SHEET MASK | Pure Aura Karma Glitter and Cosmic Shimmer Hologram Foil Mask

 

Purchased by me

It's NYE and it seemed only fitting that I feature these two Pure Aura Hologram Foil Masks to fit in with our festive mood! Firstly, how is it the end of 2023 already? I feel like the last two months went by both quickly and slowly and here we are on the cusp of 2024! As this is my last #SheetMaskSunday post of 2023, I feel like it is only fitting to say that this year was probably one of my worst in terms of being regular about posting. I mean, just look at how many posts I have for December versus other months. It's pretty telling that I've just had other things happening in my life that have sucked the life out of me doing much else. I feel like something happens around the Fall where it's just hard for me to keep up. Maybe it's the weather and the fact that it gets dark so early. Whatever it is, I hope I can kick it at some point and get some of my mojo back!  

NAILS | OPI Let's Scrooge Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

 

Press sample

I am really tired. This holiday season at work has been the most draining in my 16 years with Birks and sadly not because of shoppers. Hopefully, things get better in the new year, but for now I am treating my mind and body with kid gloves with sleep and comfort food. You have no idea how many truffles I have eaten in the last few weeks! They have all been from local chocolatier, Coconama, who makes some of the most unique tasting truffles around in flavours like Salad, Apple Mint, Black Sesame, Lavender and Tofu! Highly recommended!

SHEET MASK | 23 Years Old Cocktail Velvet, Hyaltox and Acupair Petit Masks

 

Purchased by me

At the start of this summer, I was SO organized and planned out all the masks that I needed to use and share with you all that were the most interesting of my MANY MANY sheet masks. Just like in 2022, some not so nice things happened in August that derailed my plans to stay motivated and ever since then, I can't decide if "beauty abandoned me" or the other way around. Right now, I feel like people aren't as interested in beauty products anymore, but that can't be true right? 

NAILS | Mini Rudolph the Reindeers #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

More than 10 years of nail art and I am feeling like a broken record when it comes to trying to be "creative" with holiday manicures even though they are my second favourite theme (Halloween is #1!). Now, that I don't have the same amount of patience as before, my manicures are simple and generally require no more than four bottles polish. Doing Star Wars, Grinch or Minions nail art usually had me bringing out 10+ bottles and even though I am so happy I have these manicures in my library, I'm not sure if I will be able to summon the energy to do nails like that again. For now, it's going to be about sweet and simple nails that anyone can do like these mini Rudolph the Reindeer nails!

SHEET MASK | Magicstripes Magnetic Youth Mask

Won in a giveaway

I am cautiously optimistic that I can return to sheet masking at least once a week now that I know what has been setting my skin off (sigh...stress) and that it's not some sort of infection or skin disease (I know, I am being dramatic). I was looking at my blog and I cannot believe that it is Dec.17th and I only have two blog posts here! I try to do an average of 10 blog posts/month mainly because the double digits look more accomplished, but I think with the stress of work and the holidays, I have given into my body's desire for rest. I do miss having a plethora of content though and it's hard to believe that just a month ago after having 3 days off, I managed to happily find the energy for a full week of blog posts! 

NAILS | Abstract Christmas Tree Nail Art #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

It's been a hell of a week(s) and though I don't like having two nail posts back to back on the blog, such is the time of the holidays and my work schedule. My skin has been flaring up with dermatitis around my chin that has been itchy and painful all due to stress so mentally I've just been trying to rest, eat well and make sure our place is clean and comfortable. I have been working non-stop even on my days off (sending emails and reaching out to clients) as it's the holidays and our busiest time so I look forward to Christmas Day where time stands still and I can rest!

NAILS | Santa's Hat French Tips #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

There are a number of reasons I am haven't been around. Work is the main one, but now I have discovered that some of my old blog posts are missing photos and I don't understand why. They seem be concentrated around 2015, but it's not like consecutive posts are missing photos are even photos of the same type. I haven't deleted any photos from Google Photos which is where I *think* the photos get stored, but honestly, I have never had the patience to figure out how websites work...I started uploading the photos again, but it is a painstaking job. I realized I didn't want to skip ANOTHER #CBBxManiMonday so I went with something quick and easy to do that also looked kind of chic! 

SHEET MASK | Origins Flower Fusion Masks in Rose and Lavender

Purchased by me

I feel like 2018 truly was the heyday of sheet masks and their embracement in the North American beauty and the Sephora website was one of my best friends that year. I tried A LOT of sheet masks that year and had this crazy idea that I could literally blog about each one that year, but I could not keep up! I haven't had the chance to sheet mask in a long time because my chin area is still freaking out and I am trying to figure out what it is that is going on. On a positive note, it has given me the chance to review all of those amazing sheet masks I tried AND kept notes on all those years ago in my Keep App!

LIFESTYLE | Making a Custom Peridot and Diamond Ring with Birks Bespoke

 

Purchased by me (BIG TIME)

When Hugo passed away last year, I wanted something to remember him by and though I looked through countless pieces of "pet grief" jewelry, ultimately I wanted something that was also relatively pretty and didn't feel too cheesy. Luckily, I work at a wonderful Canadian establishment called Birks that offers a custom design option called "Birks Bespoke" that allows you to create a piece from scratch like I did or transform an existing piece. I thought I would share my experience as I receive the question often at work as well as help clients with their custom design pieces.  

NAILS | OPI Big Zodiac Energy Skittles #CBBxManiMonday

PR samples

It's kind of nice having an open-ended theme for the month because I actually couldn't decide which of these shades to wear as a base colour so I decided it was time to do a skittles manicure and wear them all! I always have a hard time using all the colours in a collection, but OPI's Big Zodiac Energy really had some gorgeous shades that I kept going back to over the last few months so I felt sad that there were a few neglected. Also, my middle finger was supposed to be green, but the polish was a bit too translucent hence the switch. I realize now that my last three fingers look very patriotic, but I did not mean to be!

SHEET MASK | Leaders in Solution 7 Wonders Biocellulose Masks

Purchased by me

You know me and how I love a good biocellulose mask, especially when they are nice and thick and at a reasonable price! I picked up A LOT of the Leaders in Solution 7 Wonders sheet masks when their Canadian online store closed down in 2021 (sadness) because I REALLY liked them and figured it was time to share why. I will be so sad when I get through my stash as they are not the easiest to get in Canada and the US site does not ship internationally. 

NAILS | Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Sesame Street Scram! Swatch #MidWeekMani

Purchased by me

I am writing this a little bit ahead of when this will actually go live, but I predict that today I am pretty tired as this week is the start of the holiday season for us at work! We have a client event that runs all week and it can have its busy moments so I am sort of bracing myself to feel tired and not wanting to do anything by the time I get home! 

HAIR | Olaplex Haircare Routine with No.3, No.4, No.5 and the Volumizing Dry Mist

 

Press samples

How many of you remember screaming when Olaplex No.3 was finally accessible to us normal people?! I had only used Olaplex products when getting my hair done in the salon and the No.3 Hair Perfector was all I heard about! So far, No.3 is the only Olaplex product I have used and I have been happily testing three others to see how my hair responds for the last couple of weeks. Spoiler alert - I have found both a must-have as well as a "this isn't working for me and I need to give it away" product! 

MAKEUP | Armani Eye Tint Long Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow

Press samples

I live for a long wear eyeshadow and though I will always have powdered eyeshadows in my life, my day to day for work is still 75% eyeshadow sticks or in this case, liquid eyeshadow! This version of the Armani Eye Tints have been around since 2019 and I still use them quite often because the shades are incredibly easy to wear and sort of match with everything. Coming in shimmer and matte finishes, the Armani Eye Tints promise 16 hour wear, an easy to use blendable liquid formula and the perfect applicator that allows you both precision and quick all-over colour application.

NAILS | Neutrals, Neutrals, Neutrals #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I am cheating a little bit here as I had fully intended on posting this last Monday, but by the time I realized I hadn't posted about ManiMondays it was Friday and it didn't seem to make a lot of sense to post. I honestly don't know when I will snap back into the beauty blogging routine of things. Since August, work has been a psychological game that I hope ends soon and I keep saying that I just need to catch up sleep and take care of me, but I don't see the feeling ending anytime soon. With DST, it made the feelings of fatigue even worse and now I feel most productive at work (because it's the start of our busy season) and have nothing left for home which is a bit sad. Laundry and grocery shopping are just extra things that I can never find the time to do and even last month, I started October in my bullet journal at Oct.23rd! I didn't even realize that I hadn't prepared it for the month!

SHEET MASK | Karatica DNA Couple Mask

 

Purchased by me

As we just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and I am still waiting for my irritated skin to calm down, it was time to finally share this review of the Karatica DNA Couple Mask! I received this 2-in-1 mask with my FaceTory subscription and one night got my husband to join in on the fun!

EXPERIENCE | Paris with Chaumet (Photo HEAVY)

If you have been following me on Instagram, you will know that this trip to Paris was a REALLY big deal for me because of my fear of flying. Though Paris looked magical in the movies, I really did not think I would ever see the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes because I couldn't envision myself surviving the flight and the anxiety of traveling. I don't even really like traveling within my own city for a whole day let alone a foreign city. I am a true homebody and though it would have been nice to have some new scenery for the Gram, I don't think I will ever truly have the travel bug. 

NAILS | Happy Halloween! #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I told you I would make it in time for Halloween! I really was very close to just not doing Halloween nails at all because I have been feeling so lazy, but I am so glad I did these! I could not decide which ones to do so I went and did the top four designs that spoke to me the most! I was also feeling some veiny eyeballs, but I guess that will have to wait until next year!

SHEET MASK | Wonjin Effect 3 Step Amino Up Sheet Mask

 

Purchased by me

Here we are, back in the Vault of unblogged sheet masks because my skin has once again been misbehaving. Now, it's more like a stress reaction to having been sick the last week and possibly the extremely dry weather. The area around my mouth and chin feel especially itchy and today I covered the bottom of my face in pure Vaseline to stop the itching! I really hope all of this clears up soon because I am tired of seeing my skin so angry. It was a bit reactive in Paris as well, but I figured with the long days and just being in a foreign city that my body was just fighting for a new level of homeostasis!

NAILS | OPI Gemini and I Swatch #MidWeekMani

Press sample

I always have a secret blog post goal of 10 posts/month and I didn't realize that I wasn't even close to that amount this month! I guess with work in Paris and then getting ready for the trip, my mind really was elsewhere! 

SKINCARE | Farm X Super Greens Double Cleanse Routine

Press samples

I feel like I have been doing the double cleanse since the beginning of time, but it has only been since 2015! Cleansing oils were REALLY big at this time in the North American market and I remember being at Sephora and just being overwhelmed by everyone coming out with their own cleansing oil, but I never got around to trying a BALM until years later. I have my moods when it comes to oils vs. balms and sometimes it's just really satisfying to plunge into the buttery goodness of a balm and then doubly satisfying when you get to work it into your skin and massage all the crap of the day off into a melty emulsion!

NAILS | Cadillacquer Believe Nothing You Hear and Half of What You See Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

Since last Wednesday in Paris, I have been fighting off a cold. My throat starting feeling a bit raw last week, but I figured with the dry air on the plane, being around constant cigarette smoke on Parisian streets (something I am not used to compared to street air in Vancouver), pulling 14-15 hour days and speaking loudly at the evening Chaumet events over live music that my throat was just being overactive. I brought three pouches of Emergen-C and downed each one every night I was there and I think between that and sheer willpower, it never went beyond a scratchy throat. However, since I have been back, this has progressed into a cold (I tested myself for Covid in Paris and back home 3x and the results were negative) that I am hoping clears itself by tomorrow when I need to go back to work at the store!  

SHEET MASK | Ultru I'm Sorry for My Skin Real Mugwort Calming and Calendula Revitalizing Mask

Purchased by me

I made it to Paris and now I am back! It was a work trip and it went so much better than I could ever have hoped for! I am still not a fan of 10 hour flights and despite watching 3 movies/flight I got cabin fever around hour 5/6 and had to tell myself that I wasn't trapped in a flying metal box! I think I can fly again and would love to visit Paris one more time next year if I can! There was still so much we didn't do/eat, but I am super proud of myself for getting on that plane and then having to public speak in front of 150 people at the meeting! 

NAILS | I Love Dark Turns (Thermal) #CBBxManiMonday

 

Purchased by me

I wasn't the best a scheduling blog posts during my time in Paris, but I figure I will be posting so much on my Instagram that no one will really be looking at my blog for the next week! I haven't even done a Halloween manicure yet and we are halfway through October! This shade from the Cadillacquer Wednesday Collection is the closest I have gotten to Halloween, but didn't I choose a GOOD polish to do that with?

SHEET MASK | 16 Brand Marine Collagen Shower Mask and Kelp Mask Pack

Press samples

I hate how inconsistent I have been about #SheetMaskSunday, but motivation has been hard to come by the last month. I wake up in love with the IDEA of happily blogging the day away, but then I start getting caught up with other things to do and let's face it, there is ALWAYS something else to do and lately my focus has been on going to Paris for work. It has consumed much of my mental space preparing as the trip is quite jam-packed, but thankfully I just need to follow the brand's itinerary and I will be good!

NAILS | Happy Thanksgiving! #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

Looks like I took an inadvertent break here this past week which was totally unintentional, but with my going to Paris for work next week and trying to get things wrapped up both at work and at home, while also packing with a dress code in mind (think red carpet and cocktails!), there has not been much time to myself. I HATE flying and as this is also my first time in Europe (because I don't like flying), this has led to an abundance of preparation including three types of Gravol, my first anti-anxiety prescription and a therapy session. I also had to go and find a red carpet and cocktail outfit that packed easily into a suitcase that stressed me out even more, but now that I've got my outfits mostly sorted out as well as my skincare and makeup, I'm feeling ready. Now, I just need to get on that plane and not freak out!

NAILS | Fall Leaves Gradient #CBBxManiMonday

Some press samples featured

I wore my first sweater dress last week and I knew Fall was officially here! It was rainy, windy, but kind of muggy. Typical Vancouver weather that is often surprising for people who move out here. Sure, the temperature is mild, but the constant wetness really gets to people! I have gotten used to it, but I don't necessarily enjoy it as it makes mornings REALLY hard to get up for. I have enjoyed delving into the Fall nail polishes that have come out and this is probably the one beauty area that I have consistently blogged about while all other beauty products have fallen to the wayside. Cosmetic Proof did begin as a nail polish blog so I guess it makes sense that at its core, if I only have time and energy to do one thing it would be nails! This year, there have been a number of collections that have caught my eye and I have been trying my best to wear them ALL for you!

SHEET MASK | Heimish Skincare Routine Review

Press samples

When it comes to Korean skincare brands, heimish has been at the top of my list to try because of its affordability, minimalist aesthetic, plant-based ingredients and of course their iconic All Clean Balm! I was recently given the opportunity to try a few things and let's just say that all have been winners!

NAILS | Stars on Purple #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I swear one day I will be ahead of the game and catch up! Especially with my Paris trip coming up, I will need to schedule a few things for sure! This last week was another tiring one so I was a bit lazy with my nail art for this week's #CBBxManiMonday though I will say that I DID have brand new nails on the actual Monday, but just didn't get a chance to edit the photos! I still haven't found a good way to get the lighting right for taking nail photos with my new iPhone without showing every wrinkle on my hand! 

SHEET MASK | The Creme Shop Rose Water Face Mask

Purchased by me

Again, I have had to dip into my unblogged vault of sheet masks as my skin is still on the mend from this rash/infection and it is barely noticeable now, but I still need to finish my course of topical steroids. We have now gone back in time to Jayne's hair from 2018 and to when I was beginning my journey into sheet masking. This Rose Water Face Mask from The Creme Shop was among the first I tried and though my initial experience with the brand was not the best, I have really grown to love their printed masks specifically, but generally I have been fairly happy with every mask I have tried! 

NAILS | Burnt Sienna Vibes #CBBxManiMonday

 

One press sample and one self purchase

As I write this, it's still the middle of the week so ManiMonday still applies right? You know, I have so many ideas brewing in my head for things to blog about on my days off and then I end up doing other things and then I need a nap. Then it's 4pm and I have to start thinking about dinner and before I know it, the day is gone! I also have been fairly quiet on IG stories with regards to beauty content and I really don't know why. I have been using all sorts of fun things, but I either forget to post about them or I am too tired and I kind of miss having that energy to share beauty-related things. Granted, it was a very stressful August that I am still recovering from so I have been allowing myself the time to "grieve" the self-care moments I lost in that last month of summer by napping if I want, going online shopping, cleaning or doing some LEGO. I don't have a plan for increasing my blog content at this moment, but maybe in October? It will be the 12th anniversary of Cosmetic Proof so I feel like I should step it up for that month at least!

SHEET MASK | Pacifica Disobey Time, Pollution Fight, Stress Rehab and Mattify Prep Facial Masks

Purchased by me

We are massively going back in time today with these very colourful and attractively packaged Pacifica sheet masks as I have been avoiding sheet masks for the last 3 weeks due to a small rash that popped up on my face (and by small, I mean a 4mm circle on my chin). I am currently treating it with steroid cream as the previous cream I was using was not working, so fingers crossed this one works! In the meantime, this means you are going to see archival photos of Jayne with dark hair because yes, I STILL have sheet masks that I haven't talked about from four years ago!

NAILS | OPI Hi Barbie! Swatch #MidWeekMani

Press samples

I feel like along with Fall and September, the long weekend just sort of crept up on me so I wasn't expecting to take a stat day this week, but it has been really nice to work a short week. I had Wed and today off so for the first time in probably three weeks, I got my act together and did some chores around the house and even decided to blog! The last month has been super stressful and it was nice to feel motivated to do something even if it was as simple as two loads of laundry and updating our house insurance. It's all in the little things!

HAIR | Gisou Honey Infused Haircare Set

Purchased by me

Ah, trendy haircare. Sometimes I hate myself for giving into the hype of certain brands and Gisou ("hair" in Farsi) was one of them. I think Negin Mirsalehi is gorgeous (at least according to her Instagram page) and has deliciously looking healthy hair (again, according to her Instagram page) while also having an attractive story of how her family has been raising bees for 6 generations with Negin herself being a beekeeper! All of the Gisou products contain honey from the Mirsalehi beehives which is quite interesting, but I can't help but approach this luxury haircare line with a grain of salt because Negin's image is so incredibly curated (like many) that it's hard to know what's real anymore, but curiosity got the best of me and when the opportunity came for me to try sample sizes of all of Gisou's bestsellers, I thought "Why the hell not?"

SHEET MASK | Neogen Super Hydra Aqua Capsule Mask

Purchased by me

Neogen sheet masks have always had a more "serious" vibe leaning more towards the derm side of skincare with the packaging looking a bit more technical and instructions that you actually need to read or else you might be using the mask incorrectly! 

NAILS | Abstract Fall Trees #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

Though it's not officially Fall yet, the start of school, Starbucks PSLs and the changing colour of leaves really makes it feel like summer is over. I feel like my summer was mostly good with some work crap that consumed much of my time last month, but I think the worst is over. I am looking forward to Fall in both a good and scary way as in October, I will be going to Paris (my first time in Europe!) for work and the flight is terrifying me. I have not been on a plane for more than 6 hours almost in 30 years and the thought of possibly feeling sick or getting a headache and feeling nauseated is actually where my phobia lies. My husband will be there too, but I am meeting him in Paris so I will still be flying alone which is totally freaking me out, but I have some time to get a strategy together on how to deal with my nerves. It will probably include Atavin, the Calm App, some breathing exercises and lots of movies!

NAILS | 3D Dots That Didn't Quite Work Out #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I cannot believe this is the last week of August and I am sure MANY of you are feeling the same! We all know how incredibly quick the last half of the year goes by and in my older years, I have definitely come to appreciate the acceptable slowness of summer. I am hoping this week will be a better week for me and I have some new breathing exercises to try out so fingers crossed this will be the start of gaining some control over the anxiety I have been experiencing for most of the last year.

SHEET MASK | Tony Moly I'm Real Seaweed, Red Wine, Pomegranate and Aloe Sheet Masks

Press samples

I feel like August is perhaps a bit of a "bad luck" month for me because my blogging streak got completely derailed last week due to work and stress. Then, I had to stop using sheet masks because I have a weird rash on one side of my face which is still healing so I will just be dipping into my stash for a hopefully just a week or two more and then I can get back to my 100 days of sheet masking! I was just over the halfway mark when I got my rash so I was hoping to be done by the end of September, but alas we will need to go into October!

SHEET MASK | JM Solution Mama Pureness Firming Up Mask

Press sample

In the spirit of wellness, I am having my first consultation with a therapist today and fingers crossed we are a good fit! I used to see pedicures and facials as a way of de-stressing, but now I think I need to be more open to taking care of my mental state in a different way. I think being Asian, there is a cultural stigma regarding therapy. Asian medicine is very much about herbs, massages and meditation, but it doesn't really focus on talking about your emotions and admitting that sometimes all of the potions and lotions aren't enough! And believe me, I have a lot of those! I have never seen a therapist before so I am oddly looking forward to the experience in the same way I look forward to a new massage or facial place.

NAILS | Pink Waves #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

This one is going to be a short one because this past week has not been a fun one and yesterday was a blur of clients and work shenanigans. Hopefully things are going to get better, but it will be slow. I feel like my method of survival now is avoidance which is typically not how I choose to deal with things, but some things just aren't worth the energy of speech and/or interaction. Am I being cryptic enough? I keep asking my husband if I can retire and we can go live in Sweden or something. I'll become a travel blogger with nothing to lose and he can do consulting remotely from the comfort of our Lego-coloured home. I am just trying to decide if I will miss my paycheck or not...I do enjoy online shopping QUITE a bit!

SHEET MASK | A'Pieu Icing Sweet Bar Sheet Mask in Watermelon and Pineapple

 

Press samples

Oh my my, we have now reached the middle of August and dare I say it, almost the end of the summer...I know let's not think about that now because I think once September rolls around, the rest of 2023 is going to go by in a flash. I still want to squeeze out the last bits of summer including some summery sheet masks like these delectable looking popsicle-themed masks from Korean beauty brand A'Pieu!

MAKEUP | Peace Out Instant Pore Perfector (Silicone-Free!)

Press sample 

I think this is as close to makeup as I am going to get for awhile as I really do not feel like applying makeup in this heat nor did I prepare any makeup posts beforehand because I think I have now become exclusively a hair and skincare blogger. This makeup primer from Peace Out though? Sure, I will make time for because I have been treating it like skincare and really enjoying the experience!

NAILS | Popsicles #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

Now, that I have long and rounded almond nails, the world of nail art has opened up a bit more and one of the designs that has been on my list this summer has been popsicle nail art! Yes, I could have done small mini popsicles all over with any shape of nail, but having my whole nail be an actual popsicle was WAY more fun! 

SHEET MASK | Mediheal Airpacking Mint Wrap Foil Mask

Purchased by me

I have, what I am anticipating to be a busy week coming up as there will be a few vacations and generally that means that we are spread out a bit more thinly. Hopefully there won't be too much drama and the week will go by seamlessly and MAYBE will even be a little fun! Up for today's #SheetMaskSunday post is none other than one of the sheet mask greats - Mediheal! They have a seemingly endless supply of sheet masks that I can never keep up with and all of them have performed well and have been fun at the same time! 

NAILS | Bio Sculpture Gemini Poco Pop Swatch #MidWeekMani

Press sample

Alright so this isn't quite "Midweek", but I have been having a bit of a rough week mentally though I have been mostly smiles on the outside. I have just been feeling like I have a ball of anxiety rolled up in my chest and talking about it just makes me feel worse so it's the kind of anxiety that I can only survive if I smile my way through it and just pretend everything is fine in the hopes that my mind catches up to my body. 

SHEET MASK | The Body Shop Edelweiss Serum Concentrate Sheet Mask

Purchased by me

Will this be the week I get back on track with blog posts? Ever since the unpleasant comment at work that bummed me out on Saturday, it made me angry enough to twist the situation around and kick my Type A personality into high gear. I have often struggled with separating work life from personal life and I am still trying to find that balance, but I make exceptions for clients (unless they are complaints LOL). My own clients are always wonderful so I don't mind emailing or texting them on my days off, but other than that, I try to keep my two lives separate. Even though I have been off for two days, I have been making to-do lists and engrossing myself in sales numbers which has been a little bit fun! I feel like whenever you feel trapped in life, making a list of things to do or my current favourite, a spreadsheet, always makes me feel like I have control. Will this last until the end of the year? Who knows, but I need to remind myself to be open to changing things up as many of these lists and strategies involve employees so if something's not working, I need to know how to swallow my pride and try something else! Suffice it to say, my brain might not be here in this space this week while I adjust my bearings!

HAIR | Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Set and Bum Bum Cream

 

Purchased by me

I feel like I have been writing this Sol de Janeiro post for the entire day, but when I look at the clock it has only been about 2 hours. I think because I woke up at the regular work time on my day off and then proceeded to do some stuff for my day job for like four hours which was way longer than I had expected, but I feel a bit better now going into tomorrow that I have gotten some the things on my very long to do list done! 

NAILS | Barbie Swirls #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I don't know how this long weekend crept on me, but I kept thinking the Civic holiday was next weekend, but here we are and here I AM with Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off! I had kind of an unfortunate moment at work on Saturday that left me feeling a little unsettled, but I think after talking to GOOD people in my life and looking back at physical evidence of my work performance, I have come to the conclusion that I know my worth and have been validated numerous times this past year alone so "screw it" to what was said to me! In that spirit of empowerment, I had to use as many OPIxBarbie polishes as possible for today's manicure! Along with polishes, OPI released two sets of press-on Barbie-themed nails and one of the sets had this swirly pink and blue design that I wanted to do on my own nails!

SHEET MASK | eyeNLip Beauty Moisture Essence Hyaluronic Acid and Charcoal Masks

Press samples

How can it be August already? Even though my schedule doesn't really change much in the summer compared to let's say a teacher, I definitely still feel the slowdown of summer. There is MUCH less traffic in the mornings and my 35 min commute becomes 20. People in general are in no rush for things and maybe it's the sunny weather that puts people in a good mood, but everyone is generally quite pleasant which is ALWAYS nice in the world of retail. 

NAILS | Dragonfruit Nails #CBBxManiMonday

 

Press samples

In addition to wearing super bright nail polish, the other theme I love about summer nails is that we all wanna put FRUIT on 'em! I think I have done some version of fruit each year, but awhile ago I saw some dragonfruit nails on N.Y.A Nails and thought "How CUTE?!" This was one fruit I have never attempted to paint and despite the fact that I am not a fan of ingesting dragonfruit (I mean it's ok, but I feel like I would rather sink my teeth into an orange), painting its insides was great fun!