NAILS | Happy NYE! #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! We made it! I'm still doing my best to catch up on rest, but one thing I am not doing is harping on 2024 as I feel like we should never tempt fate by saying good riddance to one year and hoping that the next year is better (ahem 2019 to 2020!). While 2024 was a challenging year in many ways for me, I also discovered that I was stronger than I thought and that eventually it paid off in the form of a super toxic employee leaving! So, I will drink to that!

Sheet Mask | Top 8 of 2024 (Because I couldn't think of 10)

It has been eons since I have done a Top ANYTHING on the blog, but the one thing I know well are SHEET MASKS! After picking it up as part of my skincare routine in 2018, I have not stopped and though I don't do them every single day like before, I still manage to use at least 3-4 sheet masks/week making them a beauty product I am quite familiar with! While some of the sheet masks in this list aren't necessarily ones I discovered in 2024, all are masks that I try to have on hand all the time.

VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A 3 Step Mask (Review)

Who doesn't love an all-in-one skincare routine? I have always loved multi-step masks and this one from VT Cosmetics left my skin looking so even-toned right away and also took out the redness in my cheeks. The sheet mask material was cushion-like and soft making for a very comfortable sheet mask experience!

MAKEUP | Dior Holiday Golden Ball 2024 Collection

Purchased by me and it was QUITE the splurge!

As some of you know especially from my Instagram, back in April while I was stress leave, I decided to dedicate my beauty budget for the remainder of 2024 to one brand and that brand was Dior! I was scrolling through Instagram and started seeing some their new releases, events and GWPs and it made me go back into my old Dior press samples and reminisce. In doing so, I realized that I had been neglecting a VERY good brand with quality formulations and of course, FANTASTIC packaging. Over the years, I have been tiring of Sephora and their lack of client service so I have been buying all of my Dior products almost exclusively from the Dior counter at Holt Renfrew. I like that I am buying from a Canadian department store and giving commission to a real person. I have also been rewarded with facials every month, invitations to exclusive events with Dior as well as GWPs that are way better than what I have ever received at Sephora. Suffice it to say, I am going to be continuing to shop with Holt Renfrew! 

SHEET MASK | VT Cosmetics Vita Light All in One 3 Step Mask

 

Purchased by me

I had high hopes for blogging more this month, but working so much this season really took it out of me so I allowed myself some grace (and naps) to catch up. I have today to Sunday off so I think I will feel MUCH better by the time Monday rolls around. I started my day off with a Dior facial (which was glorious) and a little retail therapy at Holt Renfrew. I came home after fighting downtown traffic at noon (like WTF) and had to do some grocery shopping, having not been able to do any for the last 1.5 weeks, had lunch and then promptly fell asleep for an hour while watching The Good Place. All in all, a good start to recovery!

NAILS | Merry Christmas! #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples 

This is going to be short and sweet as I have been working the last nine days straight and today - Christmas Day is my first day off since Dec.15th! I woke up feeling pretty tired around 8am, but the kitties were hungry so I forced myself to get up and make an Nescafe coffee. I vacuumed, had some breakfast and then started to fall asleep at the computer around 10:30am so took nap #1 for about 30 minutes and felt better. I've just been listening to Tati on YouTube most of the day, doing some Pixyls and catching up on rest and life. 

NAILS | Dior Soir de Bal with Snowflakes #CBBxManiMonday

Decals are press samples

This is THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER for so many reasons, but the main one being that for the last two years, myself and others in the store have been terrorized by a very difficult employee. The most difficult and unprofessional employee I have ever come across in my 20 years at work and as of last Thursday, this employee is retired and most importantly gone. 

SHEET MASK | Sephora Glow Booster Mask

Purchased by me 

How is everyone doing? Are the holidays getting to you? Or is this your favourite time of year? I definitely love the making extra money side of it and how generally people are pleasant, but then I dread the unpleasantness that comes with January...people are like extra grumpy OR they get into follow up mode. For now, I will enjoy the Christmas magic and let you know of this Sephora Collection sheet mask that was interesting...

SHEET MASK | Neogen Surmedic Vital Collagen Mask

Press sample

This month is already whizzing by! How is it already almost the middle of December?! Like WTH! I have A LOT going on this month which I will be sharing on social media as it involves my passion project Pelegrims, but I am also attempting one last surge of blog posts for 2024. Last month was an all-time low for me in terms of content on all fronts as I focused more on Pelegrims and work (and also had no nails to speak of), but this month I have nails again and I really would like to have some Christmas content out!

NAILS | Christmas Lights #CBBxManiMonday

Some press samples

I am determined to stay on track with having nails every Monday and as we speak it is 1am and I am typing this out because I just painted these two hours ago! I hope I have the energy to continue being punctual because it makes me feel better about everything else in life in general. I think it has been awhile since I have done Christmas lights so I figured it was a good time to bring them back!

SHEET MASK | Daycell Probiotics Lactobacillus Bacteria 3 Step Solution

Press sample

You know the song "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze? That's the song that runs through my head everytime I use a 3 step mask ("Here comes the three stepper") like this one from Daycell! This is a mask that focuses on a healthy skin microbiome by using probiotics. Probiotics in skincare is not new and has been shown to soothe skin, help with breakouts and improve overall skin texture and improve elasticity.

NAILS | Let the Holiday Nails Begin! #CBBxManiMonday

 

Press samples marked with *

Oof, my nails are still on the short side, but I was determined to make a design happen! I hadn't done a skittles manicure in awhile and it worked out because I could not decide how to kick off this month of holiday nail art! 

SKINCARE | Leaders Milk Sponge White Mud Pack to Foam

Press sample

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a good weekend! I had a much needed break yesterday and though I was productive, I still took some time to snuggle up and read a book in this colder weather! I was doing some filming as well (I despise filming hence the lack of IG Reels), but it was for a product that I have been testing out that has turned out to be super cool! 

SHEET MASK | A By Bom Ultra Water Leaf Mask

Purchased by me

The minute I dive into an A by Bom sheet mask, I KNOW it's going to be a good one! They have never disappointed and if anything, generally exceed my expectations! They were one of the first sheet mask brands I saw that did "multi-masking" which as to have the first step be smaller masks for targeted areas and then a sheet mask that would go over top (example here). They also made these masks very pretty to wear to the point that you wanted to go out in public and show everyone what you were wearing on your face! The mask I am sharing with you today is not a multi-mask, but it is definitely still one worth talking about!

SKINCARE | Pelegrims Facial Balm #VineyardtoSkin

Sample for work

If you have been following me on Instagram the last two months, you may have seen that I just started a side project as Chief Brand Officer for the British skincare brand Pelegrims! This is a very scary, new and cool thing for me as you know that I would never tie my name to one brand if it wasn't worth my time. We are a small team and I have been manning the social media accounts, taking the photos and working with my business partner in every spare minute of time I have to launch this brand here in Canada! I am still super new to the logistics and I am learning and Googling whenever I can because this is all so new to me.

NAILS | Fall French #CBBxManiMonday

Some press samples

I did it! I have painted my nails after almost one month of having naked nails! They are still very short compared to what I normally have and my ring finger is still having a hard time hence the slightly different shape, BUT I painted them and that in itself was a huge accomplishment seeing as how I am still sick with a cold. 

SHEET MASK | Missha Herb in Nude Vitality Care Sheet Mask

Purchased by me

As I write this, I have been struck down with a winter cold that started quite suddenly yesterday at work around 1pm when my chest started feeling super itchy and congested. I just figured it was how dry it was in the store with the cold and the heat on, but I woke up feeling equally congested and my voice has now become the "sexy phone voice" and I start to want to cough uncontrollably if I speak more than couple of sentences or at a louder volume so I will be using my inside voice for the weekend in the hopes that I am better by Monday as I ended up having to text in sick today. I figure that now it's not worth it to "power through" being ill. If there is a manager there to take over, then I'll take my rest where I can get it! 

NAILS | Lip Care with Lanolips Lemonaid Treatment and Multipurpose Superbalm

Press samples

I feel like my pile of onhand lip products keeps rotating from oil to chapstick to thick AF balm! Some days my lips are so tough that matte liquid lip colour feels as comfortable as a pair of sweatpants while other times they feel eaten alive by dryness. For the last two weeks, they have been very dry which prompted me to go through my lip stash and rediscover Lano! 

SHEET MASK | Smileyworld Moisturizing Face Sheet Mask

Purchased by me

Last week was busy, busy, busy for me as we had our Client Appreciation event so every day was something new to do and basically from now until the end of the year, I am going to feel like I am never going to catch up. Though it doesn't sound like the most positive thing to say, I am busy every day so there will never be a dull moment as busy also means making sales and money so I will never complain about that!

NAILS | Sally Hansen x Reese's Peanut Butter Time Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

My nails are in AWFUL shape right now and this is the last backup photo I have of me wearing any nail polish so I am hoping that by next week I will have some semblance of a manicure to share with you! They are currently too short to even shape after going through multiple breaks due to the very dry weather so even after missing last week's ManiMonday, they are still in recovery mode. 

SHEET MASK | Ample:N Ceramide Shot Sheet Mask

Purchased by me

Happy Sunday everyone! This last week was a bit of a bust in terms of blog-related things for a number of reasons. Firstly, I got my double jab of Covid and Flu last week which caused immediate arm pain and general sluggishness as the day progressed. I was also working on my "side side hustle" which I will go into more detail about in a later post, but you might already know about it if you follow me on Instagram!

MAKEUP | Dior Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick

Purchased by me

It has been such a long time since I have done a foundation review! Foundation is like skincare to me, but I have been really trying to finish what I have as I have so many older foundations that aren't even in existence anymore hence the lack of trying anything new. As this is the year of Dior for me, I was paying VERY close attention when they announced a new multi-use stick foundation! I loved how easy it was to use my Basma Beauty Foundation Stick so I was hoping this new foundation from Dior would be one I enjoyed just as much.

NAILS | Glow-in-the-Dark Ghosts #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples and self purchased

FINALLY! A true Halloween manicure from me! Nail art has been getting tougher and tougher for me to sit down and do over the years, but I keep reminding myself that once I sit down and get it done, I'm always so happy with the results and though I have done ghost nails in the past, I really like how these turned out!

SHEET MASK | VT Cosmetics Cica Collagen All in One 3 Step Mask

Purchased by me

Last week, I tried the VT Cosmetics Cica retinol sheet mask and this week it is all about the collagen! This 3-step mask is meant to be an intensive hydrating collagen treatment that when used over time, will stimulate collagen production in the skin. Yes, please!

NAILS | Essie Expressie Misfit Right In Swatch #MidWeekMani

Purchased by me

I got home from work so late today. We had a very late client and we stayed two hours past closing which is something I haven't done in a long time, but it was for a good reason so no one was mad - just tired and wanting to go home. My stomach also wasn't feeling very good today so it was a crackers, rice, banana and tea day.

BEAUTY | September Ipsy Glam Bag

Purchased by me

I told you I would have September's Ipsy Bag for you shortly! Look at me keeping to my schedule! This bag was fall-themed and had some lovely makeup items inside to celebrate. 

BEAUTY | September 2024 Favourites

Press samples indicated with *

It has been FOREVER since I have done a monthly favourites post (I kid you not, it has probably been 10 years!), but I felt like sharing some products that I just have not been able to put down for the last month and half because it's possible you might feel the same!

NAILS | Sally Hansen x Reese's Halloween Nails #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

I adore Halloween makeup collaborations probably even moreso than Christmas and and when I was lurking on Amazon the other night, I came across the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri collaboration with candy company Reese's! I thought this was one of the cutest collaborations for Halloween and ended up getting four shades from London Drugs - two of which I will share with you today!

SHEET MASK | VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A All in One 3 Step Mask

Purchased by me

VT Cosmetics is not a new brand, but it has taken the skincare world by storm with their varying concentrations of Reedle Shot which I promise to review for you soon! Before starting Reedle Shot, I wanted to softly re-introduce myself to the brand starting with a series of new 3 step sheet masks (you know I LOVE a good multi-stepper!) the first of which focuses on soothing, smoothing and plumping.

NAILS | Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers in Purple Potion #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

"Purchased by me". That's right, this polish was purchased exactly 13 years ago this month according to the haul post I did and while I did post a swatch back then, I literally took the photo in the DARK because this was the first WEEK I had been beauty blogging and didn't know any better! Back then, photography was somewhat secondary and it was more diary entry-like to have a beauty blog. When I go back and read both of those posts, I can't help but smile and feel so nostalgic about life, still being in my late 20s and having the beauty world as my oyster when it came to what to talk about. You could literally talk about anything - what you bought, what you wore, what you ate all in a blog post. Now, we have IG stories and TikTok to share our lives with and there isn't this slower sit-down style anymore.

SHEET MASK | The Creme Shop Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

 

Purchased by me

We are going back into the archives here with this Creme Shop mask as I have been a bit lazy on the sheet masking front this past week. When I want to review a new sheet mask for all of you, I try my best to write down all of my observations while the mask is on and then immediately after I remove it. All of that takes some mental effort and isn't quite as relaxing as just enjoying the sheet mask for what it is, but I am hoping the rest of this month will be a bit better in terms of enjoying my beauty products!

BEAUTY | August Ipsy Glam Bag "The Beauty Olympics"

Purchased by me

I promise I will be caught up for you all soon! My August Ipsy Glam Bag arrived at the end of August and it got a little busy for me with life and work, but I never stopped thinking about this Olympic-themed Glam Bag (how it is Olympic-themed, I have no idea...)! Incredibly, I have been enjoying many of the products in the August bag and may even buy one at FULL SIZE! 

NAILS | Let the Halloween Glitter Begin! #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

This is my first week where I have some breathing room and time to catch up on things at work. I had today off after working Sunday (normally we are closed) for the most dreaded retail event of all time - INVENTORY! We decided that we would start at 8am and power through and we were mostly done around 12pm. The other manager and I stayed until 2pm as we were still looking into some discrepancies, but we were able to sort them out and all in all our Inventory was near perfect!

SHEET MASK | JM Solution Winnie the Pooh Barrier Calendula and Moisture Aloe Masks

Purchased by me

In October, I traditionally like to wear "printed masks" as a little tribute to Halloween and when it comes to realllly good printed masks, JM Solution's recent collaborations with Disney and Pokemon have made this task VERY easy! When I saw the Winnie the Pooh range, I started going into research mode of where I could get ALL of them!

NAILS | Dior Blue Star Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

Today is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Though it is a holiday here in BC and work is operating on holiday hours, I will be working a completely normal day from 9-6pm as we have a brand visit and Loss Prevention audit happening. They were scheduled by different countries/provinces that were not aware of Truth and Reconciliation Day hence what would normally have been a very chill day is now going to be a super packed "ON" day for me and the other manager!  

MAKEUP | Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (My Always and Forever)

Sample provided by Butterly

Call this an ode to one of the OG makeup products in my life, but after recently reviewing a sample of Urban Decay's All Nighter through the review platform Butterly, I decided that it was time I gave this product the honour of having an updated dedicated review! 

NAILS | Dior Montagne sur Le Noir

Purchased by me

I know this is ManiMonday even though it's Thursday and I am sorry about the delay! I have been really busy with work and just feeling like relaxing after a "socially engaging" week with both staff and clients. Today is my first day truly off and alone in the house and so far I have managed to do laundry, grocery shopping, make lunch and do some house budgeting. It's time for a nap!

SHEET MASK | Biorace Propolis Repair Mask

Press sample

I have been on my own with a new team member (who is thankfully intelligent) as the other manager is on vacation and I won't lie, it has been busy in terms of staying afloat with regards to administrative duties. I knew this was coming though so I had already mentally prepared last week to not get much of my personal stuff done as I needed to be available to help the team. As much as I wish the team could help each other, two senior members refuse to help or give such poor advice to newbies that no one wants to ask them anything and on a team of six people, that's 33% of the team... 

MAKEUP | Pixi Beauty Rose Treats Collection

Press samples

Rose, rose, rose! There are a few brands that do the whole "rose thing" well and Pixi is one of them with a complete range of products that use rose essence to prime, hydrate and refresh the skin. The Rose+ Collection will have you covered from skincare to colour cosmetics and has been one of my favourite collections from Pixi to date!

NAILS | Winter is Coming... #CBBxManiMonday

Some PR and one polish purchased by me 

I know in some provinces, it is still very much summer, but the temperatures have started dropping here in Vancouver and the dreaded rains have begun. I had my FIRST Starbucks PSL today and amazingly, it is actually only my SECOND PSL in my life! I am not a huge fan of cinnamon or spice in my coffee/tea so I really have to be craving it to get it and today was a day where I just had to have it! It was VERY satisfying and I enjoyed every last drop over an 8 hour period because that's how long it takes me to finish a coffee LOL! 

SHEET MASK | Filorga Time Filler and Hydra Filler Masks

Purchased by me

I am finally motoring through the sheet masks I picked up in Paris with today's instalment of Sheet Mask Sunday featuring the French brand Filorga! Known as a more "derm" brand for using ingredients normally used in injectables in topical applications, this wasn't a brand I started looking at until my "older years" as the price point is quite a bit higher and the products are more anti-aging focused. I had never seen the sheet masks before in Canada so obviously these ended up in my cart!

NAILS | Dior Triomphe Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

My nails have yet to grow back for the design that I have been wanting to do, but luckily I managed to photograph this brand new polish from the Dior Fall 2024 Plan de Paris Collection! There are four polishes in total and I loved the shades enough to pick them ALL up so you will see them here in due time!

SHEET MASK | Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Mask

Purchased by me

Well, Happy Sunday! I just did my 5 days in a row and again, I don't know how those of you work M-F without wanting to collapse at the end of the week! I have to work pretty early tomorrow so I'm going to do my best to get as much done today as possible and have an early night like a proper grown up LOL. I have been slacking a little bit on the sheet masking as I have just been too tired to make note of what has been happening on my face! 

NAILS | Pencils for Back to School #CBBxManiMonday

 

Press samples

Even though I have long been out of school and do not have kids of my own to remind me that "Back to School" season is upon us, there is something about having been a student for so long that makes me feel like I am still part of the Back to School madness! I am sure I am not alone in this as many of us still have that recurring dream of showing up at an exam and it's the wrong room or day!

MAKEUP | Dior Forever Glow Star Filter

Purchased by me

One thing I have rediscovered this year with Dior is their complexion products. While trying to use up my old Dior foundations from years ago, I realized that some of the nicest face products I have in my collection are indeed from Dior which led me to purchase the new(ish) Forever Glow Star Filter.

HAIR | Going Vibrant Violet!

 

So, I did a bit of a thing last week. After being blonde for the last four years, I suddenly felt the urge to change up my hair. Drastically! I went a bit darker last year by opting for "mushroom blonde" and after seeing an Instagram post on Toby Does Hair (he did my hair last year) for "Vibrant Violet"in July, I immediately felt the need to have this hair! 

NAILS | OPI Scorpio Seduction Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Press sample

The theme for this week is supposed to be "Brights", but I have a good reason for going somewhat vampy for today and that is because my nails and fingers are dyed purple from getting my hair dyed purple last Thursday. Basically everytime I run my hands through my hair or blow dry, I am still getting purple on my hands and nails so I figured it was easier just to pick a nail polish colour that matched my hair until the dye stopped leaching!

SHEET MASK | Pixi Aftersun Soothing Infusion Sheet Mask

 

Press sample

I honestly have no idea where this last week went, but all I can say is that summer is ending too quickly and that even though I have enjoyed it, I still can't believe I haven't gotten a chance to do all the things I wanted to do. I think a big part of it was that there were a number of weeks where it was REALLY hot and humid so when the conditions are like that, you kind of just want to be lazy and not do too many house things. 

NAILS | Cirque Colors Mushroom Kingdom Thermal Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

I had a super busy weekend where I think for two of those days I didn't even have nail polish on because I couldn't decide on what polish to wear! I had booked some time off on Saturday for a friend's BBQ and then I went to the Vancouver Gem Show on Sunday. Monday I also happened to have off and went to afternoon tea at Holts Cafe with a friend so all in all, my days off have been filled with many GOOD things, but it just leaves less time for blogging because I often end up napping after any social activity!

SHEET MASK | JM Solution x Pokemon Stamp In Allantoin Mask

Purchased by me 

I can never resist a printed mask let alone a POKEMON printed mask! JM Solution is nailing it with these collaborations so when I saw that Oceanbuy.ca had a few of the Pokemon masks, I "got 'em all!"

SKINCARE | Paula's Choice Summer SPF Heroes

Press samples

Truthfully, I wanted to have a sunscreen post up for you all the way back in June, but as we are supposed to be wearing sunscreen year round, I guess sunscreen is applicable from January to December! Paula's Choice recently added to their SPF family and I had the extreme pleasure of testing two of them which have turned out to be two of the nicest sunscreen formulations to have graced my face!