Quo by Orly Art Scene Collection - Abstract & Graffiti // Spring 2015

New season, new nail polish. This Spring, Quo by Orly has launched a limited edition collection of 4 unique topcoats ($10 each, exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart). While there's nothing surprising about mixed confetti, round, and square glitters suspended in clear polish, as seen from brands like Hard Candy and Indie Polish, I can't get enough. The combinations are endless and Quo by Orly definitely did it right with its Art Scene Collection. 

Abstract - pastel coloured confetti with white squares and small white circles 

Graffiti - black confetti with blue and orange circles with red and black smaller circles

Put simply, these are funky topcoats that are the perfect addition to any nail look. Lasting power is similar to that of any other glitter - annoyingly long and a pain to remove, but totally worth the artsy effect. 

Do you like these kinds of top coats? 

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Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection

The first day of Spring is nearly here and Quo's got a bunch of new releases for you to make your collection Spring-ready. The packaging for the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection is stunning - pink with a black overlay for the 3 eye palettes ($18), 2 face palettes ($20) and 1 brow palette ($12). In addition to that, there's four Quo by Orly Art Scene Polishes ($10 - see swatches here) and the Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara ($14). 

I'm no stranger to the Quo Brow Palette. Pictured above are both the Spring 2015 (pink) and Fall 2014 (blue) brow palettes. While I'm preferential to the Spring 2015 packaging, both palettes feature the same product, two brow powders and a cream. Overall, a perfect product for natural looking yet full brows - and a good cool-toned colour for my black brows. See swatches here. 

The Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara is one that claims to lengthen and curl. There's a retractable, built-in comb that's an interesting little contraption. While I would still use a lash curler, the Quo Cosmetics Dynamic Duo Mascara does a great job at lengthening and holding a curl not actually curling the lashes. The mascara can get a little clumpy after 4 coats so the built-in comb is perfect for picking out any clumpiness and making the lashes look more natural. Overall, not my favourite mascara but I do wish that all mascaras came with a retractable lash comb. 

Dynamic Duo Mascara - no eyelash curler used

Unfortunately, all of the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 line is limited edition. So if something interests you, head to your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart ASAP! 

What do you think of the Quo Cosmetics Spring 2015 Collection?

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Quo 2014 Holiday Collection - Christmas Crackers, Lip Gloss Sets and more!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at the fun size beauty HQ (aka my gloomy dorm room)! There's something about holiday beauty collections that makes me jump for joy with holiday cheer. It must be the packaging, or something... This year, Quo Cosmetics (available exclusively at Shopper's Drug Mart) has done it's holiday collection right - elegantly black and gold packaging and a ton of variety. The Quo Holiday 2014 Collection includes 23 different beauty products with prices ranging from $3 to $65. Here's a look at a few of the pieces... 

Quo Christmas Cracker Set ($15), Quo Essential Eyes Palette ($15), Quo All About Brows Palette ($20), Quo Flocked Emery Board ($3), Quo Walk the Line Eye Liner Set ($20), Quo Love Lip Set ($20) 

Quo Christmas Cracker Set ($15) 

There's absolutely nothing quite like a good cracker (especially if there's makeup inside). I haven't had the heart to crack open these goodies because as I'm writing this it's still November (it's kind of like opening Christmas gifts way too soon before the actual day). Luckily, the box tell's you what's inside. For each cracker, there's a lip gloss and eyeshadow duo. These are sure to make amazing (and affordable at $5) stocking stuffers! 

Quo All About Brows Palette ($20) 

If you know me, you know that I'm hopeless with eyebrows. Looks like Quo is trying to help me out a bit. Not only does the set come with two powders and a cream, it also contains tools and brow maps to achieve those brows on point. The formulation of the powder works just like the Browz Eyebrow Palette in terms of colour and wear, with the powder of this particular powder being softer. 

Quo Walk the Line Eye Liner Set ($20)

Eyeliner is my thing and in comparison to the ridiculous number of eyeliners I've tried in my short lifetime, these are quite nice. The colours are rich and the texture is on the slightly harder side but don't tug at the lid. These types of harder eyeliners are better suited for lining than blending out and stay put for 6+ hours and don't smudge, which is nice (as opposed to naughty). 

Quo Essential Eyes Palette ($15) 

The formulation of the shadows in the Essential Eyes Palette are hit and miss. Although the gold glitter appears to be under-concentrated in the swatch, on the lid it has the prettiest glittery iridescence that almost appears to be watery, truly the standout in this palette. The two middle matte shades are a little solid for my liking but they're pigmented and easy to blend. The pinky-beige shade is a nice blending shade while the dark brown works as both a liner or crease shade. The satin bone shade is slightly sheer but works well as a subtle browbone highlight. All together, the shades are your every day essential neutrals - nothing spectacular but easy to use on the daily with a hint of sparkle when you want to feel glamorous. 

Quo Love Lip Set ($20)

Surprisingly, the Lip Love Set is the most impressive of the above holiday goodies from Quo. Not only are the fun size glosses totally adorable and travel-friendly but the glosses are right up my alley. Unfortunately, none of the shades have names  but they're all neutral except for the pink gloss with gold glitter (fourth from the left). The glosses are pigmented, buildable and lightweight. As I type, I'm wearing the purple-wine shade (third from the left) and I'm loving it. It's non-sticky yet I can feel the moisture on my lips even though I applied it 6 hours ago. If there's anything you need to pick up from this collection, I'd definitely recommend the gloss set! 

This is just 6 pieces of the 23 in the Quo Holiday Collection, and even from these few items, it's clear that there's something for every gal you might be gifting to this holiday season. 

Don't you think that more beauty companies should make holiday Christmas crackers filled with makeup goodies? 

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Santa Holiday Nail Art

Nail art is the best form of final exam procrastination. I've taken all but 7 polishes back to Toronto, so luckily the colours that I've got at school are holiday-ready. My Tim Horton's sweater cup inspired nails used the same colours and tools (check it out here). Today's mani is a simple little Santa on an accent nail of your choosing. 

Products Used: Essie First Base, Essie Plumberry, NYC Black Cream Lace*, Quo by Orly Purity*, the Body Shop Nail Art Pen*, and Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat*

To create Santa Claus on your nails... 

1. Apply a base coat. 
2. Paint half of your nail white. 
3. Paint the 1/4 of your nail closest to the cuticle in red. 
4. Fill in the sides of the nails with white using a dotting tool. 
5. Make large dots along the red polish to create the rim of Santa's hat. 
6. Add two black dots in the un-polished area for Satna's eyes and one red dot in the centre of the large white area for his nose. 
7. Apply a top coat to seal in the deal. 

... Voila! and there you have it. Santa on your nails with three colours of polish and a dotting tool. So cute and relatively simple. 

What do you think of this nail art design? Will you give this one a shot? 

Press samples and purchased items featured. Press samples are denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Quo by Orly Water Transfer Nail Art [Mischief, Kaliedoscope, Love Notes, Pretty Petals]

The Quo by Orly Water Transfer Nail Art ($4 each, at Shoppers' Drug Mart) are essentially temporary tattoos for your nails. This isn't a new concept. Think water decals from born pretty store for the same price but conveniently available at your local Shoppers'. 

There are 4 designs available (above is Mischief) and each design comes with 24 nail art stickers, which for my nails is enough for two manicures (with 4 extra transfers leftover).The packaging indicates that you can apply these water transfers in 3 easy steps. In my opinion, it's more like 5 (but they're still really easy to use!!). Here's how:


Step 1: Prep - Wash hands with soap and water

Step 2: Apply 2 coats of Quo by Orly Purity nail polish (white base) 

Step 3: Once the polish is dry, size the transfer to your nail (to make sure it fits!) 

Step 4: Remove the clear plastic backing and wet the paper backing with a cotton pad (like a temporary tattoo!) 

Step 5: Add top coat to seal in the deal and voila! you're done! 

In addition to Mischief, the Quo by Orly Water Transfers come in 3 more designs - Kaleidoscope, Love Notes, and Pretty Petals.  

After the white base has dried, application of the Quo by Orly Water Transfer Nail art takes less than 5 minutes for both hands. It's basically nail art without the fuss of concentration, drying time or smudges. 

What do you think of these nail art transfers? Which design do you like the most? 

Press samples featured. Special thanks to boyfriend for taking step by step photos. 

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Quo Fall 2014 Collection || Eye Palette in Nightingale and Browz Eyebrow Palette

With the exception of makeup wedges and a konjac sponge, I've never really tried anything from Quo. Quo Cosmetics is a mid-priced Shoppers Drug Mart exclusive brand that features beauty accessories and a full range of colour cosmetics. Two tidbits from the Quo Fall 2014 Collection have come into my possession - the Quo Eye Palette in Nightingale ($18) and the Quo Browz Eyebrow Palette ($12). 

First thing's first (I'm the realest), I love the compact blue packaging. Both are sturdy palettes that fit perfectly in my hand. Furthermore, they both feature a decently sized-mirror and applicators (yay for convenience!). Now onto the product... 

Quo Eye Palette in Nightingale ($18)

[ Heavily swatched over Madison Street Beauty eye primer ]

Notice how the palette is arranged from darkest to lightest, left to right? Not that it makes a difference but it's strange... 

The palette contains 8 shades, 3 of which are matte (the lightest and two darkest), while the other 5 have varying degrees of glitter. The colours look a bit... colourful, but the shadows are surprisingly wearable. The taupe-purple shade on the far left (let's call it #8) works well as an all over the lid shade or a blending colour. Shades #1, 2, 3, 4, & 7 are all excellent crease or outer corner colours, #5 is a great inner corner highlight and #6 is the perfect pop of purple. Working these colours into a day or night look is actually a no-brainer. The only shades missing is a good matte brow bone colour. 

Yes, the shades work well together. However, the shadow formula leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side, they're fairly blendable but overall, the shadows are hard, there's tons of glittery fallout upon application, the product is sheer without a primer, and fades away by the third hour - still workable but far from my favourite.

Quo Browz Eyebrow Palette ($12)

[ one swipe, no primer - light shade, dark shade, blended ]

Due to my dark, dark brow hairs, I seldom use brow products but I'm always looking for something that can add a bit more thickness (for dark eye makeup looks) without making me look like I've got two hairy caterpillars on my face. To my surprise, the Quo brow powders are actually capable of making an natural appearance and thickening my brows. The brow powders were softer and much more blendable than the shadows and the colours are appropriately neutral (not too cool- or warm-toned) for my jet black eyebrow hairs. The combination of the powders atop the eyebrow cream lasts upwards of 5 hours. It's not something I'll be wearing every day but I'll be sure to whip the Quo Browz Eyebrow Palette out when I'm looking add a bit more definition and fullness. 

[ wearing both the Eye Palette in Nightingale and the Browz Eyebrow Palette ]

Overall, one hit and one miss - unimpressed by the quality of the eyeshadows but impressed by the performance of the Browz Eyebrow Palette. The Quo Fall 2014 Collection also includes a face palette, 4 lipsticks, a brush set, a manicure set and 6 polishes, so be sure to check those out as well! 

Have you ever tried anything from Quo? 

Press samples featured, as always, opinions are my own! 

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