Archive for July 2013

The new-ish Rimmel Apocalips have arrived in Canada! They've been around for a few weeks now, but I just picked up a few shades last week. I've only had a few days to play with them, so this isn't a full review -- mainly it's a little PSA for those who have been waiting for these to become available.

There are (I believe) eight shades available in Canada. There weren't any testers available (and, strangely, I didn't have my phone) so I wasn't able to view or take swatches. I picked up four colours. I was originally going for the hero shade of the collection, Apocaliptic (a vivid fuchsia), but I ended up going for the pinks / corals instead.

I bought:

Nova: a bright blue-based pink (almost like a barbie pink)
Stellar: a vivid coral (there's a fluorescence to it)
Aurora: a rosy coral (not a vibrant as Stellar)
Celestial: a pink mauve (or a dusty pink)

I've worn each of these shades at least once, and so far, I'm enjoying them.

Apocalips are lip lacquers. They are basically liquid lipsticks. They hardly even stain your lips. They're fairly comfortable to wear and I didn't find them drying at all (keep in mind that I don't suffer from chronic dry lips). The pigmentation is great, and on average, they lasted about 3 hours before I needed to reapply.

I adore the packaging, especially the faceted design of the lid. It was also well sealed, which is a quality I love in a drugstore product. These lacquers were completely sealed in plastic and secured with a safety seal.

Also, when you pull out the applicator, it reveals a window in the tube where excess product builds up from the stopper. Not only did I feel a great satisfaction in watching this, but it could also be considered another safety feature to ensure no one has used the product yet.

Speaking of the applicator, it's a pointed doe foot design with a little divot in the middle. I don't mind the applicator. The pointed tip allows for precise application and it seems to pick up just the right amount of product. The lacquer is quite fluid, so it helps to have that accuracy.

There is a slight scent to this product. I can't quite pinpoint it -- it's almost fruity. It fades quickly, though.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

$9.99 (so far I have only seem them at Shoppers Drugmart and Rexall, but I hear they are slowly trickling into Walmart for $7.97)

l-r: Nova, Stellar, Aurora, Celestial

Rimmel Apocalips applicator

Rimmel Apocalips packaging

Have you tried these? Which colour(s) did you pick up? x

I have been obsessed with floral headbands and crowns. Summer always calls for an outrageously garish headpiece, right? Right.

I remember the very first one I ever wore. It was for a wedding and it was beautiful... but alas, it wilted away. So, as a little rainy afternoon craft, I decided I'd relive the glory days with a DIY faux floral crown with an infinite shelf life.

It was really easy to make. It took me less than 45 minutes to do, and a majority of that time was spent deciding the colour scheme & flower arrangement.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1) Wire. I picked up a 'natural cover' one from a craft store.

2) Floral tape. This is very strange, it first feel sticky like regular tape, but it holds quite well.

3) Faux flowers (or real flowers) of your choice (I picked up bouquets of roses Michael's -- they were at a steep summer clearance discount).

4) Not pictured, but also important: Wire cutters.

PREP WORK

I started by cutting the flower stems. I wasn't sure how much of the stem I would need yet, so I made sure to cut them as long as possible.

THE CROWN

You'll need to measure out the circumference of your crown. There's isn't a science, just test it out & cut the length you feel comfortable with. I wrapped the wire around twice for a sturdier base and then I used some floral tape to secure the ends.

ARRANGEMENT

You'll want to arrange your flowers loosely around the crown until you're happy with the placement before any cutting / taping happens.

When you're happy with the placement, you can start attaching the flowers. I weaved the stem through the wire, wrapped it around the crown, and then secured the end with tape. I eventually began cutting the stem shorter to prevent the crown from bulking up too much.

VOILÀ
This is the final look. I alternated white / red roses halfway around the crown. I'm planning to make another crown with smaller, more dainty blooms.. But this first pancake turned out well. I will always love the whimsical look of flower crowns.

Would you wear a floral crown? Perhaps something a little smaller and understated? x

I'm still in shock that it's July. Actually, we're now in the third week of July... How did that happen? Since we're half way through 2013, lets celebrate with some June favourites, shall we?

June is one of my favourite months. Mainly because the weather is (usually) just warm enough to enjoy, but not too hot that I'm sweating just breathing (not to mention it's also because it's my birthday month). So here are a few new and old things I've been loving this past month...

COVERGIRL + OLAY EYE REHAB

A great lightweight under eye brightener. It doesn't offer a lot of coverage, but it's perfect for brightening up under the eyes. It's also quite moisturizing and it doesn't cake up or crease in my fine line(s).

OMBRELLE FACE ULTRA-FLUID LOTION
This is the sunscreen that I've been reaching for 90% of the time for my face. I mentioned it in my last SPF post. It leaves such a nice finish on the skin (a satin-like finish) and it's great to wear under makeup. It feels quite moisturizing, too -- often I can skip moisturizer & just apply this (keep in mind that I have normal / combination skin, though).

PUR MINERALS 4-in-1 PRESSED POWDER
This is a summer saviour. It's basically a powder foundation. I would say the coverage is light to medium -- it's definitely buildable. I love using this because it gives a smooth even finish & it really cuts down on the shine. It's perfect for traveling because application is effortless. My favourite brush to use with this has been the Real Techniques Buffing Brush (it blends the powder seamlessly).

BENEFIT WATTS UP

I got this mini sample size with my Sephora birthday gift & I've been really liking it. It's a beautiful champagne shade with the perfect amount of shimmer and the cream consistency makes it a breeze to blend.

CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE in "KENSINGTON" + REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIP GLOSS in "PINK POP"

I adore a bright pink glossy lip in the summer. The lipstick is unfortunately limited edition, but it's such a simple colour that there are plenty of dupes. The new Super Lustrous Lip Glosses are wonderful -- non-sticky and moisturizing -- I much prefer them over the old formula.

TWEEZERMAN LASH COMB

On the days where I want to define my lashes without adding layers of mascara, I use this trick that I learned from GossMakeupArtist. You add a bit of mascara to a lash comb, run that through your lashes, curl, and add more mascara. Your lashes stay curled & no clumps.

TWEEZERMAN BROWMOUSSE

Some days my brows can look very haphazard and the only way to fix them is with a brow gel. I've been really liking this one from Tweezerman because it gives my brows a bit of structure without any residue or that crunchy feeling.

LANCOME HYPNÔSE DOLL LASHES
This is one of my favourite mascaras. I love the cone-shaped brush & the formulation is wonderful. It doesn't make my lashes super voluminous but it leaves them defined. Adoring the limited edition packaging, too -- so stunning!

CLINIQUE BOTTOM LASH MASCARA

My bottom lashes are very fine, they're hardly noticeable without a coat of mascara. The small wand is great for getting each and every lash without smearing mascara everywhere. The formulation is great, too. It's gentle enough to be washed away with warm water but it stays on all day without smudging.

ARMANI EAU DE NUIT

A very unexpected favourite... it's actually a cologne. It's a mix of spices, citruses, and cedar.
It's a warm, sensual fragrance that I have been adoring lately.

According to the fragrance connoisseurs: it opens with accords of bergamot and pink pepper. Spicy notes of cardamom and nutmeg form the heart of the perfume together with flowers of iris and heliotrope, while the base consists of cedar, tonka and amber.

Who else wears cologne on occassion?

BEAUTY BLENDER CLEANSER

I've had the liquid cleanser since last summer when I bought my first beauty blender but it kind of got pushed into the recesses of my beauty closet until I rediscovered it. It's a soy-based cleanser with an awful scent that is teasingly described as "lavender." I've smelled lavender... and this ain't it.
Despite the scent, which fortunately dissipates rather quickly, it is a terrific brush cleanser. It is great for deep cleaning brushes or beauty blenders. I also love the solid version for traveling -- it's the same deep-cleaning action without the bulky packaging.

What are you currently loving? x

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1) CoverGirl Lip Perfection in Seduce.

2) Burberry Lip Mist in Copper.

3) Burberry Lip Glow in Nude Beige.

Long-sleeve cotton top, Lord & Taylor (the Bay) | Coloured ankle pants, Forever21 | Skull scarf, Alexander McQueen | Leather belt, American Eagle | Smoking slippers, Walmart | Neverfull MM, Louis Vuitton | Bubble Umbrella, Amazon

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