Wednesday, January 31, 2018

January 2018 Boxycharm - Unboxing, Swatches, Full Makeup Try-on and Review!

Boxycharm is a beauty subscription box for $21.00 US a month + $5.00 shipping to Canada (shipping is free to the U.S.) Boxycharm sends 4 to 5 full size and luxury size beauty items. 

This subscription focuses heavily on make-up items - so that is something to keep in mind! While it is a little pricier than the more inexpensive beauty boxes, the majority of the products are full size, with a deluxe sample every once in a while. 



January 2018 Boxycharm - Unboxing, Swatches, Full Makeup Try-on and Review!

Every subscriber generally receives the same products, but their is usually 1 or 2 items that have a few variations, so our boxes may not be identical! 

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

My U.S.A. Shopping Haul - Ulta, Target, Sephora and Naimies!

I could not wait to get this post up - I may have went a little shopping crazy on my recent trip to L.A. and Anaheim. There are so many products that aren't readily in Canada that I have been waiting patiently to try! 

(Also, I usually keep everything in CAD $ in my posts, but just because these are easier in USD, that's what I will share the prices in for this haul!)



I didn't actually think I would make it to a Sephora while in California! When we were in L.A. it was just too far of a drive; but, when we stayed in Anaheim we walked to our house through Downtown Disney and I saw Sephora and HAD to run in and pick this one item up! 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask ~ $45.00 US. The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is a luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask that smoothes and perfects skin, overnight. 

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Five on Sunday - January 28, 2018

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm getting my weekly 5 up a couple of days late - but this was a crazy busy week and we just got back home last night! 

ONE 


We had such an amazing week in Los Angeles, Universal Studios, Anaheim and Disneyland! We went on a week long family vacation with our little family of four, plus my sister and her husband, and my mom, step dad, brother and his service dog. We had a big group all staying in a house and visiting the parks together! 

Elliott was actually really good travelling and loved seeing all the characters! Damian turned in to a teenager while we were down there, had so much fun on all the rides and had a great time with the family! It was awesome to spend lots of time with the family, jump in a pool every day and relax (or as much as you can relax chasing a 9 month old!) I will do a whole post on our trip, with some kids/baby tips! 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Mask Wednesday - Lovemore x Disney Tsum Tsum "Mickey & Minnie Firming Mask (Limited Edition)" Review

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! As this is posting, I am in Anaheim and we are gearing up to go to Disneyland and California Adventure Park for the next couple of days! So, it only seems appropriate that I blog about a Mickey Mouse face mask, right?! 


Mask Wednesday - Lovemore x Disney Tsum Tsum "Mickey & Minnie Firming Mask (Limited Edition)" Review


Lovemore x Disney Tsum Tsum "Mickey & Minnie Firming Mask (Limited Edition)" ~ $5.00. Contains superb quality extracts and essences to moisturize, brighten, and regenerate the skin. Best for anti-aging, firming & lifting. 

How stinking cute are these masks?! Disney Tsum Tsums are sooo cute and I have been a big fan of Lovemore masks! These I have previously tried the Winnie the Pooh mask in this set and you can check out my thoughts here

Monday, January 22, 2018

Disney Manicure Monday - Mickey Mouse Polka Dot Nail Art

Happy Manicure Monday everyone! I'm so excited - as this is posting, we are currently in L.A. (most likely wandering around Universal Studios today)... but since we are heading to Disneyland soon, I had to do a Disney themed mani! 


Disney Manicure Monday - Mickey Mouse Polka Dot Nail Art

I went with a polka dot Mickey Mouse and some matching red and white polka dots! The Mickey heads were surprisingly easy to create with just a dotting tool! 

Friday, January 19, 2018

Five on Friday - January 19, 2018

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a great week - I have had a great week; but, it was busy! 

ONE
We are leaving tomorrow for our family vacation to L.A. and Anaheim and I couldn't be more excited! Travelling with a baby comes with so much more prep! We are flying in to L.A. staying there for a couple of days - we have plans for Universal Studios, shopping, the Hollywood sign, etc. Then we are driving to Anaheim and staying near Disneyland for a few days as well and doing both Disney parks! We may be a little crazy for trying it all with a soon-to-be 9 month old! (Any tips you have would be lovely!)

The posts will be a little on the lite side while we are on holidays; but, I do have a few posts scheduled while I'm away - mostly Disney related! Hope you all have a great week! 

TWO

I don't have much information/knowledge on the Seacret brand (I have heard a little bit about it and tried one of their face masks before); but, my hair stylist uses this brand and this brush is amazing! It is the Seacret Pro Styling Hair Brush and it is sooo good on my hair. I have fine and thin hair and it tangles so easy - I also have a really sensitive scalp so I hate my hair being pulled, etc. This brush is so soft and gentle and works quickly - no pulling, no frizz! 

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Mask Wednesday - The Face Shop MASK.LAB Anti-Aging Foil Face Mask Try-on and Review!

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! You know that I am all about the weird/cool/different masks here and these foil masks sounded so fun! I have been meaning to try them out for a while; but, every time I went to my nearest Face Shop location it was always sold out, so I gently hinted to my husband that I needed one in my stocking this year for Christmas and it magically showed up in there for me! 


Mask Wednesday - The Face Shop MASK.LAB Anti-Aging Foil Face Mask Try-on and Review!

The Face Shop MASK.LAB Anti-Aging Foil Face Mask ~ $4.00 CAN. The dual-structured sheet, which is covered with a layer of powerful foil, prevents the anti-aging essence from evaporating and allows it to effectively absorb into skin to make it firmer.

How fun is this mask that is all foil! To be honest, when I saw this mask I thought that the foil layer was really just a gimmick to get people to wear it; but, it's interesting - it actually serves a purpose and it's meant to be a topper that helps the essence absorb in to the skin! 

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Beautylish 2018 Lucky Bag - Unboxing and Review!

I was so excited to receive my 2018 Beautylish Lucky Bag in the mail! I'm such a sucker for these mystery beauty bags (or mystery box in terms of how it arrives!)

Every Boxing Day (or December 26 for you non-Canadians), Beautylish releases the pre-order for their Lucky Bags which ship in early January! These boxes are $75.00 US + $15.00 shipping to Canada (with exchange I paid $123.29 CAN); but, you are guaranteed at least $150.00 US worth of makeup. They are all totally random, so it is a complete surprise what you get. Some are extra lucky and include gift cards, etc. 

Here is a look at my 2018 Beautylish Lucky Bag:

The Lucky Bags are described as "Lucky Bags are a Japanese New Year custom that inspired us to create our own. This year's Lucky Bags are brought to you by the Seven Lucky Gods, who travel the world in their magical treasure ship to grant good fortune in the coming year". 

Monday, January 15, 2018

Maison Jacynthe Makeup - Foundation and Illuminator Try-on, Swatches and Reviews!

I have talked about Maison Jacynthe on the blog a couple of times! It is a Canadian company started by Jacynthe Rene - she runs the website jmagazine.ca and is an author, actress and producer. All of their products are cruelty-free, are 100% natural, and contain no GMO's or chemicals. 




I have previously reviewed their skincare products, mascara and eyeshadow, and nail polishes and have liked everything so I am excited to try these products out! 

Friday, January 12, 2018

Five on Friday - January 12, 2018

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a great week - it got super cold again this week in Calgary so it has me counting down the days until we leave for California (8 days!)

ONE 

I love when someone knows me so well and just picks out cute little gifts for me! My sister just sent this little gift and everything is so cute! She lives in Vancouver and mentioned this store Miniso - it looks so cool! There isn't one in Calgary; but, when I'm nearby one I have to check it out! The blog book I'm sure wasn't in that store; but, everything else was! 

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Travel Post - Kauai, Hawaii Vacation + a few travel tips while travelling pregnant on Kauai!

Ahhh exactly one year ago, I was enjoying a lovely 2 week vacation in Kauai, Hawaii! I have never been to Hawaii at all before this trip, so I cannot compare Kauai at all to any other island in Hawaii; but, it was an absolutely beautiful island and made for such a great vacation! 



Before I get started, here are a few things to know about Kauai:

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Mask Wednesday - Fresh Rose Face Mask Try-on and Review!

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! I love the brand Fresh - they offer one-of-a-kind products that infuse ancient beauty rituals with modern technology. Fresh creates high quality and highly effective products that pamper the user! Every time I use products from Fresh, they always feel so luxurious! 



Fresh Rose Face Mask ~ $30 for 30 ml or $75 for 100 ml. A cult-favorite hydrating and toning gel mask infused with real rose petals, soothing rosewater, and a “smart” algae that delivers optimum moisture.

This mask is a gel based mask that is meant to moisturize and hydrate dull and tired skin to give the skin a refreshed, healthy complexion. The mask is infused with real rose petal pieces for radiance - about 2 1/2 roses per jar! This mask also uses a smart algae, cucumber, aloe vera and green tea for hydration, soothing and brightening the skin! 

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Manicure Tuesday - Colour of the Year Ultra Violet Nails!

Happy Manicure Day everyone! I always love when Pantone comes out with their new Colour of the Year! The 2018 Colour of the Year is Ultra Violet and I'm loving this shade - it's very bold and I can't wait to use it for makeup and nail looks this year! 


Manicure Tuesday - Colour of the Year Ultra Violet Nails!

Ulta Violet is described as a vivid purple and it is perfect for nails! 

Monday, January 8, 2018

Best of Beauty 2017 - Makeup and Nails!

I just posted my Skincare Favorites of 2017 and now it's time to look at what really stood out to me in beauty over the past year! 

Like in my skincare post, I am only included products that I tried and loved in 2017! Most of these were products that were released this year that I tried; but, in the case of a couple it was products released earlier that I tried for the first time this year! 


Best of Beauty 2017 - Makeup and Nails!


Too Faced Sweet Peach "Papa Don’t Peach Blush" ~ $38.00. Sweet Peach Papa Don't Peach Blush's sweet peachy-bronze hue imparts fresh, youthful-looking radiance to cheeks for a touch of summertime warmth. Infused with the essence of peach, this blush smells like peaches, and its rich, pigmented shade provides buildable payoff. Wearable and flattering on any skintone, it leaves a gilded, pink-pearl, brightening finish. 

This was a hit right at the start of the year - you can see my full swatches and what it looks like on me here! This was hands down my go-to blush for all of Spring and Summer - it adds a gorgeous pinky peach with just a hint of sheen that you don't even need a highlighter with it. Plus it smells amazing! So good! 


Sunday, January 7, 2018

Skincare Sunday - Best of 2017 Skincare Favorites and Game Changers!

I haven't ever done Yearly Favorites on the blog before so I am excited to dive in to these! I'm starting my favorites off with Skincare - and will be posting my beauty favorites soon!  

Now, everyone does there yearly favorites a little different - for me, I am only included products that I tried and loved in 2017! Most of these were products that were released this year that I tried; but, in the case of a couple it was products released earlier that I tried for the first time this year! 


Skincare Sunday - Best of 2017 Skincare Favorites and Game Changers!

Lush Cup O' Coffee Face And Body Mask ~ $22.95 for 325g (also, $11.95 for 150g). If you're a sucker for the strong, scrubby, stimulating type, this coffee-filled mask is just the thing to kick-start your day. Wake up and invigorate your skin and mind with the rich, intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet roasted cocoa extract. Kaolin deeply cleanses impurities from the pores and ground coffee acts as a gentle scrub to buff away dryness and reveal glowing skin beneath. Smooth this one all over your body to feel soft, clean and wonderfully fragrant.

Honestly, I have talked about this mask a ton on the blog as I did a full post on it and use it most months so it's always on my Month in Masks! This is both a face and a body mask that is amazing to use before a morning shower - it has actual coffee in it (I have watched them make this mask!) and wakes up your senses and skin when you use it! I slather it on my face and body, wait 5 - 10 minutes and then scrub and rinse it off. My skin looks so bright after! 

Friday, January 5, 2018

Five on Friday - January 5, 2018

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had amazing New Years! It feels so weird so be writing 2018 now! 

ONE
My New Year's was very quiet (as usual!) My husband worked until 11 pm so I am home with the 2 little boys - he made it home in time for us to do the countdown, pop a bottle of sparkling apple juice, drink it quickly, and get right to bed! Not the most glamorous evening; but, a pretty typical night! 

TWO

Don't forget I have a giveaway going on still - it ends on January 9 so get your entries in! Here is the link to the original post - go here!!! You can win the Too Faced Best Year Ever set - this comes with 3 palettes and a mascara mini - the palettes are so pretty! This is open internationally and just my way of saying thanks for the support over my last 1000 posts! 

Thursday, January 4, 2018

December 2017 - Monthly Empties and Month in Masks!

Let's have a look at my beauty garbage from December:
December 2017 - Monthly Empties and Month in Masks!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance ~ sample (full size is $24.00). 

This is a decent eyeshadow primer - I thought my shadow lasted all day and didn't crease using this.
Repurchase: Yes, I would consider this...

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

December 2017 - What I Bought This Month!

It's time for my monthly haul - I have really enjoyed seeing what I buy every month! I like that I get to share everything I have purchased (because really some of it would get lost in my beauty collection if I didn't!) Also these posts helps to keep me on track - I am planning on trying to only spend around $100 per month on beauty since I am be on a smaller budget with a new baby! 

I will only include products I have spent money on - gifts, pr samples, and freebies are usually shared on posts like my Five on Friday posts! 

Here is what I bought in December: 


Sephora Order #1 ~ $44.10. Ahhh the best part of this order was supposed to be $67; but, this was using my $25 off coupon from Sephora for the year! So, I picked up this Tarte Flirt palette (go figure, I picked up another mini palette) because I'm so excited to try this - I think I will comparing this to the Colourpop palette that is very similar! Also, I picked up some of the Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray because I'm still trying to find the perfect hair product and this is regular $37 so I'm to try it with the coupon! My 3 freebies are from Philosophy, Boscia, and YSL! 

Monday, January 1, 2018

Manicure Monday - Snowman and Polka Dots!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you had a great time ringing in 2018 last night! I'm excited for my first Mani of the year. 

Calgary has been in full on Winter mode since before Christmas and we have have so much snow here it's not even funny! It is starting to warm up a little bit so we are going to try to get in our back yard and build a snow fort! But, I thought I should have some cute snowy nails first! 


Manicure Monday - Snowman and Polka Dots!

How cute are these little Snowman faces?! They are from the Etsy shop PearlPlanet and they are in the Kitchmas set! (I was really planning on using the whole set pre-Christmas; but, that Winter cold had me doing no nails, so I'm saving them for next Christmas!