GIVEAWAY: a few of my favourite things... (international)

It's been a while since I've given a little somethin' somethin' to my international readers. I've been meaning to hold an international giveaway... first for Christmas (last year) and then in March (my b-day) but things are always a little busy around those times. Now that everything's settled down, the giveaway is finally here. A bunch of beauty things I'm liking, have liked, and will probably continue to like ... and I'm hoping one lucky reader will like them to. 

THE PRIZE: 

- CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

- CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipstick in Spellbound

- Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment (mini)

- MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Loose Powder 

- MAKE UP FOR EVER Step 1 Skin Equalizer in Yellow

- MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant Mascara (mini)

- NYC Matte Top Coat *unable to send this internationally... but will include if within Canada

- Sephora Nail Buffer

- Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato in CR04

- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

- Smashbox Eyeshadow Trio 

- The Body Shop Body Butter in Sweet Lemon (mini)

- * cute makeup bag is included * ^u^

THE RULES: 

- Must in some way, shape or form be subscribed to my blog, use the Rafflecopter to tell me how.

- Must be the age of majority in your country or have parental permission to disclose your address.

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GOOD LUCK :) 

The prize is a combination of press samples and products I have purchased with my own $$. 

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WIN IT: All 10 of the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers ($430 VALUE)

Launched just last month, the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers ($42 each) are the new and improved versions of the MUFE HD Primers. Similar to the HD primer line, the MUFE Step 1 Skin Equalizers are available in various shades to tackle various discolouration. More specifically there are 10 variations in the Step 1 Skin Equalizer line - 5 for texture and 5 for tone.

TEXTURE - mattifying, smoothing, hydrating, nourishing, redness correcting

TONE - pink, blue, yellow, peach, caramel 

TO APPLY: redness/radiance before mattifying/smoothing OR redness/radiance after hydrating/nourishing

While I have yet to post a review of these products, I've been pretty happy with the yellow-tinted one I'm trying thus far. 

Make Up For Ever has kindly offered to send one lucky reader ALL 10 of the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers. All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter below. This is open to residents of Canada, age 18+ (or with parental consent). Giveaway closes Wednesday, April 22, 2015. 

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GOOD LUCK! 

Giveaway prize provided by Make Up For Ever Canada. I received all 10 of the Step 1 Skin Equalizers for editorial purposes. 

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GIVEAWAY: Fashion Magazine 13th Readers' Choice Beauty Awards

Yep, it's awards season. And not just the movie/TV show type of awards. There's BEAUTY awards too! More than 8,000 Readers of FASHION Magazine weighed in on their favourites of 2014 in the categories of body, face, fragrance, hair, makeup and nails for FASHION's 13th Readers' Choice Beauty Awards. Check out the winners here. 

I asked Sarah Daniel (FASHION's Beauty Editor) a few questions about this year's winners. 

SL: What beauty and fashion trends do you think influenced this year's winners?

SD: This was the first year we included a brow category, so that’s definitely been a runway beauty trend that influenced the awards.  

SL: What do you think are the best beauty innovations from this year's winners?

SD: Conair Curl Secret is by far the biggest breakthrough in the hair tool category. Mascara is a big area for beauty innovation, with wands becoming more and more elaborate and technical. Lancôme has won every single year since we started the beauty awards, which says a lot considering there is so much competition in the category.  

SL: You're stuck on a dessert island. Choose one product from each of the 6 categories to take with you. SD: This is a tough one! I would definitely stock up on sunscreen, so I’d bring Ombrelle for face and body, dry shampoo—both Redken and Tresemmé—Maybelline’s mascara, M.A.C’s Pro Longwear Concealer, and Burt’s Bees Lip Balm.

SL: Best budget buy? One product that's absolutely worth the splurge?

SD: If you’re into self tanning, St. Tropez products are worth the splurge. Maybelline’s Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner is a great drugstore buy that rivals pricier gel liners.  

FASHION has been kind enough to partner up with fun size beauty  to host a giveaway! The prize? A huge gift basket valued $500+ worth of this year's winning beauty products. Here's what's inside... 

AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion • AVEENO® Intense Relief Hand Cream • AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 • Olay® Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum • OMBRELLE Ultra Fluid Face • OPI Big Apple Red Nail Lacquer • PANTENE® Moisture Renewal Hydrating Conditioner • PANTENE® Moisture Renewal Nourishing Shampoo • Revlon® Just Bitten KissableTM Balm Stain• ST. TROPEZ Self Tan Bronzing Mousse • St. Ives® Fresh Skin Exfoliating Scrub •  St. Ives® Smoothing Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash • The Body Shop® Mango Shower Gel • The Body Shop® Satsuma Body Sorbet • The Body Shop® Shea Body Scrub • TRESemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo • TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Spray • Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow • Bioré® Self-Heating One Minute Mask • COVERGIRL® Clean Glow Blush in Roses • COVERGIRL® Clean Pressed Powder Normal Skin • COVERGIRL® Jumbo Gloss Balm • COVERGIRL® Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer • COVERGIRL® TruBLEND Liquid Foundation • COVERGIRL® truMAGIC Sunkisser • COVERGIRL® Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadow in Sheerly Nudes • Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash • Gillette Venus® EmbraceTM • HUGO BOSS Boss Bottled • JERGENS® Natural Glow® + FIRMING Daily Moisturizer • LANCÔME® Hypnôse Drama Mascara • MAYBELLINE New York Define-A-Brow® Eyebrow Pencil • MAYBELLINE New York Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm • MAYBELLINE New York Eye Studio® Lasting DramaTM Gel Eyeliner • MAYBELLINE New York Volum’ Express® The RocketTM  • Moroccanoil® Treatment • NEUTROGENA® All-in-One Cleansing Wipes • NEUTROGENA® ULTRA SHEER® Dry-Touch Sunscreen • Olay® Daily Facial Cloths – Sensitive • Olay® Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum • PLUS the February Issue of FASHION

If you're interested in these goodies (who wouldn't be?), enter below! Best of luck: 

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Note: Closes March 10th. Open to residents of Canada only!

This is not a sponsored post. Prize provided in collaboration with FASHION Magazine :) 

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Canada Contests at AllCanadaContests.com

MILLIEMENO Miko Romper Review + Dress Giveaway!

MILLIEMENO is a Canadian BC-based, family-owned online boutique that features clothing and handmade accessories. The site is well-curated for the young-adult woman, probably appropriate for anyone from the age of 14 to 30. The store ships to Canada and worldwide. MILLIEMENO features a TON of adorable items, all of which I would like to put in my closet ASAP. Of the many items available, I chose one of which I was sent for the purposes of a review (spoiler alert: I've been wearing it non-stop this summer)

The Miko ($37.53) is a printed romper that features cut-outs on the shoulders and back. The romper is made out of 100% rayon, which is super light-weight and flowy. As I'm quite petite at 4 feet 11 inches, I was a bit worried about whether or not the small [measurements - S – Bust (17/43) Waist (17/43) Length (29.5/75)] would fit me. Luckily, the fit was perfect! The length of the romper hits me mid-thigh and the arm holes are not too big and not too small. 

The rayon wrinkles easily (which is easily fixed with an iron) and rompers in general make it bothersome to go to the washroom. Other than that, I love that the print is super loud and colourful. I have nothing like it in my wardrobe and it's embellished enough with small details like the cutouts and the drawstring that it doesn't require too many accessories to put a complete outfit together. 

GIVEAWAY: 3 winners, open to residents of CANADA and USA 

(1) Like Milliemeno and Fun Size Beauty on Facebook 

(2) Comment below with the dress that you'd like to win from MILLIEMENO.com. There will be 3 winners. :) 

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GOOD LUCK! 

Press sample featured 

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Festival Hair, Makeup, and GIVEAWAY! || #GottaTurnItUp Challenge #1

Coachella is far, far away, but much to my excitement there tons of awesome music festivals in Toronto. NXNE, Warped Tour, Digital Dreams, Veld, OVO Fest - whatever you're into, there's always somewhere for you to rock a fresh-faced festival look. 

#GottaTurnItUp is a fun partnership between CoverGirl/Herbal Essences/Olay and MuchMusic. From May to June, I'll be doing 3 themed challenges and sharing a few beauty products with you. (psstt... there may be some giveaways along the way too!).

Anyways, confession. The first theme is festival beauty and I've been to outdoor concerts but never a festival. So... this is the makeup I would potentially wear given the opportunity to attend a festival, but this is totally appropriate for a summer's day.  

I'm not fussy when it comes to my hair, as long as it's out of my face. A little volume with the Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo, a quick and messy fishtail, plus a spritz Naked Volume Flexible Hold Spritzer to hold it all in place is all I need. 

When I'm outdoors, minimal makeup is key. To even out the skin with a touch of very light coverage, I used the Olay Fresh Effects {BB Cream!} Skin Perfecting Tinted Moisturizing Cream. For a sunkissed glow, I smothered the CoverGirl Tru Magic Sunkisser all over the outer edges of my face. It's a lightweight cream product, so it doesn't look the slightest bit unnatural. As for the eyes, I dusted a little gold-champagne shadow for some subtle shimmer and drew a double winged liner from the upper and lower lash lines to the outer corners of the eyes. The CoverGirl Ink It! By Perfect Point Plus in Aquamarine Ink provides a slight intensity to the subdued lips and face. On the lips and lashes are the CoverGirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist and the Bombshell Volume Mascara. 

What hair and makeup would YOU wear to a festival? Share it with me on Twitter/Instagram using the hashtag #gottaturnitup. Let me know and you could win all of the products mentioned in this post! (must be a resident of Canada to enter)

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Have you ever been to a music festival? 

I am a #Beauty United blogger and receive special access to products, events, etc. Opinions are my own. 

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