What I got for Christmas/Boxing Week haul!

Site Redesign!

So I decided to go ahead an redesign the blog, though the other design was nice it just wasn't what I was looking for. I've been thinking about changing the direction of the blog as well, still focused on beauty but also with some design and fashion elements. While I love blogging about beauty I find it a bit limiting at times because I have other interests but feel like I can't post about it here. So there may be some changes to the blog in 2013, but still expect lots of makeup tutorials, reviews, and subscription posts just mixed in with fashion posts, photography, travel, and design posts as well.

Happy Christmas

image from weheartit

Just wanted to wish all of my lovely readers/viewers a Happy Christmas! Sorry there was no new video on Sunday, I filmed one and the file got corrupted :( I'll be back in 2013 with a whole bunch of reviews, hauls, tutorials, and more! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then happy whatever holiday you celebrate/I'm sorry you have to deal with people constantly wishing you a Happy Christmas.

Niapads Simple for Pimple review!

I was sent this product back in October and meant to review it much sooner but right after I got the product my skin cleared up and I didn't suffer from breakouts for a while. Thankfully (Ok not thankfully but it allowed me to actually review this product) with exam stress my skin started to have a bit of a breakout. Now when I say breakout I mean like 2-3 pimples total, nothing crazy so I can't say how well these work for extreme breakouts.

Niapads website states that : 
Niapads™ is a one-step process for pore cleansing, killing acne causing bacteria and exfoliation. Skin friendly emollients prevent drying of skin. It also contains Lavender oil, known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; and yes it provides a mild lavender scent.

Inflammatory skin conditions include Acne vulgaris and studies have shown that Niacinamide USP has proven efficacy in treatment of these skin conditions. Niapads™ is uniquely formulated to deliver Niacinamide USP topically at the desired site unlike oral formulations. A mild scrubbing pad helps exfoliate dead skin cells and prevent pore clogging.

These little sheets did help clear up my pimples (I stopped using my regular solutions while trying these products) quickly, within a day or two they where pretty much gone. The scent of these are strongly herbal, but not irritating. I think these would be amazing to use while traveling because you don't have to worry about leakage and the packaging is super minimal so it doesn't take up a ton of space in your bag.

A couple complaints about the product is that while the packaging is great for travel and very utilitarian it's not really pretty (I like pretty packing). I know it's the contents that matter though. Also these were a bit tricky to use in the shower because I found that the strong spray got rid of the product too quickly and you were left with the little cloth. So make sure to be careful when using them in the shower!

I used up almost the entire package of 30, I think I have less than 10 left, and I would recommend this product for people with sensitive skin. My skin had zero reaction to this at all, normally when I'm using something with pimple fighting ingredients it tends to feel tight or get a bit irritated because of the strong ingredients. I really like that they included lavender in this product because it's super beneficial to your skin.

Niapads are sold in a bag of 30 sheets for $17 on amazon and you can get a discount if you buy in bulk.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review, I did not purchase this product. All opinions are my own.

all I want for christmas: beauty edition

all I want for christmas: beauty edition by alysiamansfield featuring too faced cosmetics

No one ever seems to by me beauty product for Christmas, but here a few items I wouldn't mind finding under the tree!

1. Clarisonic Mia - This one I might actually get, I've heard it's amazing for helping your skin stay clear and gorgeous so I've been lusting after one of these for a while.

2. Lorac Eye Candy Full Face Collection - I could have got this at the VIB sale but I ended up getting the pro palette instead. I love it so much I'd love to try more Lorac products and the backaging on this is just gorgeous.

3. Coco Rouge Shine in Evasion or Romance - These are so expensive I have a hard time buying them for myself, but they've been on a my wishlist for a while

4. Too Faced Shadow Bursh set - I love that these are cruelty free but feel so soft. I can't justify them with all the other brushes I own but I'd love to have these!   

5. Too Faced La Creme lipstick - the packaging for these is stunning and they've gotten great reviews. I'm eying Coral Fire, Marshmallow Bunny and Juicy Melons  

6. Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Portabello or Kalahari - I swatch these every time I go into Sephora, but can't bring myself to spend the money. Someday these will be mine..

Anyone have any beauty items they're lusting over?   

Glam Holiday Tutorial

Just an easy glam holiday tutorial for all your holiday party needs

Holly Jolly Holiday Tag!

image from wehearit

I was tagged by Christine over at Starry Eyed Beauty so I thought I'd do this festive themed tag!

 1. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last minute?
I only have 2 or 3 people in which I put a lot of effort into their gifts, so I get it done pretty early. Friends who I exchange gifts with tend to get the same type of gift, this year it was a small candle and a nail polish I thought they would like (already handed out these gifts this year so I'm not ruining it for anyone!)

2. If you could be in any Christmas movie what would it be?
Elf because it's hilarious.

3. Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Day because presents and food <3

4. When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it?
Whenever my mom gets to it? We used to make a big deal about it but as we all got older it became less important

5. White lights or colored lights?
White lights, I just think they're classier.

6. Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like the surprise?
Because apparently I'm impossible to buy for (I disagree) my mom takes us shopping and we pick out items within our budget. I tend to pick out clothing items because I'm always sick of my clothes by this time of year but don't have money to add new items.

7. Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or in Santa's Workshop?
Santa's Workshop so I could play with toys all day!

8. Tell us your Christmas Eve traditions!
A lighter dinner, normally seafood with my mom, sister, brother in law, and nephew. We just kind of chill out and eat food.

9. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone who would it be?
There's no one specific on my crush list right now, so I'm not sure. Umm I guess if forced Prince Harry :D 

10. What tops your tree?
A star

11. Can you name the 12 days of Christmas?
nope haha

12. Have you ever gone Christmas caroling?
I am not good a singing so nope!

13. Do you countdown to Christmas? If so, how many days are left?
not really, I mean I'm aware of it but in a general kind of way.

14. What are some foods and treats you can count on having every holiday season?
My great-grandmothers recipe for shortbread, which is a family secret and is true traditional Scottish shortbread <3 Also Potato Casserole (which comes out every holiday, its basically mashed potatoes with sour cream, cream cheese, and then baked in a casserole dish) which I fight with my brother in law (and now my nephew too!) over the leftovers.

15. How has Christmas kept its magic for you as you've grown older?
I was never huge into Christmas (more into presents when younger) but it's getting easier as time passes. I used to really hate it but now all I hate is the super overdone commercial aspect of it. Although I do LOVE the holiday makeup collections that have come out every year so I like that part.

all I want for christmas...

all I want for christmas... by alysiamansfield featuring a zip around wallet

So I though I would share what I'm hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year! I don't buy clothing often because as a student my budget is fairly limited so I tend to ask for clothing items for Christmas to last me through the year. Starting from the top:

1. Stella and Dot Clover Double Wrap Bracelet $64 - I've been loving layering bracelets together and this leather cuff would be a great addition.  

2. A Navy Winter Coat - I'm going to wait until after Christmas to get this and I don't have a specific one in mind. I bought a grey coat two years ago, and a black one 4 years ago so I feel like I'm due for a new one.

3. Sweaters (Wilfred Balzac sweater pictured $115) - I love cozy sweaters for the winter months because I have to commute so far for school. It just makes getting ready in the morning so much easier.

4. A Sequined Mini Skirt - If you follow me on pinterest you know I love sequined mini skirts. I'm dying to get one of my own so I can experiment with new looks.

5. Michael Kors Jet Set Watch in Tortoise $225 - My sister has had this watch for years and I love it so much. This is something that is always on my wishlist but I have yet to receive because of the hefty price tag. Some friends and I are looking at going to the states in the spring so maybe I'll get it there as it's cheaper.

6. Kate Spade Moonlit Soiree purse $298 - I feel like this would be an amazing party purse, so cute and festive! One of those items I drool over but will never actually spend the money on. 

7. Stella and Dot Tech Wallet $94 - I need a smaller wallet to go with my Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac because I struggle to get out my current one. I love that this one can double as a wristlet and has a holder for your phone! So handy when going out and you don't want to carry a purse.

8. Temple St. Clair Rock Crystal Amulet $800 - I have been in love with this necklace for years. Temple St. Clair is my favorite jewelery designer that I will never be able to afford, but one day I hope I have someone who loves me enough to buy this... that or I win the lottery!

9. Kate Spade Pride and Prejudice clutch $325 - This is more of a novelty item than something I'm dying to have. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen novel and one of my favorite novels of all time. I feel like this clutch does homage to it.

10. Combat Boots - I feel like a lot of my fashion dilemmas would be solved by a pair of combat boots because they're just so effortless. While I love my Dolce Vita Joust boots they are just a bit impracticable for long days at school, and my knee high boots are sometimes too posh for my outfits. Another item I'm going to be hunting for in the post Christmas sales. 

What are you guys wishing for this Christmas? Am I the only one who has items on their wishlist for years?

Essie Merino Cool Review + Swatches!

Essie describes Merino Cool as a sensuous autumn mulberry. Personally I'd describe it as a purple-greige. Shopper Drug Mart was having a sale on Essie polishes last week from $12CAD to $8CAD so I picked up a couple of shade and this is so far my favorite.

This applies like all Essie polishes, a bit thinner than OPI or Julep and you definitely need two coats to achieve the bottle colour. I found that this turned out darker than what the bottle appears and more purple toned than I thought. When I was in the store it looks more like Smokin' Hot does in the bottle.

I do however love this colour, it's fantastic for fall/winter, not too dark like some polishes but not too bright either. I'm really loving neutral-ish nails lately and merino cool fits perfectly.

November Montly Favorites!

Sorry this is a bit late guys, I filmed, edited, and uploaded this this morning. I've been swamped with school work  as it's end of term. Enjoy!

A to Z Tag!

I did the A to Z tag with my friend Lyndsey aka Geogirl007!

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Blush Review + Swatches!

 This was the one item I allowed myself to buy during the month of October while I had a buying ban on. It was sold out online and was selling out fast in stores so I snapped it up. The Fantastic Foursome retails for $35USD/$46CAD (Canadian price is a guess, it's no longer available on sephora.com) which works out to be $11.50 a blush, which are half the size of the regular amazonian clay blushes from tarte which cost $33.

 From the top left you get Stellar which is a neutral, Magic which is a coral, Angelic which is a great highlighter and Fantastic which is a hot pink. The packaging is the same as their full sized blushes, a hard plastic in the colour of the blush. I like this better than the Nars or MAC packaging because it makes them easier to find in the drawer.

Each blush is embossed with a picture of the Amazon which is cute. Magic and Fantastic are matte blushes which I love, and Stellar and Angelic have some shimmer. I have to say Fantastic is my favorite out of the group, it looks a bit scary in the pan being bright pink but looks amazing on.

From Left to right: Fantastic, Magic, Angelic, and Stellar. Stellar is my least favorite of the bunch because it feels like a really light bronzer to me. I might start liking it more in place of my Nars Laguna bronzer when my skin gets even paler in the winter.

If you can still find this set I highly recommend it. It was my first Tarte purchase and I do not regret it at all. I can't wait to explore more of the Tarte line and share it with you!

sorry!

I did have a post scheduled for today but blogger apparently ate it :( Posts resume on Thursday!

Aurora inspired Makeup Tutorial!

Hey guys! So I've come up with a new schedule for the blog to incorporate the videos I'm making, content posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a new video every Sunday! Anyways here is my new video, it's a tutorial for Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) from the show Once Upon a Time. I hope you guys like it :)

November Glymm Bag!

 This months bag is super cute a black snake skin print. Is it just me or is every month getting better and better with the bag styles? It's my favorite part about Glymm.

Lys Parisien Porfessionnel Moisturizing Shampoo and Balm - This smells decent and has argan oil in it. I never get super excited over hair stuff, but this seems ok.

Villainess Scintillating Bar Soap  This smells so good, plus I loved the Villainess moisturizer I received a few months back. Not huge on bar soaps but this might be ok. It says it's moisturizing which is my main issue with bar soaps.

The New Black nail polish - I don't know what colour this is, but at least it's not teal! It's kind of like a metallic chrome lilac, which might be nice for summer. I've never used The New Black polishes before so I'm excited to try this out.

The Beehive Honey Blossom perfume - this has notes of tea, mandarin, vanilla, amber and patchouli. It might be a bit floral for my tastes, but it doesn't make me cringe so I'll give it a go.

Not the best bag, but I don't hate anything so that's always good.

November Topbox

This is my first ever topbox, I was on the waiting list for what seemed like forever! This months box was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I love the packaging, it's super cute. The size of the samples was also great.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - Really excited to try this as I tend not to spend a lot of money on mascaras.

China Glaze nail polish in Exotic Encounters - I only have one other china glaze nail polish so I'm ok with it. I wish these boxes would stop sending me teal polish though, I have so many now without purchasing any on their own!

Cuccio Naturale Butter Blend - this seems like a nice moisturizer, I threw it in my purse because the size is great.

Roberto Cavalli eau de parfum - a decent sized sample in nice packaging. Not really my cup of tea scent wise though.

I'm excited to keep receiving Topbox and see how it continues to stack up. Any ideas what to do with the tube packaging?

Sephora VIB Haul!

A chatty video about all the stuff I got from Sephora for the VIB sale!

Spencer Hastings Tutorial

This is my first ever tutorial which I chose to show you how to recreate Spencer from Pretty Little Liars look.

VIB sale preparation!

So I'm totally Type - A, a Ravenclaw through and through, yadda yadda yadda, I'm a nutbar with OCD who likes to prepare for things WAY IN ADVANCE OK? Anyways, the Sephora VIB sale is happening this month!! So in preparation I've been narrowing down what I'm going to purchase to make this time as minimally stressful as possible. I have a couple of goals/rules.

1. Only one thing from each brand (so as not to go crazy with any one brand)
2. Try and keep it under $200 (as I'm a poor student and this is to last me for a while)

Seems reasonable yes? Onto the goodies I'm ogling!

1. Nars Laguna Bronzer - $39 ($31.20 after discount) I already own this in a duo with Orgasm, but I hit pan last month (in a big way) and because I love this bronzer I feel like a full sized version is in order.

2. Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight Palette - $70 ($56 after discount) Ok this is crazy expensive for a palette I know, $7 an eyeshaow. I also know I've been lusting after this since early September. Kate of Gh0stparties has raved about this numerous times as well. There is a very strong possibility that this will come home with me. Also! It would be my first ever Bobbi Brown purchase (totally attempting to justify it here).

3. Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Palette - $45 ($36 after discount) So far more reasonable/way more bang for you buck is this Too Faced palette. You guys know my deep seated love of neutral palettes and of eyeshadow palettes in general (it's a little obscene). With this discount this works out to be $3 an eyeshadow and I don't own any Too Faced products. Plus the reviews are pretty good as well. This is a highly likely purchase.

4. Lorac Pro Palette - $55 ($44 after discount) Another eyeshadow palette you say?! Psh, of course! I'm obsessed! Amarixe talked about this in a recent haul video, raving about how awesome it is. 16 eyeshadows, half matte and half shimmery. I love me some matte eyeshadows, so this is a serious contender. This works out $2.75 an eyeshadow, which is an even better deal then the Too Faced palette! Need to do a bit more research into this palette to make sure though. I've been having trouble finding swatches of it.

 5. Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Portobello (or Kalahari) - $39 ($31.20 with discount) Ok so I know I said no repeats on brands, but as Laguna is a staple I'm tempted to make an exception. Essie Button raved about Portobello recently and Fleur De Force raved about Kalahari awhile ago. Both seem like perfect weekend away duo's in that I could throw that in a bag with my 217 brush and be good to go. Not 100% sold on this though, as I have so many palettes on my wish list that are much better deals.

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty - $33 ($26.40 with discount) So I did break my buying ban to purchase the set of four blushes back in October, which I love and expect reviews to come soon! Because I've never been much of a blush girl until recently, my collection consists of 3 blushes (two of the blushes from the Tarte kit are highlighter/bronzer) so I'm eager to add to my collection. This one was raved about by Essie Button recently as being the perfect Snow White blush. I'm also looking at Nars Sin/Nars Deep Throat. Anyone have any really good blush selections?

7. Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation - $38.50 ($30.80 after discount) Foundation is a bit boring, but Fleur De Force raved about this in her foundation video, and my Chanel Vitalumier must be getting past the halfway point. With this discount this is $20 cheaper than my Chanel foundation and is supposed to be fantastic. I'm also eying the YSL Teint Touche Eclait, which my mum picked up recently and loves.

I think that's pretty much everything on my list! I need to narrow it down, I'm thinking of ditching the Nars duo's and getting rid of ONE palette. The Shiseido foundation and Nars bronzer are pretty much guaranteed though. Anyone else really excited for this sale? What are you stocking up on/getting ready to experiment with?

October Favorites - Drugstore edition!

So this month I decided to do something a little different and focus on affordable drug store favorites. All of these items I use almost everyday to do my makeup. I'm about 90% sure all of these products are under $10CAD as well (it's been a while since I bought them so don't hold me to that!)

1. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - This is a great setting powder, really helps deal with shine. I use this everyday to set my concealer and for my T-Zone

2. Essence Coverstick - such a great concealer, I picked this up because MissGlamourazzi recommended it. Perfect for covering up blemishes. Also? this is under $5

3. Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in black - These liners are great, and only $5! I haven't tried expensive eyeliners yet because this one is just so great.

4. Essence Brow and Lash Gel - I don't really understand spending a ton of money on brow gel when cheaper options work just as well. This one costs under $5!

5. Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara - This is my favorite mascara, hands down. Makes my lashes look really full and long.

What are your favorite products that cost under $10?

Lavanila Vanilla Coconut Rollerball Review

So I'm not the biggest fan of super sweet artificial scents. If a scent is sweet that's fine, but I really don't like it when it feels like it's giving me a cavity just from smelling it. Lavanila's Vanilla Coconut scent toes this line perfectly for me. It's become my go to fragrance now that the weather has cooled down. It's warm and inviting with a hint of tropical that makes you think of a beach vacation.

This scent seems to be popular with men and women alike as well as I frequently get told I smell amazing whenever I wear this. I think this would be great for travel, as the size is perfect to throw into your carry on and fits TSA standards. Also cost-wise this is budget friendly at $25CAD. If you like sweet but not cloying scents then I recommend you check this one out. I have my eyes on the Vanilla Lavender rollerball next when the VIB sale happens.

October Glymm Box

I picked this up a bit late, as the post office that my packages gets delivered to is out of the way so I can't always pick up my post right away. This months Glymm Bag was ok in product selection, mostly because one product isn't for me at all and I've received the other product before. The bag, however, is my favorite so far and the stuff I can use is really cool.

1. Johnson's Baby Oil: This is a promo item for the soon to be released Glymm MAMA box. While I'm not a mother, I do use baby oil for extra moisture in the winter in addition to my moisturizer so I like this travel sized version.

2. Lash Card: I don't really have issues smudging my mascara but I'll keep these around.

3. Femme Coture Lightening Lash Mascara: A full sized mascara which is awesome. I've only used this once and I found it very wet and smudgy... maybe I do need those lash cards. I'll keep testing it up but it doesn't really stand up to my Maybelline Falsies.

4. Cyberderm H2O Hydration: I've received this before in a Glymm bag but I like this packaging much better. It's like the L'Occitane hand creams rather than the syringe like packaging I received before.

5. cyberderm Every Morning Sun Whip: A zinc oxide based cream that is supposed to be used in conjunction with the H2O Hydration as it's supposed to be very light. I generally prefer my SPF to be built into my moisturizer so it's one less step I have to do in the morning.

6. Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme: So this is the product clearly not for me as a) I have fine hair that weighs down easily b) my hair is straight and not curly c) I'm not African-Canadian which the product is marketed for (I checked out their webpage) so I'm going to give this to a friend. It smells amazing though.

Pretty happy with this bag this month, other than the Buttercreme which smells so good but I fear the grease factor if I use it in my hair.

Revlon Lip Butter in Lolipop: Review + Swatches!

I bought Lollipop at the suggestion of Miss. Glamouraszzi on YouTube who described it as a perfect fuchsia lipstick. I agree with her, this colour is amazing. You can layer it on for a brighter colour, but I tend to wear this sheerer because it's a very bright colour.

Lollipop has a lovely creamy texture that is super moisturizing. I prefer this to peach parfait's texture, which has glitter in it. This is such an easy colour to wear, I like to throw this one when I've got a really neutral look on my eyes, or when I can't really be bothered to do a full face. It just makes you look a bit more pulled together that way. I tend to reserve this colour for summer time, as in winter it can look a bit off with all the cool colours going on. 

This time of year I would recommend getting Berry Smoothie over Lollipop because it goes better for the season. But if you're going away soon to some place warm definitely pick this colour up!

Are blogs/youtubers killing your bank acount?

I don't know about you, but I tend to overspend... a lot. Part of that has to do with my upbringing, my parents never taught us to save so when I started paying for things myself I tended to go overboard. This is a habit I've been struggling with for years now. I have a sizeable chunk of consumer debt (credit cards) and with my student loans adding up I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

Somehow though I still slip up and buy things. I'm normally pretty good about allowing myself the odd treat (I set aside $25 a paycheck that I can use on whatever I want) so I don't go crazy, but I find it harder to resist things the more time I spend on blogs/watching YouTube. Limited edition products have been my Achilles heels for ages so I try to avoid the stores that sell them. Seeing cute outfits on YouTubers makes my closet seem dull and haul videos tend to make me want to keep up with the Jones'. 

Does anyone else have this problem? Any tips/tricks for avoiding a spending splurge?

Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Boy: Review + Swatches!

Chanel's Coco Rouge Shine is a moisturizing formula of lipstick, more moisturizing than MAC's creamsheen formula and about as moisturizing as the Revlon lip butters. These lipsticks are expensive (over $30CAD) but I think very worth the price. The packaging is simple but elegant.

Boy is a perfect my lip by better look, and because the formula is so moisturizing I don't have to worry about flakes on my lips showing. This colour is so easy to wear, I tend to reach for it almost everyday. While I can't say I plan on having a huge collection of these lipsticks due to cost, if you are looking to invest in a high end lipstick this is a great colour that you will get a ton of wear out of.

Stila French Rivera Trio - Swatches + Review!

I've had this trio for a few months now and I love it. It's such a simple easy look to put together. This will definitely be my go to for weekends away as I don't even need eyeliner with this palette.The price is amazing as well, 3 full sized Stila eyeshadows for less than a single eyeshadow ($18 for the trio).

From left to right you have kitten, grace and mahogany. Kitten is amazing, but be very careful when applying as Stila shadows are super powdery and you tend to get a lot on your brush with a single swipe. Grace is a beautiful taupe colour that I just love. Mahogany is a matte brown colour, very rich but a little tricky to work with because of they way Stila shadows are formulated. Make sure to tap your brush of when using this shade!

The palette they come with is very sturdy plastic with a good sized mirror. I like that it has little pin holes in the back so you can pop the shadows out easily (unlike MAC palettes which are a pain to get shadows out of).

Grace is the least pigmented of the three, which actually makes it easier to work with. The other two tend to get a bit messy if your not careful. There is some fallout with Mahogany but it cleans up easier than some of my Urban Decay shadows.






Overall this is a great trio and I highly recommend it. It's sold out at Sephora but I've seen it on Amazon and other websites.

Christmas Lust List!

 Ok I know I'm totally on ban from buying any cosmetics for the month of October but have you guys seen the new collections for Christmas? Serious drooling going on over here! I might be tempted to break it, depends on how fast these are going!

Lorac Eye Candy Full Face collection - $77CAD
Ok, eyeshadow quads that look like candy bars? You had be at hello mister! I'm not a huge fan of non-pencil eyeliners or lip palettes but I'm super tempted by this collection. I've never tried Lorac products and I feel like this would be a good introduction, plus super handy for traveling! You can pick and choose what to take.

Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette - $62CAD
I haven't used Too Faced before either and I think this is a great introduction! 16 eyeshadows, two blushes, two bronzers, a highlighter, a shadow primer and a double ended brush? Wow this is an amazing deal. Most of the colours are very wearable as well, and even the brights are fairly subdued.

Tarte Carried Away Collectors Set - $70CAD
Another untried by me brand Tarte has two things that have totally peaked my interest this holiday season. This first one is I think the best deal of the all, 24 eyeshadows, 8 lip glosses, a blush, a translucent powder, mascara, a brush and a SUPER CUTE carrying case. I just can't even contain my excitement over this one!

Tarte Fantastic Foursome 4-Piece Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush Enthusiast Set - $40CAD
Wow that was a mouthful! Four Tarte blushes (half size but still) for $40? Normal sized Tarte blushes are $33CAD. This is the one that might make me break my embargo on spending in October. It's sold out online and I'll be at a Sephora this weekend so if they have it in stock I might pick it up.

What collections are you guys drooling over?I know it's only October but they release the holiday collections so early it's hard not to get excited!

** All Images are from Sephora

September GlossyBox

 This will be my last ever Glossybox post as I finally cancelled my subscription. Ironically this was the best Glossybox I ever recieved.

Wella Professionals Mirror Polish Shine Spray - This is lightweight enough for my fine hair and smells OK so I'm pretty happy about this one. The glass bottle is nice, but heavy. Not great for traveling.

B. Kamins Lip Balm SPF 20 - This is a heavy duty balm, I think I'll save it for summer days at the beach. It has SPF in it which is great and I feel like it would keep my lips super moisturized in the sun.
B. Kamins Maple Body Lotion - This does not smell like maple at all! I was super excited when I read that this was male because I LOVE maple syrup (seriously though, I put it in my coffee. How Canadian can you get?) but this doesn't smell bad and it's non-greasy which is nice. I put this in my overnight kit so I haven't really tested it.

Dove Cleartone deodorant - This deodorant is supposed to reduce underarm discoloration caused by dry skin. Which sounds cool, but deodorant in my beauty box? I love my dove deodorant but yeah, a bit odd.

NYX Cosmetics: the Crimson Amulet Collection - Ok this I love! NYX is really hard to find here so I'm super excited to try out this palette. I wish it included how to's on how to create the looks pictured, but I'll live :)

lusting after...

These Joust Boot in black by DV by Dolce Vita. I saw these first on shop sosie (which I haven't been able to get on in days) and then later at FNO in Little Burgundy. I tried them on and I love them, they're so comfortable and cute. However the $165 price tag keeps scaring me off. So far I've been successful in not caving into my desires and just buying them but we'll see how long that lasts.

What are you guys lusting after?

October Favorites!

September flew by, between school with it's commute, fall tv shows coming back, and work I felt like I barely had time to catch my breath. It's only going to get busier from here on out with deadlines coming up for school work, but I'm looking forward to it. Onto the favorites!

Mac Creme Cup lipstick + Mac Pink Lemonade lipglass - this has been a favorite lip colour combination this month, I've basically kept these two in my purse on a permanent basis.

La Vanilla Vanilla Coconut Rollerball - I love this scent, so tasty without smelling too cloyingly sweet. I think this is one guys would like, I tend to wear man-repelling scents (too masculine according to an ex) and this one is girly (or as girly smelling as I get).

Mac All That Glitters Eyeshadow - not pictured because I got tired of trying to wrestle this one out of my palette. I love this colour it's great on it's own for a no-makeup look and  pairs really well with Sable, Patina or Satin Taupe.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac - This has become my everyday purse, I love it so much. It's great for school because it's not too bulky to carry with my totes full of books but makes it easy to grab my wallet for coffee.

Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Coffee - In Canada we don't have Dunkin Donuts, which sucks because their coffee is a) Delicious, and b) CHEAP.  Well cheap compared to a pound of coffee at Starbucks anyways. Plus this tastes about a million times better. My mum goes to the states fairly regularly and I always ask for a couple pounds of coffee as payment for looking after the house/dog while she's gone. This time she brought back this new flavor and I'm in love. Honestly this is so good. If you haven't tried it yet, do so now. If you can't get any, I'm really sorry for your loss.

I've been trying to cut back on my spending habits as a) I'm working a lot less because of school so I'm kinda poor and b) I got a little out of hand this summer and need to pay back some credit cards. I'm going to declare October a no beauty buy zone and see if I can't stick with that.

September Glymm bag!

Unlike Glossybox which I'm pretty much always disappointed with, Glymm hasn't let me down yet. There's always at least one or two products I love, plus the makeup bags are just great! I used them to organize myself while traveling. So far I've set up a overnight kit (for quick overnight trips so I don't have to run around searching for stuff) and an emergency kit (full of band-aids and such). On to this months Glymm bag products!

Evolvh UltraShine Shampoo & Conditioner I really like the scent of these, kind of masculine. They do a good job of cleaning my hair and don't leave it too heavy, as I have fine hair and it's easy to weigh it down. Leaves my hair really manageable with a minimum of tangles.

La Fresh waterproof makeup remover wipes I haven't tried these yet, but I love that they're individually packaged. These went straight into my overnight kit so I most likely won't try them for a while.

Bentaberry super moisturizing face cream for girls this is an OK product, I don't really like the smell (it reminds me a bit of musty towels) but thankfully it dissipates quickly. Like the name says this is really moisturizing.

Villainess Dulce en Fuego Whipped body creme omg I love this, this smells amazing. Like toasted marshmallows with just a hint of spice. This leaves my skin feeling powdery soft and I'm REALLY tempted to buy a full-size of this, even though I rarely buy expensive body creams.

The bag this month is ok, I can't say I'm in love with it like I was last month. I might just give this to my mom or sister, but we'll see if I can't find a use for it.

a huge thank you!

I just wanted to reach out and thank my reader LeslieJ for nominating me for SkinnyScoop's top 25 beauty bloggers! Thank you so much, it was such a delight to come home and see that :) I'm so happy you like the blog!

Pinterest Style Inspiration!

I love Pinterest for getting ideas on everything from home decor to style inspiration to tasty treats! Here are a few looks I've been loving the idea of for fall.

Above is a gorgeous navy wool coat and I'm determined to get one this year (I generally buy a new winter coat every two years or so)

Love this idea of making your maxie skirts last into the cooler months. Pairing it with a chunky knit gives you an Olsen twin/Nicole Richie vibe. I wore this look last week and got a ton of compliments on it.

This is pretty much my style uniform for busy days. Skinny jeans/Jeggings with ballet flats (or my Toms!) with  simple shirt and a scarf. Though I do tend to swap out a blazer for my leather jacket. Simple and easy but still looks totally pulled together.

I'm not great at mixing patterns so I'm always on the look out for great looks I can recreate. I love how the monochromatic theme here really pulls this together.

Anyone else spend hours looking for inspiration on Pinterest?