I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Easter! Hope you're spending it with the ones you love & indulging in delicious Easter treats! If it's exam time for you, good luck! And if you're in the midst of busy (tax) season, hang in there, you're almost there!
Subscription boxes are everywhere nowadays. They come in all shapes, sizes, brands, and themes. So what's different about SeasonsBox?
Well, SeasonsBox provides a monthly box of three to five full size products for your home, body, and spirit. Each box has a theme, which is tailored to a particular season or a special occasion. And all the handpicked products are environmentally conscious.
I was contacted by SeasonsBox and asked if I was interested in receiving a March box for consideration. I did some research and ultimately agreed because I've heard many great things about this service. In particular, I've been creeping unboxings from my friend Lesley (from Petite Pear Style). Check out her posts on the January SeasonsBox & the February SeasonsBox.
The March SeasonsBox had a fun St. Patty's day theme. The box itself was fairly large and it was wrapped with a festive green ribbon.
When you opened the box, all four full size products were laid out neatly. You can immediately sense the theme.
1/ ShedRain | Ecoverse Compact Umbrella
I have to say, this is the first time I received an umbrella in subscription box. It's a wonderful addition, though. With Spring showers on their way, an umbrella is something I can appreciate.
It's quite compact, which makes it a great travel companion. From what I've read, these Ecoverse umbrellas are made from recycled materials. I also love the bamboo handle. Having already used this umbrella once, I can say that it's quite sturdy and easy to use.
2/ All Things Herbal | Dublin Mint Irish Soap
I'm becoming quite obsessed with handcrafted soaps like this one. They just seem to smell so much better (and much more unique) than regular bars of soap. This Dublin Mint Irish soap is a mix of spearmint and peppermint. I can't wait to use it. It smells so refreshing! I wish the internet had smell-o-vision because I know your olfactory system would love it (if you're a mint person, that is).
3/ Vance Kitira | Natural Incense Cones
I haven't burned incense in years. I'm more of a candle person (and even then, I rarely burn them). I've also never used incense cones before. My experience has been limited to incense sticks, so I really had no idea what to expect.
I received the scentOcean. It smells great. I can't really pinpoint a specific note that stands out though. If I could describe it in a few words, I would say the scent is fresh and calming. It has become somewhat of a ritual to burn a cone while meditating.
4/ Octavia | Organic Gourmet Tea
I am becoming such a tea person. I especially have a fondness for loose leaf teas. I find they just taste better. I received the Irish Breakfast Black Tea. I had some the other morning and I really enjoyed it. Black tea is quite a bit stronger than my usual green tea, but it's tasty. It smells great and it's energizing.
Those were all four of the products in the March box. I loved the fun theme, it was well thought out. My favourite thing about this box is the fact that it's not solely beauty related. It's more of a (eco)lifestyle box. The monthly subscription price is $34.90 (which includes shipping).
To start, I wanted to announce the winner of the Lancôme Illuminating blush giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered! I have already emailed the winner & awaiting her reply (if I don't receive one in 48 hours, I will be picking a new winner). So without further ado... *drum roll* ... the winner is:
On to some random snapshots:
Bought some polka dot tights a few weeks ago and have been playing around with them.
Rediscovered my love for the classic "Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough" from Ben&Jerry's.
Went to a taping of Steven & Chris with my mum. The episode airs April 3rd.
Currently loving L'Oreal's "Not a Cloud in Sight" on my nails.
Went on a few quick road trips: one to the USA and another to Blue Mountain.
Did anyone else check out the Game of Thrones Exhibit at the Design Exchange?
I finally picked up a few of the new(ish) L'Oreal Caresse Shine Stains! I've been seeing posts on these floating around in the blogosphere, so naturally I had to pick them up. Plus, I do have a thing for lipgloss-stain hybrids. Especially after hearing their similarities to the YSL Glossy Stains. I have a slight obsession with those.
In total, there are twelve colours in a variety of hues. From neutrals to purples to reds. There's a colour for everyone, though the formulation might not be for everyone.
If you've never tried this new breed of lippies then it may take some getting used to. It feels like a watery gloss when first applied. It doesn't sound glamorous but I assure you, you have full control with the product. Application is generally smooth and even, some shades more so than others.
When applying, I found it worked best to wait a few seconds between coats. Unlike lip glosses, which you can pile on and on, theseShine Stains need a little time to set or else it gets goopy.
The applicator is nice. A tear drop shape to create a sharp edge. These stains are also accompanied by a fairly strong scent. Luckily it does fade quickly for those with fragrance aversions.
These three are the shades I was most drawn to while I was skimming the display:
1/ Infinite Fuchsia
A vivid fuchsia in the tube, but a deeper version applied. Out of the three, Infinite Fuchsia left the most pigmented stain.
2/ Coral Tattoo
A bright orangey coral. Leans much more orange on me than coral, but it will make a great Spring / Summer colour.
3/ Pink Rebellion
A blue-based pink. This is the sheerest of the three, but it's buildable.
All three wear well. The lasting power varies. Infinite Fuchsia leads the pack at around 5 hours with minimal eating / drinking. I attribute it to the deep pigmentation. While the other two faded around the 3-4 hour mark. I found them to be comfortable on the lips and I didn't experience any drying (but I have only tried each colour once or twice).
I haven't worn these long enough to make a definitive comparison to the YSL version. One thing I have noticed is that the L'Oreal Shine Stain seems to take an extra coat or two for an even coverage, as opposed to the YSL Glossy Stain, which only takes me two coats no matter the colour. Expect something more substantial in a future post.
Heavy swatch (left to right): Infinite Fuchsia, Coral Tattoo, Pink Rebellion
Stain left after 15 minutes (left to right): Infinite Fuchsia, Coral Tattoo, Pink Rebellion
It's officially Spring in a couple days! I feel like Winter went by rather quickly this year. There were definitely some cold days, but it could have been worse. I'm sure if you're living in a subzero province, you'd say differently.
Nonetheless, it's time to put that behind us for another eight months and welcome in Spring (and soon Summer)! Warm weather, bright colours, and pretty dresses, here we come!
To start, I thought I'd share with you some polishes I'm most excited to wear this season.
Now, some of these polishes I tend to wear all year round. I don't really abide by any rules when it comes to nail polish. If I like a colour, I'll wear it, no matter the time of year. But there are some shades, that just compliment the refreshing new season.
THE NEUTRALS
I love a good neutral throughout the year. Warm, nude / tan shades are wearable all the time, but I find that whites are best complimented by sunshine.
1/ Butter London, Tea with the Queen: a beautiful "my nails but better" shade. A creamy pinkish tan.
2/ Essie, Fiji: a very pale pink. It's an opaque cream polish & a little finicky to work with, but it's beautiful on.
3/ Julep, Kate: a pearly white. A beautiful white polish without the "white-out" vibe.
THE BRIGHTS
Brights are especially fun to wear in the Spring. Though they're also fun to wear in the winter to offset the drab weather.
1/ Zoya, Shelby: a bright Barbie pink.
2/ Essie, Splash of Grenadine: a creamy mix of pink and magenta to compliment that future tan.
3/ Essie, Turquoise & Caicos: a creamy turquoise. Tropical and fun.
THE OTHER BRIGHTS
1/ Essie, To Buy or Not to Buy: a beautiful lavender with a little shimmer. Pastel with a kick.
2/ Essie, Tart Deco: a creamy coral. It also looks a little orange in some lights.
3/ Julep, Claire: a bright azure blue. It's stunning on and the formula is terrific.
It hasn't completely warmed up in the GTA yet, but it's coming, I can feel it :).
I was spring cleaning last weekend and came across this beauty. It is a limited edition blush / highlighter from Lancôme's Fall 2012 Collection Midnight Roses. Eek, I know! I'm so late with this, but stay tuned until the end of this post to win one.
Not only is the packaging gorgeous -- the embossed rose in itself is a winner -- but the colour is also stunning. It's not your typical champagne highlighter because it leans more on the rosy side. It's that hint of rose gold that sets it apart.
The negative? There aren't any that I can think of. The pigmentation is great, the lasting power is good (around 6+ hours on me), and the glow from within look is beautiful.
I guess the only downside is that it's limited edition, and no longer available. Oh, and the dinky brush that comes with it. It's tiny and scratchy. I don't even know where mine is. It would have been better if Lancôme filled the pan with product instead of wasting the space with this brush.
Were you able to grab this blush before it sold out? x
GIVEAWAY
So, I own two of these blushes. Full disclosure: One (the one I've been using) was given to me by Lancôme and the other one (the one I'm giving away) I purchased with my own money. I was planning on giving it away as part of my 12 days of giveaways, but I ended giving away the Dior Amber Diamond instead.
Rather than selfishly hanging on to the second one as a back up, I wanted to give it to one of you! I thought it was only fair, since I dedicated an entire post to a product that's no longer available for purchase.
So, like all my giveaways, please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Be sure to use an email address you check because that's how I will be contacting the winner.
Other things to note:
1/ This giveaway is open worldwide.
2/ This giveaway ends in one week, on Friday, March 22, 2013.
Good luck if you're entering & have a wonderful weekend! x
Google announced today that they're discontinuing Google Reader (sadface) & it will take effect on July 1st, 2013 -- though I'm sure you already knew that because it's been popping up in my subscriptions all day.
Regardless, if you don't even know what Google Readeris, you can ignore this post because it won't affect you. Though you may want to skim through in case you're looking for a new platform to catch up on your blog reading.
When I first started reading blogs, Google Reader, albeit an archaic platform, was where I collected all the pretty blogs I liked to read. I'll be sad to see it go.
However, there are bigger and better alternatives out there and I wanted to share three of my favourites...
1/ Feedly
This is what I've been using the most lately. It's a great RSS feed site. It has a pretty interface, like reading a blog of blogs, and it works with your favourite browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox). They also make it really easy to share or save a post you really like, and you can also connect Feedly to twitter / facebook to get updates on the main page. You can also download the Feedly App for your mobile devices.
You can add my blog to Feedly by searching "stylishandliterate.com" :). It's also a breeze to import your Google reads (click here for more info on how).
2/ Blog Lovin
Another great interface to follow your favourite blogs. It's easy to follow bloggers, like posts, and view popular posts / top blogs to find new sites you may not have heard of before. Blog owners can create their own "profile" and track their blog ratings & followers. Blog Lovin' also has an App for mobile devices. They also make it really easy to import your Google Reads to Blog Lovin' (click here to see how). Follow my blog on Blog Lovin'.
3/ Hello Cotton (discontinued)
This is a new site that I joined a few months ago. It's more than a place to read your favourite blogs, it's like a community. You can follow blogs, like posts, and even leave comments on the Hello Cotton platform. They also feature new posts every Monday to Friday so you can discover new bloggers from many different categories. Follow my blog on Hello Cotton.
EDIT: On March 29, 2013, Hello Cotton announced that they will (unfortunately) be shutting down the website :(.
EDIT:
I just recently came across another RSS reader called The Old Reader. The interface is quite simple, akin to the look of Google Reader. So, if you're interested in transitioning to something you're more familiar with.. this is definitely a good alternative. It's also quite easy to import all your subscriptions from Google Reader.
I finally picked up the Real Techniques Core collection! I'm so late hopping on this bandwagon. I've been meaning to get them for a while, but logistics made me hesitant.
So here's the kicker... Guess where I found it? Walmart! I'm sure all my Canadian ladies are as excited about this news as I was. The price is reasonable, $18.97 (plus tax), and I've only seen the sets in store (for now?).
It wasn't impossible for us Canadians to pick up these brushes. There were online choices (Amazon or iHerb) and they've also been popping up in independent boutiques. But the fact that they're now available at Walmart, kind of a big deal right?
So, more on these brushes, even though most of you already own them or know what they're all about.
They're made of talkon bristles, which means they're soft, durable, and synthetic (aka, 100% cruelty free). I haven't experienced any shedding with these brushes and the handles feel great in the hand.
The Core Collection comes with four brushes & a sturdy case. It's the perfect set to create a flawless face. They have their suggested uses, but what I love about these brushes is that they're multi-purpose.
CONTOUR BRUSH
This is my favourite brush in the collection. I love the tulip shape of the bristles. It's perfect for bronzer (it really gets into the hallows of your cheeks), highlighter, and blush. You can also use it for buffing out concealer, or applying other powders. It's also quite soft, softer than a few natural hair brushes I own.
Products in this picture (clockwise): NYCSunny, BenefitDandelion, BenefitCoralista, BenefitSugarbomb, MACBlushbaby, DiorAmber Diamond
POINTED FOUNDATION BRUSH
This is my least used brush because I don't really wear foundation & I don't have a lot of face products that I would use a brush to apply. I was a little skeptical about the size of this brush (it's a little smaller than typical paddle foundation brushes), but it's actually quite easy to maneuver. The pointed tip gets into all the nooks of your face and makes it easy to apply product. I've used it with tinted moisturizer and concealer.
Products in this picture (clockwise): ChantecailleJust Skin in Wheat, GarnierAnti-Dark Circle Roller in Medium, RevlonWhipped Foundation in Natural Tan
DETAILER BRUSH
This is such a cute brush. It's small and it offers precise application. I use it mostly for concealer. It blends under eye concealer beautifully, and it's also perfect for spot concealing. This brush applies product exactly where you need it. I've also used this as a lip brush. It packs on the colour with precision.
Products in this picture (clockwise): ChanelRouge Allure in Kensington, GarnierAnti-Dark Circle Roller in Medium, Giorgio ArmaniMaster Corrector #2, Laura MercierSecret Concealer #3
BUFFING BRUSH
This is a great brush for a lot of different things. You can use it for powder or liquid foundation, loose or pressed powder, buffing in concealer, and even applying a little blush. The bristles are soft and have a reasonable give to them, which makes it really quick and easy to apply (or buff out) any kind of product.
Products in this picture (clockwise): PUR Minerals4-in-1 in Tan, YSLTouch Éclat #3, Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Beige
As soon as I get my hands on another one of these sets (they sell out rather quickly in the Toronto), I will be giving one away. Stay tuned :).
I've had this lipstick for a while now and I did a hasty insta-review on it last year, but I think it deserves something more substantial.
Violette Coquette 381B was the first lipstick I purchased from the Lancôme'sRouge in Love collection and it certainly wasn't my last.
It's a bright purple with purple sparkle. It's definitely not a shade I'm typically drawn to, but when I tried it on, I was hooked. It's a beautiful colour. It's one of the few purple shades that I really enjoy wearing.
I really like the formulation of these lipsticks. The shades I have picked up, including this one, are lightweight, fairly moisturizing, and comfortable to wear. The lasting power ranges depending on the pigmentation.
Violette Coquette lasts quite a while on my lips (around 5 hours) and also dries down to a pretty stain. Before it dries down, though, it has a beautiful glossy shine.
What I also love about this lipstick is it's versatility. You can wear it as a stain for that hint of colour during the day or layer it for a dramatic bold lip for a night out.
I must also give a nod to the packaging. The tube is small (smaller than most lipsticks), but it's also heavy and sturdy in the hand. It combines a matte and glossy finish with decorative details, like the emblematic Lancôme rose.
Pricing & Availability
$30.00 | 3.4g | Lancôme counters, Sephora
Do you own / have you tried Lancôme's Rouge in Love lipsticks? x
I've only recently begun my foray into Becca Cosmetics. I've heard amazing things about their Shimmering Skin Perfector, so when a counter opened at a Sephora near me (at the Eaton Centre), I had to check out the line in person.
After testing and swatching various products, I was really drawn to the Becca Luminous Skin Colour Ultra-Sheer Foundation SPF25.
I am quite hesitant to call this a "foundation" because it's far from it. Upon application, it sits on the skin much like a tinted moisturizer. Becca was right in labeling it ultra-sheer. It only offers a very light wash of colour to the skin.
I happen to love that aspect of this product. I'm never one for a face product that offers medium / heavy coverage... but if that's you, then this is definitely not for you.
The Becca Luminous Skin Colour is easy to layer, but the coverage isn't buildable. Also, it doesn't cover hyper-pigmentation, discolouration, or severe redness very well.
What does it do? Well, it does offer a light luminous finish. It looks very natural on the skin. Even after two layers, it doesn't look noticeable on the skin. It also doesn't bunch up in the creases.
The product itself is very lightweight. It's mainly water-based and doesn't have a thick consistency.
Since this product is so sheer, you'll find that you will fit into a range of shades. For myself, I could have gone with Camel, Olive, or Nude. I ended up choosing Nude because it was the most neutral of the three shades & it offered the most radiant finish.
The price is higher than most tinted moisturizer-like products at $51 (for 50ml).
I wouldn't recommend this foundation to everyone. I personally love it because it gives a beautiful glow / radiance to the skin, but it's not for those who are more comfortable with a bit more coverage.
If you're wondering, here's the makeup I'm wearing in the finished look:
I know we're living in the electronic age of iCalendars and Evernote, but there's something about a tangible planner that always seduces me into the stationery aisle. That's where I found this beauty.
From the author of Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, Ines de la Fressange, this weekly planner is a continuation of parisian style and offers a year's worth of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips.
I have already mentioned this in my February favourites, but I think it deserved it's own post.
The layout is elegantly understated. I love the fun colours and the charming illustrations. This planner is not that functional for work purposes (I need a bit more writing space, so for work, I still use my trusted Moleskine), but I love using this planner to jot down ideas and to keep track of social gatherings.
There are little touches about this planner that I really love and appreciate. The faux red leather cover is stunning. I love the rounded edges, the quality of the paper (heavy weight aquarelle sheets), and gorgeous four-color printing.
Our third month into 2013 may be a moot place to be inserting a post about a planner, but it's never too late to get stylishly organized :).
AleezaBlogger
A Canadian beauty and lifestyle blog where I share my love of style and beauty. I've spent years trying to curate my favourite beauty products (and personal style). It's evolving everyday and I hope you enjoying coming along on this journey.