Maybelline The Nudes Palette: Second Impression + Colour Combinations

Hi everyone! So I thought I'd give an update on how I've been liking the Maybelline The Nudes palette, and some of the colours I like to pair together.

First of all, I pretty much use this palette everyday, that's how great it is. The colours are so versatile, easy to apply / blend, and easy to mix together. The only negative comment I have is their staying power isn't the best, but it is better when used with an eyeshadow primer of any kind (I use one that came with an NYC palette, but I also recommend Stay Don't Stray by Benefit).

There are a bunch of different ideas and pairings on the back of the palette, but I have found some that are different from the given suggestions. Since I don't have a lot of time in the morning, I just apply two shades- the lighter one all over the lid and the darker one in the crease.

Look #1: Natural with some depth

This one is about as natural as it gets: a shimmery champagne colour all over the lid, and a nice light brown to add some depth to the crease. Add some mascara and your favourite lipstick and you will be looking awake for your early morning class!

Look #2: Gold Shimmer

One of the main reasons I bought this palette was because I wanted a nice gold colour; in the past, they had either been not pigmented enough, too orange, or too shimmery. This one is...just right! Paired with a medium toned brown in the crease (which is very pigmented), mascara, and red lipstick, this is a really nice change to your usual everyday look. I'm not too big on eyeliner, but to transition to nighttime I would put some on (either brown or black) to intensify the look a bit more.

Look #3: Soft browns

This look compliments one of my other favourites that uses two brown shades from another Maybelline palette (it's called Designer Chocolates, if you're wondering). I have dark brown eyes, so these two shades just enhance them a little more. Sometimes I do add brown eyeliner, but usually I just put on some mascara and any lipstick to complete the look. 

These three combinations are probably my go-to looks for everyday! I'm really loving this palette, good job Maybelline! 

New Lipsticks

Recently I have taken to wearing lipstick instead of lip gloss or tinted lip balm and I absolutely love it! (Not missing the stickiness of lip gloss one bit!) I thought I would share some of the lipsticks I have been buying to build my collection.

Front: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

Left to Right: Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip Colour in Lust for Blush (665), Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 11, MAC Lustre Lipstick in Lustering (A25)

Top to bottom: Maybelline, Rimmel, MAC, Nars (x2)

I've had them all for a while now, so I've had time to test and compare the colours, formulas, and lasting time. 

To start off the Maybelline lipstick (lust for blush) is a really pretty matte (I'll stress that, it is very matte) pink colour. It has a slight purple-mauve undertone, which makes it unique from all the other pinks I have. It stays all day, even through meals (as long as you don't deliberately wipe it off), and it isn't drying!

The Kate Moss lipstick from Rimmel is a very bright red. It has a high pigmentation, so I recommend just dabbing it on instead of doing a full sweep of colour. Like the Maybelline lipstick, it lasts all day and doesn't dry out your lips. Fun fact: it smells like cinnamon!

For years I've been wanting to try out MAC lipsticks, and my friend (who's a big fan of them) gave me a gift card for MAC for my birthday, and we went to the store to test them all out. I ended up with Lustering, which is a super pretty, mid-tone pink. It's pretty sheer, so I put on two coats for full colour. Unlike the Maybelline lipstick, which I mentioned has a purple undertone, this one has more of a bluish undertone, which is good for pale skin. This lipstick is also very moisturizing; however, since it isn't matte, it tends to fade after a long day, so be sure to bring it along wherever you go to reapply! Fun fact: it smells like vanilla!

The last two lip colours are the Sephora beauty insider birthday gift for the year (sorry to spoil the surprise for those who haven't received it yet!). The first is a matte red colour. It differs from the Rimmel lipstick because it has a more red-orange undertone whereas the Rimmel one has a deeper, more bluish undertone to it. I like this one a little better than the Rimmel one because the colour isn't so bright, making it easier to apply. The only thing is that this one is drying (found that out the first time I wore it) so be sure to apply a chapstick or neutral lip balm as a base. The other lip pencil from Nars is a nude pink (think beige undertones) with a more glossy finish. It's like your natural lip colour, but better (and with some more sheen). 

Overall I am really enjoying all of my new lipsticks and glad I finally branched out from subtle balms and glosses!

What are your favourite lip colours?

Ottawa Vintage & Consignment Stores: Do they actually exist?

The other day my friend and I decided to check out some vintage and consignment stores in Ottawa (more specifically, the downtown area). I jump on any shopping adventure, so when my friend suggested this, I was up for the challenge. After doing a few Google searches we both came up with a list of stores. Here are the results.

There were a lot of stores listed in the Byward Market, so we headed there first. We found Workshop Boutique, which was more of a modern vintage than actually second-hand itself. Everything there is made by local and/or Canadian designers, making most of the pieces super cute and unique. However, the price range was not the greatest, as dressed were well over $100 and tops were over $50. Not exactly the bargains we were looking for. Our next store, Victoire, was pretty much the same deal, except it had a very nautical feel, with stripes, anchors, and sailboats decorating the clothing.

Then we hit a dead end, so to speak, hence the title of this post. According to Google, there was supposed to be three other stores in the market- Young Jane's, Gypsy and Company, and Orange. None of them existed at their current address, and we could not figure out if they had relocated or simply gone out of business. In the cute white and mint green building where Young Jane's was supposed to be, there was some sort of spa, and the lady there informed us that the owner of Young Jane's had gone out of the country...I guess taking all her stock with her? At the supposed location of Orange, we found an apartment building with a swanky looking boutique on the first floor, no sign indicating a vintage store of any sort. Walking further along, we came across a small boutique called Adorit, which again had locally made and even eco-friendly clothing at a good price, which was nice.

We then ventured to the supposed address of Aunt Olive's...which proved another dead end. Actually, it was a "green, eco-friendly" cafe (the name escapes me at the moment). So don't go looking for that one either.

We finally hit a gem at Ragtime Vintage Clothing. Another small space, but filled to the brim with everything imaginable, from unwanted Forever 21 dresses to silk shirts and peasant blouses, and costumes from who knows what era. It even smelled like old clothes in there!

Apparently, Livney's Modern and Vintage Wear does exist...except this time we were the ones who could not find it. Google maps said it was in the middle of a field, so it was quite confusing where we were supposed to be. I caught a glimpse of the storefront as we were heading in the opposite direction on a bus back home, and it looked extremely small and as if it was about to go out of business.

The last store we found was AMH (Absolutely Must Have) Style. This store kind of reminded me of a boutique style Value Village: store brands- like Jacob, Le Chateau, Smart Set- for an affordable price; but without the mess and disorganization. It was like the sale rack of stores that you want to shop at, but normally cannot afford.

What did we learn from this adventure? Most likely not to trust Google! Also, that we prefer modern vintage than actual vintage clothing, even if it can be a bit pricey. I think I will stick to my usual stores when shopping (F21, H&M, Smart Set, Dynamite...), and when I want something for a special occasion, I'll go to Modcloth (well, virtually), and Roadtrip Clothing (also located in the Byward Market).

What are your experiences with vintage/modern vintage/consignment store shopping? Let me know!

Urban Decay Black Magic First Impression

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I thought I would share my first impression of the Urban Decay Black Magic eyeliner set that I received for Christmas this year.

So this is what the set looks like. I believe it was limited edition because my I cannot find it online at Sephora anymore. I was sent an email back at the beginning of the month that listed it as a gift idea at the same time I was replying to an email from my cousin, so I mentioned it to her (because we like to talk about makeup, naturally) and she took the hint and now here it is! :) 

A few months ago I bought my first eyeliner from Urban Decay in the shade Psychedelic Sister, a rich purple colour that I absolutely love, so I was so excited to receive this set!

This set (I keep wanting to type palette because I'm used to talking about eyeshadow :P) comes with four double ended eyeliners, all different colours. 

Here are all the swatches of the colours (L-R):

LSD (sparkly grey-blue) + Perversion (deep, rich black)

Tornado (dark purple) + Black Market (dark grey)

Smoke (light grey) + Black Velvet (black with a slight brownish undertone when you really look at it)

(bottom row): Demolition (medium brown) + Zero (black-brown)

So far I love all the different colours! They go on easily, actually, so easily that I accidentally broke the tip of the purple one while swatching it! Oops...

As you probably noticed, each pencil has a black shade and a different colour on the other end, hence the name Black Magic for the set. The only two I have a hard time distinguishing are Zero and Black Velvet, as they both look quite similar. If you look at the two carefully you'll find that Zero is a bit lighter and less harsh than Black Velvet. 

As it was limited edition I cannot really recommend this set, but I can recommend Urban Decay eyeliners in general- have fun testing them out in store, as there are so many shades to choose from!

Review: Maybelline "The Nudes" Eyeshadow Palette

Basically, I saw two video reviews of this palette, read some online ratings, and decided I needed to have it. 

Maybelline "The Nudes" Eyeshadow Palette, $15, Shoppers

This is what the front looks like. The packaging is super sleek, and the palette is compact enough to slip in a purse or carry-on for travel. There are 12 shades ranging from matte to shimmery, all in the neutral colour family. 

Here's a more close-up look of the shades. As you can see, I've already been experimenting with them! So far I like the shimmery gold shade the best (bottom row, third from left)- I've been looking for a gold eyeshadow that's not too bronze or sparkly, and this is it! The shades are pretty well pigmented, which is good for drugstore quality (usually I'm always layering on the shadow), and they blend easily and work well together for a ton of different looks. I've seen people compare this palette to the Urban Decay Naked ones, and from what I can see, the colours are pretty similar (I don't have one, so I can't be too sure on it). So if you're looking for a cheaper alternative, this may be good for you!

This is what the back of the palette looks like. As I mentioned, there are so many different looks you can create, and these helpful pairings on the back make that easy. Basically they've divided it up into quads, trios, or duos, depending on the look you're going for, and then they also say where to put each shade. I can't wait to try out all the colour combinations, and maybe even create some of my own!

What do you think of this palette? Let me know!

Book Review: Last Summer by Holly Chamberlin

Last Summer by Holly Chamberlin tells the story of two families who have lived next door to each other for as long as they can remember. They have been there for each other through deaths, divorce, and the ups and downs of life. Their fourteen year old daughters have also grown up together and have become best friends over the years. All that changes during the girls' ninth grade year. 

Under the pressure of seeing her best friend bullied and not wanting to speak up and possibly become a victim, Meg betrays Rosie, who then suffers an emotional breakdown in the latter part of the school year. This book traces the course of events that occur the summer following the girls' freshman year, as they try to forgive and test their friendship once more. 

The story has four different perspectives: Jane (Rosie's mother), Frannie (Meg's mother), Rosie, and Meg; as well as diary entries from Rosie that tell the depth of the bullying she went through, by others and herself. Each perspective gives the reader a chance to get to know each character and identify with their thoughts, feelings, and emotions as the summer wears on. 

I loved this book. Any novel that addresses the issue of bullying hits me hard, and this one was no exception. I identified the most with Rosie's diary entries, as they became more helpless and empty as the year wore on. This may sound a bit too cliche, but the entries were heartbreaking. Reading Meg's perspective gave me insight on her longing to be forgiven by Rosie. I also enjoyed both mothers' points of view, as they not only wanted to help their daughters, but also rekindle their own friendship. 

All in all this book is a must read for the summer. It's a tear-jerker, but definitely worth it. 

Book Review: Friends Forever by Danielle Steel

Caution: You may need a box of Kleenex while reading this.

I finished reading this book a few weeks ago and it was so heart-wrenching, but also so good.
It's the story of five friends: Izzie, Gabby, Billy, Andy, and Sean, who meet in kindergarten and grow up together in an exclusive K-12 school. Throughout the years their friendship strengthens, as does the bond between all the families. They experience tragedy, triumph, and love as they move through their elementary and high school years.
When the five of them graduate, they each take very different paths, unsure of their future and what tolls their friendship will take. And there are a lot of tolls. There isn't much I can say without spoiling it for you guys but what I will say is that the plot twists and things happen so suddenly that you'll probably need to reread some parts to process the events.
Towards the end of the story, the perspective changes. Until then it has jumped around between all five of the friends, but it switches to Izzie's perspective. She struggles with what her friends have faced and are facing, and wishes they would return home and be safe. I found that I related to this character a lot because I have five close friends and I want us all to stay friends and never grow apart no matter what. If anything happened to them, I would be devastated, like Izzie was when tragedy struck.
What I liked about this book was how each friend had different interests and life paths. I also enjoyed learning about the friendships between the families as time passed- their friendship grew simultaneously with that of their children.
All in all this book made me realize how lucky I am to have such amazing friends, and how the bonds between friends can always grow, no matter what age or where life takes them.

Did you read this book? What did you think?

Intro to my Reviews Page

I want to branch out a bit on this blog and start doing reviews- they will mainly be fashion and beauty related, like clothing stores / brands, maybe YouTube gurus, and other major fashion websites. However, I would also like to do book reviews, because I love to read, and sometimes (a lot of the time) the books that I read are just so amazing that they deserve to be shared (don't worry, I'll try my best not to spoil the plot too much).
Any suggestions are welcome!