Kat Von D Clothing Line?!

Just wanted to share some of my favourite pieces from Kat Von D's new clothing line. Usually it's a chore trying to find clothes I can wear to work that are all black, but still super interesting and fun, but with duds like these it's become a lot easier.

Kat's best known for her work as a tattoo artist, but has recently gone the way of most celebs and released her own fragrance, and popular cosmetics line (available at Sephora). Naturally clothing was the next step (which is excellent because I've tried a couple times to locate similar items to what I've seen her wearing on TV).

Things to expect:
- Leather leggings
- Cutouts and distressing
- Studs and chains with a more modern look
- Military inspiration with a modern Victorian flair
- Knitwear and lace

Though only the fall/ winter collection has been launched, for spring/ summer we can expect some gun-metal greys, more blacks, white, red and blues with more emphasis on cut-out and crop tops, studded shorts, and lighter-weigh blazers. All in all I'm excited to see where this goes.

Makeup Appointments at MAC

Today I wanted to talk a little about something most people have heard of, but may not have taken advantage of; MAC makeup appointments.
I'm sure most of you have heard, and probably shopped at MAC Cosmetics. They might be the place you go for your favourite lipstick or foundation, maybe you've walked by a counter or store at the mall and seen the giant displayers of eyeshadows in every colour of the rainbow, or perhaps you watch makeup tutorials online and have heard the name over and over.
Either way, whether you're new to MAC or have been a faithful customer for years, a makeup appointment with an artist is always an essential. It's a time to learn a couple new techniques or take a new product for a test-drive. So that being said, here is where I can explain to you what it's all about, and how to do it.

The first step is going to be booking, though it varies at different locations, you can always stop by or call in to make your appointment. In Canada, at a department store counter (The Bay) upon booking you obligate yourself to a $50 (before taxes) makeup purchase. Now depending on your financial situation, I know this can sound scary, especially if you're new to MAC and have some reservations about parting with that much money.
Fortunately you're not going to find yourself in just a grab and go situation, with the booking you're guaranteed the undivided attention of your artist from start to end (usually half an hour to an hour for the appointment) where you can ask all the questions you want AND get the answers in a way that you can understand. As well, products will be specially chosen for you based on any concerns or looks you might want to achieve.

Consider this your own personal makeup class, what to learn how to get that perfect skin finish? We can show you. That gorgeous but super complex looking eye from that magazine you were looking at last week? No problem, let us teach you.

Here's the thing, when you really get down to it you were PROBS gonna buy your foundation anyway, and your powder is looking pretty low too, so why not get a free makeup session since you're gonna have to stop by on the weekend anyway?

"But what if I don't really like the way my artist did something at the end?"
Not an issue, just ask why they did it, and if you're still unhappy it's probably a simple fix, with more room for teaching. It's important that you love the look, and MAC artists are professionals. So a little concern isn't silly, just say something!

Okay, so let's pretend your makeup's done and you couldn't be happier. What to choose? Whatever you want, and that includes skin care and brushes as well! Maybe you loved the look of the two eyeshadows your artist applied, but they aren't your 'everyday style'. Look at how they were applied next, brushes are a BIG part of what artists do. The right brush can make all the difference in the final product; why do you think MAC brushes are the most commonly faked across the internet?

The final step is to round up what you picked to buy, and any other materials given to you by your artist (face charts, product listings, special requested instructions for application, etc.) and then to check out. When you get home, maybe take some pictures of what you had done, and try out the look again some other time.

Remember, you can always stop back in to ask some more questions, but if you're planning to buy anyway, you're going to get the most out of things by booking an appointment.
So I hope that clears up the process for some of you, and maybe you'll look into booking your own appointment some time.

Cute Car!!

Okay, so I'm super excited to FINALLY be getting my very first car! In preparation I've started going a little crazy on Amazon looking for items to personalize and deck it out.

First thing's first though, Seat covers and floor mats are a MUST. Not only can they add that little bit of personality to an otherwise dreary grey interior, but they protect your car from spills, dirt, and of course in the winter, the dreaded salt stains (ugggggh!). An added bonus is of course, when re-selling your car, cleanliness counts! And preventing the seats from wear is always going to add to your resale value.

However, the best part of course is still the fact that you can have whatever interior you want, just by fitting the covers over your existing seats. Though it was a tough choice between Hello Kitty and pink leopard, I was on a budget, and chose the Leopard.

Now that the more practical bits of car accessories were out of the way, I started looking into some truly awesome stuff! First I managed to find a metal decal for the back bumper that was a Hello Kitty face and logo, as well a vinyl 18" Hello Kitty face sticker in pink for the hood. I also managed to pick up a Hello Kitty steering wheel cover from my local Canadian Tire, and some Car Lashes!



CARLASHES!! Not my car, but they're so cute!



Some Hello Kitty floor mats I found on amazon



The back decal I bought xD



And of course, the giant hood decal I bought. It's so big, I love it!

One more awesome thing I'm looking into right now is switching out my existing fog lights with PINK LED ones. I've seen them for sale a couple places, but might just ask my mechanic if he could order them since it's probably cheaper that way. I also found some cool LED strips for different parts of your car, of course in pink, but they come in almost any colour you want.

My Style - Part I, the Philosophy

Basically my entire life (apparently after I turned 2, I refused to let anyone dress me and or influence my clothing) I've been drawn to clothing that i like, somehow the idea of shopping in outfits never really occurred to me. I love the idea of finding that one crazy unique piece every time I go out shopping, something no one else will have that really sets me off, propelling me into that sparkly world where everything is made of cupcakes and pink glitter (not too different from the one in Katy Perry's 'California Girlz' video).
With clothing like this, it's easy to become another person in an instant (see: Helen from 'Lullaby' by Chuck P. or Sox from 'Elliot Moose'), and to always have the P-E-R-F-E-C-T garment for any themed event and or mood. I love it, that infamous union jack dress from the Spice girls? Got it. Sailor hats in all colours and patterns? Got it. Apocalyptic army jacket? Got it. Lumber jacket? Yep. Over 12 different tu-tus? Of course. Really the only hard part is finding an occasion..

Well that and the fact that as is, I really have too much clothing. It really can become bothersome when only 18% of your wardrobe is well... more on the "common" side of things.
Don't get me wrong though, of course comfort is key, but who could turn down being the most extravagant person in the room?
I sort my leggings and tights into categories of animal print, solid colour, fishnet (by size), rainbow, lace, and stripes, and my scarves according to nautical, stars, and pink.
Of course I have over 100 t-shirts, how ever would I be able to properly express myself if i didn't? And is it so wrong that I can alphabetize my larger necklaces according to what they say?
Undergarments are necessary I say, and the more you have, the less frequently you have to do laundry.

Case and point is I love my clothes, and accessories, but something has to give and this case it might just be me. So, today I will devote myself to cleaning because something must be done about this terrible mess (and yes, I will be sending a tiara to whoever can place that quote, and mark it down in the comments).

So hugs and kisses to all, as I shall be doing much cleaning for now, and potentially updating you as I do with the finds from this chaos.

Hello Kitty Halloween C:

Hey guys, just a little update! Though I was working ALL Halloween weekend and missed out on some fun stuff, I though I'd share a picture of the Hello Kitty pumpkin I carved!

It was really simple to make, I just printed out a copy of Hello Kitty's face I found on google and poked the design into the pumpkin, then carved out the shapes.

Getting Hired at MAC

Hey guys, so I just wanted to share a bit of good news (even though i'm about three weeks late letting you know) I'm officially working for MAC cosmetics!
Now I know there are a lot of people out there curious about the hiring process/ what the trick is to getting hired so I just though I'd give you a little info as far as how this came about.

First Interview: Was pretty basic, it was just a five minute sit down with a manage where she asked me a couple questions
"Tell me about your self" - is there even a perfect way to answer this? I profiled what I've been doing as it applied to the position, aka: all the freelance work I've done, competitions, schooling, etc.
"What do you know/ like about MAC cosmetics?" - here is where they want to know how much you know about the company (obviously), for example; back to mac, the viva glam fund, and even a brief history, as well as how you think you would fit in.
"Sell me your favourite MAC product" - for this it's really up to you, pick something you're familiar with, that you CAN talk about. (I chose my favourite lipstick, 'Chatterbox' and tailored my approach to work in the mission statement "all races, all sexes, all ages" as well talked briefly about other products you can use it with.)
Second Interview: Was my makeup interview. For this each applicant had to bring a model and own makeup brushes (bringing your own brush belt is a nice touch too if you have one, but not by any means necessary). We worked on a rotation cycle, the first look was a neutral sculpted eyeshadow on our own model, then switched to a different girl to do a bold lip, then switched again to show flawless skin, and then finally the last addition to the look was defining the face with blush or contour.

Third Interview: Wasn't so much of an interview as a meeting with my manager to be where I filled out my paperwork, and she gave me a brief introduction to everything, employee manual, got to know eachother, etc.

Things to remember: Be yourself! I had so many people telling me to act certain ways or do certain things, but when it came down to it I was to nervous to fake it and chose to just chill and do me. A little confidence goes a LONG way. One of the first things I heard from my manager was that she liked that I was confident and spoke up (which is something I've never been told, as I'm super shy), seeing that I was confident in myself gave her faith in me. Also, remember it's a retail job, they want to know you know how to sell, if you get hired there will be sales goals to meet (nothing scary!) and it's good to tell them before they ask you.
Let's not forget, MAC is about self expression, so feel free to have a little fun with your makeup, hair and clothing (though all black garments and shoes are required) you can really do what you like and that's an awesome part of the job.

 

Arkells "Kiss Cam" Video Debut

Ahahaha, totally random post, just wanted to put the word out about the Arkell's new video for their song 'Kiss Cam'. They're a super talented band that I've had the pleasure of seeing live four times now, most recently at a great summer festival called Edgefest (which is hosted by what is pretty much known as the only good radio station in all of Canada). So check it out below, and look out for me at 1:09 in the video!  

Small Rave

Okay, this is going to pretty much be the smallest entry ever because I have a couple big ones coming in the next week buuuut I just wanted to give a BIG (like SUPER BIG) kudos to Rimmel on what could possibly be the BEST mascara ever. While I was visiting some family in North Carolina, I was out shopping and descided to pick up a couple different mascaras to try out (and use for clients) and stumbled upon something excelent.

Rimmel isn't the typical brand I would go to for mascara but I can honestly say they have impressed me on this one. The 'Wow Lash' mascara's wand is perfect for the majority of lashes out there, medium sized, with synthetic bristles and a formula that works. My usual grievances with mascara's that lengthen and volume is that they irritate my eyes and flake off but this does neither. I'm almost angry that it only costs $3.97 at a Walmart in the United States because I know most people would pass it thinking it's a low quality product. But rest assured, this drug store mascara could compete on par with some of the bigger brands quite easily.

Hair Heaven!

Maybe I'm a bit late getting on the bandwagon, but I have to say that I'm in LOVE with CHI hair products! A couple months ago I won a makeup competition at Sears Department Store and resieved a $100 gift card to pretty much blow on anything. After buying two pairs of Betsey Johnson sunglasses that I managed to destroy in two weeks, I figured it was time to take a chance on something a little more durable.

I'd been having a huge hair crisis, my pink dye really wasn't lasting more than a week and it was driving me crazy. Though I was using a combination of different colour-safe shampoos and conditioners, I wanted to test out CHI's colour system to see if they were really worth the hype (and since it was essentially found money, I figured why not?).

Nothing but Facts..

• Wasn't a huge fan of the smell, to be honest, it kind of comes off as a men's deodorant. I didn't think I was too picky about my product smells, but this threw me off. All in all not terrible, just something that would have been nice to know.
• The shampoo's texture might be average, but the conditioner is on a level all it's own. It's so thick and silky, easy to see how this product is able to seal your cuticle. (think cream, but a ton heavier. Almost like liquid latex).
• You'll notice less frizz related to damage in your hair. Since the cuticle is being sealed, hair should be less knotted, frizzy, and dry. Really, it's a miracle for anyone who bleaches their hair consistently.
• Lastly, your colour is going to stay at least twice as long at the current vibrancy. My problem was I coloured some human extensions and the colour took really well, but they would only match perfectly for the first three washes. After using the colour system, my hair was going strong for two weeks before fading, and then another three weeks of a less vibrant pink (pretty good considering the frequency at which I wash my hair).

Candy Yum Yum

It's weird how the best day ever, can be immediately followed by the worst day ever. Today I was super excited to talk about the newest love of my life, MAC's 'Candy Yum Yum' lipstick, but have JUST realized that amongst all the chaos today, it somehow (tragically) broke free from the applicator and has become stuck to the lid of the tube! Fortunately though, I have just called and found that the second closest MAC to me still has three left, so I had one put on hold (thank JESUS).

Alright, now that we have that out of the way, I really need to tell you about this colour!
Seriously, I've made it my mission to make lipsticks more popular, and thus myself need to have an ample supply! I saw the ad for the newest MAC line 'Quite Cute' about two weeks ago and knew right away it was something I had to check out. Yesterday I stumbled into MAC after class with a couple friends, and was drawn right over to the display, the 'Candy Yum-Yum' lipstick calling my name.
Upon trying out pretty much everything in this line, I have my own personal favourite here for you to check out.

1. 'Candy Yum-Yum' Lipstick - $17.50 + tax CDN

This is possibly the brightest pink lipstick ever (trust me, I TROLL the lipstick counters hard. The only comparable colour I've ever found is by Elizabeth Arden and it was more of a one time find that I haven't seen since) brought to you by our lovely friends at MAC. This new collection is so vibrant and fun, it's no wonder that this colour is pretty much SOLD OUT everywhere, the day after it's arrival. Though you can see it in the picture here, you still haven't truly seen the colour. Honestly, this is one of those "you'll have to go out to MAC and check it out right now to even understand the intensity of this pink" moments. I found especially with this line, they really didn't capture the trueness of the colours on their site.

2. 'Saint Germaine' Lipstick - $17.50 + tax CDN

SO CUTE. I love this colour because it's more of a pastel, with a really nice satin finish that plays with the lighting around, but still diffuses it so your lips don't look like you've drooled all over yourself.  I'd love to do a gradient look with this and 'Candy Yum-Yum' because the two colours do work really nicely together. Think of this as the quieter sister of the prior colour, it looks sweet and soft, but still packs a lot of colour-punch. It's just adorable (and easier to wear!).

3. 'Mischevious Mint' Nail Polish - $16.50 + tax CDN 

Though I usually try and avoid buying MAC polishes, this colour (and quality) really appeal to me. I've been  loving mint green more and more recently, especially when combined with all different hues of pink (strawberry, watermelon, etc). This colour is great, and I really do advise you to go check it out sometime soon (and then walk over to Sephora to buy 'L29 - Teeny Bikini', their version of the same polish for more than half the price!).

4. 'Ice Cream Cake' Nail Polish - $16.50 + tax CDN

Another perfect pink with great coverage.I especially like this with the 'Mischevious Mint' colour, I think a design with them both would be adorable.



1. Candy Yum-Yum 2. Saint Germaine 3. Mischievous Mint 4. IceCream Cake

Overall, i just think this line is really timely and cute. There's nothing worse (for me) than the constant lack of 'special addition' MAC items that are more on the fun side. I love that MAC is a well stocked brand that you can always go to and find something you love at, but it's nice that occasionally they throw some icing on top of that give you something this bright. Browns, greys, and rusts are fine, but every once in a while a girl's gotta have her pink!

Why Your Lashes Aren't Listening!

Anyone who wears makeup, be it fully glammed up to barely any (ever) will tell you that if they could choose only one cosmetic product to take to a dessert island, it would be their mascara. Mascara is great because it's one of the base products we have that no matter what can ONLY enhance our natural beauty. So of course, if you're appart of the makeup wearing crowd, you'll have a tube of it laying around somewhere.

The point of coating our lashes is to lengthen, thicken, seperate, and make it seem as though we have more than we already do (traditionally, lashes are meant to act like guide lines, drawing attention into our eyes). The problem is more often than not, we get sucked in by ads for some new mascara that is 'so much better than the one we already have' (offering to instantly give us amazingly defined, thich, and lush lashes), even though in reality, the girls are wearing false lashes and the mascara probably isn't that amazing.

So, here is where I give you the truth on why your lashes aren't quite looking the way they do on TV, and a customizeable way to fix this.

Bare Basics

To be honest, if you don't already have 'va-va-va-voom' giant lashes to start out with, no ammount of building and product is going to make them look five times bigger. The key is to work with what you have and build off that in a realistic way. Since lashes (just like our hair) grow in a cycle, it's natural for us to have short, medium, and long lash lengths. It's also natural for lashes to fall out occasionally, as a new one will soon take it's place. Though if you do notice your lashes are lacking a bit, a simple solution such as taking silica is pretty effective. Silica is a daily vitamin you can take, that is one of the key building blocks for hair.
A diet, rich in silica, calcium and iron, will help reduce or prevent lash loss. Raw oats provide natural silica.
On the other hand, another option is caster oil which can be purchased from your local pharmacy for under $4 (including tax). This is a topical product that you would massage into your lashes two to three times a week overnight to boost hair growth. It's also nice because you can use it on your nail beds, and roots of your hair, or eyebrows to stimulate hair follicals and fill in sparce areas. I used it for a couple weeks on the head of one of my brows that was slightly off from the other, and it worked like a charm.

The Kind of Product you Need Vs. Want

Okay, so I know you may love the look, morals, or idea of a mascara you're using. Maybe it's because it's an all natural product and you're a vegan, or because you love a certain brand and would just prefer to shop from them, or even really dislike a brand and don't want to even attempt to use their line because of previous problems. Well, you're going to have to suck it up sweetie and try something new. If your lashes aren't working for you, there is clearly a reason and now is the time to confront that. If you find you have naturally thick lashes, then a 'volumizing' mascara shouldn't be your main concern. If your lashes are naturally longer, adding length isn't something you necessarily need. Mascara is meant to be an all consuming thing, meaning you will get a boost in all desired areas, you just need to determine which area you need it most.

Thickening mascara is for:

• long lashes
• thin lashes
• sparce lashes
• uneven lashes

Lengthening mascara is for:

• short lashes
• uneven lashes
• thin lashes
• adverage length lashes

Mascara Wands.. Size DOES Matter

Now it's time to think about your own lashes, go look in a mirror and analyze them. Different lash lengths, thicknesses, and ammounts required different sizes and shapes of mascara wands. The first key aspect is that your overall wand size to be about the same size as your natural lashes. The second part is, the bristles should be spaced accoring to your natural lashes. Optimally, the bristles should be of a harder rubber matterial to ensure even coverage and a smoother glide. Depending on the way your lashes grow, you can make a slight bend in some wands to accomidate the natural curve of your lash line, but this isn't necessary, or even beneficial to most people.
On a side note, I get a lot of questions about the 'star burst' style of wand ( a small ball with spikes, made popular by Givenchy Phenomin'Eyes Mascara and the L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara ) and whether or not I would reccamend it. It's a bit of a tricky answer for a tricky product. Though this wand-type is ideal for getting into the outer corners of your lashes, it is the worst thing ever for getting the rest of them. You cannot use it as your only mascara, it's really just a pricer accessory to make the outer corner a little more even.

Waterproof Mascara FYI
For example, if you're constantly useing a waterproof mascara, you really should get something new (reguardless of brand). Waterproof mascaras, all across the board cause your lashes to become more brittle and break more frequently due to their drying properties and ingrediants. Hence why waterproof mascara should only be used for when you REALLY need it (weddings, water events, funerals, days when something bad might happen, or while watching 'The Notebook' xD). Something to really scan the ingrediants list for is 'water', you want a water based mascara because it will add hydration to your lashes, and not dry them out. As well, using something water based means that it will be easier to get off, and cause less trauma to your lash beds when it's time to take it off.

Lash Shapes
The ideal lash shape is faned out, going from the innder lashes being slightly fanned towards the outer corner of your eye, (just under 90 degrees) to the outer lashes being almost horizontal. A curl is also ideal, and easily achived with the use of lash curlers if you don't have a natural curl.

Though the idea of curlers can be a bit intimidating if you've never used one, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Personally, I hate big lash curlers, they look like death traps as far as I'm concerned and really never do much on my eye (reguardless of proper use). So, when I recently found out about a new lash curler type, I was thrilled. The Preo Eyelash Curler is a design that's been around for a while, and available from different brands. Though it is traditionally used for asian lashes, it will work wonders on anyone. It's a lot smaller and easier to use (not to mention looks a lot less like it'll cause you damage). You just bring it up to your lashes and press down from the base, working section by section.

A Couple More Things to Keep in Mind..
If you have allergies to wheatgerm or latex, make sure to read the ingrediants on the back on the packaging, as these are pretty common compounds used. Though rest assured, your friends at Clarins have developed a latex and wheat free mascara that is perfect to accomidate your eyes.

Though mascara technically lasts as long as you keep using it, you really should be tossing it after three months of people open (i'll even let you stretch it to four months as I often do). It's just after that time period, the essential oils that help to keep your product bacteria free have all but dissipated, allowing it to dry out and breed diseases. You'll know it's gone bad when a serious stink starts to appear and the mascara goes on a lot clumpier.

A great mascara that has been around for DECADES without much change is The Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline. Though a lot of their products are either hits or misses, this has truely stood the test of time. I fully reccamend it to anyone.

To check out how a couple different mascaras stack up, check out my 'Drugstore Mascara Reviews' post.

Five Things, Right Now.

Hey there, been a while since I've done one of these (or a post in general!) so let's hope this makes up for my disappearing!

Loving..

OPI's Katy Perry Crackle Polish - 10.99 +taxes

Or just crackle polish in general. I don't know why, but when I started seeing this two months ago, it really had no significance to me, i just thought 'oh that's cool' and moved on with my life. Then, last week for some reason I suddenly CRAVED IT.. and promptly ran out to Trade Secrets on my lunch to go buy and use it. It's pretty good, not exactly what I thought it was, but I still like it a bunch. Also, I'm excited for OPI to come out with a full rainbow of crackle polish colours next month. Though for those who can't wait, China Glaze has their own crackle line, already available in a whole bunch of colours which you can check out here.For those who don't know, 'crackle polish' is a nail laquer that goes on soild over another polish, but cracks into little pieces revealing the nail colour underneath and creating a two-tone effect.
Quick Tip: to get bigger 'crackle' chunks, glob the polish on thicker.

Turquoise Hair - $10 and up

Okay, kind of an odd thing to have here seeing as you can't exactly run out and buy it (well technically.. you can, but it's not a product!) buuut it still makes the cut. Long story short, the colour students at my school have started dying their hair all sorts of gorgeous colours and one in particular has the prettiest turquoise hair I've ever seen. So to bring this full circle, right now I'm loving coloured hair. Spring is here (even though it's still snowing in Toronto) so why not try something new to freshen up? Splat Hair Color is still my go-to brand (but has become increasingly hard to find in Canada), but I have found new love with the N' Rage, and Raw Color brands from Hot Topic. Yaki extensions work super well too if you aren't ready for a colour commitment and can't quite afford human hair. Plus they easily blend in with your hair's natural texture, and can be dyed or styled with hot tools. (Just please whatever you do, don't go out to Hot Topic and buy those tacky non-matching-you-hair-not-even-close plastic clip-in strands, they REALLY don't work for anyone, and yaki hair is pretty much the same price for a lot more.)

Head Bands

Bows, sequins, prints, glitter, etc. I'm completely crazy about them right now. It seems like every time I go out looking for things I can use for my photo shoot models I end up finding a headpiece that I fall in love with.. for myself. I bought a polka dot bow band from a small boutique in Kensington Market called Twylite. And then the other day I bought some gold sequin trim from a local fabric shop and ended up making one of those 'hippy bands' out of that. Headbands are super cute, and a great way to further accessorize, or even change your look around. Even better than that, you don't need to spend a ton for them, just combine what you already have, or add a clip or a flower to a skinnier band and you're done.

Makeup Inspiration

I know we all have our own ways of doing things, and looks we like to wear on a frequent basis, but after a while things start to get old... fast. Recently I've been looking around at new artists and techniques for all sorts of different makeup looks to broaden my spectrum, or at the very least give me some fresh ideas. Right now, I can't help but love the eye shadow techniques I've been finding all across the web, starting out with this facebook page from a local(ish) fellow makeup artist. Her blending is perfect, and she has some really interesting and diverse looks that I suggest you check out Empress Makeup by Melissa.

Nautical Themed Things

So seeing as my birthday just passed, I felt the need to go out and splurge what little money I had. One of my biggest loves in life has always been pin-up and burlesque, specifically when sailor themed. So I decided to buy a striped captain's hat from a local thrift shop. Also, one of the newer (well not quite new, but not sold out yet) collections from Betsey Johnson is all about nautical bliss, incorporating stripes, navy blue, sparrows, anchors, crabs, sail boats, and captain's wheels (as well as a sailor monkey) into some lovely jewelry pieces. She also released a more nautical like of clothing, as did Joe Fresh just recently.

Lip Do's and Lip Don'ts

Just to start things off on a semi-positive note, school has been going well, I can't believe I'm almost done the beauty/ fashion portion of the program! That being said, I wanted to share something I've been working on with you that I'm super proud of!

(The two sides of my business card.. in case you couldn't tell)

Anyway, been trying out a ton of different makeups and so without further adue, let's talk about lips!

It's come to my attention that out generation (25 and under) really aren't too picky when it comes to two of the most important features of our face! Seriously, we do so much with our lips on a daily basis, I mean they're right there in the middle of our faces (not like eyebrows, which you can easily cover with fringe), that there really is no good reason to not make them look their best!

One thing I've been loving for the last couple months is lipstick (Pink Nouveau from MAC, to be specific, my FAVOURITE, I'm a little obsessed with this colour as of late). So I thought it was pretty strange a little under two months ago when I started realizing how many girls don't wear it.. ever. We definitely have a gloss epidemic on our hands, which isn't bad at all, just strange. I mean women (and men) have been wearing the stuff for hundreds of years, so why are we suddenly colour-phobic?

Lipstick, just like most other makeup is a great way to express your mood, personality, etc. Lip colour is also one of the most primal forms of attraction, and conveyance of such um 'desires' to potential mates.

Colour Key

burgundy - stern, aggressive

red - sexy, seductive

pink - playful, flirty

pale pink - innocent, pure

peach - fun, spunky

nude - "not interested"

Though you really may be opposed to the idea of something on your lips (I know I was at first), lip colours are something I feel like everyone should try from time to time. Maybe it's just a cultural thing, we associate lipstick with going through our mom's purses, and thus feeling older or something? Maybe it was just the push of the '90s that gave us this need to go with only gloss. Or perhaps it's just the fact that the market is pushing new innovations in makeup that allow us to never have to wear lipstick again.  Either way, maybe finding that daily colour that gives you an extra little bounce in your step, to something nice on occasion, might be enough to sway you to try something new.

Which brings me to my next point (along to trying 'something new' lines,) unfortunately try I did. I was helping my mom try to find one of her lipsticks that we later found out had been retired, when I decided to try a new colour of my own. After hearing a whole slew of great things about the Revlon Colour Stay lipsticks, I bought their colour '011 Stormy Pink'. Now I'm not going to say it was a bad product, because it wasn't. I actually really did like the colour, it's pretty similar to my MAC lipstick actually. I just find that their lips colours go on a lot sheerer than MAC, Dior, or Makeup Forever's, which is only frustrating for me because I really like brighter, bolder colours. However it is a good starter though if you're not used to having anything there. Some other options for those who want to give a little colour a chance are lip stains, which can range in price from $6 (CDN+taxes) from 'Joe Fresh' to over $30 (CDN+taxes) for the 'Givenchy' lip stain magic marker at Sephora.

Anyway, there's my bit on lips.. though on a side note, if you are going to give lipstick a try, your best bet is to do it with a liner. Lip liners make your colour last so much longer, and give you a better edge just in case your hand gets a little jittery while re-applying. Though you can pretty much find any colour everywhere, for those in Canada, I'm going to advise you go check out your local Shoppers Drugmart, the 'AnnaBelle' brand tends to go on sale fairly regularly, while still providing an excellent product. When using lip liner, start out by lining the inside of your mid upper lip, NOT going outside of the natural lipline. After finising the 'cupid's bow', draw up from the outer corners to connect the line, and follow the same idea for the bottom lip. First and formost, please use the same colours for the lip liner and lip stick, not matching isn't cute.

Accessorize your Makeup, More than Just "Bad Gal Lashes"

Alright, so through some awesome connections my class was able to meet with some higher-ups from the Benefit Cosmetics line and test out / play around with all of their products.
Now you might not recognise their name, but I'm sure you've seen their products around. The most common/ recognised of them being their mascara, "Bad Gal Lashes". Initially I hadn't thought much about this line, they seemed pretty generic, colours that didn't especially stand out, and products you could get elsewhere (concealer, blush, foundation, mascara, etc).
Not knowing much about them (other than their mascara that I had purchased a couple times over the past few years), I was pretty impressed with what they had to say.

Basically, their main focus is not really their makeup per say, but more to make makeup simpler and not so threatening for the average person. Another aspect that I love (love, LOVED) was the idea of creating accessories for the makeup you already have to improve it!

Some of my favourites from the line were: 

POREfessional Pore Minimizer

Okay, okay, okay, so this is for sure my number one favourite and a must buy for my makeup kit. This stuff is FANTASTIC for your skin, makes it look SO soft and smooth, and let me just say as soon as I get this I am using it one my mom because it takes out fine lines completely (without looking caked at ALL). This stuff feels amazing, and you can see in the picture that the texture looks really different from anything else out there. It only comes in the one colour, but can be used on any skin tone because it isn't really pigmented on the skin. Another plus is that it's oil free, so no need to worry about breaking out or irritation. Grrreat stuff, this product is lovely, priced at about $38 CND (lil steep, but will last forever because you only need a tiny amount). Again, if you're like me, you may be thinking "I don't need a pore minimizer, it isn't really a concern of mine" but the added property of smoothing and filling in skin converted me. You can wear it both under and over your regular makeup, to make it last longer and look smoother.

Benetint and PosietintLip and Cheek Stain

Originally created as a nipple stain for burlesque dancers, this product can be used a multitude of different ways! For the lips it can go under a gloss in any intensity you desire, be used to enhance a lip stick or to tint one, or on it's own as a lip stain. For cheeks, you can wear it just as a basic blush, or under a blush from any brand to intensifier or tint the colour. It's nice because this way you can switch up a look quite easily, just by using one product. Also, allowing you to change the colour of something like a lipstick or blush that's totally washing you out, means you'll actually get use out of makeup you may otherwise get rid of (so good). The two colours this comes in are pink ('Posietint') and red ('Benetint'), and again both show up well on any skin tone. Generally the price is around $38 CND for a bottle that should last you a couple years. As well, the 'Bentint' comes in a lip balm with spf 15 and in a little gloss tube for your purse with a creamier formula for on the go.

Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation

Alright, so this is less of an accessory and more full-on makeup but it's still so good! The unique part about this foundation is that it's infused with silicon. If you have oily skin (like me) you no longer have to worry about that evil evil shine breaking though your makeup about an hour after you put it on. As well, dry skin no longer has to worry about drying out, and for those hot and humid summers, the moisture won't ruin your flawless face. Silicon has the unique property where it doesn't let moisture in or out (well the majority of it anyway), ergo say bye bye to blotting papers and having to re-apply moisturizer or powder to your face. This foundation is brilliant in the way that all you have to do is apply moisturizer, and then foundation and you're good to go, shine free. I love that this product is great for any kind of skin at any age. On the down side though, currently it only comes in three colours, light, medium and dark, with a colour expansion coming this year. So I would advise you try before you buy to make sure the colour you choose works. One more thing, this can also be used in combination with other foundations to maximize lasting time, just be sure you're other product is oil free (don't want to lock excess oil into your face or else it's hello breakouts).

Brow Zings Brow kit

Instead of going out and buying all the different brow tools the market has, wouldn't one little kit with everything you need be so much easier? Well tah-dah, here it is. Similar to the MAC kit, but so much more useful, Benefit brings you "Brow Zings". On the left we have the tinted brow wax, and on the right the coloured filler powder (also included is a pair on mini tweezers, and two mini brushes to help with the application). The kit comes with a little booklet that gives you little tips and tricks for the 'perfect' brows, while still supplying you with everything needed to get them. I was surprised to find this out, but Benefit is all over the eyebrow scene, to the point of having launched their own chain of "Brow Bars" (essentially eyebrow salons where you can go and get waxed pain free, and receive a complimentary makeup application afterwords). This product generally goes for $42 CDN and can last you up to three years.

Bad Gal Lash Mascara

Well not too much to say here, this is probably the most recognised of the Benefit line. An excellent mascara that comes in a variety of shades (blue, brown, black, plum), and even now can be found in a waterproof formula. I liked it when I had it, though perhaps it wouldn't be the best for someone with sparser, shorter lashes (seeing as it is a very fluffy brush). Though normally selling for up to $30 CDN, I've been able to find it for as low as $8 at Winners, $10 at Sephora (on sale, reg $19), and $19 at Shoppers Drugmart.

Overall, I just wanted to let you guys know about this company because I really hadn't thought much about them before, and have now come to know that some of the things I've really been looking for were here. It can get really easy to decide you love one makeup company because you constantly hear a lot about them, but just remember that experimentation is key. It's good to know a bit about everything versus everything about one.

Hello Kitty at Sephora??!

Alright, so I have a running mental list of goodies and tips for you guys that should be coming out soon. Right now though I want to focus on one specific thing,

 

I was at Sephora the other day, trying to find the 'Sephora' brand liquid liner that I so desperately love and want more of (check it out, they never have black in stock, but if you can find it, it's seriously the best). Moving on, I ended up buying this sparkle spray for both hair and body that they carry (also under the 'Sephora' brand) in the rainbow-shine glitter (not the best value at $13+ tax CDN, but what can you do, girl's gotta have her glitter). End of story, on the way out, I walked straight into the thing my little girly heart would desire most, a fully stocked 'Hello Kitty' makeup collection!

Ugh, I can't get over it, seriously I was SO happy (having missed buying anything from MAC's Hello Kitty collection a couple years ago) that I could barely speak and immediately had to try out everything!! The line is exclusive to Sephora and at their online store here. Everything is adorable, done in a faux silver finish with tones of pink and rhinestones. All the facial products have adorable names like "Pink Bow" or "Goldfish", and there are a LOT of different products in this collection:

  -eyeshadow sticks
  -blush stick
  -eyeliner pencils
  -2 different shadow and gloss duo pallets
  -solid perfume necklace
  -brushes and holder
  -body wash
  -fragrances
  -lip balm
  -lip glosses
  -blotting papers
  -shower cap
  -nail art stickers
  -clutch bags
  -nail polishes
  -liquid liner
  -hand mirror
  -compact mirrors

Seriously a lot of stuff, it's a decent sized collection and it looks super cute. Prior to testing products it was almost too good to be true! Unfortunately truth be told this really, really, really, is a niche line. Everything is rather generic in both colouring (all natural and easy to find elsewhere), and pigmentation (nothing is really bright, all the colours go on very lightly and would involve a LOT of layering to achieve the slightest amount of boldness. Moreover, almost all of the lip glosses show up the same pale pinkish colour). So yes, I am sorry to report that overall this line really isn't anything special, but was in fact just created to bring to makers easy money (sadface).

Though, seeing as I am an avid Hello Kitty collector and a makeup student, I DO think I am going to purchase a few items from the line. To be honest, I don't think they will be my favourite products ever, but I would like to have the perfume, pallet duo, and how wrong can you really go with nail polish and stickers? The lip glosses look cute, and the eyeliners aren't terrible (just not the best).

I'd say this would make a great gift for a girl just getting into makeup, or someone who loves Hello Kitty, but if you're looking for high end cosmetics please avoid the makeup portion of this line!

Also, Just wanted to share a picture of what I did for my "Fantasy Hair Exam" at school (seeing as we're on the topic of Hello Kitty anyway)!!

Model: Kitty Rode