinkle Eye & Lip cream, which for me is my biggest concern. I had recently purchased the Beauty Elixir, which by the way is a STAR product featured through out the entire facial! 

I would highly recommend the Spa services to anyone who is interested in trying out a new Facial experience as well as get to experience an amazing skincare brand. To book their next appointment with Caudalie Sherway Gardens, feel free to contact the Sherway Team at: 416-622-6484

Happy skincare everyone!