Ceramic Glaze: Botanical Oasis / Review and Swatches*


Ceramic Glaze has released a limited edition collection - Botanical Oasis, which has landed on the shelves of Shoppers Drug Mart on May 22nd. For pictures of the entire collection swatched, please continue reading below. This is the first time I've been sent an entire new collection for review, so it's really quite exciting for me to do this and share it with you all! 

Top Row/Left to Right: French Riviera, Surf's Up, Impulsive, Petal Pusher
Bottom Row/Left to Right: Seize The Day, Perfect Peony, Urbane, Heavenly

The swatches of the polishes above are of two layers each. One layer I found was not even enough and nobody wants patchy polish. 7 out of 8 of the polishes dried glossy, while Impulsive dried within 15 seconds to a matte finish. 

These colors are a beautiful pop of color for spring and summer and I suggest you going to grab one, two or however many you wish! My favorite colors are: Surf's Up, Petal Pusher, Seize the Day and Perfect Peony. 


For more pictures of the collection, you can look up #myCGnails and @ceramicglaze on social media. 

Until next time, XO - M.

Generation Beauty by IPSY 2016 - Toronto


It has been a good two weeks since Gen Beauty came to Toronto - it is a two day event, uniting beauty enthusiasts and creators (YouTubers and Bloggers). The event however, seems to have been a bit confusing for alot of the attendees (as discovered during the 1-2 hour line-up time before the doors opened). When a few of us got to talking, you know the people who are in front and behind you in line, no one knew exactly what this event was for. Were there demo's by the vendors? lessons? tutorials? or was this a pure networking event? Is it like IMATS where you can buy things, or is this like an event where you just get things?


RUSK Deep Shine Color Touch Up and F.A.S.T. Shampoo/Conditioner Review*




Rusk Deepshine Color Touch Up is for anyone who is looking to instantly cover roots, blend out your grays and or to create temporary hilights and low-lights. Being a person that has to dye her hair every few months because of the abundance of gray hairs that pop out and magically grow, sometimes I just cannot be bothered, nor have the time to do it when it grows out right away. If I were to dye my hair every time I saw gray roots, I'd be dyeing it every month or few weeks, and that would kill my hair for sure.

When I was contacted to give this product a try, I thought I had nothing to lose. If it worked, I could use it in between dye sessions. The pigment is made with mineral powder and is naturally derived. It is water resistant until your next shampoo.

To use, you just pop the color you want into the palette, and use the brush to directly apply to the roots. I would not recommend this for hilight and low-lights as you'd spend a long time applying the product to your hair from root to tip. To touch up roots is most ideal.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette, New: Born This Way Concealer, Waterproof Mascara and more *


This Makeup Monday - I am focusing on a brand that is known for its super girly, adorable and out right cute packaging (did I also mention that most products just smell good enough to eat?). For e.g. their Chocolate Soleil Bronzer - smells like ACTUAL CHOCOLATE. Everytime I use it, I want to eat chocolate, it's so bad... but SO GOOD at the same time. What else? The Hangover Rx Primer - it smells like coconuts - actual mouthwatering coconut, not the artificial fake smelling waxy ones. At last, the Sweet Peach Palette... yes, it does smell like fuzzy peaches. It actually lasts for a good hour after it's been applied to your lids, but it's not overwhelming at all - you just get slight wafts of it occasionally.

I'd like to thank Too Faced for being so generous and pairing up with me to present the below looks with you for Makeup Monday. As most of you who know me, will know that I am a very natural make-up person - I like to use sheer to medium coverage foundations, and mostly gravitate towards a neutral eye. I love a good blush and for the summer time, I love to bronze up my skin and add a pop of hilighter to the cheekbones. At last, I cannot be caught without a good winged liner - so below I will bring to you three very natural looks using the Sweet Peach Palette.

FYI: The rest of the products on my face is the same as the picture above - only the shadow is different.



Look #1:
Crease - Puree 
Defined Crease - Summer Yum
Lid Color - Luscious
Outer V - Caramelized + Peach Pit 
   

Bottom Left: Look #2
Neutral Brown Eye
Crease - Peaches N Cream
Defined Crease - Puree
Lid Color - Nectar
Outer V - Luscious

Bottom Right: Look #3
Soft Neutral Lid with Smokey Purple Outer V
Crease - Georgia
Defined Crease - Candied Peach
Lid Color - White Peach / Peaches N' Cream
Outer V - Peach Pit / Delectable

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette Review & Swatches


Introducing the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette! For those of you who are fans of Jaclyn Hill or even of the make-up world, you will know that Becca Cosmetics creates some of the most beautiful and finely milled hilighterss out there in the cosmetic industry. There were hints that were dropped months ago from Jaclyn on YouTube and Snapchat that she was coming up with something new and here it is - the first of a few new products that are launching which includes a new liquid Champagne Pop hilighter and eyeshadow palette comes the face palette (featured below).


As stated on the Sephora Website, this palette contains: 
- 2 x 0.19 oz Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Pressed highlighter shades in Champagne Pop (soft white gold with pinky peach undertones), Prosecco Pop (medium warm gold) 
- 2 x 0.12 oz Mineral Blush in Amaretto (matte toasted almond), Pamplemousse (matte warm coral pink) 
- 0.10 oz Luminous Blush in Rosé Spritz (soft peachy pink with pale gold shimmer) 

*One thing to note is that Amaretto and Pamplemousse aren't completely matte as stated, it is more of a satin finish. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT: 
- Parabens 
- Sulfates 
- Phthalates

Attached below are pictures of the packaging as well as a few thoughts I have on it so far. I only just got it in the mail last night, so I haven't had the chance to use all the blushes, but based on the swatches and what I have actually used for the picture below and what I am wearing so far today, it does not disappoint. 

#NYXClassOf2016 Prom Party (Toronto) Re-Cap*!!


Last week, I was invited to go to Prom all over again and get a re-do! My dates this time around were some ladies from the Canadian Beauty Blogger Network and I had a fabulous time with them, catching up over music, drinks and finger food. I was unfortunately re-cooperating from a horrible stomach flu, so my drink of choice for the evening was ginger ale ( sad face ). Regardless, I wanted to share some pictures from the event with my lovely readers, and I will be sure to post more about the palette we got from the swag bag at a later time (I'll do a Makeup Monday post on it and put it into good use for sure, and let you know my thoughts - as always). 

As some of you may know, NYX just opened another store in Toronto, this time is in Eaton Centre - it's near the Old Navy for those of you who are wondering where it is. Those who attended the event got a chance to sign the lovely sign below and I had to leave my mark (in yellow).


Review & Tutorial: SmashBox Photo Matte Eyes Palette and more from the spring/summer'16 collection *


For today's Makeup Monday post, I'm so happy to bring to you my first ever one-branded tutorial featuring all Smashbox Cosmetics products - most are from the new Spring/Summer 2016 collection. Before I get started with the look, I wanted to share with you some swatches of the brand new Photo Matte Eyes ($60 CAD) which can serve as a shadow/liner and brow powder palette. This palette's focus is on shaping the eyes - it contains 14 neutral mattes, 2 of which are base shades (the bigger pan ones). It also includes a double ended brush for convenience and the shadows can be used dry or wet. 





Elizabeth Arden Skin Illuminating Line*


Elizabeth Arden has created an advanced skincare collection that addresses the various degrees of skin discoloration, uneven texture and tone while enhancing the skin's ability to reflect light. It consists of four products: 1. Skin Illuminating Brightening day Serum, 2. Skin Illuminating Night Capsules, 3. Skin Illuminating Retexturizing Pads and lastly, the 4. Skin Illuminating Smooth and Brighten Emulsion. 

Biological and environmental factors such as aging, hormones, stress and exposure to pollution and UV rays can produce excess melanin, resulting in dark spots and uneven skin tones. At the same time, aging decreases collagen and elastin and increases your pore size, leaving your skin thin and rough which reduces light reflectivity on the skin's surface. Therefore the result is that your skin looses that youthful vibrant and healthy looking glow that you once may had in your younger days - cue in the Skin Illuminating line.

"To achieve the most even-toned, radiant-looking skin posisble, it's important to not only focus on dialing down the darkness," says Lavinia Popescu, Senior Director of R&D, Elizabeth Arden. "It is crucial to also act on enhancing light reflectivity on the surface of the skin, with products that help to promote a brighter, more radiant complexion."

April 2016 Empties and Review



Product
Comments
Would I repurchase it again?
Herbal Essences – Naked Volume Shampoo
Love this product – completely cleans your hair without stripping the moisture from within.  
Yes
Herbal Essences – Naked Volume Conditioner
The conditioner is thin in consistency, does not weigh down your hair or leave a residue.
Yes
BB Thickening – Dryspun Finish
Adds texture to your hair, it’s weightless and lasts all day.
Yes
Amika – Perk Up Dry Shampoo
LOVE this dry shampoo – does not leave a white cast and smells amazing. It’s the only product that can help go through second day hair.
Yes
Furterer – Naturia gentle balancing shampoo
While I love this product a lot – it is on the higher end in terms of price.
Maybe

Tutorial: The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Metallishadow Crème + Powder - AquaNova


Products used:
1. Milani - Conceal and Perfect 3-in-1 Foundation - 04 Medium Beige
2. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - 3
3. YSL - Touche Eclat - 2.5
4. MAC - Peaches and Cream Blush
5. Urban Decay - Beached Bronzer - Bronzed
6. Stila - Stay all Day - Liquid Eyeliner
7. Becca - Champagne Pop
8. Urban Decay - Primer Potion
9. Esquido - Companion Lash Glue*
10. Anastasia Beverly Hills - Dip Brow Pomade - Chocolate
11. KOKO Lashes - 205
12. The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Metallishadow Crème + Powder - AquaNova*
13. Poetic Blend - Hero Oil
14. Benefit Cosmetics - Lady's Choice - lipstick


For those of you who have been following my blog or social media channels - Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat, will know that I had recently attended the Estee Edit Media Event. I was really looking forward in trying some certain products that were launched, including the eyeshadow that is featured in this specific Makeup Monday post. This is the The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Metallishadow Crème + Powder in AquaNova - it is a cream shadow base paired with a pigment section on the bottom. 

Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Khlorane Brand!

Oh how time has flown by this month, I have been so busy with some personal matters that I haven't been keeping up with my blogging - apologies! I feel so incredibly mortified that it has taken me this long to get this post up. However, better late than never? I was invited to the 50th anniversary party of Khlorane last month and had an absolutely fantastic time. There was finger food and champagne as we got to visit each area that featured separate brands to discuss any new product launches with the reps for the upcoming season. 

The venue was beautifully decorated with flowers that screamed spring was here! and I was very happy to talk to all the brand reps that were there. Please enjoy some photos from the event below, I will include a short summary of the product in each picture if available. For additional information or pictures, please visit all the social media channels listed below in the very last picture. 

Elancyl is a brand which has been 40 years in the making and specializes in products for targeted treatment of the body - i.e. slimming, cellulite reduction etc. I tried some of this product at the event and it didn't leave a greasy residue, it quickly absorbed into the skin and did not feel tacky at all. I think that is key when being a body product, you want to feel like you can apply it, get dressed and go.


Summer is upon us, and we can rely on the assortment of Avene products above which contains SPF50 to protect our skin from the harmful rays and UV.

April 2016 Favorites


This month's favorites circle around items that can give me a fresh spring look with a sheer wash of color on my lips and cheeks. I have had a really busy month of April with some personal matters that I have been falling behind with my blogging and have just been going for the most minimalist look when it comes to my daily makeup routine.

My list of favorites include:
- Indeed Labs - Vitamin c24 - This has been a favorite since my trip to the Dominican in March and it has saved my skin through the sun damage I had there. I will continue to use this product and repurchase it after.
- Marcelle - Perfect Brow - with the extremely thin brow wand - this brown tinted brow gel completes my brow look every morning. It sets the hairs without looking crunchy.
- Charlotte Tilbury - Wonder Glow - this has been an on-going favorite of mine. I like to mix it into my foundation for a dewy effect.
- Make Up For ever - Artist Lip Blush - a true matte pinky mauve lip color - not too drying to the lips, I typically like to apply this over a balm.
- Lancome - Juicy Shaker (Wondermelon) - I've been on a hunt for these for about 2 months and they are a cheaper alternative than the YSL Teint-in-oils. Each color has a different scent and it provides great moisturization and a gloss to your lips that doesn't feel too thick and the best is that your hair won't get caught in it!
- Bobbi Brown - Light Peach blush - Spring and Summer for me is all about the coral and peach blushes - it pairs nicely with a tan.
- Elizabeth Arden - Sunset Bronze Prismatic Bronzing Powder - Warm Bronze 01- A beautiful blend of different tones of brown and beige, some have a satin finish to it -it gives you a subtle glow. No oompa-loompas here!
- Mikayla Beauty - Luxury Lip Butter Balm (French Vanilla) - Really moisturizing and weightless on the lips, smells like dessert and well...need I say more?
- The silver glitter small Z-palette. I find that the only way I will use my individual shadows is if I store it in site - I had them all in a large Make Up For Ever tin palette before and would typically forget about them.


I had to include the below picture to show you the beautiful 

What were some of your favorite products this month? I'd love to hear about them!
Until next time, XO - M