With Fall here, it means that a majority of cosmetics companies will be releasing their Holiday Collections that come in beautiful packaging and are usually limited edition. That being said, when I saw the MARC JACOBS BEAUTY The Sofia - Five Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection I just had to pick it up! I am not one to experiment with darker lipsticks, I usually always stick with the pinks, nudes etc.. so for $54, being able to try out 5 different colors - I had to say yes.

A regular sized lipstick at 0.12oz is $38. These lipsticks are 0.05oz and you get 5 of them for $54 - not bad considering you get variety and the chance to try out these gorgeous lip sticks. They are buttery, glides on like silk, and are ultra pigmented. They don't drag or skip at all - it's wonderful.

The colors that come in this kit are:
- Infamous (Soft peony)
- So Sofia (electric watermelon)
- Dashing (very cherry)
- Blow (dark berry velvet)
- Boy Gorgeous (berry rouge)

They a re all packed into a lovely patent pouch.

For this week's makeup monday post - I decided to do a very neutral eye look, with a nice wing and do a lip swatch post. I hope you all like it! It's my first lip swatch type post - because these lipsticks are so pigmented, by the time I was done with the 5 lipsticks, my lips were quite stained.. ahhahaha

So it is with mixed feelings, that I am writing this post this month as I have finally decided to severe the cord with Ipsy. For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now, will know that I have not been happy with Ipsy for a while now - just the range of products provided, and the fact that every month, I get the same things from the same companies. The variety is gone, I always get stuff from City Color, and I always get lip products, no matter how many times I've said I didn't want them, or that I re-do the profile test. Also, I always seem to get the smaller name brand stuff and never the Glam Glow, Too Faced, Temptu, Pixi etc etc..

Anyways, onto the contents of my bag this month:
1. NYX Cosmetics - Ipsy Eye Shadow Trio
2. Laneige - Water Sleeping Mask
3. City Color Cosmetics - City Chic Lipstick
4. Not Soap, Radio - Revitalizing Hand/Body Lotion
5. Formula X - Nail Color in Ignite

So yes, as you can see - I've managed to clear up alot of stuff in the past 5 months. I am so guilty of opening multiple bottles of stuff and never finishing it before opening a new one (life of a beauty blogger, my primary excuse). Anyways - I decided to make it a point to finish a majority of the open bottles I had, and I'll attach my thoughts with a brief review below.



Hair Products:
1. Aveda - Air Control
This is a product I continuously use. So far, I have been fortunate enough to not have to buy this as Aveda sometimes sends e-mails out to its clients for free deluxe sized product samples to try. So far, I received 2-3 for the hairspray and one for the handcream. It's a really good way for Aveda to get people to try out their products and come in and purchase it. I have been a long time client of Aveda and would actually continue to buy this regardless. It gives you a medium hold without the crunchiness and hardness that some hairsprays have. I love this!

2. L'oreal - Vitamino Color Protecting Shampoo
Bought this at the hair salon after I decided to ombre my hair this summer. I found that it helped with retaining the color in my hair, however I would not re-purchase this unless I actually have paid alot of money to get my hair dyed at the salon. I typically box-dye my hair so this would be too expensive to purchase on a regular basis. I'd rather spend my money on a hair product that helps with volume or thickening/re-growth.

3. Khlorane - hair thickening spray
Received a sample of this - wasn't a fan. I didn't find that it helped with the volumizing. I actually prefer the below product from Sudzz.

4. Sudzz - Blowout volumizing spray
Bought this at a salon last year and I love it. I spray it at the roots to amplify and give me some volume. It truly works, however it is pricey. I haven't repurchased it since but I might go back to it if I don't find anything similar in the market.

5. OGX - weightleses hydration coconut water shampoo.
Love this product! Second time buying this and will continue to do so. It is light weight and hydrating with a light coconut scent that isn't too obnoxious. LOVE i!


Face Products:
1. Origins - Super Spot Remover
This is my first time trying this product, and I don't think I will be repurchasing it again. I found that it took a while for this product to take effect and have any healing results. I bought this in hopes that it would compare to the old Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel - however it didn't. I was so sad that Clinique changed its formula that I was willing to try everything. Sadly this Origins product did not hold a light to it, and well, I will not be repurchasing it. However, the next product is my holy grail....

2. Indie Lee - Blemish Stick
MY HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT! Everyone who I have introduced this to has LOVED it. Its the best zit zapper in the world. Anytime I feel a bump or irritation on my skin from a potential pimple onset I dab this product onto the problem area and it kills it. It has a doe-foot applicator (just like lipgloss). You only need to dab it over your problem area once, please don't drench yourself in it! I've repurchased this twice (and already have a backup).

3. St Ives - Apricot Scrub
This is a very rough scrub, I only like to use this once a week when I want a good deep cleanse. I use this sometimes when I have alot of blackheads or when I feel my skin getting too oily and I have been breaking out from stress or from hormones. This contains salicylic acid, which aids in combating acne. I will be repurchasing this product again in the future.

4. Cleansing Lotion (from the Japanese store)
I love this product, it's like Micellar water - you just use a cotton pad to wipe this on your face to remove all traces of makeup. Technically you don't have to wash your face again, but I always do! This is my 2nd time re-purchasing this, and I will continue to do so (but not right now).

5. Bliss - Fabulous Face Foaming Wash 
This is my third time using this product - I love it, no questions asked I will continue to use this. It has a light fragrance, light exfoliation beads - it just works and it hydrates your face and gives you a beautiful glow. It's gentle enough for daily use!


Misc Products:
1. Sephora - Purifying Brush Shampoo
I liked this product while it lasted. However I will not be repurchasing this as it really is quite expensive when compared to my new finding which is the Dr. Bronners Castille Soap that you can get at a health food store or certain supermarkets. The Dr. Bronners worked much better than this brush cleaner and it also comes in different scents (added novelty). A little goes a long way with the Dr. Bronners while the Sephora one requires lots of product to get a thorough cleaning.

2. Maybelline - Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser (Brightening)
I know there is a lot of hype around this product in the beauty field, however I decided to try the brightening version and I hated it. It did nothing for me, in fact it made my under eye area have a greyish tint/hue. I tried this over and under my concealer and it did not work at all. I think next, i'll try the medium shade however the Maybelline Fit Me has been my favorite drugstore concealer right now and I am too hesitant to try anything else right now - lol.

3. Urban Decay - Deslick Makeup Setting Spray
Out of all the Urban Decay primers - this one is my favorite. It works and holds my makeup after a whole day. I however, have recently changed to a cheaper drugstore version - the Hard Candy Makeup Setting Spray and I love that product so I will most likely hold off on buying this product for now.

4. Too Faced - Primed and Poreless primer
Liked this product alot, however it has quite a greasy finish. Not greasy in a bad way, it just feels like it doesn't dry to a powder like the Smashbox Pore Filler Primer. I will not be repurchasing this again.

5. Poo-Pourri - Organic Nature's Call
Got this a while bag as a fun thing to try out - did not work. It really only helped in public washrooms when you wanted a deodorizer, but it did nothing in terms of masking any scents.


Body:
1. Dove - Go Fresh Raspberry and Lime Scent
I love this soap, I used it when I was in Hong Kong 3 years ago and saw it at Pacific Mall and had to repurchase it. You know how a scent brings you back to a certain memory or place, well this scent brings me back to my 3 week trip in Asia - Japan, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong to name a few cities. This scent was release in Asia only and wasn't released in North America. I guess that's why you can only find it in Pacific Mall.

2. Bath & Body Works - Apple Blossom & Lavender Body Scrub. 
Loved this scrub, it was coarse enough to work its magic all around. However, I will not be repurchasing this product again as the scent was a bit too overwhelming after a while. I find most scents at B&BW too pungent and overwhelming.

Each year in September, Toronto hosts the Toronto International Film Festival, an event that is open equally to the public and to the celebrities. This year, I was invited to the TIFF Boutique held by Shoppers Drug Mart/Phyto Paris and I thought I'd share my lovely experience with my readers. Needless to say, it was one of the most luxurious events I've been to and I was pampered and spoiled. I even left the event with an amazing gift bag filled with lots of goodies I've been wanting to try, and also contains alot of brands I already love!








My afternoon started with a manicure from the beautiful and fun Melissa - Nail Artist at Tips Nail Bar - Instagram: MANIMELISSA if you want to check out her lovely nail art. I gave her complete creative freedom on my nails, and she painted them a light turquoise blue color and did a gradient polka-dot pattern from the tips down with a darker contrasting green.









Next, I was led to the Phyto Paris area and had my hair styled and blown-out. The stylist asked me what I had wanted, and what my typical hair concerns are. I had explained that I had really fine hair - and although it grew fast, it did not necessarily give me the volume I wanted. She added some root lifting spray to my roots, took a round brush and hair dryer and proceeded to add some OOMPF! to my hair. Next, she took the Hot Tools curling iron and added some loose waves. I also told her that typically, my hair did not stay curled when I had used a curling iron, and she taught me the following tip:

Most people like to curl their hair from the ends of the hair and up. She explained that the ends of the hair is the most fragile and damaged and would therefore require the least amount of heat. You should start at the upper mid area of your hair, and continuously monitor the heat of the curling iron when curling your hair to make sure you do not burn it. Make sure you use a strong, yet flexible, hair spray to lock in all your hard work.


I only chose to have my hair and manicure done that day, however, there was a bevy of other services offered including makeup applications from Stila Cosmetics, eye-lash applications from DUO Professional Eyelashes, spray-tans from St. Tropez and mini facials by Rodial. Finally, Jocelyn Teng from WALL9 was also there on Friday and Saturday to create live beauty fashion illustrations for those who wanted to get a drawing of them made.







I have always wanted to try whitening my teeth at home but was never able to quite get used to using those whitening strips. For some reason, they were quite abrasive. When speaking with Luster White, they had told me the reasoning to my sensitivity was due to the fact that whitening strips seldomly fit the person's teeth to a T. This means that most of the strip will be touching your gums, causing sensitivity.

With Luster White, you brush the solution onto your teeth from a bottle, resembling nail polish, and you take the device to your teeth for two minutes. If you are looking to whiten your teeth for a specific event, the maximum times you can use it for is 3 times in a row. Otherwise, she recommends that you just use it once or twice a week to regularly upkeep and maintain the whitening process. I'll definitely be trying this out as this came in the gift bag :) Yay! You can purchase this kit at Shoppers (I'll do a review of this device in a few weeks to let you know how it works - please come back to check it out!).

So I know that summer is now officially over, and it's back to school. But this summer, I did some travelling and spent a few days away from home which required me to pack my travel makeup bag. I thought I'd share with you all what I put in it, since I know that some of you have been curious. I know that this is quite excessive for some of you guys, but hey I like to be ready for any occasion and I found a perfect bag that fits everything I need without being overly bulky.



What I like most about this bag is that it is separated into two sections - one main compartment that holds the makeup and bulkier items and it has it's own zipper. The upper section of this bag is for your makeup brushes. No more packing your brushes all together with your makeup or trying to figure out where to put your brushes so they don't get messed up and damaged. Everything can fit into this bag neatly.


Can we also mention the side zipper pocket? I decided to use that to put my emergency hair removal strips and cotton pads. This makeup bag is from BH Cosmetics and is only $16.99 and can be purchased at FTB Beauty.


Here are some pictures of the front and back of the bag - granted it is not the most gorgeous looking bag but hey it fits everything and I really cannot complain!