fun size beauty

There's only one more month of summer. *Commence sad face*. Thankfully, I've got a few products from The Body Shop to keep me in a summery mood until next year comes.

TO SMELL LIKE SUMMER there's The Body Shop Pinita Colada Shower Gel ($10 CAD). I'm not a fan of all scents from The Body Shop but the Pinita Colada is spot on. It's crisp, fruity, and smells good enough to drink. The notes of passion fruit, pineapple and coconut really sing in this body wash. Other than that, it's just a good ol' body wash - paraben-free and soap-free with a decent lather. The scent lingers in my shower but not so much on my skin.

Left: Swatched heavily, Right: Blended

TO LOOK LIKE SUMMER there's The Body Shop Honey Bronze Drops of Sun Holiday Glow Creator ($22 CAD), which is a shimmer-free bronzing gel. The scent reminds me of last year's The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel and Tinted Leg Mist. The texture of the Honey Bronze Drops of Holiday Glow Creator is much thinner and lighter in texture absorbing more quickly into the skin but it really works the same way. It's NOT a self-tanner (washes off with water) so it's not patchy, though it wears evenly throughout the day and provides an instant hint of tan.

How do you savour the summer?

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Free People just added a beauty and wellness section to its website! The online store includes a myriad of well-known niche and beauty brands with a focus on cruelty-free, natural and organic products (i.e., RMS, Dr. Alkaitis, Eyeko, Juice Beauty, Smith & Cult, Pai Skincare, Rahua, and the Beauty Chef).

I had the opportunity to select a few products from Free People's Beauty & Wellness section. Here's what I picked up:

Juice Beauty Exfoliating Cleanser ($28.82 CAD)

Not the most exciting of products but Juice Beauty is a natural and organic brand that features vitamin and anti-oxidant rich ingredients. I'm a fan of a bit of exfoliation in my cleansers and the Juice Beauty one has jojoba beads similar, so I'm curious to see how it compares to the Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator (which also features jojoba beads).

Eyeko Me & My Shadow in Taupe ($26.20 CAD)

Eyeshadow sticks are just about the best thing for 5 minute makeup and Taupe is cool brown perfection.

RMS Tinted Unpowder in 2-3 Light Medium ($44.54 CAD)

I'm on the hunt for the perfect light-medium coverage powder to wear on top of BB creams. I've heard good things about the RMS Tinted Unpowder in Light Medium, so I thought I'd give it a shot!

Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer in Regret the Moon ($18 USD)

It is beyond difficult to find the gorgeous Smith & Cult Nail Lacquers in Canada and unfortunately I can't find them up on the Canadian Free People site. Regret the Moon is a soft off-white shade that Charles picked out for me. I've already worn a couple times on my fingertips, so a review is coming soon!

That's all for now folks. I'll be reviewing each item individually, so let me know which you'd like to see first!

Have you shopped Free People Beauty & Wellness yet?

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New lipsticks from Mary Kay? I'm always excited. For Fall 2016, the released Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lip Lipsticks ($21 CAD) just launched in 8 shades and I'm happy to report that they're worth a look!

The packaging is simple and sleek. It's nicer than previous Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipsticks (and also less fingerprint prone).

The Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipsticks are available in 8 shades - Bashful You, Rich Truffle, Mauve Moment, Always Apricot, Powerful Pink, Poppy Please, Midnight Red, and Crushed Berry. Despite a limited shade range of eight, I think that the the variation in colour is pretty decent and can work on a variety of skintones - a few nudes, some pinks, a red and some more vampy colours. The only thing that's missing? An orange maybe.

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick Swatches - Bashful You, Rich Truffle, Mauve Moment, Always Apricot, Powerful Pink, Crushed Berry, Poppy Please, Midnight Red

The gel texture actually reminds me of the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme Lipsticks but the Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipsticks are a the teensiest bit less creamy and soft. They wrap around the lips nicely, though the matte texture of the lighter shades sometimes grabs onto dry patches (exfoliation recommended).

The lipsticks contain jojoba and sunflower oils, which makes them super comfortable to wear. They last about 4 hours before wearing away a little unevenly, which is not amazing for your typical matte lippie but its all good because they look fab on the lips and reapplication isn't that much of a drag.

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Bashful You || light pink nude

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Rich Truffle || brown nude

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Mauve Moment || pink mauve

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Always Apricot || pinky peach

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Powerful Pink || bold pink

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Crushed Berry || deep purple berry

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Poppy Please || orange red

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipstick in Midnight Red || deep brown red

... And that's all the colours! My favourites are Poppy Please and Rich Truffle. It's not the best formulation ever but it's pretty darn good if you like comfortable matte but not too matte.

Have you tried the Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipsticks?

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During the summer, I feel the need to wash my hair everyday because whether I like it or not, I'm a sweaty human being. But shampooing everyday makes the ends of my hair feel dry and my scalp feel itchy. So instead, I've been using the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing ($56 CAD) every other day as a gentler alternative to shampoo.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair says that the Essence Absolue Nourishing Cleansing Milk is ideal for normal to dry hair types, gentle cleansing without detergents, deeply moisturizing, enhancing body, adding softness and shine, smoothing away impurities and taming frizz.

I found the Essence Absolue to be suitable for my in-between days. The texture is that of a thin conditioner. Not watery but certainly not thick. I can agree with a majority of the claims other than the "body enhancing"/volumizing one. It's gentle for sure. Likely because it's sulfate-free, silicone-free and paraben-free, so it doesn't weigh down hair or strip it of moisture. It's also moisturizing but not overly so, smoothing, de-frizzing and shine enhancing, all of which can be attributed to the camellia oil.

I used it both as a cleansing conditioner (on its own) and paired with various shampoos. It's effective in both manners. I tried to use it everyday but my hair felt a bit over-hydrated (read: greasy) for me, perhaps because I'm mildly addicted to stripping my hair of all of its life with shampoo and then adding back moisture with a light conditioner.

It's a pricey number but a beautiful product. If you're looking for an alternative to harsh shampoos, the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Cleansing Milk is for you.

Press samples featured. The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Cleansing Milk is available at shu uemura salon and shuuemura.ca.

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In the world of accounting and finance education, BV = Business Valuations. Thank goodness I'm done school because BV has a new, less stressful, better smelling meaning - Bon Vital. BVspa by Bon Vital is a line of luxury spa experiences that can be enjoyed at home.

The BVspa collection is simple and easy to navigate. There are 4 products, 2 for exfoliation and 2 for hydration at two levels of exfoliation and two levels of hydration:

BVspa Sugar Scrubs, Exfoliation Level: Moderate
BVspa Salt Scrubs, Exfoliation Level: High
BVspa Body Lotions, Hydration Level: Moderate
BVspa Body Butters, Hydration Level: High

All of the products come in three scents - Pink Grapefruit (to energize), Lavender & Rosemary (to soothe and relax), and Pomegranate & Acai (to rejuvenate).

Lately I've been slathering all over my body the BVspa Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub ($11.99 CAD) to exfoliate and the Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion ($11.99 CAD) to moisturize.

First and foremost, the Pink Grapefruit scent is absolutely on point. I took a quick shower using the scrub during and the body butter after and then had a grapefruit for breakfast. The similarities in scent/flavour were uncanny. The BVspa Pink Grapefruit scent is zingy, quite sweet and very invigorating. Energize would be the correct verb to describe what the scrub does to my senses.

The BVspa Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub features three key ingredients - safflower seed oil to soften and smooth, olive oil to moisturize and protect and jojoba oil to moisturize. It's fairly scrubby but sugar dissolves quickly into a milky texture. My skin feels lightly hydrated and fairly exfoliated but the Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub doesn't feel quite as effective as something like the Jealous Body Scrub with coffee and coconut in terms of both hydration and exfoliation.

The BVspa Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion features Squalane extract to prevent free radical damage, jojoba oil to moisturize and sunflower oil which is high in Vitamin E. The texture is super lightweight and sinks into the skin almost immediately. After application, my skin feels well hydrated and super smooth. However, the hydration doesn't last all day and I feel the need to apply the lotion both morning and night.

Overall, the BVspa Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub and Body Lotion were a wonderful introduction to the brand. Both are effective products and the grapefruit scent is just divine! Have you tried BVspa yet?

Press samples featured. BVSpa is paraben, sulfate and phthalate free and available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

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My first encounter with Klorane was when I received the Klorane Dry Shampoo for Christmas in July from Rae of theNotice.net. The product is now my all time favourite dry shampoo. But little did I know that the Klorane brand also made skincare products as well.

Klorane Laboratories is a is a well-established French beauty brand founded in 1965. It prides itself in its pharmaceutical ethics, botanical expertise, and authenticity. For 50 years, Klorane has extracted and included cornflower floral water as the star ingredient in its eye products. Cornflower water supposedly has soothing and decongesting properties. It's suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, as it has a pH level identical to tears so that it does not sting the eyes.

Today, I give you two reviews of products featuring cornflower floral water. As someone with sensitive eyes, I was ecstatic.

The Klorane Floral Eye Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($17.25 CAD for 200mL, available from July 2016 to the end of the year) is an iconic product, as it was Klorane's first. The remover is a blue, water-like liquid. I detect a slight natural scent, but it's only noticeable if you're sniffing the bottle (not putting it on your eyelids).

The first time I touched my eyes with a cotton pad, my eyes tingled a little. But many uses of the Klorane Floral Eye Makeup-Remover after and my eyes aren't bothered in the least bit. Yes, it's gentle. But it's also effective and works well to dissolve mascara and waterproof eyeliner without much rubbing effort, compared to Bioderma Micellar Water.

The Klorane Soothing and Relaxing Patches with Cornflower ($17.25 CAD CAD for 7 packs x 2 patches in each) are an SOS for Anti-Fatigue solution. Klorane provides three claims (1) reduction in signs of fatigue (2) instant relief of congestion (3) soothing and provision of instant freshness. The packaging instructs you to to apply the patches to the lower contour of the eye and let it sit for 20 minutes. The patches are a thick cloth with a moist, jelly underside.

Upon application, the patches feel cool but not shockingly so (which would be the case if you put them in the fridge before use). The cool, refreshing feeling dissipated within 5 minutes, after which the patches actually felt a little uncomfortable and heavy on my undereyes. Removal left my undereyes feeling "instantly refreshed", as promised. Otherwise, the results were a little underwhelming, as I couldn't see any invisible difference "signs of fatigue" and "congestion" (my eyes always look tired without).

Overall, I'm happy I had the opportunity to test out a few more Klorane products. The Klorane Soothing & Relaxing Patches with Cornflower are nice, but not a must have for me. However, I can see why the Klorane Floral Eye Make-Up Remover is so iconic (read: eye-conic), as it's gentle yet effective at removing makeup on sensitive eyes. It's going on my top shelf beside it's sister, the Klorane dry shampoo.

Have you tried any Klorane skincare products?

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The Formula X the System XCEL is a no-cure gel nail polish system that promises to extend the wear of any Formula X polish for 10 days of flawless colour.

The System XCEL is available in 2 sizes. Formula X the System XCEL ($40 CAD) and Formula X the System XCEL to Go ($19 CAD). Both come with the CLEANSE XCEL Nail Cleanser, PRIME XCEL Base Coat and SHINE XCEL Top Coat. Any Formula X polish can be selected to use with the System XCEL (included in the $40) and the System XCEL to Go (travel size) comes in the shades Impeccable (cocoa bisque) and Ignite (smoking red).

I tried the the System XCEL to Go ($19 CAD) in the shade Impeccable. The Formula XCEL System to Go Kits are SO CUTE (fun size) and super travel friendly.

Impeccable is a mauve-toned nude (slightly darker combination of EssieLady Like and Essie Eternal Optimist). In some lights it looks quite purple and in other lights it looks very nude. It's the perfect colour for everyday and it makes my nails look very polished and sophisticated.

Four whole entire steps to do my nails seems like a lot of work. But it's not bad because the only extra one is the CLEANSE XCEL, which is a liquid that quickly dries the nails and eats up surface oils for a clean base. Also noteworthy is the topcoat which reminds me quite a bit of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel (Volume x 2). The Formula X SHINE XCEL Top Coat has the thickness, shine and feel of a gel manicure. The polish lasted 6 days, which is not much longer than any other Formula X polish with a decent top coat.... so I'm sad to say I was mildly disappointed (even though 6 days is better than regular polish on my fingertips)

Drugstores have released and reformulated no cure gels (Sally Hansen Miracle Gel, Revlon Gel Envy, etc.) that work well with my nails. I think Formula X was a little late to the game with this one. Despite this, if you're already a fan of Formula X polishes (I am), the System XCEL to Go is a travel friendly and decently long lasting (even though it didn't blow me out of the water).

Have you tried the System XCEL yet?

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A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend the fall preview for Dr. Roebuck's, an Australian made and owned skincare line. I was unable to attend (*shakes fist at school*) but Dr. Roebuck's was kind enough to send along a few goodies for me to test out!

The story behind the brand gives me all the feels. Dr. Roebuck is an actual, real person. In 1978, Dr. Roebuck, an Australian physician, searched for an effective and safe Eczema treatment for his newborn identical twin daughters. He couldn't, so instead he decided to create his own by combining an old English dermatological formula with his clinical and practical knowledge.

The result, now known as PURE, is a treatment for very dry skin formulated without fillers, colours, scents and harsh chemicals. It was only in 2010 that the two twin daughters Kim and Zoe Roebuck brought the product into commercial production. Now, Dr. Roebuck's is a whole line of gentle face and body products formulated for sensitive skin and free of harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, synthetic colour and BPA.

While I do not have PURE to share with you today, I have been testing out the POLISH ($39.95 CAD), TONE ($29.95 CAD) and FACE ($59.95 CAD).

In general, the packaging is simple and mildly reminiscent of old school apothecary jars. The POLISH and FACE are contained in jars, which is not as hygienic as tubed or pump bottle packaging.

Dr. Roebuck's POLISH ($39.95 CAD) is a 2-in-1 mask and exfoliator. Kaolin clay draws out impurities and dirt while jojoba beads scrub away dead skin. The mask smells lightly of peppermint, as it contains peppermint oil to cleanse and exfoliate.

In some ways, POLISH reminds me of the Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator in that both contain jojoba beads as the physical exfoliator. However, the Antipodes is a lighter, whipped texture with more concentration of beads, which I find does a slightly more thorough job at scrubbing. On the other hand, POLISH has a decent amount of beads and gives a very gentle amount of exfoliation and the texture is thicker and creamier due to the clay. After the 2-3 minutes as suggested in the directions, the clay doesn't really dry down so it's quite easy to remove.

After wiping everything off, my face skin refreshed and brand new. The combination of the Kaolin clay and the jojoba beads are an unlikely paring that work quite well in combination. POLISH is prescribed for all skin types.

Dr. Roebuck's TONE ($29.95 CAD) is a toner meant to brighten, tighten and soothe the skin. Like POLISH, TONE contains both grapefruit and peppermint oils, smelling lightly of peppermint. I appreciate the fact that it contains no alcohol astringent and therefore is not drying or stinging on the skin. What the toner does contain is aloe vera, which my skin loves for light hydration. While I haven't seen a significant difference in the brightness/tightness of my skin, I do like to use TONE both morning and night after cleansing. TONE is prescribed for all skin types.

Last but not least is Dr. Roebuck's FACE ($59.95 CAD), a night and day moisturizer with anti-aging properties. Note - I can only use FACE in the night. This might be the case for you as well if you have oily skin. It doesn't break me out but it's too heavy for the day.

FACE is packed with oils including rose hip, vitamin E, lavender and macadamia aimed at moisturizing, calming, softening and regenerating the skin in efforts to fight wrinkles. I find FACE to be an excellent night time moisturizer. It's super hydrating yet sinks into the skin relatively quickly. Whenever I use FACE, I wake up to smooth, plump skin.

Overall, an excellent first experience with Dr. Roebuck's. I'm a fan of the brand, its ethos and its ingredients, so I'll continue to incorporate all three products in my skincare routine.

Have you tried anything from Dr. Roebucks?

Press samples featured. Dr. Roebuck's is available at Priceline (in Australia), Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale (in Canada).

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Fall collections are here! Mary Kay's limited edition Runway Bold Collection features shimmering metallics with bold blue hues. It's a fairly small 5-piece beauty collection with eyeshadows, an eyeliner, and three nail lacquers.

The cardboard packaging is prettier than the packaging of the products themselves. Ignore the two glowing finish highlighters, they're not part of the collection but a review will be coming soon!

The Mary Kay Runway Bold Eye Colour Palette ($26 CAD) features yellowy gold, medium bronze, silver, bold blue and deep blue shadows. All of the shadows feature some level of glitter. It's BOLD in the sense that most people could only get everyday wear out of the bronze shade. The rest are not particularly wearable. That being said, pigmentation and blendability are good but the fallout from the shadows is way too real. So unless you're in the market for some blue eyeshadows, you could probably pass on this one.

The Mary Kay Runway Bold Gel Eyeliner ($20 CAD) is a two-sided pot with a shimmering gold liner and a bronze-brown liner. The liners are super creamy but the shades don't stand out on my eyelids. On their own, they feel a bit greasy and move around quite a bit so I prefer them as eyeshadow bases (to help the shadows from the Colour Palette stick!) as opposed to liners.

Last but not least are the Mary Kay Runway Bold Nail Lacquers in Blue Debut, Rosy Encore and Gold is Bold ($10 CAD each). Blue Debut is a deep navy, Rosy Encore is a metallic rose gold and Gold is Bold is a metallic light gold. Blue Debut was not my cup of tea. It lasted less than a day under top coat and stained my nails after I removed it. I'm generally fond of Mary Kay Nail Lacquers, as they're opaque in 2 coats (often only 1!) and last well over 4 days with a base coat. Rosy Encore and Gold is Bold were like this.

What do you think of the blue/gold pairings in the Mary Kay Runway Bold Collection?

Press samples featured. The Runway Bold Collection is available from August 16th.

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NYX is a drugstore brand that never ceases to amaze me. Massive colour variety, tons of different formulations. I've previously tried the Butter Gloss in Cupcake, so after taking home three of the NYX Intense Butter Glosses ($8 CAD each) from Generation Beauty Toronto I was excited to put them to the test.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss Swatches in Creamsicle, Funnel Delight and Spice Cake

The NYX Intense Butter Glosses are available in 24 shades and described as a silky gloss bursting with colour. In essence, they are quite similar to the NYX Butter Glosses in terms of texture and comfort. Super smooth and, might I add, buttery. When NYX says INTENSE, they mean it. One swipe equates to full colour payoff and mirror-like shine, which is a combination that is pretty much unheard of for a lip gloss.

Glossy finish, intense colour, comfortable wear. It's got it all... except for one thing. It's not transfer-proof and the colour moves around, bleeding slightly, particularly when I eat/drink. It's particularly an issue with these colours because the pigment is so freaking intense. If it were a sheer wash, the bleeding and transfer wouldn't be a problem but it's so noticeable due to the eye catching colours of the NYX Intense Butter Glosses.

The only way to prevent the glosses from moving around is to blot, blot, blot. Of course, this takes away all of the glossiness and leaves a stain instead. And that totally defeats the purpose of having an intense GLOSS.

Creamsicle || bright coral orange

Funnel Delight || bright blue-toned hot pink

Spice Cake || deep plum

Overall, it's love-hate for me. They're perfect in every way, except for the fact that I'm afraid to wear them out of the house for fear of looking like Miranda Sings. Perhaps with the more neutral colours like Tres Leches or Chocolate Crepe it would be different!

Have you tried the NYX Intense Butter Glosses?

Received in the Generation Beauty Swag Bag!

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For Lines of Elan, "clean" means two things. Clean as in freshly washed hair and clean as in consciously clean and good for the earth. The Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Cloud Shampoo & Conditioner ($18 each for 8 oz) is waterway safe, septic safe, biodegradable, cruelty free, vegan friendly and gluten free.

The ingredients listing also states that there are no petroleum chemicals, industry syntehtics, sulfates, glycols, silicones, phenyoxyenol, parabens, methyl/probyl, PVC plastic bottles, BPA, or phlalates.

The Truly Clean Karma Bean Shampoos and Conditioners are available in three scents [Citrus Cloud, Eucalyptus Mint, and Be Free (unscented)] and two sizes, 8 oz. and 16 oz. The 16 oz. comes with a pump, whereas the 8 oz. bottle does not.

I've been treating my hair to the Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Cloud Shampoo & Conditioner for a little over 2 months.

The Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Cloud Shampoo is described as "a softly sudsing and consciously clean shampoo & body wash with a blend of citrus essential oils that leaves your hair, skin and the earth smiling."

The scent of the shampoo (and the conditioner) is slightly citrusy, light and non-irritating. It's the kind of scent that doesn't linger after you step out of the shower. The viscosity of the Truly Clean Karma Bean Shampoo was extremely thin and watery. The first time I used it, it squirted so quickly out of the bottle that I had a large handful, too much for my medium length hair. Luckily, the shampoo also works as a body wash. Despite not having SLS on the ingredients list, the product lathers into very light suds. So, a little doesn't go that long of a way and I feel like I need a little more shampoo than usual.

On a regular day, the shampoo makes my hair feel clean. However, I feel like it's not effective at removing dry shampoo or calcium build-up, so sometimes I need to double wash or use apple cider vinegar as a clarifying treatment.

The Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Cloud Conditioner is described as being "a deliciously rich, ultra moisturizing and detangling conditioner with a sweet blend of citrus essential oils that is good for you and the earth."

Like the Citrus Cloud Shampoo, the conditioner is usually thin (not very rich feeling) compared to the conditioners I'm used to using. But the texture doesn't even matter to me. The Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Conditioner leaves my hair so soft, moisturized and detangled that I don't even have to take a brush to my hair after washing it. And the beauty of it is that it's not greasy, heavy or oily feeling in the least bit.

Overall, a marvellous shampoo/conditioner pairing if you're on the hunt for a natural haircare alternatives. It's nice to know that there's haircare that's good for both me and the earth.

What are some of your favourite any effective, natural haircare products?

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Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow Set No. 3 Dark Brown ($31.99 CAD on Echoo.ca) contains 2 dual-ended tattoo-inspired products - the Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow in No.3 Dark Brown and the Clio Tinted Lip Tattoo in Bloody Cherry. The Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow has sold over million pieces in 6 months.

The Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow in No.3 Dark Brown is a 2-in-1 waterproof eyebrow tattoo pen. It's available in a limited 3-shade range - No.1 Earth Brown, No.2 Soft Brown and No.3 Dark Brown. My hair is neither of the three but the Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow in No.3 Dark Brown is the closest that's available.

The two sides are (1) a pen and (2) an eyebrow mascara. The pen is for creating shape and filling in sparse areas, while the brow mascara adds colour and holds eyebrows into place. The pen is quite sheer while the eyebrow mascara is more pigmented in colour and seems to add quite a bit of thickness to my brows. Staying power is all day until I decide to remove it good, even on a hot, humid day.

There are two ways to use it - as a tattoo and as make up. Basically, for a "tattoo effect" you apply the pen on clean, bare skin before bed. Then, in the morning you apply the mascara for a bit of colour. Maybe I'm washing my face too vigorously, but I don't really get that "tattoo" effect following the days after I apply the Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow, so I prefer it as a good old makeup. As makeup, it's just an eyebrow-filling pen and eyebrow mascara.

I couldn't find much info about the Clio Tinted Lip Tattoo in Bloody Cherry, as it doesn't seem like it's sold on its own. It's a dual ended lip stain with a pen applicator on one end and a doe foot applicator on the other. The pen side offers a sheer tint of colour while staining product on the doe foot side is much more potent.

For some reason, I can't get the sheer wash of colour (pen) to stick to my upper lip. It always wears away on my upper lip after a couple hours but clings to my lower lip. The result? An unintentional colour-blocked lip look. Not cool. The sheer tint seems to enhance dry patches on my lips and the colour sticks for about 3 hours. The doe foot applicator offers intense colour and better staying power (6 hours on both my upper and lower lip).

Is the set worth it? YES. The Clio website lists the Clio Kill Brow Tinted Tattoo at $20 USD (currently $26 CAD with the crappy exchange). So, you're basically getting the lip tint for $5 CAD. Considering that you also get two dual ended products (that's 4 in total), it's a good way to try a few Clio offerings in one go.

Have you tried any Clio lip or brow products?

Press samples featured c/o Echoo.ca

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Another month of half-assed nail art (I'm sorry, I'm studying for the CFE - aka exam for my accounting designation).

A pop of neon

I forget where I saw this, but I definitely drew inspiration from Instagram. I'm a fan of a simplistic nail with a little something special.

Products Used: Ceramic Glaze Belle Ami, OPI Can't Stop Myself

Gold Leaf

Busted out the striping tape for this one. The difference between Rosy Encore and Gold is Bold is subtle and to be honest, I should have used one or the other instead of both over Blue Debut.

Products Used: Mary Kay Runway Bold Nail Lacquers in Blue Debut, Rosy Encore and Gold is Bold

Pink & Glitter

Products Used: Ceramic Glaze Strawberries N Milk and OPI Ce-less-tial is More

I'll still be studying through September so expect less extravagant nail art until October. *SORRY*.

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This month Formula X collaborated with Blair Eadie of Atlantic // Pacific, a previously San Francisco and now New York fashion blog that's been around since 2010. She's a Director at Tory Buch by day and a blogger by night. Full-time successful career and blog - impressive.

The collection includes 3 Formula X polishes ($16 CAD each). I'm a huge fan of the creamy, not-to-thick formulation so I won't go too much into that. Blair says that these are her take on modern neutrals. I think the blue/grey colour range is fitting, given the name of her blog Atlantic // Pacific (ocean). Pacific Haze is opaque in 2 coats, while Atlantic Mist and Taken By Storm are opaque in 1!

Formula X Atlantic Mist // a pastel sage - meant to be a unique alternative to mint but I actually have this shade elsewhere in my collection. It's quite similar to Essie Turquoise and Caicos if you've got that already.

Formula X Taken By Storm // charcoal grey - an alternative to black or as I call it... black but better

Formula X Pacific Haze // a soft whisper grey - this one is my favourite of the three, as greys often make my skin look sickly... this one doesn't!

And of course, some nail art! A muted blue/grey pinstripe.

I have to say that this is the most cohesive of the collection. Each shade is wearable with almost any outfit on its own but the moody blues/greys pair well with one another.

What do you think of this month's Color Curators Collection?

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Joe Fresh Beauty (available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart) just launched 4 new products for their core collection.

Joe Fresh beauty Eye Shadow Palette in Neutrals

Neutral palettes are so overdone these days but for some reason I'm still really into the Joe Fresh Beauty Eye Shadow Palette in Neutral ($14 CAD). The formulation is really good, as it lasts 6 hours before creasing without primer and there's also a stellar combination of cool and warm tones and finishes - 5 mattes and 7 satin shimmers. I think it's safe to say that this is one of the best neutral eyeshadow palette options at the drugstore.

The Joe Fresh Universal Beauty Balm ($10 CAD) is an all purpose nourishing balm that is meant to help to relieve dryness on the face, hands and body. The texture of the balm has the consistency of a good lip balm treatment. It's as smooth as the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments but not as squishy soft. I prefer the Universal Beauty Balm for my cuticles, elbows and feet but not my face or lips as it has an unusual scent.

Swatched - Joe Fresh Beauty Universal Beauty Balm, CC Traslucent Pressed Powder and Universal Brow Sculpting Wax

The Joe Fresh CC Translucent Pressed Powder ($12 CAD) is meant to colour correct and even out skintone, however when I use it I can't really tell the difference. The product is pretty in the pan with orange, green, pink and purple speckling and feels smooth to the touch but it doesn't do much. It's so-so for setting makeup but has a white cast and does not control oil.

Last up we have the Joe Fresh Universal Brow Sculpting Wax ($12 CAD). I'm in love with the angular tip of the wax that makes the product easy to apply. The colour isn't universal if you've got jet black hair (me) but it works well to hold down the brows all day long. I don't actually like the look of my brows stuck down (hence the lack of a brow photo) but if that's how you roll then definitely check this one out!

All in all, some decent new offerings from Joe Fresh Beauty. Will you be picking any of these items up?

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Bite Beauty launches never cease to excite me. They mostly feature products for the lips but this one's multi-use and for lips, cheeks and eyes. This is the Bite Beauty Multistick ($28 each).

There are 18 shades of the Bite Beauty Multisticks: Blondie, Papaya, Cocoa, Cerise, Anise, Biscotti, Macaron, Mochi, Gelato, Brioche, Almond, Nectar, Lotus, Creme Caramel, Praline, Cashew, Mascarpone, Honeywheat. I've got 6 to share with you - Blondie, Cashew, Cerise, Cocoa, Gelato, and Macaroon. The shades are mostly neutral tones (both cool and warm) and deeper shades with a few more daring shades like purple and red. I'm into the colour selection, as it can work for a variety of skintones in a plethora of ways.

I have a feeling that the most popular shades will be the brown-ish nudes like Blondie, Cashew, and Honeywheat as they are the most wearable for all three of cheeks, eyes and lips.

Packaging is typical of Bite Beauty. The simple, sleek rubberized grey packaging is consistent with their other products but also impossible to differentiate which colour is which before opening the tube. The bullet also features a magnetic snap closure. So satisfying.

The Bite Beauty Multistick is described as a multifunctional colour for eyes, lips and cheeks that applies like a cream and wears like a powder. Breathable. Blendable. Buildable.

They're incredibly pigmented...one swipe is too much for the lips, cheeks or eyes. It's smooth and creamy and buttery goodness (as should be expected from Bite Beauty). They dry down to a semi-matte finish is indeed like a powder. Oh and the scent is subtly sweet but not as strong as the scent of the Amuse Bouche Lipsticks.

Bite Beauty Multistick Swatches in Blondie, Gelato, Cashew, Macaroon, Cerise and Cocoa

I tried the Bite Beauty Multisticks on the lips, eyes and cheeks. They on application, they look amazing for all placements but in different areas act a little differently over time.

On the lips. At first, they feel beautiful. Creamy, smooth, comfortable. But 10 minutes later they start to dry down. The Multisticks will last a surprisingly long, long time on the lips without eating or drinking (4-5 hours) but it won't be comfortable. After removal, my lips were peeling. However, there is a solution to the drying quality of the product. I like to wear lip balm underneath and only wear a sheer layer of product with my fingertips rather than applying straight from the bullet.

On the eyes. They blend like buttah and play nice when used in combination with other products (cream and powder). I have to be careful to apply in thin layers and set with powder, as I have oily lids and the Bite Beauty Multistick tends to crease after a couple hours of wear.

On the cheeks. Applying a few dots of product onto my cheeks and blending out with fingertips is by far my favourite way to apply the Multisticks. There's quite a bit of time to blend out the product and once it sets it's there for at least 6 to 7 hours.

Bite Beauty Multistick in Blondie Swatch || nude beige

Bite Beauty Multistick in Gelato Swatch || cool light mauve

Bite Beauty Multistick in Cashew Swatch || medium warm brown nude, similar to Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Chai

Bite Beauty Multistick in Macaroon Swatch || medium rose pink

Bite Beauty Multistick in Cerise Swatch || deep blackened cherry

Bite Beauty Multistick in Cocoa Swatch || deep neutral brown

A quick note, my favourites are as follows:

For the eyes - cashew, gelato, blondie

For the cheeks - macaroon, cashew

For the lips - cashew, macaroon, cerise, cocoa

Overall, I'm on the fence. I'm in love with the colours and as a cream blush, they're dreamy. But it's not love because they're not perfect yet still workable for the eyes or the lips. If they were marketed as a cream shadow or a lipstick I probably wouldn't enjoy them. So, as a whole I'd say they're a decent product but not a must-have for me.

Have you tried the Bite Beauty Multisticks yet?

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Each season, Sephora Collection comes out with a slew of new beauty products that can easily be overlooked. Today, I'm talking about three new makeup bits from Sephora Collection's fall releases - the Sephora Collection Luxe False Lashes in Fusion ($21 CAD), the Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof ($12 CAD) and the Colorful 5 Eye Contouring Palette in Light ($31 CAD).

Also on my face: Essence Make Me Brow, IDC Regen Express Perfection Tinted Moisturizer, Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in C211, Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Baby Love, theBalm Mary Lou Manizer

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil in Black Lace & Colorful 5 Eye Contouring Palette in Light

The Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace is a matte finish twist-up pencil liner. The liner is hard to work with, drags a bit on the lid, and won't transfer onto the waterline. But if you can deal with that, you're in for long-wearing, intense, matte black eyes that indeed last for 12 hours.

The Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencils are available in 9 glitter finish colours, 4 matte finish colours and 12 shimmer finish colours.

Then, there's the Sephora Collection Colorful 5 Eye Contouring Palette in Light. The palette is pretty and functional with 3 mattes and 2 satin finish shadows. The texture is nice, blendable and smooth but on par with something less expensive like the Joe Fresh Eye Shadow Palette in Neutrals ($14 CAD). For $30 at Sephora, you can get a Smashbox or Tarte mini-palette with more shade variation and better quality.

The Sephora Collection 5 Eye Contouring Palettes are also available in Medium and Tan.

Last but not least is the Sephora Collection Luxe False Lashes in Fusion. The lashes are made of soft, natural fibres with a clear band. They're easy to apply (as easy as any other false lash) and feel comfortable on the lids. Given my small eyes, the band is too long for my lids and I cut them and half to get double the use. Sephora says that the "Fusion" lash is natural and volumizing, ideal for filling in sparse lashes and making eyes appear bigger and lashes appear longer. While I don't feel quite like myself when wearing false lashes (I'll never feel natural), I do think that the Sephora Collection Luxe False Lashes deliver on the eye opening, lash lengthening promises.

The Sephora Collection Luxe False Lashes are available in 4 additional styles - Flare, Plume, Plush and Quill.

What do you love from Sephora Collection?

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Guess what? There's a special guest on the blog today! Charles (aka my boyfriend) is here to share his thoughts on the No7 Men Energising Face Scrub ($14 CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart). For reference, Charles has some facial hair (aka small beard) and normal/dry sensitive skin and he has a regular skincare routine (which was his own doing, not mine... I swear!).

Charles says he didn't really exfoliate in the past because he feared it would lead to dry skin and breakouts (an irrational fear, I think!) . Let's see if that's changed...

The claims: Cleans deeper, lifts away dead skin cells, cleans pores, fresher, smoother looking skin, helps to provide a closer shave (untested)

The packaging. There's something about (nearly) all black packaging that gives the brand a sleek look that is both luxurious yet affordable.

The product. The exfoliator is a thickly textured paste that has a certain grit to it. When a product claims to "work on all skin types" I'm wary, as I've tried many drugstore products with the same claim that only seemed to make my skin feel worse. However, the No7 Men's Energizing Face Scrub Hypo-Allergenic Daily Care for Sensitive Skin left a my face feeling noticeably cleaner feeling than other face washes that I've tried, yet it didn't leave my skin feeling dry. I felt like the exfoliating particles (salt bits) contributed to cleaner pores and gave a deeper clean than the usual daily moisturizing face wash I use from IOPE.

I would definitely recommend this to someone to at least try as a switch up from their usual lighter cleansing routine. I use this every other day if my skin is really oily in the summer but every third day otherwise.

The good: Effective clean without scrubbing, salt like bits help remove dead skin cells, good on all skin types, budget friendly, pleasant smelling, 2 year product life sleek packaging

The bad: Exfoliation might be too much to use everyday

The verdict: A gentle yet effective exfoliating scrub that can be used confidently on all skin types packed with salt-like bits to help remove dead cells for for a fresh start of your day or a stress-reliever in the evening.

Do the men in your life use skincare/exfoliate?

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TIFF 2016 (the Toronto International Film Festival) started yesterday. A day before that, I headed to the 8th annual Bask-It-Style lounge hosted by Glo Communications at the Thompson Hotel.

The lounge showcased a variety of different kinds of brands including beauty, books, fashion and even coffee. I had the opportunity to hang out in the lounge and speak with reps from each of the brands. Here's what I learned:

IN FOOD & DRINK:

Doi Chaangis organic, fair trade coffee named after a small village in north-eastern Thailand. 50% of the company is owned by the Akha Hill Tribe of Doi Chaang. The beans are grown in Thailand and roasted in Vancouver, creating shared economic prosperity and sustainability for both the Canadian and Thai owners.

Also in gift bag: a lovely bottle Pinot Noir from Meiomi Wines, which won't be around very long...

IN BEAUTY:

Mèreadessois ingredient-rich, multi-purpose and Canadian-made skincare. I had the pleasure of speaking with the brand's founder Linda Stephenson. Boy, does she know her skincare stuff. With knowledge in chemistry, botany, and biology, she took her experience working at Estee Lauder to create a straightforward line of effective products. Her star product is definitely the All-In-On Moisturizer, which is meant to be a moisturizer, serum, primer, day cream, night cream and eye cream and features 16 botanical extracts, 8 minerals and enzymes, and 20+ antioxidants. Review on this and the Face + Neck Cleanser andBeauty Balm(the Travel Ease + Kit) coming up in the near future!

Also in the gift bag: The L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hair Spray Extra Strong Hold to keep my hair in check on the disgustingly humid days that we've been having in Toronto lately and two Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipsticks in Powerful Pink and Midnight Red. In case you missed it, I already reviewed all 8 of the colours here and they're a hit!

IN FASHION:

Annie Thompson is a Toronto-based designer with a fine arts background. She believes in individual style, rather than trends and fashion and specializes in bags created from up-cycled designer upholstery materials, as well as womenswear featuring sustainable fabrics. She created the A-List Super Tote for celebrity recipients of the Bask-It-Style gift bag.

Studio1098 is a small, boutique custom jeweller located at 1098 Yonge Street. Goldsmith and gemmologist Tamara Kronis is inspired by vintage and antique jewellery to create quirky and one-of-a-kind pieces. At the lounge she showcased items to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary like penny and token cufflinks, as well as a maple leaf necklace. If you like what you see, vote for Studio1098 for the NOW Magazine Reader's Choice Awards here.

Mila's Fine Footwear is a balances comfort and style with European brands like Ecco, Birkenstocks, Finn, Josef Seibel, Cloud, Clark's, Gerry Weber, Fly London and more. If you know me, you're probably very aware of the fact that I live my summers in Birkinstocks. So, I can truly appreciate the footwear selections at Mila's.

IN BOOKS:

Now that I'm finished my graduate degree, I'm getting back into the swing of reading for pleasure. At the lounge I received three books - DK Books Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Toronto, a guide to Toronto's best sights plus a handy pull-out map; Mary Kubica's Don't You Cry, a best-selling psychological thriller; and New York Times Best-Selling authors Frank Beddor and Adrienne Kress's Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X., a fantasy book for 8 to 12 year olds that I'll be handing off to one of my younger cousins.

IN CARS:

With AirBnB, you can rent out your house. With Turo, you can rent out your car (or borrow someone else's Tesla S70D). I just did a quick search and in my area, I can rent a car for as low as $30 per day or if I'm feeling fancy there's always a Tesla, Porche Panamera and a Jaguar F-Type nearby.

In addition to the Bask-It-Style Lounge, Glo partners with hotels to deliver personalized VIP gift bags to celebrity film fest attendees. Supposedly, the Bask-It-Style gift bag handed to celebrities at the festival is valued at over $1,400. I was sent home with a more modest but still generous bag of samples to test out and feature here on the blog. Lugging it all home on the street car was a mission and a half (though in hindsight I should have rented a Turo Tesla to get back in style).

Are you attending the Toronto International Film Festival this year?

Past TIFF posts:

EGPR Essentials Lounge 6

10 things to do at TIFF 2015

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Summer is barely even over and I'm sharing a collection for the holidays. Sorry but you'll thank me later. I'm not typically one for sharing press releases but last year's post on the Guerlain's 2015 Holiday Collection was wildly popular.

The Guerlain Holiday 2016 Collection is a collaboration between the brand and Guerlain's stunning Russian muse, model, philanthropist and actress Natalia Vodianova. The collection is inspired by Shalimar (the first ever oriental fragrance created in 1925) and the riches of imperial India.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles De Legende ($79, limited edition) - a take on Guerlian's classic Meteorites powder - a blend of pink, blue, and gold pearls inspired by mosaics in Indian palaces. Pink is for enhancing freshness of the complexion, while blue is for correction and gold is for warmth and illumination.

Guerlain Souffle D'Or De Shalimar ($105, limited edition) - a perfumed body and hair powder. This is so glamorous. If you love a bit of shimmer for the holidays, put this one on your wishlist.

Guerlain Rouge G Exceptional Complete Lip Colour ($61, limited edition) - a classic red shade. What makes this one special is the jewelled packaging.

An exceptionally large bottle of Shalimar

I did get to preview the products at an event last month but we weren't allowed to take photos of the product (I really wish I had swatches or something)! When I first saw the collection, I was surprised. It's not your typical red lip and glittery shadow holiday release.

Guerlain Terracotta Terra India Shimmering Bronzing Powder ($64, limited edition) - When they say "shimmering" they mean subtle shimmer. I did swatch this one and it''s definitely too light for someone who is my skin colouring. It could possibly work for me in the winter but it's definitely a better option for those of you who are fair to light.

Guerlain L'Or Eyeliner ($42) - a shimmering gold felt eyeliner. It's quite potent. and more of a yellowy gold than a white gold. I'd say that this is the product in the collection that screams the most holiday to me.

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Creamy Shaping Lip Colour in 563 Indian Pink ($43, limited edition) - a bold pink lipstick. The Kiss Kiss lipstick formulation is phenomenal. If you haven't tried it yet, I have a review of the shade 325 Rouge Kiss here.

Guerlain Precious Light Pearly Pink Illuminator ($62, limited edition) - a this highlighter is for those who like natural, subdued, and sheer illumination, rather than a block of shimmer. The Precious Light Pearly Pink Illuminator will likely work for those with light to medium complexions.

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Savouring Summer: The Body Shop Pinita Colada and Honey Bronze Drops of Sun Holiday Glow Creator

HAUL: Free People Beauty & Wellness - Smith & Cult, RMS, Eyeko and Juice Beauty

Mary Kay Semi-Matte Gel Lipsticks

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Cleansing Milk

BVspa Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub and Body Lotion

Klorane: 50 Years of Caring For Sensitive Eyes

Formula X: The System XCEL to Go in Impeccable

THREE THINGS: Dr. Roebuck's POLISH, TONE and FACE

Mary Kay Runway Bold Collection for Fall 2016

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Orangesicle, Funnel Delight & Spice Cake

Lines of Elan Truly Clean Karma Bean Citrus Cloud Shampoo & Conditioner

Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow in No.3 Dark Brown & Clio Tinted Lip Tattoo in Bloody Cherry

The Month in Nail Art - August 2016

A pop of neon

Gold Leaf

Pink & Glitter

Sephora Formula X #ColorCurators Collection 2016 with Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific

NEW IN: Joe Fresh Beauty - Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, CC Traslucent Pressed Powder, Universal Beauty Balm & Brow Sculpting Wax

Bite Beauty Multisticks in Blondie, Cashew, Cerise, Cocoa, Gelato and Macaroon

THREE THINGS: Sephora Collection Luxe False Lashes, Contour Eye Pencil & Colorful 5 Eye Contouring Palette

CHARLES REVIEWS: No7 Men Energising Face Scrub

Bask-It-Style TIFF 2016 Gifting Louge

FIRST LOOK: Guerlain Holiday 2016 Collection