NAILS | BCD NAIL ART CHALLENGE WEEK 6 - The "Grey"-dient #BCDNAILS

I am finally all caught up now with the BCD Nail Art Challenge with this week's theme being "Grey". It's a bit of a depressing colour for spring, but I promise next week's "Retro" will be filled with colour and smiley-faced emoticons! This grey gradient came from the depths of Pinterest (here) from one of my favourite nail artists, Carly Sisoka, who I consider one of the best when it comes to coming up with gradient colour combinations. When you see them you always go, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

MAKEUP | For Beloved One Melasleep Whitening BB Cream in Ivory Review with Swatches

Earlier this year, Taiwanese cosmeceutical skincare brand For Beloved One, made its official launch into the Canadian market at none other than T&T Supermarket! For anyone that has been to the Metrotown T&T in Burnaby, you will know that it is skincare HEAVEN so if you are wondering whether a makeup launch in a grocery store is weird, trust me, it isn't! The day after the FBO event in Vancouver, I got horrifically ill with orthomyxovirus aka "The Flu" and didn't get a chance to experiment in full with the line until a few weeks after. I DID end up using one of their famed biocellulose face masks in an attempt to cool down my 104 degree fever (here) and it was VERY soothing.

MAKEUP | The Face Shop Ink Lipquid in Orange Some and Pink Hommage Review with Swatches

Honestly, I have been making way too many trips to The Face Shop. Everything from the packaging to the pricing of nail polish, makeup and of course sheet masks, is enough to make me NEVER walk out of the store empty handed! Late last year, the Ink Lipquids ($25.00 CDN) totally caught my eye because they sounded like a combination of a stain and a liquid lipstick with the added hydration.

NAILS | BCD NAIL ART CHALLENGE WEEK 5 - Moody Metallic Gradient #BCDNAILS

Last week's Mosaic BCD Nails Challenge (here) took a ridiculous amount of time to do and I was pretty proud of myself for putting in the hours so I decided to keep them for the weekend. It put me one manicure behind for this challenge, but I will hopefully be able to make it up this week! I had a bit of rough week at work and though nothing bad happened, I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed and with Week 5's theme being "Emotion", I thought that instead of being "social media happy", I'd do a manicure that showcased how much of a moody *ahem* witch I was last week.

Using mark. by Avon's new Precious Petals Trend Mini Nail Lacquers in Steel Magnolia* and Green Thumb* as well as some Avon nail studs, I thought I'd go with conveying how icy blue my soul felt all of last week. Dramatic, I know.

SKINCARE | b.liv Immerse Me Utmost Moisture Original Japan Silk Mask Review

Asian skincare is dominating the North American market and I could not be happier to find my favourites in the aisles of Sephora and in Asian cosmetics stores downtown. I wouldn't say that I necessarily stay on top of Asian beauty trends, but I have been following Singaporean bloggers for the last 5 years and reading about what's hot and happening in Asia. Back then, all of it was so incredibly foreign that I remember having to order Asian beauty products from obscure online shops. When the Malaysian-based brand b.liv (my home country!) reached out for a collaboration, I was thought, "Where have I seen this brand before?" and I realized that their parent company is Cellnique, a more "medically-targeted" line that I had read about.

b.liv already has some hero products, mainly targeting blackheads and pores as the foundation of the brand rests on "pore management solutions". The packaging and website feel fun and youthful with product names such as "Off With Those Heads" and "Feel No Sluggish" to give you a bit of a laugh! I was sent a few things to try, but based on my skincare needs for the last month, I wanted some moisture! The Immerse Me Utmost Moisture Original Japan Silk Mask* ($2.50 USD each) was introduced in 2011 and provides skin with a massive dose of hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and cogongrass extract, known for imparting immediate and lasting hydration.

MAKEUP | Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Diorama, Princess and Mirrored Review & Swatches

There's a new gloss in town. The Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is a new formulation for Dior referred to as a "hydra-plumper gloss" that promises volume, shine and an iridescent sparkle that is easy and comfortable to wear. With "hyaluronic acid spheres" that capture and keep moisture in, lips stay hydrated and plump. All I know is that my lips were quite shiny and with 18 new shades, there is definitely something for everyone.