New York Fashion Week Nail Art // #NYCBeautyPro // Christian Louboutin x Cushine et Ochs

In an instant, New York Fashion Week has come and gone. I keep up with very few designers but my favourite things to browse for NYFW are the nail and beauty looks. One of my favourite nail looks this year was Christian Louboutin for Cushine et Ochs. It's a modern take on the classic runway nude polish with the addition of a jewel-toned green or blue square at the base of each nail. 

Of course, Christian Louboutin Nail Polishes will run you $50+, so I opted for a more wallet-friendly recreation. In this month's NYC Beauty Pro Challenge I used four products ($1.99 each) to create the Cushine et Ochs look. 

Products Used: NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 201 Fashion Safari, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 274 Rivington Red, NYC In a Minute Nail Polish in 202 Grand Central Station

Instead of a jewel-toned blue/green, I opted for a striking red. Here's how I did it: 

(1) Apply a base coat 

(2) Apply 2 coats of a nude polish 

(3) With a steady hand, use the corners of the brush tip to create square at the base of the nail 

(4) Apply a fast-drying topcoat to seal in the deal. 

It's a unique yet wearable and chic way to wear colour without going overboard. Super simple and easy to DIY at home without any tools, just your polishes. Will you be trying it out? 

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

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?

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

If you've got oily skin and huge pores, then you know that clay masks are great for detoxifying your skin of all the oil-ies and impurities. You may not know that the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($16USD/$21CAD, 1.7oz) is pretty popular here on the internet. I've had the mask for about a year and a half and I've finally sorted out my thoughts on this mask. 

The Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask contains activated charcoal and white china clay to draw out impurities. Per the handy dandy Sephora website, When environmental toxins, dirt, and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, and skin looks cloudy. Nature's complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of skin's overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best. tl-dr, it's one of those masks that make you look like a scaly monster when it dries up. 

Application: Relaxing but messy, as are most face masks if you don't use a brush. The packaging indicates that the first step in using this mask is to open your pores with a damp towel. While it isn't part of the mask itself, this is the most soothing part. From there, it gets a little dirty. The product is a thick, gooey and wet - all at the same time. It smooths over the skin without a hitch and is pretty easy to thin out over the face. However, when it gets on your hands it feels like mud. Brush recommended (you can use a flat, synthetic foundation brush).

Removal: Also messy. Not to mention, difficult. Once the mask has dried, it's no fun to remove. It's hard to get off with just water and it clings on to the skin. You've either got to scrub your face intensely with your hands or get your perfectly white face cloth dirty with the charcoal-coloured mask. To avoid this, I usually use the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask before a shower, then use a konjac sponge to wipe of the mask residue when I've hopped in. 

Results: The Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask is intense - it does what it says and it ain't gentle about it. It literally pulls oil right out of your skin, making the skin feel tight and dry. I feel like I need to put on a thick moisturizer right away after using this mask. I don't find it to minimize pores (which it doesn't claim) nor does it reduce the size of my zits (more like it dries them up). 

Overall, it's a decent mask that does the trick if you're feeling oily or clogged up, particularly if you can handle the messy application/removal. To my dry skinned peeps, this one isn't for you. Personally, I like to pull out the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask for my oily summer days but pass on it during the drier winter months. 

What's your favourite clay mask? 

Purchased by me. 

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Sticks in Universal and 40 Red

New at the Body Shop are the Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Sticks ($15). These adorable little crayon products are multi-purpose for use as either a blush or lippie. There are 6 shades available - 10 nude, 20 pink, 30 bronze, 35 coral, 40 red, and universal. I got two to review, 40 Red and Universal. 

LEFT - Universal; RIGHT - 40 Red

Formulated with Community Fair Trade Marula Oil, the Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Sticks are meant to be matte and a decadent velvety smooth texture. Yes sir-ee, the Lip & Cheek Velvet Sticks are smooth as velvet and also smell of a subtle floral. They feel like almost like a non-hard yet pigmented lip balm (think a drier EOS with a punch of colour). On both the cheeks and lips the product appears matte. 

40 Red is a poppy red colour, while Universal appears black in the tube but has a pH-matching feature that adapts to your skintone. On me, the Universal shade turns into a rich purple-y pink. Both colours are about 60% opacity. If you want full-coverage pigmentation, you'd have to pass over the lips a couple times. 

LEFT - 40 Red; RIGHT - Universal

On the Cheeks: Three stripes of colour on the face and then blend away with the fingertips. It's creamy yet it dries down to a soft, non-dewy powdery finish. Super easy to use on the cheeks. Furthermore, the product lasts on my face for 6-ish hours which is more than standard for my oily skin. 

On the Lips: While the chubby crayon stick packaging is not particularly helpful for a sharp lip line, it feels soft and doesn't skip or pull at the lips. As aforementioned, it feels much like a dry balm. The colour wears down after 2-3 hours and both the red and universal leave a bitten/popsicle kind of stain. 

Overall, I likey. The stick form makes the product super easy to toss in your purse for on-the-go. And more importantly, the product performs. 

Have you tried the new Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Sticks? 

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

What's On My Face #4 - not makeup, that's for sure. // #nomakeupmarch

I know what's not on my face - makeup (see why here). While this isn’t a makeup routine per se, I still put a couple things on my face post-Miracle 10 skin stuff.  My focus is (1) protecting my skin from Canada’s arctic chills (-16C, feels like -35 this week… *sighs*) and (2) eyelash growth. 

Here's what's on my face when there's no makeup on it. 

// eyes

- Olay Regenerist Eye Sculpting Cream and Eyelash Serum* – My under eyes have been a little dry lately, so this is the first eye cream that’s ever touched my flabs of eye skin. No review yet but it’s moisturizing, that’s for sure. The other end is a clear lash-growth serum which I use like I would a mascara.

- fLash Eyelash Serum* – Why not get double the lash growing with two growth products? I run this along the base of my lashes. No results yet. Had this for a while but had no time to work it into my routine. Since I’ve got some extra time, it’s made it into my morning routine.

- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler – hands down best eyelash curler I’ve ever used. Suits my almond-shaped eyes and perks up my lashes to perfection.

// face

- Bioderma Pore Refiner– oily face is a no-no and I’ve sworn myself off traditional “makeup” like pressed powders. This is more of a skincare item – an oil-slick-preventing lotion that keeps me matte for at least 5 hours.

- Biotherm AquasourceBB Cream* – For the most part, this is skincare. It feels like a hydrating daytime moisturizer. It has a tint but no coverage, if not a slight skintone evening property.

// lips

- Tata Harper Be AdoredLip Treatment* – A lip balm that smoothes over fine lines and adds a rosy glow to the lips. The slight tint makes me feel more put together than rocking the dry lip look.

Without makeup, I’ve simplified my mornings down to all of 6 products (not including my Miracle 10 skincare). Let’s call these my winter bare necessities. Bare in two ways. Bare as in makeup free and bare as in as minimal as I can get.

What do you wear on your face when you’re not wearing makeup?

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

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

Mary Kay True Dimensions Sheer Lipsticks in Subtly You, Arctic Apricot, Sparkling Rose & Posh Pink

Last year, I reviewed ten of the Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipsticks ($19). Now, Mary Kay has released 4 shades of its new Mary Kay True Dimensions Sheer Lipstick ($19). 

So what's different about the new sheer lipsticks? Well, they come in the same sleek, silver packaging that has a super cool clicking mechanism (see here). The slightly chemical/plastic scent is the same but unnoticeable after half an hour of wear. All four shades (Subtly You, Arctic Apricot, Sparkling Rose & Posh Pink) all have a subtle shimmer when swatched but it's totally unnoticeable on the lips. Compared to the regular formula, the lipsticks are not at all opaque and have the look of a tinted balm on the lips. The Mary Kay True Dimensions Sheer Lipsticks are impressively moisturizing. I applied Subtly You mid-morning and I could still feel the moisture on my lips by late afternoon. 

Heavily swatched - Arctic Apricot, Posh Pink, Sparkling Rose, Subtly You 

Subtly You (sheer brown)

Arctic Apricot (sheer red-orange)

Sparkling Rose (sheer pink-brown)

Posh Pink (sheer pink)

Overall, the Mary Kay True Dimensions Sheer Lipsticks are an excellent sheer lipstick. They're super hydrating and add a very natural tint of colour. Obviously, this is not the lipstick line for you if you like fully opaque mattes but for something a little more bold try the regular Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipsticks. 

Sheer or opaque, which do you prefer? 

Press samples featured. 

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

HAIR: Lush Shampoo Bars in Braziliant and Copperhead

Ditch the shampoo bottle and opt for shampoo in solid form. The much loved Lush Shampoo bars are now available in six new varieties - Jason And the Argan Oil, Braziliant, Copperhead, Lullaby, Honey I Washed My Hair, and Montalbano. I find the shampoo bars to be mega-travel friendly (i.e. not a liquid) and super easy to use. I've previously reviewed Squeaky Green - which I find is great for removing buildup but a little harsh on my scalp for regular use. Thus, I was excited to test out a few more varieties from the line. 

Braziliant ($9.95)

Get Rio-lly good hair with this shampoo bar, reminiscient of the Brazilian sun. Whole fresh organic oranges are packed with nutrients which will make your locks super shiny. Andiroba oil makes this especially moisturising when use on curly or Afro-Caribbean hair. We've also added ylang ylang oil and sweet orange oil to treat your hair to tropical fragrance.

Pre-Braziliant, I had been experiencing a bout of dandruff. Post-Brazilliant and there’s no white fluffs in sight. I definitely don’t have Afro-Caribbean hair but I my locks do get frizzy and dry and dull during the winter months. Not only does the orange scent smell bright and invigorating but the shampoo bar leaves my hair looking and feeling soft, shiny and healthy without creating build-up.

Copperhead ($11.95)

Don’t be latte for work, invigorate with a double shot of coffee grounds and roasted cocoa extract. Persian red henna leaves hair feeling deeply conditioned and gloriously glossy. Escape the daily grind with Fair Trade vanilla absolute and vetiver oil for a rich, enticing aroma. Great for darker shades and those with red tones.

What crazy lady wouldn't want their hair to look like a richer colour. Although I don't have red tones, I have quite dark hair that could use a bit of a shiny pick-me-up. Copperhead isn't as true-to-ingredients smelling as I expected. It's more of an herbal scent rather than coffee, cocoa and vanilla. The result was kind of meh. My hair felt cleansed after use but I couldn't see much gloss or shine. 

It's important to note that both of these shampoo bars contain Sodium Laurth Sulfate, which is in most non-natural shampoos, is also an irritant to many people's scalps, and not particularly environmentally friendly (doesn't degrade easily). So if you're not a fan of SLS, please be aware. 

Overall, I'm quite happy with Braziliant and Copperhead is totally useable but just so-so. Lush Shampoo bars seem to last much longer than traditional shampoos and the resulting quality of my hair is equally as good if not better using shampoo in bar form. 

Have you tried the Lush Shampoo Bars?

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram