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5.30.2012

Affordable Sunglasses !

When summer comes and the sun is shining, we definitely wanna be sporting the nicest and trendiest sunglasses of the moment.

Trendy usually equals expensive and designer, but not in this case !!

The Prada Baroque Sunglasses have been on my Must-Have list since they first came out in 2011, but there was no way I was dropping a whopping 400$ on trendy sunglasses.

After many researches online, I came across this website that sells designer-ish knockoffs for a really affordable price : Retrocitysunglasses.com

RetroCity Sunglasses allows you to own the trendiest sunglasses of the moment, such as the Cat-Eye, the Round sunglasses, the Jackie-O sunglasses. In short, you can get your hands on pretty much alot of the same trends that are being sold in the designer boutiques for crazy amounts of money.

Here are some of the sunglasses I got and cannot stop wearing !






Go check out the website www.retrocitysunglasses.com and maybe you will find something for your taste !

K

5.24.2012

What is a skin serum ?

A couple of months ago, I had no idea what was a skin serum and why you would need it. We are all a little lazy, not gonna lie, and before going to bed, we don't want to proceed to a full skin care regimen.

Most of us already use a night cream as the last step before going to bed, but what about the serums, are they really necessary ?

Well first of all, I had no idea when you would even need to apply a serum. I then discovered after reading a lot about it, that you can apply a serum in the morning and at night, depending on the needs of your skin, but the most important concept is that it has to be applied prior to any face moisturizer.

So let's attack the why's and the when's ?

A serum is sort of like a multivitamin but for your face, sort of your skin Centrum !

A skin serum has the ability to penetrate deep within the layers of the skin, something a moisturizer cannot do. The molecules in a serum are much smaller than in a moisturizer, which helps them penetrate deeper. Hence, why you need to apply the serum before the moisturizer. You apply your serum, it penetrates deep in your skin, you let in absorb for 2-3 minutes, than you apply your moisturizer that will penetrate to only the top layers of the skin.

This means that your skin receives nutrients and vitamins on all skin layers.

I have normal to oily skin and my first concern was a serum is indeed sticky and syrupy and this won't help at all with my oily skin. In fact, serums are usually water based which means they are absorbed into the skin quickly and will not clog up your pores.

Many of you must think that a serum is for a more mature skin, to help with wrinkles and anti-aging, but there is a serum out there for everybody. You can find a serum based with vitamin-C to eliminate dark spots, some for skin-brightening and some for hydrating or even acne-preventing.


I am currently trying out 3 different serums since the end last year, the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, the Josie Maran Argan Oil and the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance serum. Each of these have their own specific purpose and I alternate depending on how my skin feels and demands.

I hope this little bit of information will help you decide if it's worth adding an extra step at night and nourishing your skin !

K
5.21.2012

Weekend by the water







The weather this weekend has just been beautiful so I couldn't help myself to wear a dress. Summer is just around the corner and the best way to beat the heat is to pop on a nice light-weight cotton dress and you are out the door. 

Cotton dresses like this one can be dressed down with flip flops or gladiators, or can be dressed up with wedges and a nice blazer. I believe cotton dresses should definitely have a place in your wardrobe and can you believe this one was under 15$. I always like to top off my cotton dresses with my trustworthy jean jacket to make it more casual during a day outing or in case it gets windy.

(Jean Jacket H&M (old), Dress H&M, sandals Zara, Handbag Michael Kors, sunnies H&M, Watch Michael Kors, studs Tristan)

K





5.20.2012

NOTW : Essie e-nuf is e-nuf

This week I decided to go back to somewhat basics with a twist !

For my nail of the week, I chose this Essie color (obviously) called e-nuf is e-nuf.


This color is a classic red with a tiny tiny hint of a coral tint noticeable in the light. It's a good alternative to the basic red, more neon and summery.

Enjoy !

K
5.17.2012

Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder 2012

A couple of weeks ago, I gave you a glimpse of the Chanel Summer 2012 collection and told you I was gonna give you my impressions as soon as I would see the products in stores, so here it is !

I wanted to initially pick up one of the nail polishes but once I saw them for myself, nothing jumped straight at me and it didn't look any different from what I have in my current nail polish collection, so I skipped.

Unfortunately, I couldn't skip on everything........When I saw the Luminous Bronzing Powder, I knew that is where my money was going.


Chanel came up with 2 shades of the Luminous Bronzing Powder, Sable Beige and Sable Rose. At first glance, I knew Sable Beige (on the right side) would be perfect for my skin, but when the girl tried it on, it didn't show up much on my skin. So I told her to try the Sable Rose, and it was the perfect fit.



The Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder is really a perfect makeup bit to have in your makeup collection for the summer. To my opinion, Sable Rose is the perfect mix betweem a blush and a bronzer, you swipe your brush on it a couple of times, apply it to your cheeks and you out the door. This product gives me the perfect bronzed-look with a hint of flushed cheeks !

Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder retails at 58$CAN, I know it's expensive, but I find it really worth it, since it's a 2 in 1 product for me.

You can find this product at your local Chanel counter, but be quick, limited edition Chanel products are like little hot cakes, they sell out in a jiffy !

Enjoy

K
5.14.2012

City of Color !








Oh Yes ! I've embarked on the ''colored'' jeans train as well, couldn't help myself with the wonderful weather we've been having, I was tired of wearing dark jeans. I know many of you are scared to rock this trend, but it is possible to pull-off these type of colors without looking like a clown. One useful tip if to mix your colored jeans with classic basics such as a trench coat and loafers.

(Trench coat Zara, Sweater Old Navy, pants Forever21, Loafers Michael Kors, Sunglasses retrocitysunglasses.com, earrings everyday studs, Handbag Michael Kors, Watch Michael Kors.)

K
5.10.2012

Revlon Lip Butters

A couple of months ago, Revlon came up with a new range of lip products called the Lip Butters. They are considered to be a mixture between a lipstick, a lip butter and a lip gloss. I consider these to be very equivalent to lipstick but with the bonus that you do not need to add a lip gloss on top, it's an all-in-one !
I've been wanting to share these items with you for a while, but I really gave it a while to test out all the colors and really build a strong opinion on their consistency.

Revlon offers a wide variety of colors from 20 different shades, for fair skin tones to darker skin tones and everybody in between !

These Lip Butters have an amazing finish, they leave your lips very moisturized and shiny. The aspect that I absolutely prefer on these is the fact that you do not need a mirror to apply them, you can just slap them on as you go.

Here are the colors I picked up along the way :
Left to Right : Creamsicle, Crème Brulée, Sugar Frosting, Cupcake, Cotton Candy, Sweet Tart, Lollipop, Tutti Fruitti, Candy Apple, Red Velvet.


I separated the swatches in 2 parts :

Here are the swatches for Creamsicle, Crème Brulée, Sugar Frosting, Cupcake, Cotton Candy
 (From bottom to top)


And here is part 2 of the swatches for Sweet Tart, Lollipop, Tutti Fruitti, Candy Apple, Red Velvet.


My absolute favorite color is Lollipop, it's a perfect pink color that adds a pop to an everyday outfit. As you can see the pigmentation on these is fabulous and they glide on perfectly on your lips.

The Revlon Lip Butter is the perfect product for the girl that wants to explore different lip shades without breaking the bank. They retail for 9.99$ at your local pharmacy.

Enjoy

K
5.09.2012

Origins Super Spot Remover

If you find a product that zap your zits you need to immediately share them with the world, because nobody wants a zit the morning of your grad picture or on the day of an important work presentation.

I found the zit zapper of all zit zappers : Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel.

This product works wonders as a spot treatment of acne, it contains salicylic acid which acts as the blemish-buster. You need to keep in mind that salicylic acid does not work on everybody, some people use benzoyl peroxide to remove acne spots, and that works for them. Not everybody's skin reacts the same way.

If you know that salicylic acid works on your acne spots, then you need to grab this product and fast, because it is super effective. I use to dab on some ProActiv mask at night on my spots and they would leave after 2 or 3 nights, but this Origins product deflated my spots after just one night.

This product retails for 16$CAN and can be found at your local Sephora.

If you don't want to invest in it right away, ask for a sample (Sephora is very generous with their samples, don't be shy to ask) and try it out on your next zit to see if it works wonders for you too.

Go check it out and spread the word.

K
5.07.2012

NOTW : Essie Action

I finally came across Essie's Poppy-Razzi collection and picked up 2 of the new polishes.

Here is my pick of the week Essie's Action.


Action is a beautiful neon orange color that will look extra fabby in the summer with a nice perfect tan. For now, I decided to give it a try even without the golden glow, still looks good I think.

Enjoy

K
5.05.2012

Pop of Color !






Don't be afraid to mix different colors and prints !
(Blazer Bedo, t-shirt Zara, necklace Zara, earrings pearls, belt H&M, jeans Old navy, shoes Steve Madden, Handbag Rebecca Minkoff MAC clutch, watch Michael Kors.)
5.04.2012

*April Favorites*

May is already here, where did the time go by.......

I've decided to share with you my monthly favorites at the end of each month, consisting of beauty products, makeup, accessories and clothing items.
It's basically everything I was obsessed with within the month - something I used everyday and couldn't get enough of.

So for the month of April, my obsessions are mostly beauty products and makeup items.

From left to right :

1- Bioderma Sensibio H2O solution micellaire : I cannot rave enough about this product, I was never the kind of girl that would use a makeup remover, I would wipe my face with cleansing cloths and afterwards, wash my face with cleanser. But oh no ! This baby changed my routine completely, it was a makeup remover with a water-base, hence the fact that it looks exactly like water in the bottle. This product is made for sensitive skin, it does not sting your eyes (which is key for me !) and removes all sorts of smokey eyes. It did not break me out and it is alcohol-free, fragrance-free and parabens-free. Bioderma banked the big bucks with this product, it's been talked about all over the beauty community.

2- Effaclar K LaRochePosay : If you know me, you will know I am a sold LaRochePosay customer. I am one to think that if you want to change your skin routine, you need to grab something that is dermatologically tested and recommended by dermatologists. This product changed the texture of my skin, it is targeted for people with oily skin with imperfections and is described to correct and transform the skin's surface with a principle of micro-exfoliation. This blabber means that the ingredients present in this cream will exfoliate your skin throughout the day and remove all the excess sebum and dry skin that can cause little acne appearances.

3- Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser : This brand is my new favorite discovery, they make a wide range of products that are all made with natural ingredients and are parabens free. This cleanser really reduced my shine and the appearance of my pores, I use it in conjunction with my Clarisonic Mia (review to come) and I really enjoy the effect it has on my skin. In general, this brand is a brand to look into, they make various products from serums to eye creams and are very well renowned for their natural ingredients policy.

4- NARS Laguna Bronzer : This bronzer is not matte, it has a bit of shine but the perfect shine to enhance your blush. I had bought this product back in october and had put it down for a while, but this month I took it out again and couldn't put it down. It gives a perfect bronzed glow without making you look like a disco ball.

5- Caudalie Beauty Elixir : I will  not start to blabber about this product, because it is my all time favorite discovery of life (review comming soon). I will only tell you that this product is worth trying, but first you should go check out the smell, because it has a distinctive smell which does not please everybody. I use this Beauty Elixir all the time, before makeup, after makeup as a setting spray, before bed, and throughout the day to freshen up.

6- Bobbi Brown corrector : I could not put this product down, I wanted to keep it only for days that I felt a train ran me over and my dark circles were very present, but I just can't. I just can't. Please check out the review here.

7- NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer : I use this product almost everyday and I've really enjoyed the glowy effect it gives my skin. I am very happy I made the decision to purchase the full size product. Check out the full review here.

8- Real Techniques Buffing Brush : I don't know where to start to explain that you do not need any other brush in your collection than these Real Techniques brushes, they beat MAC brushes by FAR and are sooooo affordable. This brush is the perfect tool for the tinted moisturizer/foundation/mineral powder type of girl. You truly do not know what you are msising. Check out the review here.

I know this post is a long one, but I really wanted to describe why I love these products, so you can get an idea of their benefits if you want to go and purchase them.

Enjoy the month of May !

K
5.03.2012

Wedges Mania !

When summer hits on our door, it's officially time to take out the ''wedges''.

Personally, Wedges are the perfect go-to shoe that you can transition from day to night. You can wear them during the day with a nice pair of jeans and a tank top, and you can wear them with a flirty girly dress at night.
They are the must have shoes this season, you can find them in every shoe store, from Aldo, to Browns, to Zara, to Michael Kors.
Feast your eyes on these nice little pairs I came across while browsing for the right one.






From top to bottom :
Aldo Rinks 80$CAN
Aldo Harvath 100$CAN
Aldo Dagraca 120$CAN


Enjoy !


K
5.01.2012

NOTW : Essie To buy or not to buy !

I decided to put a bit of a spin on my blog and start some thematic weekly posts to keep things going. To begin, I decided to show you a nail of the week episode. Behold, most of my obsession consists of Essie nail polishes, since I love their consistency and range of colors.

Here is my pick of the week : Essie To buy or not to buy.
Kind of ironic since I am the #1 Enabler :)



Please admire my wonderful ability to apply polish......it's work-in-progress !

K
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