Brand Spotlight: Colour Pop
Go ahead and make fun of me for admitting this, but I only heard about Colour Pop last year when I started watching KathleenLights' YouTube channel. She raves about their makeup, in particular their Super Shock Shadows. She just released her second collab with them called Where The Night Is - a four piece eyeshadow set. Of course I had to buy it.
The price points are super affordable ($5 for a shadow and $6 for a liquid lipstick) so I stocked up on a few things that I’ve been wanting to try. I also got a $5 off coupon when I signed up to their email list. Even with shipping, my order came out to $54 USD for 6 shadows, 2 lipsticks, 1 lip primer and 1 lip pencil. It would have been better if the Canadian dollar wasn’t so low but I really wanted to try the KathleenLights collab so I went ahead and got everything on my wishlist.
SUPER SHOCK SHADOWS
My overall all impression of these shadows is A++! They’re amazing - highly pigmented, amazing colour payoff and excellent longevity. (I have oily skin so I use Urban Decay’s eye primer with all of my shadows so they don't budge.) I love the rich colours of the Super Shock Shadows and how they apply true to what you see in the pots. At $5 a pot, it's easy to take a risk and add a bit colour to your makeup routine.
KATHLEENLIGHTS "WHERE THE LIGHT IS"
At first I didn’t think the some of the colours from the Where The Night Is shadow quad would be wearable for everyday, but they totally are and it just depends on how you wear them. For example, one day I applied Telepathy, the chartreuse shade, as a thick line over my lash line and then applied my regular black winged liner over top. It added a punch of colour without being distracting when I was at the office. Another idea is to use Weenie all over the lid with a little bit of Porter on the outer corner of the eye for a pop of colour. What I really like about Colour Pop's collab with Kathleen is that they split up the collection up so you can buy the singles or, pick up that the quad like I did.
LIPPIE STIX, PENCIL & PRIMER
I bought these three lippies as a promo that Colour Pop had for $10. I thought it would be a good way to get acquainted with their lip products and see if they do anything for me. Since I'm just getting into nude lip colours, I picked up the colour Brink, a warm taupey-pink shade, inspired by Kylie Jenner. The Lippe Stix is amazing on its own but when paired with the matching liner and primer, it gives 100x longevity to my lipstick. (Ok, it might not actually be 100x, but it sure feels like it because it lasts so damn long.) The Lippies aren't as drying as the Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks, which I really appreciate during the winter. I did pick up a liquid lipstick in Avenue, a deep warm red, but I forgot to photograph it. (Sorry!) For the price point, I would highly recommend these lippies.
I bought everything here myself so this isn't a sponsored post. I really appreciate the little hand written note that came with my order. It's such a cute detail that makes a world of difference.
CHILL VIBES
Running errands doesn't have to mean dressing all lazy-like in PJ's. As much as I'm tempted, especially during the winter, I feel like getting dressed is actually good for you. You feel more confident and more like yourself and ready to conquer the day. Here I went for my cozy faux fur bomber from Chaser that I’m so in love with. It adds an element of instant cool and rock and roll to my outfits. I paired it my black jeans and turtleneck to keep the look streamlined, that way my statement jacket can really pop. My accessories are also low key and I went for my ulta-comfy brogues from Le Yucca and my black backpack from Bonastre. You can grab both at Roztayger.com.
So there you have it, getting dressed doesn’t have to be complicated and you can still look like a you a fuck while you’re out and about doing your thing. Note to self: don’t give in to pj’s as day-wear just yet!
xo, Nathalie
REVIEW: Formula X #ColorCurators: Song of Style
I’m going to intro this post by basically fan-girling on Aimee Song because she's all things awesome! I’ve been following Song of Style for a long time now, going back to when I started my very first fashion blog. I love her unique fashion sense, her perfect tousled hair, her hot badass sister Dani, and the fact she still takes the time to comment and like other people’s Instagram photos. True story – Aimee commented and liked two of my pictures last year. (Woot woot!) Unlike so many other top fashion bloggers, Aimee still holds her full time job as an interior designer. Talk about power house! In my eyes, Aimee Song can do no wrong! ;)
Now that that’s out in the open, let’s get down to reviewing her new #colorcurators collection with nail brand, Formula X. She has released three limited edition pastel nail polishes in mint, nude and pale pink. At first I thought the colours wouldn’t be wearable or flattering on my olive skin but they are. I’m also digging the contrast of these colours against my black outfits. Keep reading for the full review.
Xo, Nathalie
REVIEW SONG OF STYLE FOR FORMULA X
To be honest I wasn’t going to buy these at first because the only colour I could really see myself wearing is the nude shade. On the other hand I wanted to support her latest collaboration by getting all three colours - Nude For You, Mintfluencer and A Girl's Best Friend. So happy I did because I love each colour more than the next. They're different enough from what's currently in my nail polish collection and they make an impact. Trust me, everyone's been complementing my nails.
One coat gives excellent coverage but two is necessary in order to get a proper manicure. As with any brand, I'd recommend a base and top coat if you want your manicure to last. While testing the A Girl's Best Friend (pink shade) I got lazy and skipped that step and my manicure started chipping by day two. Really, it's up to you guys how much time you want to take to do your nails but I think the extra step is worth it.
Cons:
- Base coat and top coat necessary for a long wearing manicure
Pros:
- Excellent colour pay off in one coat
- Quick drying (not speedy but pretty damn good)
- Long wearing when used with a base coat and primer
NUDE FOR YOU
The first shade I tried from the Formula X collab with Song Of Style. This shade is beautiful on olive skin and looks so clean and perfect. Love it!
MINTFLUENCER
A brightish pale mint shade that makes me think of spring. This colour is statement all of the way and calls for attention.
A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
This is the one shade I didn't think I'd like but other than Nude For You, it's my favourite.
BUTTER AVENUE MACARONS
I want to say a special thank you to my friends at Butter Avenue for always supplying me with such beautiful macarons for this post and for my belly. Make sure you stop by if you haven't already!
SPRING FORECAST
Okay, okay, it's hardly feeling like spring outside but this is the time of year when I usually get fed up with wearing fleece leggings and big bulky sweaters and start thinking about spring - pretty dresses, strappy sandals and cute tops.
With "weather denial" on my brain, I stopped by Forever 21 to shop their latest collection. I immediately gravitated towards this ivory mini dress with ruffled armholes. I would have gone for the typical black but sometimes, I wanted to step outside of my comfort zones and try something new. Since it's not exactly spring yet, I wore my dress with textured tights, an emerald suede jacket and my Isabel Marant booties. Once spring rolls around this dress will feel brand new again when I ditch the tights and the jacket.
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
FOREVER 21, ruffled mini dress (exact)
OBEY, suede emerald green moto jacket
ISABEL MARANT, buckled suede ankle boots(similar here)
THE KOOPLES, fringe leather bag (similar here)
JENNY BIRD, necklace and ring
MICHAEL KORS, sunglasses
Winter Layers
Sometimes I think it's hard to look chic when it's so damn cold out. My solution, layers and a big cozy scarf. Luckily there wasn't much snow on the ground when we shot this so I was able to wear my favourite 3.1 Phillip Lim kitten heels. I also took my Helmut Lang bag out of storage for this post. I haven't worn it in some time but I still love it.
Hope you guys are keeping warm and cozy because damn, we still have a few more months of winter left and I'm so over it!
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ARITZIA, Wilfred black cocoon coat
THE KOOPLES, leopard print scarf
FRANK & EILEEN, Barry shirt around waist (similar here)
RAG & BONE, jeans
3.1 PHILLIP LIM ANKLE BOOTS, kitten heeled ankle boots
TOMS, Bellevue sunglasses
JENNY BIRD, Lezark earrings
HELMUT LANG, nappa leather satchel (circa 2013)
COLOUR POP, matte liquid lipstick in Avenue
10 MINUTE MAKEUP
So here’s the deal, sometimes I’d rather spend an extra 30 mins in bed catching up on my beauty sleep than actually working on my beauty (aka. makeup). When I’m short for time, I take a 2 min shower, put my face in 10 mins, tousle my hair, set it with hair spray and run out the door.
The look I'm suggesting here might sound like a lot of makeup, but I find this is the best combo to help me feel and look pulled together. I could skim it back even more but I find doing so means my makeup fades by day or that I don't feel like myself. Hey - I'm just a full face of makeup kind of girl!
You'll see that I use a lot of light colours to brighten my complexion but also because they’re more forgiving and require less blending time. I should also mention that practice makes perfect with speedy makeup and if you don't get this look down in 10 minutes the first time, keep trying and modify it to suit your needs.
Xo, Nathalie
1. MOISTURIZE
I like using a fast absorbing moisturizer in the morning because I don’t have time to wait for it to soak into my skin. Consonant Skincare makes my all time favourite one - it’s natural and organic and absorbs in no time!
2. PRIME
Nivea’s Post Shave Balm for men (sensitive skin formula) is the new holy grail of primers. I slather it all over my face, eye lids and neck, even if I’m short on time because it helps my makeup last. Otherwise, what’s the point in even wearing makeup if it’s just going to fade? (Don't worry, that manly scent will fade so you don't have to smell like a like a dude's armpit all day.)
3. COVER, CONCEAL & SET
If I'm in a rush I ditch the Beauty Blender and reach for a foundation or BB cream that I can apply with my fingers. If I want more coverage I go for the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water. For sheer coverage I like Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream with SPF. Both are excellent. For my severely dark under eyes, I always use Becca’s Under Eye Brightening Corrector. The light reflecting salmon shade erases the blue under my eye and preps the skin for concealer. Then I use Kat Von D’s Lock-It Concealer, which has excellent coverage and looks natural. Again, I just pat it in with my fingers. Finally to set my face, I lightly dust the best powder I've ever used, Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder, with a large fluffy brush.
4. EYES
I like using light pinks and sheer purple shadows to help brighten up my tired face and have been loving Pixi's Mineral Palette in Amethyst Aura. I have olive skin and I never thought I could wear cool shades, but I tried it after watching a tutorial from Jaclyn Hill. It totally brightens the complexion so give it a try! For eyeliner, I use a waterproof black pencil, which is easier to apply and more forgiving than reaching for liquid liner if you make a mistake - Lancôme and Marc Jocobs make excellent highly pigmented, smudge proof liners. After, I curl my lashes and add a coat of mascara. Finally for brows, I love the NYX pencil in Chocolate for speedy arches.
5. CHEEKS & LIPS
Here I skip the contour and add a light dusting of bronzer on the hallows of the cheeks and forehead for warmth. On my cheeks I like a pop of pink blush for some colour. Finally lips - a cocoa pink lipstick like KVD's Double Dare will pull the look together for that fresh-face glow. And that's it! Now you're ready to conquer the day!
THE MONOGRAMMED BLANKET SCARF
When you receive a surprise parcel from one of your favourite brands containing a monogrammed scarf, you freak out a little bit! I bought this scarf in black waaaaaay back when they first came out, and wore it a non-stop for the first couple of years but now I don't really wear it anymore. But hello (!!!), how stunning is this emerald colour with my initials on it? I don't really see people wearing this colour so I'm totally embracing!
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ARITZIA, Wilfred Diamond Mosaic Blanket Scarf (mine is grey/ evergreen)
RAG & BONE, zippered distressed jeans
THE KOOPLES, moto leather jacket, leather gloves and bracelet
GIVENCHY, small black Pandora bag
ALEXANDER WANG, black ankle boots (circa 2013)
MICHAEL KORS, silver mirrored sunglasses
JENNY BIRD, slant ear cuff
KAT VON D, Studded Kiss Lipstick in Chula and Shade & Light Blush in Samson + Delilah
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: Michael Biro
DISCLAIMER: My custom scarf was a gift from Aritzia and their PR company. I'm not sure they offer monogramming but I'm sure you can always take your scarf to a professional to have it done.
The Uniform
Honestly, there is something about winter that makes me want to wear pj's all day, everyday and not want to give a f**k. But I can't and I won't because being well dressed is a form of good manners after all and how you present yourself counts for a lot. I plan on doing the ultimate lazy girl's guide on getting dress but for now, let's just have a look at my uniform. My go-to pieces when I'm lazy or in a rush are always the same - a pair of skinny jeans, awesome shoes and a t-shirt topped with a leather jacket. Depending on my mood, I can dress it up with heels and a clutch or an ankle boot and a beanie like in this post here.
I kind of settled on my uniform by accident when I started subconsciously reaching for the same pieces over and over again. It's a matter of finding what items make you feel good and compliment your personal style. I love skinny jeans because the elongate my short legs. Also my leather jacket collection is something I'm happiest about in my wardrobe and I wear them with everything, jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, gowns. You name it and I'll top it off with a little moto jacket (LMJ!). That's just my personal style and my comfort zone.
If you don't have a uniform already, I urge you to take the time to find the items that compliment your body shape and personality and make you feel good,. You'll be happy you did, especially on the days you don't know what to wear.
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
MACKAGE, Mary A leather jacket (similar)
RAG AND BONE, zippered jeans (exact)
ARITZIA, burgundy beanie (similar)
THE KOOPLES, t-shirt
ALEXANDER WANG, ankle boots and oxblood Rockie (circa 2013)
ARMANI, sunglasses (similar here and here)
KAT VON D, Chula lipstick & Tijuana nail polish (in collab with Formula X)
JENNY BIRD, snake ring (similar-ish here)
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: Michael Biro
Seeing Red
Going with the colour theme of my last beauty post, I felt inspired to add a splash of colour to my outfit and went with these brick red Jbrands. I've had them for a while and the wax coating came off ages ago but I still love them. Is there a colour you guys can't get enough of these days? Clearly I've been seeing red. ;)
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
MICHAEL KORS, sunglasses
THE KOOPLES, blazer with leather lapel and chain
ARITZIA, graphic muscle tee (worn backwards)
GIVENCHY, Favelas 74 pouch (borrowed from Global Garçon)
JBRAND, brick red skinny jeans
ALEXANDER WANG, ankle boots
KAT VON D, Chula lipstick & Tijuana nail polish (in collab with Formula X)