BATH & BODY | The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Collection

I am SO SORRY for being away for so long! In my packing haste for vacation, I forgot to pack my power cord for my laptop so although I had pre-taken my photos there was no salvaging the situation. Yes, I was worried I might lose some of you, but hopefully I kept you entertained with my Montreal and Toronto travels through Instagram! I have some massive catch-up to do as there are a number of Fall collections that will be making their debut on the blog over the next few weeks, but while it does not feel like summer anymore here in Vancouver, it most certainly was the case out East with close to 30 degree weather and humidity that did a number on my hair and skin (think leper-like).

Though this collection is limited edition, The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Collection is still available as it isn’t officially Fall yet, but please make sure that you get your hands on something from this collection as this is one of my favourite Body Shop scents to date! With fresh mint and a juicy squeeze of lime, this collection will have you running to a patio to sit down with the actual drink!

MAKEUP | Dior Diorskin Tie Dye Edition Blush in #001 Pink Sunrise and #002 Coral Sunset Review & Swatches

When it came to the release of the Dior Tie Dye Summer Collection, it was really the Diorskin Nude Tan blushes that stole the show. Nothing gets beauty lovers more excited than beautifully embossed blushes like the limited edition Pink Sunrise* ($57.00 CDN) and Coral Sunset* each with four shades that fuse together to give skin the perfect blend of sun-kissed radiance. Also, they are SO PRETTY to look at! I can’t even…gah they are so gorgeous!

MAKEUP LOOK | Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer 2015 Collection Review and Swatches

I know that I could not get away with wearing turquoise or sea green eyeshadow in any season other than summer, but watch me try to pull this off in November! I remember getting a sneak peek of the Aquatic Treasures Summer Collection back in November 2014 when the packaging hadn’t even been completed, but the only thing I remembered was how stunning the eyeshadows were and how much I wanted that turquoise shimmer on ma face! Available as of May, the Aquatic Treasures Collection uses ocean colours to set the tone with a glowing complexion, iridescent eyes and natural lips.

SKIN | 5 Facial Sunscreens Everyone Should Have!

Either sunscreens seem to be more in fashion this year than last OR I am just extremely aware of different sunscreen options this year. Maybe it’s a bit of both, but everyday I have found myself swimming in a variety of options for both the face and body so because I couldn’t narrow down my favourites into one post, part one will be all about the face and part two will focus on my must-have body sunscreens. I have personally discovered so many lovely brands this year thanks to being a vendor in Sephora and having cast members share their favourites so thank you to all of the West Coast Sephora girls for giving me some lifelong sunscreen favourites!

MAKEUP REVIEW | Tie Dye Collection Dior Addict Fluid Sticks in #449 Ciel Rose, #379 Tropiques, #779 Plaisir with Swatches

Ah, Dior Addict Fluid Sticks. This pigmented, long-wearing lip colour has been on my radar since last year as each shade is lovelier than the last. This summer, Dior is adding three new permanent additions to the Fluid Stick line: #449 Ciel Rose* ($35.00 CDN), #379 Tropiques* and #779 Plaisir*. Dior Fluid Sticks boast flawless application in one fell swoop with a water-based formula that leaves lips feeling light, but drenched in long-lasting colour.

MAKEUP LOOK | Lise Watier Summer 2015 Rivages Collection Eyeshadow Palette and Bronzing Powder Review & Swatches

Last month we all squealed at the release of a STUNNING summer collection from Lise Watier and my only regret is waiting so long to share it with you all! The Rivages Collection features nine new products, a few of which I will be using in my makeup look today. My main focus though? That limited edition droolworthy eyeshadow palette and beautiful bronzer all inspired by summer days at the beach, hot sand and a refreshing ocean breeze!

MAKEUP LOOK “Blue Goddess” | Dior Tie Dye Collection 5 Couleur Eyeshadow Palette in Contraste Horizon Review & Swatches

I know it’s very 80s, but I adore blue eyeshadow because I think you really CAN wear it in a pretty way! Reminiscent of the ocean and sandy beaches, the Dior 5 Couleur Eyeshadow Palette in #556 Contraste Horizon* ($62.00 CDN) is one of the prettiest summer palettes to wear thanks to that pop of magical blue. It might not make a lot of sense when you first see the colours in the palette, but when I decided to feature the blue on my lids, the other colours logically fell into place. I feel like all of us would be happier with more blue eyeshadow in the world.
 

MAKEUP | Dior Addict Tie Dye Lipstick in Red Bliss, Coral Trip, Fuchsia Utopia and Nude Fever Review with Swatches!

The very first Dior Addict Lipstick I got was a bright red modeled so beautifully by Kate Moss. I still don’t have the heart to use it all that often since it was my first Dior purchase, but that red really spoiled me when it came to Dior Addict Lipsticks in general because no other colour seemed to measure up to THAT one. Then out came the Dior Addict Tie Dye Lipsticks* ($34.00 CDN) with a second shade running through the middle in the form of the iconic “CD” for a truly “tie dye” twist while lighting up lips with bold and vibrant colour.  There are four “sunset” combinations all in shades wearable for any time of the summer season.

TANNING | Getting Summer Ready with Vita Liberata Luxury Tan Trystal Minerals – Bronzed and Ready in 5 Steps!

Gone are the days of oiling up the skin and getting that golden glow “naturally”. With skin cancer being quite prevalent, as well as wanting to avoid that leathery reptilian look, there are now incredibly natural-looking tans that can be achieved safely through the use of self-tanners. I have personally been terrified of using them because there was an incident years ago that left my skin looking orange and uneven. No doubt it was my fault for not reading the instructions properly and being impatient so when I saw that Vita Liberata recently introduced self tanning bronzing POWDER, I thought this might be the most foolproof way to go.

The Trystal Minerals Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals with the Kabuki Brush* ($67.00 CDN or $55.00 CDN without) is for the face and uses something called Trystal 3 Technology to combine an instant pure mineral bronze colour with a long lasting self tan to give skin results that last for up to 5 days. I believe this is the first time I have ever seen a self tanner in mineral form which also means, longer shelf life! This tanner is oil-free with DHA (dihydroxyacetone) which is a skin colouring agent used in most self tanners. All you need to do is apply your favourite liquid foundation or moisturizer and start buffing your tan on! 

MAKEUP LOOK “Neutral and Pink” | Dior Tie Dye Collection 5 Couleur Eyeshadow Palette in Ambre Nuit Review & Swatches

It is finally time to dive right into the heart of the Dior Tie Dye Collection – eyeshadows and blushes and lipsticks, OH MY! It was hard to figure out where to even start, but I love seeing how a look can come together using all the pieces. I was on my way out to see Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai, but the hubby made me promise not to LOOK like a circus performer and seeing as how marriage is all about compromise, I delved into the 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in #746 Ambre Nuit*($62.00 CDN) with its more neutral shades inspired by hints of bronzed amber and sand.

BODY | Getting Summer Ready with MOROCCANOIL Body Souffle!

When I first inhaled the scent of MOROCCANOIL it was with their shampoo and conditioner, then their glimmer shine spray. The scent of MOROCCANOIL products is enough to send me into a complete state of euphoria. I also use the Luminous Hold Hairspray every day because it has one of the best hairspray scents out there in addition to a lighter hold for curls. When MOROCCANOIL moved from hair to body products I couldn’t help but wonder if they too were scented with what I imagine to be nectar of the Gods. Well, the answer is YES. The MOROCCANOIL Body Souffle* ($56.00 CDN/190mL) is just as intoxicating as one would imagine and although there are two new scents to the MOROCCANOIL family – Fleur d’Oranger and Fleur de Rose, the original scent that got argan oil on the beauty radar is my favourite.

NAILS | Dior Tie Dye Collection Summer 2015 – Dior Nail Lacquer in Sunkissed 239 with Tie Dye Top Coat Review & Swatches

I don’t even know how to dive into the amazingness of the newest makeup collection from Dior. With so many products and pieces, I thought I would start with wear my heart always lies – nail lacquer. This summer, Dior decided to have a little fun and take the spirit of tie dye, with its swirls and shifts of colour, to create a jelly grenadine-coloured top coat to give nails a taste of the tie dye effect. The Tie Dye Dior Nail Lacquer Collection is composed of Sunkissed ($27CDN/10mL)*, a rosy creme nude, Sunwashed*, a milky yellow and the piece de resistance, the Ombre Effect Top Coat ($28 CDN/10mL)*. The Tie Dye Top Coat can be used on bare nails to give them a healthy pink glow of ultra shiny colour, layered over polishes to give a certain je ne sais quoi OR…to create ACTUAL OMBRE NAILS like the name of the product says! I have yet to see anyone use the top coat in this manner! In the nail art community, creating a gradient with jelly polishes is also termed the “Syrup Manicure”. Read on to find out how to create it!

NAIL ART | OPI *Hawaii Collection* – This Color’s Making Waves Review and Swatches

Spring and summer are my FAVOURITE seasons for nail polish colours because who doesn’t love brights and colours that we shy away from all winter long? I generally will wear any nail polish any time because I don’t believe in seasons for nail polish, but when it comes to new releases brights are reserved for this very season! “Making a splash” is the new Hawaii Collection from OPI with 12 new shades that will be perfect on both nails and toes! Today I am wearing This Color’s Making Waves* which is a deep shimmery teal with tiny copper-coloured bits of shimmer throughout.

 

To finish off the look, I applied some gold studs from Born Pretty with tweezers and positioned them in a little triangle at the base of my nail to give this manicure some extra pizzazz.

Who is excited for the weekend?! I will be working, but it’s still the WEEKEND!

EVENT | Estee Lauder Spring/Summer 2015 Preview at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia

About a week and a half ago, the lovely folks at Overcat Communications invited beauty bloggers and media alike to relish in the newest Estee Lauder beauty releases for the Spring and Summer season. Taking place at my FAVOURITE hotel in Vancouver, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the format was slightly different in that in addition to the tour of products, there was a theme: “3 Minute Beauty”. We were all given step by step tutorials for three looks that we were assured would only take three minutes to do: Perfect Brows, Skyhigh Cheekbones and the Simple Smoky Eye. All of these being very important for that girl on the go!  

Courreges Estee Lauder is a brand new mod-inspired makeup collection with colours intended to “float” on the face. With its capsule-like packaging and Jetson family-worthy shades, this is a collaboration you need to check out at Sephora. There is a liquid white eyeliner that is to DIE FOR.