Joe Fresh/Shoppers Drug Mart Event Re-Cap and Valentines Day Makeup Look ft. Drugstore Products*

Shoppers Drug Mart, a leading drugstore in Canada that sells both mass and prestige cosmetics and skincare products, has expanded its beauty section by bringing in the Joe Fresh Beauty collection. For those of you who know, Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws had merged, and with that you have probably seen some PC brand stuff at Shoppers as well. Now you do not have to go to the Superstore to find Joe Fresh Products :)

The launch of Joe Fresh Beauty at SDM, has brought a new lineup which includes face, cheeks, eyes and lips products in addition to the current line. Joe Fresh Beauty is now available at 850 SDM and Pharmaprix stores across Canada with prices ranging from only $8 to $18. NOTHING is over $18 apparently! How amazing is that?! Beauty on a budget!

I was recently invited to preview the new products that have been released, and I thought that I would re-cap the evening with you. I was only there for about half an hour, as I had another event before hand, and also it was the day before my big 3-0 birthday, so I had dinner plans after - but from what I saw, I'm really excited for some of the products (which I will list below).

Here is a picture of the foundations, concealer, blushes, and hilighting powders.


The liquid hilighters were a favorite at $16, the amount of product is generous! You only need the tiniest drop and you will be able to achieve a sun kissed glow. This is actually advertised as a primer, but I think it would be best as a liquid hilighter because of the high glow effect.


Lip products! For those of you who have tried the older formula, you might have not really liked it - from the scent, to the product itself. However, they have improved it! The scent is now great, and so is the texture. Give it a go! You won't regret it. I'll be sure to pick up a few of these. 


Here's some pictures from the night

There were 2 make-up touch up stations at the event which you could go to get beautified and try out the new products.

There were also some delicious deserts and drinks when I was there. I had missed the savoury foods, but I had to grab this gorgeous Meringue Nest. It was almost too pretty to eat. 

I had to take a pictures of this beautiful cascading flower wall

they even had a fresh flower "market" section where they made fresh bouquets for us to take home :)


I decided to bundle this event re-cap with a brand new Make Up Monday post ft all drugstore makeup (with a focus on all the Joe Fresh Make-Up products I got that night). I also decided to create a fresh make-up look perfect for Valentines Day coming up. I will definitely be rocking the red matte lip this weekend for sure. This is a first for me, as I am never used to wearing a red lip, however this is pretty much a perfect red for me. Also, for a matte formula, it is not drying at all. I really enjoy it. One thing to keep in mind though, is the fact that you should make sure your lips are well moisturized before you apply the lipstick. It does accentuate the dry spots you have if you just so happen to have it.


Left: the pink lip cream and the Right: Red Matte Lipstick.
Please read the post above for my thoughts on the lip cream formula.

Here's a list of the products used to create the above look, which is a more natural eye look as the focus is on the lips itself and a winged liner. If you have any questions about any of the products used below, please let me know by e-mailing me or leaving a comment below. Otherwise, these are products that I've always been using, and you will be able to see it in previous make-up Monday or Monthly Favorites posts (and the names of the products, and company names are all directly listed below).


Until next time, XO - M.
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New: Estée Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara*


Estée Lauder has been on a roll lately, releasing product after product that leaves its users wanting more. From the new fan favorite Double Wear Foundation which is now in a portable compact to the Little Black Primer, which has been an absolute favorite of mine the past few months, I have found myself a new fan of Estée Lauder.

Ther NEW Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara ($31) has a fiber-rich formula and custom designed brush, lashes are full, lush and fanned out. Instantly uplift and separate lashes for a stunning result. Housed in a sleek, black matte vial, the exclusive mix of two carbon black fibers helps to shape and extend each lash from root to tip – resulting in intense, black lashes. Developed with new elastomer for added length, volume and select blend of polymers for extreme long wearing performance, lashes are sweat and humidity resistant and can extend to their longest and fullest potential.

The addition of rich conditioners provide silky, flawless lashes that resist flaking and clumping. Estée Lauder introduces a patented, custom-designed Clump Separation Brush that grabs, lifts and separates each lash to help prevent clumping. A specially designed spiked tip is the smallest detail with big impact – it’s the solution to building volume to the tiniest hair, in the toughest to reach corners of the eye, leaving no lash behind.

Usage Tip: Apply to bare lash from root to tip. For maximum benefit, apply on one eye and build product onto lashes until desired look is achieved. Re-dip mascara, switch over to the next eye and repeat. For added intensity, apply over Estée Lauder Little Black Primer.

Availability: NEW Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara will be available at Hudson’s Bay, Sears, Holt Renfrew, Sephora, Nordstrom and www.esteelauder.ca beginning January 2016 and Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale beginning February 2016.

Will you be trying this out? I know I will be! 
Until next time, XO - M.



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For Beloved One now in Canada!*


Hello my lovelies, last week I had the pleasure of being invited to an event to preview the launch of a leading Taiwanese Skincare Brand, For Beloved One, here in Canada. This brand, for those of you who don't know, is dedicated towards developing revolutionary products in the beauty and cosmetics industry. This brand, while new to Canada is actually sold in countries around the world, including Taiwan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong and Australia. When I heard about this brand, I actually saw that they were carried in Sephora Singapore! So don't let the lack of their presence here in Canada fool you! They are big globally, especially in the Asian market. Their launch in the North American market was driven by the request of their fans here - and their wishes were granted the past December! 

They are carried and exclusively distributed by T&T Supermarket, sold at 24 branch locations. Their products and their popularity center around ingredients that contain Hyaluronic Acid, Mandelic Acid and other ingredients that assist with Brightening, Firming and Anti-Aging. 

Margaret Wu founded For Beloved One and invented the Bio-Cellulose mask in 2003. It is created by a revolutionary mask material, which has sold more than 8 million pieces across the world! The mask is made a unique "breathable but water impermeable" feature of bio-cellulose, as it serves as the key to effectively penetrate serum deep into the skin. The mask is made of the finest fibers, which is merely 1/133 of the average non-woven fiber, has the best affinity to skin and can achieve absorption 30 times higher than other masks. 

The masks come in a box ($63 approx), with three individual masks packed inside. The mask is sandwiched by two protective layers and contains an entire bottle of serum in one mask treatment. You need to only use this once every 10 days and for 15-20 minutes each time. The mask when applied, does not ever lose moisture and permanently molds to your face and keeps it adhered for best results (that's the special technology developed by For Beloved One). Other masks that I have tried, feels like a more elegant version of a paper towel and loses moisture and ends up being rough on your skin. This mask is said to be able to stay up to 2 hours on your face (not that you need to) but it's AMAZZZZZZZZING. 

The price for the masks may seem hefty, at $20ish a mask, but honestly you only get one shot with your skin. You can't reverse any aging no matter how hard you try or you cant counter any permanent damage you've gained. My mom has always taught me to take care of my skin at a young age, and at her age (I won't give out her exact age), she has the skin of a 20 year old. Flawless. You need to put quality products on your face, and while I'm not always saying go for the extremely luxurious products, you should also avoid the drugstore bang for your buck  harsh chemical-filled products that may end up stripping your skin. While there are gems at the drugstore, you must do your due diligence when searching for the right products for your skin. 


The event was held at Maman in Toronto where we chatted skincare over delicious finger foods and drinks. 



For Beloved One's Hylauronic Acid Moisturizing Series has pioneered Water Activation Circulation Technology, containing the Hylauronic Acid activating agent Exo-H, which not only captures and replenishes moisture, but also creates moisture to achieve a comprehensive moisturizing effect. Its effectiveness in activating an all-around hydration mechanism is recognized by renowned dermatologists in Taiwan. 

The serum, featured below with the blue container and blue cap on the far left is used to regenerate collagen in the skin and work with the Hyaluronic Acid to retain moisture and keep the skin supple. The serum will strengthen the protective layer of the skin, repair, smoothen and restore its youthful glow. It retails for $68 approx a bottle). 





For Beloved One also carries a small range of beauty products as well - mostly BB creams and skin correctors. I highly recommend the Silk Enriched Collagen Essence to be used in conjunction with the BB cream, it thins out the product and also makes the application lots easier. I am looking to buy this product as soon as I can get my hands on this baby!


Will you be trying out any products from For Beloved One? I highly honestly recommend the masks if you are looking for anything to try - I used it last night, and this morning my skin was changed. I didn't need to use a pore filler at all - my skin was plumped and hydrated ( I used the extreme hydration one). My makeup glided on effortlessly and I usually use liquid foundation to create a flawless canvas, but this morning I only needed a light dusting of powder and it gave me the same effect. You really must try this product out. It's almost like a thin jello skin consistency, it's unlike any other face mask you've tried, and I use face masks quite frequently. 

Until next time, XO - M. 
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January 2016 Favorites


Brand New Year, and the month of January flew by with a blink of an eye. I have a new set-up I am experimenting with for my photography so hopefully you all like it. My hubby took a saw and shortened his work desk, and then coincidentally, it just fit into a nook in my condo, so we went to Ikea bought some legs and attached it to the extra piece and built ourselves a new side table. I now use it for my laptop and purely for my blogging. My vanity is still what I use to store all of my makeup, and where I sit to play with it and of course, apply it on most mornings (that's unchanged). 

Anyways - onto my list of make-up and skincare favorites for the month of January. There are some repeats (yes, because that just proves how much I love it) and there are also some new items that I was just recently introduced to in the last month or two or even as short as just a week or so ago?? 


Products listed above include:
- Charlotte Tilbury - Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (medium)
- Too Faced - Hangover RX Face Primer
- Make Up Forever - Ultra HD Concealer* (Y31)
- Anastasia Beverly Hills- Brow Pomade (Chocolate)
- Estee Lauder - Little Black Primer*
- Maybelline - Color Tattoo Crayon (Lilac Lust)
- Soap & Glory - Kick Ass powder
- L'oreal - Color Riche Mono Shadows
- Hour Glass - Ambient Blush (Radiant Magenta)
- Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Concealer (Neutralizer)
- Dior - Air Flash Foundation (300)
- Schaf - Nutritive Daily Eye Cream*
- For Beloved One - Hyaluronic Acid Tri-Molecules GHK-CU Moisturizing Serum*
- Real Colors - Stay and Spray Make Up Setting Spray


I decided to actually do something different and include some of my go-to favorite make-up brushes this month!

1. Morphe M173 (perfect for concealer - it makes it look airbrushed, no creasing!)
2. Morphe S27 - I use this to blend out the crease color
3. Morphe M176 - This is used to pack on color to the lid. It picks up products/pigments nicely and distributes it evenly
4. Luxie Brush - Large Angled Brush - great for blush. It picks up the right amount and adds a sheer wash, doesn't over-do it and will not give you clown face.
5. Hakuhodo - I wish I had a name for this brush, it was part of a limited edition set I got in Tokyo many years ago, its a fluffy powder brush (there are similar ones from Hakuhodo right now). I use this to apply powder foundation and setting powder. It's so soft it feels weightless.
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Chanel LA Sunrise Spring 2016 - Sunkiss Ribbon Blush Harmony


As a make-up addict, you are drawn to make-up not only because of the product itself and the colors it offers, but also because of the packaging (even more so if it's limited edition). Chanel is a company that always comes out with exquisite limited edition items each season and for the Spring 2016 LA Sunrise Collection, the blush was what drew me in. The last time I bought something from Chanel was the Camelia De Plumes Hilighting Powder from .. I want to say the 2014 Winter Collection? 

Anyways - this post will be short as I only wanted to share with you all swatches from the blush if you were interested in getting one, and to also just share these pictures with you so you can all go ooooh + ahhhh when you see them, like I did. 

The scent of this blush is rather strong, it smells of roses. However, I left it open on my vanity overnight and the scent dissipated a bit. The blush comes packaged in a velvet pouch with its own brush that is also contained within its own velvet pouch as well. 



The blush comes in 5 different colors that you can use separately or blend it all together to form a gorgeous shade of pink, perfect for any season. I have included swatches below for your reference: 


Until next time, XO - M.
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practicing safe skin care with Schaf*


Being a beauty blogger has provided me with the opportunity to try out different types of skincare that I would have never been exposed to or had the chance be introduced to. For those who have been following my blog from the start, or know me in person, will know that I have a passion when it comes to skincare and I take pride in my skin.

I was referred to Schaf Skincare by a fellow beauty blogger who had introduced them to my blog, and was contacted by them to try out their products. I was sent three of their 5 products - 1. Nutritive Daily Eye Cream ($40) 2. White Lava Purifying Scrub ($30) and 3. Nutritive Daily Moisturizer ($45).

A little about Schaf Skincare before I give you all my thoughts on the products:

As noted on their website:
"Schaf products contain a unique blend of plant extracts formulated to clean, nurture, and protect your skin, utilizing natural and organic ingredients that perform exceptionally well, without the harsh, harmful, synthetic chemicals, irritants, and fragrances commonly found in commercial brands. Each formula blends natural and organic, skin-friendly botanical extracts together with gentle high-performance hydration technology designed to safely improve the appearance and health of your skin. 

 All Schaf products are based on the science of hydration, with an oil-free moisture binding component that is equally effective on oily or dry skin, and even for those with sensitive skin.

 All of their products are made without: Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Artificial Colors, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Silicone, Phthalates, Petroleum, Animal Byproducts, GMOs, Gluten, Propylene Glycol."


My thoughts:
I love the packaging of the eye cream and moisturizer - it comes with a pump dispenser allowing you to control the amount of product you want to use each time. Also, it keeps the product hygenic, as it is not exposed to contaminants each time you open it, or when you dip your finger in to use it.

Secondly, I really appreciate the simplicity of the packaging. From the label to the containers used - no fancy heavy glass containers which makes it fragile.

My favorite product of the three, would have to be the eye cream. It is very light but hydrating, and comes yellow tinted. It doesn't do much for color correcting, however it will help with brightening the eye area. I love how hydrating this product is, without being greasy. It doesn't interfere with my concealer and doesn't cause it to crease. In addition, it doesn't cause any breakouts for me. I have tried super emollient eye creams before which caused little break outs and oil bumps to occur in my under eyes.

Next on the list is the face scrub. the exfoliating bits are made from ground apricot seeds that polishes away your dead skin cells to leave your skin baby soft. As it is made with apricot seeds, it is a bit more abrasive in texture. This reminds me of the St. Ives consistency and texture, which I love.

The face cream is really moisturizing as well - it is thicker in consistency so a little goes a long way. I personally prefer gel-like products during the day and it doesn't matter to me what type of product I use at night as I am sleeping, it won't interfere with the application of makeup.


Until next time - XO, M.

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Morphe Monthly Brush Club - January 2016

For those of you who have been following my blog, you will know that I was once subscribed to a monthly subscription beauty box called Ipsy. However, less than a year into the service, I decided to cancel it as the variety of products received was lacking and the products that actually came became lesser in quality and most often or not, it was quite repetitive. I joined Ipsy with hopes of being able to try out products from different brands and when that gradually stopped happening, I had to cancel it. 

I was introducted to Morphe at IMATS 2 years ago in Toronto. We arrived right when IMATS opened, and the Morphe booth drew in the biggest crowd. I had to of course go and see what the fuss was about. Morphe sells their own brand of makeup and makeup brushes and it was the brushes that captivated my attention the most. They were great quality and at really reasonable prices. I picked up a few then and have been using them non-stop, putting them to the test and til this day, I have not encountered a problem with them. No shedding, bleeding or fraying. 

SO! when Morphe released their monthly brush club, I had to subscribe to it and see if the brushes were just as good as the ones I got 2 years ago, and also, it was a chance for me to try out different brushes from the line instead of paying retail for each brush and having to wait until IMATS comes again this year.

The package comes in a bubble envelope with each brush individually wrapped as seen below:

Here's another picture of the brushes after they have been unwrapped:


To help those of you who may be interested in ordering a specific brush, I have listed each brush's name below. Although they are all meant to be shadow/eye brushes, I found the duo fiber brush no. M173 is an amazing concealer brush. It blurs out the concealer under your eye to leave an airbrush finish. 


So far, for the first month of my subscription from Morphe, I am loving it. With taxes + exchange rate included, it comes out to being $29. Granted, there are only so many makeup brushes one can use, so to be honest I won't be staying subscribed to this much longer. I will probably give it 2-3 months tops to see if I can get some more face brushes. 

Until next time, XO - M.
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L'oreal Color Riche Mono Eyeshadows - Violet Beaute and Pain au Chocolat Smokey Eye

Hello my lovelies and welcome back to another Makeup Monday. Due to the positive response I got from last week's Makeup Monday look ft. Teal Couture from L'oreal Mono Shadows, I actually had a request on Twitter to do another look with a different shadow from the line. The specific request was to use "Pain au Chocolat" to create a smokey eye look. These shadows are a dream to work with and I decided to buy one more color, "Violet Beaute", to create this.

I had so much fun creating this look and I added some falsies to make it a bit more dramatic :) Having such a strong smokey eye meant I had to tone down the blush and pair it with a nude lipstick.

For a complete list of products used to create this look, please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

Until next time,
XO - M.

Products Used:
- Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer
- Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - Neutralizer
- Sephora - Gel Serum Concealer
- Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Powder - Medium
- Clinique - Cheek Pop - Heather
- Dior - Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder
- Lipstick: Essence
- Brow Pencil - Etude House
- Lashes - KOKO Lashes - KOKO
- Shadows - L'oreal Mono Shadows - Pain au Chocolat & Violet Beaute
- Lash Glue - Esquido




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L'oreal Colour Riche - Teal Couture Drugstore Makeup Look

As I was wandering around the aisles of Walmart to check out the new beauty launches, I stumbled across the L'oreal Colour Riche single shadows. I swatched a couple of them, and decided to go with this beautiful teal color called "Teal Couture" and was inspired to create a look for my Makeup Monday series. To top it off, I decided to use all drugstore makeup products!

Before I proceed with the products used to create this look, I want to give you guys my thoughts on the product as I was swatching a majority of them.

These shadows come in a matte formula and a shimmer formula that is almost like a pressed pigment. Be careful with the shimmer formula as they do become loose quite easily if tossed around too much. Mine was lifting in the bottom right corner, but it could be easily fixed by pressing it back into the pan .Think loose pigments, that are packed in it - because of the gel-like, mousse-ish texture of the shimmer pigments, it is a more fragile consistency.
The matte shadows are okay, blendable - the most disappointing of the matte shadows would have to be the black one. It isn't black enough. As for my favorite of the matte ones, it is Cafe Au Lait. 

For the shimmer ones - my favorite is this one of course that I picked up, Teal Couture and the next one is Pan Au Chocolate (which is a beige, brown almost taupe-esque) color. It is so beautiful and that is the next one I need to pick up! The most disappointing of the shimmer shades I think is Grand Bleu, I was expecting a beautiful sapphire ultra pigmented and bold blue, but even when swatched with my finger, it was just a bit lacking lustre. It wasn't bold enough nor was it pigmented enough. 

The suggested application of these shimmer ones would be to apply and pack it on your lid with your finger. I tried various brushes, and none of them delivered the pigmentation I desired. Using the finger and with a few dabs, I didn't even have to apply 2-3 layers. One was enough to create this look.

These retail for around $6.20 (approx) at Walmart.

Products Used to Create the Look are pictured below:

All the products pictured above are pretty self explanatory - I used the Milani single shadow to blend and buff out any harsh lines of the teal shadow and then used the Wet and Wild darker brown shade to do a bit of contouring on the outer crease.

Close up of the shadow plus a one swipe swatch of Teal Couture: 

Until next time, XO - M. 
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Healthy Snacking with Prana Organics*


Happy New Year everyone!!! May your 2016 be better than ever, and I wish you all good health and prosperity! To kick off 2016, I thought that I should talk about something that is probably on a majority of people's New Years Resolution list - that is "being healthier/having a healthier lifestyle, etc". I was recently sent some yummy snacks to try from Prana Organic, and to be honest, I've never tried coconut chips before. I love coconut, but always in the sweet variety vs. the savory. I never knew what to expect, and never gravitated towards it, however - keep reading to see my thoughts on the products.

First, a little about Prana Biovegan Inc. They are an importer and manufacturer of organic nuts, seeds, dried fruits and snacks from Quebec (YAY CANADIAN PRODUCTS! - you know I'm all about that Canadian love!). This line of crunchy and tasty coconut chips is available in four flavors: Spicy Chilli, BBQ, Salt & Pepper, and Original. These are 100% organic, gluten-free, with no cholesterol, and offer an excellent source of fibre. Coconut slices are dry roasted to perfection and seasoned with ingredients from around the world. If you do not fancy the savory flavors, you can always just go for the original and you can still get that delicious crunch that is a way healthier alternative to potato chips.

Prana Organic Dry Roasted Coconut Chips are available in 100g bags, in the four flavors mentioned above. The suggested MSRP is $3.99 per bag (which honestly isn't bad - bags of chips go for at least $2.99 now, and at least with this you know you are getting quality products) and can be found at all major grocery chains, health food stores, and supermarkets with healthy living aisles across Canada, starting back in October 2015


I thought I'd take a picture of the back of the packaging to show all of you the actual ingredients and nutrition content.


As you can see - it is 80 calories per 1/4 cup (for the Sea Salt flavor). As a comparison, (information taken from a common chip brand's site - 16 chips equates to 180 calories with 16 grams of fat for the original flavor).... therefore, you do the math.

I find that often, the craving and urge to eat chips, really derives from my need of a salty and crunchy snack. This did it for me. My husband's favorite flavor is Chili, and I like the original :)

Image below shows the Ingredients - simple, easy to read and understand. You know what's going into your body.


Until next time, XO - M.
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