April 2015 Ipsy Bag

Contents:
- KCO Colors by Beauty Brands - Cream Lipstick
- Hikari Cosmetics - Blush
- Lather - Ultra Light Face Lotion
- theBalm Cosmetics - Nude Dude Eyeshadow Single
- Jor'el Parker - Femina (perfume)

I have always wanted to give theBalm cosmetics products a try as many people have such a strong love and speak nothing but good things for this - especially that Mary Loumanizer hilighter. Of the range, the thing I wanted to try most, was their shadows - but I never got around to it. The beauty gods have spoken, and I was lucky enough to have a single shadow included in this month's Ipsy Bag. The shadow is really pigmented, and buttery smooth. This makes me want to buy the actual Nude Dude Palette, but I must hold off. I have way too much shadows at this moment, however - this is excellent. 

The perfume, wasn't for me, there are too many floral notes - I prefer lighter scents, and fruitier ones. 

I've decided to pass on the perfume and the KCO Lipstick and keep the lotion for the gym or for travels.

The Hikari blush is really pigmented as well. I am not used to this brand, so I really like how the Ipsy Bag introduces me to a bunch of brands that I would normally not have exposure to. 

What did you guys get in your bags? If you aren't currently subscribed, would you consider doing so?

Until next time, XO - M.

ESTÉE LAUDER SIGNS EVA MENDES TO REPRESENT NEW DIMENSION


New York, April 24, 2015 – The Estée Lauder brand today announced that it has signed Hollywood actress Eva Mendes to represent the brand’s New Dimension transformative skincare collection. Mendes will appear in digital, TV and print advertising campaigns debuting in Fall 2015.

The skincare collection features New Dimension Shape + Fill Expert Serum and New Dimension Expert Liquid Tape. It empowers women to transform their appearance, helping define the look of contours so every angle becomes a woman's best angle.  

About Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder is the flagship brand of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Sold in more than 150 countries and territories, Estée Lauder is known for technologically advanced, high-performance products with a reputation for innovation, sophistication, glamour and superior quality. Estée Lauder produces some of the world’s most iconic skincare, makeup and fragrance products, which are loved by women around the world.
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My favorite Eva Mendes movies would have to be Hitch and 2 Fast 2 Furious, She is a model, spokesperson to many big brands and is also a designer, creating a line of bed linens and dinnerware sold at Macy's. On top of everything, she is currently dating the dreamy Canadian, Ryan Gosling and is a new mommy - CONGRATS to the beautiful Eva Mendes! 

Giorgio Armani Haul and Spring Look

When I went to grab a new bottle of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, there were some make up artists from Giorgio there doing mini makeovers, ANNNNDDDD of course I got suckered in. By suckered in, I mean I almost bought a whole new line of makeup, I think the only thing I left out was brow product, shadow and liner.

I decided to go for a light and fresh haul based on spring makeup looks - I don't own much in the peachy light pink range, so that was what I got. I decided to create a look below as well with some of these products. Anything else I used, I will link the names of them below. 


Products I used to create this look:
Primer - Smashbox Primer Water all over face and Too Faced Primed & Poreless around nose
Foundation - GA Luminous Silk
Brows - MAC Coquette and Anastasia Brow Gel
Blush - GA Cheek Fabric Sheer Blush 305 Dolci
Lips - GA Rouge d'Armani 103
Eyes - all Makeup Geek Products:
Crease - Cupcake
All over lid - Home Coming
Middle - Shimma Shimma
Outer Corner - Frappe and Cocoa Bear
Liner - MAC Fluidline DipDown
Mascara - Benefit Roller Lash
Setting Spray - UD Chill Setting Spray

What are some of your spring looks?
Until next time, M.

April Guest Post - Spring Pastels ft Classy On The Run

Hello!  I am so excited to be sharing my Top 10 Pastel Nail Polishes for Spring here on Miranda's blog.  Feel free to check out my blog, Classy On The Run.  I love sharing reviews, favourites, and hauls!  Today I will be sharing my favourite 10 pastel nail polishes, and let me tell you, narrowing it down was pretty hard.  I am pretty pleased that I managed to narrow it down, and not have every polish be a Julep!  I love how soft and feminine pastels are, so this theme was right up my alley!

Jealous Body Scrub*

I was recently contacted to try out Jealous Body Scrub, which is an "all natural coffee scrub made with Premium Robusta Coffee, Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Raw Brown Sugar, Sea Salt, Vitamin E and Minerals". Made in Vancouver, Canada I knew I had to say Yes since I am a proud supporter of Canadian Made products. 


I was introduced to the world of Coffee Scrubs through social media as they have become quite popular over the past year. The benefits of using this product are as follows:
- The course texture of the coffee grind with the brown sugar works to exfoliate your skin's imperfections (taking off the dead skin). 
- The coconut oil leaves your skin moisturized after every use.
- Reduces the appearance of cellulite, eczema, stretch marks, age spots, varicose veins, psoriasis and acne.
- Leaves your skin feeling smooth after every use.

While the claims are vast, I do have to agree that after using the packet, which lasted about 5 uses, I was left with smoother and incredibly soft skin. The other claims such as reduction in cellulite, stretch marks etc... would require additional and frequent uses - therefore, I cannot comment on those benefits at this time.

The product in the package

The Product with a bit of water added to it

Finally, the product rubbed out in the palm of my hand to show you the texture. 

If you love the smell of coffee, you will definitely LOVE this product. As the packet says, it smells good enough to eat and I really was tempted. The combination of Coffee, Coconut Oil and Brown Sugar was divine. 

What makes my skin feel utterly baby smooth right after only one application, is largely due to the fact that there's sea salt and vitamin E in there. My current favorite facial scrub from LUSH, the Ocean Salt scrub, also contains Sea Salt and that is a miracle ingredient for your body. For those of you who love travelling to Cuba, etc will notice why your skin is so soft afterwards. That is due to the salt waters that you dip in :)

This product retails for $17.95 and offers shipping to US and Canada.

I would recommend this product to my friends and family, however one suggestion would be that since it would require more than a few uses to achieve the full benefits of the scrub, I think they should offer a bigger packet for sale. That would be really ideal. 

 here's some goofy pics of me and the scrub!

Until next time, XO  - M.





Origins Clear Improvement and Drink Up! Masks


Skincare is something I am quite passionate about. For those who ask me, I always tell them that I stick to a very strict regiment. No matter how tired I get, I always wash my face at the end of the day and make sure I go to bed with a clean face. There's nothing worse than going to bed with a face full of makeup and a day's worth of grease/oil and dirt that will clog your pores and irritate your face.

Your skin can show signs of early aging if you don't take care of it. You don't need to spend alot to do that. I would suggest that you chose quality products and stay away from products that contain alot of chemicals and preservatives, they are sold at an incredibly discounted price for a reason and contains alot of irritants. I will do an indepth skincare series soon (since I have a different one for summer and winter/colder months - no it isn't excessive, I will explain why at a later time), but for now I thought that I would focus on the type of masks I like this season.

This past few months in Toronto has been quite cold - we're talking -30c to -40c degree weather some days including windchill and my face, no matter how much moisturizer I use, feels quite chapped from walking outdoors. Coming into Spring, mother nature is still a bit bipolar - it can be cold, damp and rainy a few days then it hits the double digits the next. 

Needless to say, my skin is on the fritz! 

I learned a method of layering different types of mask treatments on your face and it makes sense. If you have an oily T-zone like me but dry cheeks, why would you use the same type of charcoal detoxing oil sucking mask on your whole face? Your dry cheeks don't need to be any dryer. In comes the hydrating skin quenching Drink Up mask that pumps hydration to the areas you need it most. 

Both of these combined is your own personal facial mask cocktail recipe. Try it out! Use what you need and have it personally cater to what your skin needs.

Until next time, XO- M.

Sephora Spring VIB ROUGE Haul

As promised, I would post the contents of my haul the minute I got home. I went to the Sephora VIB Rouge event this morning, which was a closed event from 9-11am before it opened to the public. I am quite proud of the fact that I did not pick up any blushes. It took alot from me, considering I am a blush lover. However, enough is enough. I picked up a few essentials - the Too Faced Primed and Poreless (I wanted to try the new MUFE Smoothing Primer, but it was $10 more for the same value). I also replenished my Living Proof items and my Nails Inc holy grail topcoat. 

I am still on the fence about the Becca Illuminator - part of me wants to return that, and just pay more and get the Sephora Favorites kit, which includes all items I will need for the rest of the year. i.e Ole Henrickson Truth Vit. C serum, Hourglass Primer, Blush, Setting Powder and so much more. 


Products purchased are:
- Kevyn Aucoin - The Contour Book
- Living Proof - 5 in 1 Perfect Hair Day styling treatment
- Living Proof - Flex shaping hairspray
- Too Faced - Melted Fig liquid lipstick
- Fresh - Sugar Lychee Rollerball
- Sephora Shadow - Duo Reflect in Mermaid Tail
- Nails Inc - 45 sec Caviar topcoat
- Nails Inc - Lilly Road (hopefully this will be the perfect baby pink polish)
- Too Faced - Primed and Poreless
- Becca - Moonstone liquid illuminator/primer.

To be honest, I am quite disappointed with the VIB Rouge Gift - Being a VIB rouge really hasn't given me alot of perks, I'm not sure if it's because in Canada things are different than in the U.S. The one and only full sized item I got - the polish was bad, it was light grey with yellow chunks and it was separated no matter how much I shaked it. BOO. What a waste!


There are still a few items I have to pick up online, I want the Clinique Cheek Pops and the Embroylisse Moisturizer and Clinique Moisture Surge for summer. 

What did you guys pick up? what are you planning to get? Please share!
Until nxt time, XO - M.

Sephora Spring 2015 VIB Sale Wish List

Twice a year, I do some serious damage at Sephora, and this Spring I have my eye on a few of the lovely things listed below. I have already narrowed it down ALOT... Obviously I won't be getting everything, but it's fun to make a wish list isn't it?

I will post my haul after I go on Sunday morning!! What are some of the items on your wish list?


Until next time, XO - M.

Tea on a Rainy Day

This week has been a food week, and while it's super cold, damp and wet in Toronto I wanted to share with you all my favorite tea from Davids Tea. Mint to Be, can it get anymore perfect than this? The name is super cute and I love that it has the benefits of a good mint tea - not too overwhelming, but I find that it's more like a vanilla note vs. coconut. 

I drink it black, and it's my tea of choice. I love to sip on it during the winter and colder seasons and it just warms me from within.


FYI - Davids Tea is currently doing some web specials/clearance - you're looking at a good 40-50% off teas, mugs, tumblers all from the Christmas collection.



Check it out! What are some of your favorite teas? Let me know!

XO, M.

E11even Review

This is going to be a quick post about this restaurant I went to recently - it's called e11even, located in Downtown Toronto. My friend and I decided to stop by for lunch on a whim and I am so glad that I did. I have been on a hunt for a good lobster mac n cheese, one that isn't too rich and heavy or fishy tasting.

This is it.

The amount of lobster that they give you is generous and it's fresh and super delicious. They serve it on a cast-iron skillet and the cheese bubbles in front of you. I am the type that loves to add ketchup to my mac n cheese, yes to some of you its shameful, however - this was SO delicious that I didn't have to do it at all. It was perfect, it all it's cheesy lobster glory. I highly suggest that you go to eat it. 

In addition, the Cesar Salad wasn't too garlicky or the lettuce too big to eat, the leaves were fresh and crispy - really worth the price you pay. You're paying for quality here, and I would definitely come back to this restaurant in the near future.


Until next time, XO - M.