Makeup Monday: 10 Products for A Fresh Fall Face

Whether we like it or not, fall is here which means it's time to update our beauty routines. Unless you're constantly traveling to sunny locations, we're all a bit paler this time of year. We have to adjust our lipstick and foundation colours accordingly to keep from looking like Sally, from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Read on for my current faves/ mini reviews on 10 products I can't get enough of for fall.

1. SMASHBOX CAMERA READY BB WATER
OMG this BB water is the shit!! Shake the bottle well and apply this watery BB fluid to your skin using either your fingertips, brush or sponge. Regardless, it always looks natural and flawless. Bonus, it's buildable coverage that works well on my oily/ dry skin/ combo skin. (I bought mine in Light/ Medium.)

2. NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER
This concealer is excellent for covering up my dark under eye circles and helps my complexion look smoother. My skin is a medium olive shade and I buy this concealer in CUSTARD, a light yellow-based shade. (TIP: This is a liquid to powder formula so you don't need powder to set it. Caution: if you use powder to set it, you might end up with cakey makeup.)

3. NYX BEAUTY BALM
This BB cream is encompasses everything that I love about NYX Cosmetics - it's affordable, high quality and is a cruelty free. I like using this cream on the weekends and on the days when I don't need much coverage. I use shade 3, the darkest colour of the line and it's excellent for my medium skin. Any darker and I'm afraid this wouldn't be flattering.

4. PIXI GLOWTION DAY DEW (BRIGHTENING LOTION)
I've been searching for a product like this for a long time now! Glowtion instantly brightens my complexion when it's dull. It's a creamy iridescent lotion that works perfect under my BB Water. If there's one product I could recommend for tired skin that needs an instant pick-me-up, this is it!

5. NYX HIGH DEFINITION BLUSH
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BEACH BABE (BRONZE), BABY DOLL (PINK), AND CORALINE (CORAL)
The colour payoff on these blushes is superb, making them suitable for so many skin colours. I use Beach Babe as a light contour on my cheekbones, followed by Coraline for coral wash, and then I dab a bit of Baby Doll on the apples of my cheeks for light flush. I might sound like a lot, but the finished look is natural when you use these blushes lightly. 

6. MAC MATTE LIPSTICK: SO CHAUD
This is the perfect orange-red for a pale complexion. The matte formula has incredible longevity, with or without lip liner.

7. GIVENCHY LE ROUGE: MANDARINE BOLERO
My favourite day-time red regardless of season. Use a nude lipliner to make it last longer. 

8. PIXI MATTE LUSTRE  LIPSTICK: PLUM BERRY
I've been creating a light-ombre effect on my lips by layering this berry-shade on the outer portion of my lips, and then blending it in with my fingers. This shade is perfect for transitioning my summer lipsticks to fall. 

9. NYX DREAM CATCHER PALETTE: GOLDEN HORIZONS
With plenty of golden browns and rich gold shades, this eyeshadow palette is excellent for creating a smoky daytime eye. I use the white to brighten my brown bone and the charcoal to accentuate the outer corners of my eyes. All skin colours would benefit from this inexpensive palette. 

10. MAYBELLINE NEW YORK THE FALSIES PUSH UP DRAMA MASCARA
If you're into thick, long lashes, then this latest from Maybelline is for you! It's smudge free, wears well all day and washes away with soap and water. What else could you ask for?
 

Back Alley Vogue feat. Global Garçon

So this happened unexpectedly... Michael, of Global Garçon, and I decided to throw this post together just the night before. (Yes, we coordinated our outfits in case you're wondering. So what? ^_^ ) On the day of shooting, we were crazy pressed for time to get it done as quickly as possible. The sun was going down and we were loosing our light fast. To add to the mayhem, the back alley where we shot this, suddenly became a hot spot of activity with all kinds of people (garbage men!) walking through and giving us oddball looks. We persevered nonetheless, with our black and white outfits and Vogued the hell out of that alley. The thing is about fashion bloggers is that we are heavily determined to get a good post for our blogs and nothing, not the cold weather and not even the garbage men will prevent us from getting a good pic. ;)
xo, Nathalie

                                      I call this shot, WoahStyle x Global Garçon.

WHAT I'M WEARING
Zara army jacket.
Urban Outfitters deep V, tissue t-shirt.
Lisbeth Jewelry necklaces.
Rag & Bone zippered skinny jeans.
Larsson & Jennings watch.
Givenchy Antigona Bambi clutch.
Armani sunglasses.
Target hat.

For Global Garçon's outfit details, check out his awesome blog here.

Life Lessons + A Pop of Pink

It's funny how even as an adult I'm still getting to know myself, and having this little blog called WoahStyle, is helping me push my boundaries outside of my comfort zone. Since launching WS, I've learned to conquer video interviews but I'm still crap at making small talk. Read on for more quirks!

• I am bad at small talk. Seriously. Put me in a room with people I don't know very well and my mind goes blank. I have nothing to talk about and I feel uncomfortable. I think they call that being an introvert.  
• On the other hand, put me in a room with people I do know, and I'm outspoken and come to life!
• I like hiding behind glasses in photos because I'm still a bit camera shy. Almost seems silly to admit at this point. 
• In the first 2 video interviews I ever did, I was so nervous that I was almost hyperventilating. I just shot my third video, which you guys will see next week, and I fucking killed it. I can say that because I really did! ^_^
• I love being around good people with good positive energy. I don't care what you look like or if your handbag or shoes are designer because at the end of the day, it's what's inside that counts. (Funny enough I once had a blog called "What's On The Outside Is All That Counts".)

WHAT I'M WEARING
Everlane Sweater. 
Zara jeans.
Sandro Paris ankle boots.
Saint Laurent Paris pink monogram cross body.
Armani sunglasses.

Fall Shopping with Andrews

To wrap up my collaboration with Andrews, we had an in-store event this past Saturday at their new Sherway Gardens location. I was thrilled to meet my long-time Instagram friend, Mr. Global Garçon, who came out to say "hi"! We clicked instantly IRL and took a million pictures before setting on a silly one to post on IG. I also had a chance to meet a really kind fan who made my day when she told me that she's been following my blog since almost the beginning. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As for the new Andrews store, it's beautifully laid out and impeccably merchandised. I think the owner and the buyers do a phenomenal job at putting together a well curated assortment of women's clothing and accessories. It's the kind of boutique where you can shop with your mum and also with your girlfriends because there really is something for every one. While that might sound like a broad age group, it really isn't a farfetched idea, especially when you're selling beautifully made luxury items that are all thoughtfully merchandised. The store reads like a department store with an assortment of outerwear, evening wear, day wear and office wear, and yet the shopping experience is on a more intimate level. There's a lot of versatily in the store and they do a good job at setting up like a one-stop destination for busy women.

I hope you have a chance to stop by Andrews, Sherway Gardens and see why I was excited to bring you guys this collaboration.

xo, Nathalie

WHAT I'M WEARING
Zadig & Voltaire: Small Quilted Leather Bag.
Chan Luu: Fresh Water Pearls Sterling Silver Long Necklace.
Equipment: Striped Silk Blouse.
J Brand: Coated High Rise Maria Skinny Jean.

All items of the above items can be found at Andrews.

Unboxing: September Birchbox

I just signed up with Birchbox and I was excited to get my first one in the mail recently. I've been holding off to unbox it for for you guys here, so with that, let's just dig right in and see what's inside September's box. PS - how cute is this months design?

September's box has a good selection of hair, skincare and beauty products. Right away I see a Tocca body scrub which I'm excited to try since I've always loved Tocca. (BTW - I know it's almost the end of the month and you guys have probably already received your Birchbox but I want to share it here anyway since it's my first one. Hope you don't mind!)

My September's Birchbox includes:

• Davies This Is A Sea Salt Spray
• Tocca Giulietta Body Scrub in Pink Tulip & Green Apple 
• 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream (for dark circles & puffiness)
• Japonesque Velvet Touch Eye Shadow in Shade 02
• BioRepublic Aloe Rescue Revitalizing Fiber Mask with Vitamin E (for all skin types)

My first impression on the products:

• DAVINES THIS IS A SEA SALT SPRAY
  SAMPLE SIZE: A generous 100 ml. Should last a few uses. 
  Davines makes an excellent hairspray that I'm using right now but I'm not overly thrilled about getting this sea salt spray in my Birchbox. I've tried it before and I find it makes my hair frizzy and wild. I have thick, wavy hair that is majorly prone to frizz so I have to be careful about what products I use. I'm curious to know if anyone else with wavy hair feels the same about sea salt sprays. 
   
• TOCCA GIULLIETTA BODY SCRUB IN PINK TULIP + GREEN APPLE
  SAMPLE SIZE: 1 oz. equivalent to 1 use in the shower. 
  It smells pretty, feminine and fresh and makes me want jump in the shower right away. Too bad the sample isn't bigger because I think this product would be a hit with a lot of women. The label reads "gently moisturizing, sugar-based body scrub contains crushed olive granules, rich in natural oils. Paraben and phthalate free." I tried it on the back of my hands just now and it felt really nice and the scent lingers once you rinse it away.
  PS - I couldn't find this product on the Birchbox site which is too bad. :(
   
• 100% PURE COFFEE BEAN CAFFEINE EYE CREAM (for dark circles & puffiness)
  SAMPLE SIZE: 8 ml. Enough for a few months.
  I'm not happy to write this but, I'm very sleep deprived. Every morning is a struggle to conceal my dark under eye circles and fake out that "fresh-face" look with makeup. I'm excited to try this eye cream to see if it'll help but in reality, I should just get more sleep. This one is 100% natural and 100% vegan which is always nice. I might put my tube in the fridge to see if it helps with my puffiness a bit further and soothe my tired eyes.
   
• JAPONESQUE VELVET TOUCH HIGH PIGMENT EYE SHADOW (SHADE 02)
  SAMPLE SIZE: 1.5 g. Looks like a full sized.
  It almost looks pale gold at first but this eye shadow is actually a shimmery, pale, mossy green.  I've heard good things about Japonesque so I'm excited to try this. The packaging features these bold, colourful brush strokes that remind me of the Sept Birchbox design. Hmm... could this have been their inspiration?
   
• BIOREPUBLIC ALOE REVITALIZING FIBER MASK WITH VITAMIN E
  SAMPLE SIZE: 1 mask. 
  My BFF went to Korea a few years ago and brought me back a bunch of Korean fiber masks as a gift. I've been hooked since. I can't wait to try this Aloe mask since it's supposed to be hydrating and my skin has been feeling really dry recently. 

Keep an eye out for next month's Birchbox review where I'll be announcing something exciting for my Canadian readers!!!

Street Style feat. Andrews

I’m so excited to finally tell you guys about my latest collaboration! It’s with a Toronto-based store called Andrews, and I’ll be celebrating the opening of their third location at Sherway Gardens! Come by this Saturday and hang out with me! Let’s chat about fashion and life, upload pics on Instagram, take videos for Snapchat and of course, shop! Some of you guys leave me comments saying that you want to go shopping with me. Well… let’s do it! I’d be happy to help you pick out some new pieces for your fall wardrobe!

A bit of background on Andrews, they carry a diverse selection of luxury clothing and accessories, from Mackage, Jbrand, Smythe, Zadig & Voltaire to beautiful cocktail dresses from Greta Constantine. They take pride in catering their shopping experience to the busy woman, and provide services like on-site alterations and at home delivery. I took advantage of one of these services when I told the staff I was looking for coated jeans. They ordered in the amazing Jbrands that I'm wearing in this post. Thanks ladies! (TIP: Coated jeans are excellent if you want the look of leather without the hefty price tag.)

I think my favourite part of Andrews has to be their contemporary section, where I picked up this beautiful silk blouse by Vince. It’s the perfect transition piece for fall and I can wear it to the office and dressed down on the weekend. You guys know that I’m accessory crazy and I fell for this Zadig & Voltaire quilted bag almost immediately. It’s edgy and elegant goes beautifully with everything in my closet. The hat is also Z&V and is probably my favourite part of this outfit. I have a few black wool hats in my collection but nothing fits and looks as good as this one. Finally, the necklace is Chan Luu and is sterling silver with freshwater pearls. Just like everything else I’m wearing, it's both edgy and elegant. I think Andrews does that well.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I hope to see some of you there this Saturday, Sept 26th! I’ll be chilling at Andrews from 12-2pm and I can’t wait to meet you!

Xo, Nathalie

WHAT I'M WEARING
Zadig & Voltaire: Felted Wool Hat with Feather Trim.
Zadig & Voltaire: Small Quilted Leather Bag.
Chan Luu: Fresh Water Pearls Sterling Silver Long Necklace.
Vince: Silk Band Short Sleeve Top.
J Brand: Coated High Rise Maria Skinny Jean.

All items of the above items can be found at Andrews.

Bag Spill + New Faves

I feel like there’s so much excitement happening right now I can’t wait to share it! Stay tuned because on Thursday I'll be announcing the first part of something very exciting. GTA followers, you're going to be able to partake in this one! In the meanwhile, let’s do a bag spill/ current faves – the early fall edition.

• This beautiful leather box bag from JCOS STUDIOS just arrived in the mail the other day. It’s bigger than my Saint Laurent nano Sac De Jour so I’m really enjoying the extra interior space.
• I'm also loving this pretty wallet from Australian brand Status Anxiety. It fits my iPhone 6+ comfortably with room to spare for a lipstick - perfect for when I ditch my purse. 
• Pixi Beauty just launched their Fall 2015 collection which includes their Mattelustre Lipsticks. I got the shades Pure Fuchsia and Plum Berry. I find the formula is surprisingly creamy, and not cakey and heavy like most matte lipsticks. They're also infused with peptides and vitamins C & E to help create a fuller, smoother lip. I wear mine with a nude lipliner for extra staying power. 
• To keep the berry theme going, I just gave my nails a nice coat of Essie's Fishnet Stocking, a sultry berry-red shade. I love Essie for always being on-trend with colours.
• For eyeliner, I'm currently using Pixi's new Cat Eye Ink in Intense Black. This one has a nice slant felt tip that applies the liner comfortably. The colour payoff is awesome and it wears well until the end of the day.
• A brow pencil is something I almost always carry around. When I was younger I over-plucked my brows and they've never fully grown back. The Endless Brow Gel Pen, also by Pixi, helps me fill in sparse areas quickly.
• I'm super picky with fragrance but Italian Summer Fig from The Body Shop is beyond heavenly! Seriously, I just want to bathe in this scent! It smells like freshly cut greens but also smells a bit complex. I don't know how to describe it exactly but go smell it and tell me what you think!
• Lastly, I'm never without my Dior eyeglasses. I couldn't see without them! >_<

The Cotton Crew Neck with Everlane

My adventures with Everlane continues in this post with their Cotton Sweater Crew. Honestly, I can't seem to get enough of this comfortable knit. I shot it for this post on the weekend and I wore it to work today. Generally when I become obsessed with a new piece I wear until I just can't anymore. Is that a touch of fashion OCD? I don't know and I don't care. Expect to see the piece on repeat. #sorrynotsorry
xo, Nathalie

WHAT I'M WEARING
Everlane The Cotton Sweater Crew. Mackage leather jacket. Jbrand black Maria jeans. Jcrew suede pumps. Armani sunglasses. Larsson & Jennings Läder watch. Zadig & Voltaire quilted bag and wool hat from Andrews. 

Casual In The City

Busy weekends call for comfort and simplicity. These Everlane Street Shoes are excellent for running errands in the city and I love the strong contrast paired with a dark outfit. The weather is a bit cooler now so that means cardigans and sweaters can come out to play. I love the traditional cut of the grey one I'm wearing here. It reminds me of a grandfather cardi with the deep-V, large buttons and waist pockets. The fabric is luxurious and feels even better than it looks - super soft and almost silky.
xo, Nathalie

HOW TO KEEP YOUR WHITE SHOES LOOKING NEW
When I originally posted these shoes on IG, a lot of you guys asked me how I keep them clean and looking new. This shoe is leather so it should be easy to wipe off any scoffs or dirt but just in case, use the holy grail of shoe cleaners - Woly's Combi Cleaner. I've used it on canvas, leather and plastic and it works wonders. Promise. 

WHAT I'M WEARING
Everlane Luxe Sweater Cardigan & Street Shoe. Brandy Melville black muscle tank. Zara black ankle jeans. Old Navy mirrored sunglasses. 3.1 Phillip Lim CASH ONLY cross body bag. Larsson & Jennings Läder watch. Lisbeth necklace.