#newin YSL BEAUTY, LANCOME, LISE WATIER & CAKE BEAUTY
Is there a full moon coming up because it was been a straaaange week for me and everyone I know. Even the PR kits I received this week were no exception. Sure a lot of really cool stuff came my way yet still they don't seem like the typical PR kits I get. Moon phases aside, in this post you guys will see features from YSL Beauty, Lancome's latest skincare, Cake Beauty's line of dry shampoo's and some new faves from Lise Watier.
As always, if you want a full review or if you want to learn more about a specific product, leave a comment below and I'll put something together for you guys.
YSL BEAUTÉ PRIMERS, $55 - $65
I've heard Nikkie Tutorials talking the Touch Éclat Blur Primer (on the right) so I was excited to see it in my mailbox. It does a great job blurring but I feel the shimmer in the primer is too big and sparse. I'd like this product more if the shimmers were smaller and more concentrated to give a true illuminating effect.
The Touch Éclat Blur Perfector Compact (left) does a great job and is excellent for touch ups. I love using this on my forehead and nose to minimize the appearance of pores. Finally, the Instant Moisture Glow (centre) also blurs imperfections and can be used alone or under makeup.
LISE WATIER CC CREAM, BRONZER & BLUSH, $29 - $48
Canadian beauty brand Lise Watier makes my favourite CC cream on the market right now. It's the perfect neutral colour for my olive complexion and it contains SPF 25. They also have a killer shimmery bronzer to warm up a dull winter skin and the most bomb ass blush I've tried in a while in the shade Libertine. It's not pictured here because I misplaced it, which is odd considering I have been using it non stop recently.
cake beauty dry styling hair products, $10 - $19
This is a brand that's new to me though it's been around for a while. Cake Beauty is all about delicious smelling skincare and bath products that are vegan and cruelty free. I'm excited to see them expanding into dry styling products because I am dry shampoo obsessed! I use it on clean hair to create texture and on dirty hair to make it look clean.
Lancome Énergie De Vie skincare, $38 - $90
This line helps revive tired, dull skin and gives the appearance of hydrated skin that glows. The collection includes a night moisturizer, glow boosting liquid moisturizer and foaming face cleanser that's suitable for all skin types - oily, dry, combo and sensitive.
MARCELLE COSMETICS LIPSTICK & LIP LINER, $11
Some items are best bought at the drug store and for me one of those is lip liners. I've tried high end liners, from Chanel to Givenchy, and low and and I find the drug store ones are the best. Marcelle has an array of colours suitable for everyone with matching lipsticks for that perfect pout.
MASTERING THE ART OF GETTING READY IN 15 MINS OR LESS
It's the weekend and your best girlfriend calls to say, "let's hang out". You're too embarrassed to admit that at 11am you're still in bed so you tell her you'll be ready in 15 mins. You haul ass out of bed, take the worlds quickest shower (not washing your hair of course) and then you get down to the nitty gritty - what to wear!
KEEP IT SIMPLE
A classic pair of black jeans can do no wrong. Paired with my WoahStyle deep V neck black t-shirt, you'll look pulled together real quick.
ACCESSORIZE
A statement shoe like leopard print boots for example will make you go from basic to rock star status in 1.2 seconds. Add a statement coat if you're going for the extra mile.
DIRTY HAIR, DON'T CARE
I'm one of those chicks that washes my hair 2-3 days a week. Don't judge k? If my hair is feeling expired but I have no time to wash, I simply throw a hat on!
MAKEUP & CHILL
For super duper fast makeup, keep it simple. CC cream, some concealer where needed, a quick swipe of mascara, bronzer and blush (yes you can do it all in 5 mins!), some quickie brows and a red lipstick and you are good to go. I like a red lip when I'm in a rush because it makes me look pulled together without all of the crazy effort.
That's pretty much it. This is the look that works for me when I'm in a rush. If you're not a makeup girl, skip the red lips and opt for some tinted balm and a light touch of blush instead. I find a little kiss of colour on the cheeks always makes a difference and your friends will never know you got ready so fast!
SHOP THE OUTFIT
In this post I'm also wearing a loose deep V neck t-shirt from my new private collection. You can shop the tees in black and white here. And yes, I designed these myself. ;)
SHOP BEAUTY + ACCESSORIES
In collaboration with Revolve.
How To Buy Pieces You Love
I'm always telling you guys "buy what you love" but I want to know how many of you actually practice what I'm preaching. Hands up now.
Here's a little secret. I spend money on accessories, bags, shoes and jackets but I try to buy smart. I wait for sales or promo codes and sometimes I even buy preloved, like my charming patent leather Chanel bag. *gasp
This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinions are my own.
DOC MARTENS ARE COOL AGAIN. GO BUY THEM!
Hey guys! We're going to keep today's post short and sweet due to the heaviness of yesterday's topic (read the post here). I read all of your comments on IG and I'm seeing them on the blog as well and it saddens me to know so many of you had similar experiences. I digress. What doesn't break us makes us stronger so chin up dear readers!
Today I want to talk about the return of Doc Martens! They were super cool in the 90's when I was growing up and let me tell you, they're super cool again. My BFF Diana was in Iceland recently and she said all of the locals and Asian tourists were wearing them so yay, I'm on to something!
I've been wearing them non stop since I got my Docs at Town Shoes recently. I popped into the store, had a look around and right away I reached for the glossy cherry Docs. Why cherry and not black you might ask? Because I wear a lot of black and the cherry colour adds a cool unexpected pop with my outfits. Plus the boy I had a major crush on in grade school wore cherry Docs and skinny jeans and I just thought he was the coolest. LOL
Stay tuned for a lookbook I have coming up to show you guys a more refined way of wearing your new Docs. Yes, you can be a little more dressed up and put together but the whole point of a shoe like this is effortless, cool and it says "I don't try to hard cuz I don't give a ..." Am I right?!
Let me know what you think of the return of Docs. Are you gonna go out and buy them? What are you going to wear them with? Let me know in the comment section below!
SHOP DOC MARTENS @townshoes
Shop my look
Photography by: Diana Aldea
This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinions are my own.
MY GIVENCHY COLLECTION
Make sure you press play below to watch my latest video featuring my Givenchy collection. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think and if you want me to do more videos like this!
SHOP MY GIVENCHY COLLECTION
WHAT I'M WEARING
WHY I F@!#ING HATE NEW YEARS
I'm not gonna bullshit you guys. I hate NYE. Like I really fucking hate it.
Growing up my mum would make my brothers and I dress up in our holiday finest. I'm talking velvet and lace dresses that were a far cry from Valentino FW16. No. It was more like Little House On The Prairie meets Little Women. Come to think of it, I hated velvet until recently. LOL
My dad would make his roasted lamb with potatoes as a nice gesture to ring in the new year. Even now I recall the smell so vividly that it makes me gag. As a kid the thought of eating a baby animal was the stuff of nightmares! I'd push the piece of lamb around on my plate and would pick at the potatoes, which I swear tasted like lamb too. Honestly, I have so many memories of crying at the dinner table because I didn't want to eat my chicken or beef or whatever. Guess I was destined to be a vegetarian! #MeatFree
Aside from being scarred of lambs and velvet dresses growing up, I always thought New Year Eve was a sorry excuse of a party. Sure I have some strong opinions about the day but hear me out.
I'm an introvert (surprise!) and I've never been one to party so my ideal NYE is all about curling up in front of the tv while eating pizza, chips and beer, not lamb! Geoff and I typically spend the Eve with our closest friends while watching South Park or some other random comedy until the clock hits 12:00 and we say "Happy New Year". That's it. It's super simple and really not that cool but it's our tradition and it makes me happy.
And with that, Happy New Years dear readers! I hope you spend it how you want to, wether you're out partying your face off or snuggling at home with your cat.
xo,
Nathalie
shop the look
NYE MAKEUP: HOT PINK GLITTER EYES
I love pink and I especially pink eyeshadow. Hot pink is edgy, feminine and makes a strong statement that's perfect for New Years Eve. If you're feeling especially daring, add some pink glitter and falsies for major drama!
This look actually pretty versatile and it's as dramatic as you want it to be. I used hot pink blush on the inner parts of my eyes to bring out the colours because I really wanted to pink to stand out. If you want a day time version of this look, stick to the lighter shades I've suggested below for a more subdued version.
The items listed below are the exact products I used to help achieve my hot pink dramatic makeup. If you don't have the items listed here, don't feel pressured to go out and buy everything. For anyone looking for similar items on a budget, NYX and Colour Pop are two cosmetics companies that are cruelty free that can help you recreate this look for an affordable price.
Lastly I should mention that I used a matte red liquid lipstick in place of eyeliner. Some people might have a sensitivity to the red pigment around their eyes so feel free to skip this step and replace it with a black liner instead.
Overall, I love the look! I’m really happy with the hot pink eye makeup and I hope to share more of these kind of posts with you guys in the future.
Make sure you share on Pinterest if you’re a fan and subscribe to my newsletter if you don’t want to miss any posts. 2017 is going to be filled with more beauty and style lookbooks so make sure you stay connected and Happy New Year!!!
SAFETY UPDATE: 12/30/16, 8:40 pm
While watching YouTube this evening I came across a video from KarinaKaboom stating that the ColourPop x Hello Kitty collection isn't safe for eyes based on FDA standards. I'm linking the video for you guys here so you can watch it and base your own opinion. I wanted to bring this to your attention in case you've had eye irritations using ColourPop products. I've personally used the eye shadows that are said to cause irritations and I didn't have any problems. Everyone reacts differently so what doesn't react on my skin might react on yours. I'd suggest using the Sephora Collection eye crayon in Call Girl as an alternative.
Skip ahead to 3:05 in the video to see ColourPop's admission to using pigments that are not safe for eyes in KarinaKaboom's video.
MY SKINCARE ROUTINE
- Consonant Skincare, Antioxidant Superhero Serum, $63
- Darphin Chamomile Aromatique Care facial oil, $94
- Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel, $82
- Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue eye cream, $85
FOUNDATION, POWDER & CONCEALER
- Before foundation, prep your skin with a thin dusting of powder like Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent, $10. Your foundation will look flawless and stay longer too. I learned this trick from makeup artist Wayne Goss and it works!
- I wanted a natural looking, high performing foundation so I used Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water in shade Light/ Medium, $50
- To conceal discolourations and under eye circles I used Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Waterproof Concealer in Light and Light/ Medium, $29 each.
- Dust face with more powder to set makeup.
- Afterwards I patted a bit of Laura Mercier Secret Concealer For Under Eye in shade 2.5, $31, to lighten up my under eyes more.
THE EYE BRUSHES
HOT PINK EYE SHADOW LOOK
- Prime eyelids with Annabelle Cosmetics eye primer in Beige (new for Spring 2017).
- Seal the primer with a light pink shadow from lash to brows with Annabelle Cosmetics single matte eyeshadow in Pink Lemond (new colour for Spring 2017), $5.95.
- Use a fluffy brush on the crease and load it with Too Faced eye shadow in Lovely from the Too Faced x Kat Von D Better Together collab, $79.
- Build up the colour on the crease with a mid-tone pink using MAC eye shadow refill in Sushi Flower, $9. Use the same colour along the lower lash line.
- Use a darker pink colour on the outer corners of the eye. I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Love Letter from the Modern Renaissance palette, $55.
- Add a light pink shade on the inner corner of the eye using Colour Pop's eye shadow in Small Gift from the Hello Kitty collab, $18 for 4 shadows.
- Use a vibrant creme shadow on the eye lid like the Sephora Collection Shadow & Liner crayon in Call Girl, $18.
- Add more of Love Letter (ABH deep rich pink) to the outer corner of the eyes and the crease to build up depth even more.
- Using a flat brush, press a bright pink blush Colour Pop bright pink blush in Coin Purse from the Hello Kitty collab, $8, all over the inner part of the eye and the lower lash line.
- Pop some bright pink glitter on the inner part of the eye using Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Junk Show, $30.
- Finally, run a small liner brush loaded with matte red lipstick along the lash line like Colour Pop Ultra Matte lippie in Avenue, $6.
TAME THOSE BROWS!
- First fill in sparse areas with Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil in shade 4, $30
- Brush a highlight through the brush with Benefit's 3D Browtones highlighter in shade 4, $30
- Finally set the brows into place with Benefit's Ready, Set, Brow! clear eye brow gel, $30
For mascara I used Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara, $4, and applied natural looking falsies from Ardell, #109, $7. I'm still very new to using lashes therefore not the greatest at applying them but you know what they say, practice makes perfect.
THE FACE BRUSHES
- Powder brush by Too Faced, $45
- Blush brush, Sephora Collection, $43
- Contour brush, Kat Von D, $43
- Highlight brush, Real Techniques, $10
CONTOUR, BLUSH & HIGHLIGHT
Contour with Benefit's Hoola bronzer, $36.
Add a pop of peachy pink blush like Milani's Luminoso, $10.
Apply a shimmery pink blush like Pamplemousse to the apples of the cheeks from Jaclyn Hill's x Becca Champagne Pop palette (limited edition, sold out).
Highlight the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow and inner corner of the eyes with Champagne Pop from Jaclyn Hill's x Becca Champagne Pop palette, (limited edition, sold out).
Set your makeup with Pixi's Makeup Fixing Mist, $20.
All photos by Nathalie Martin
LIPS
- Moisturize your lips using Maybelline's Baby Soft gloss, $5.
- Outline the lips with Annabelle's liner in Meet Rosie, $9.
- For a neutral pink lip, use Kat Von D's Double Dare Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, $24.
- For a red lip, use XO from the Kat Von D x Too Faced Better Together collab, $47.
In collaboration with Annabelle, Smashbox, Benefit, Pixi by Petra, Consonant Skincare, Tatcha, Charlotte Tilbury and Darphin Paris.
All photos and opinions are my own with exception of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Lover Letter eye shadow pic.
TRIED + TESTED: SOCKS WITH HEELS
Before you say anything this isn't something I'd normally do but I wanted to channel my inner Leandra Medine (aka, Man Repeller) and pair my sparkly Ted Baker heels with a pair of matching sparkly socks from COS. I was hoping that cool Yeezy sock boot look but instead it looked like I was wearing socks with heels. Seriously.
The silky socks made it difficult to even take a step before my heels where falling off my feet, hence no walking pics. To top it off, the socks where bunched up in all the wrong areas and left me feeling sloppy and self conscience instead of hip and chic like Leandra.
I've seen plenty of amazing sock + heel pairings on Pinterest that look really good. Perhaps the secret is socks with more traction. Who knows. The verdict is still out and this is one trend I want to revisit because I'm no quitter.
SHOP MY TED BAKER HEELS @TOWNSHOES
Yeezy sock boots anyone?
Shot at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinions are my own.
NYE BRUNCH WITH NESPRESSO
The holidays aren't over just yet people! Are you ready for round two?! As we gear up towards New Years Eve, more parties and brunch with the fam, I thought it would be fun to bring you guys a recipe to try this NYE weekend featuring poached eggs on toast, a personal fave in my house.
This isn't any egg on toast though. This is Wild Mushrooms & Coffee On Toast (!!!), a recipe by chef Olivier Perret at Renior in Montreal. I tried it at the Nespresso holiday breakfast when they launched the limited holiday coffee flavours and let me just say, these eggs are yuuummmm! I would have had seconds, and thirds, except I would have looked like a piggy asking for more. LOL
I'll be serving this dish for brunch on New Year's day alongside my cup of Nespresso and homemade donuts. Trust me, you'll want to do the same. It's a pretty simple dish to put together and it'll impress the heck out of your guests! Mmmm. Is it the weekend yet?
RECIPE: WILD MUSHROOM & COFFEE ON TOAST
SERVES 4
11 oz. wild mushrooms (chanterelle with stem)
2 gloves of minced garlic
1 French shallot, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
A pinch of each; fresh parsley, chives, thyme and basil, chopped
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 brewed capsule of Grand Cru Intenso Nespresso coffee
2 tbsp. white vinegar
4 eggs
7 oz. buffalo mozzarella
4 slices sourdough bread
2 tbsp. olive oil
PREPERATION
Sauté mushrooms in olive oil for 5-6 mins.
Season with salt + pepper.
Add garlic and shallot, stir for 2 mins.
Add stock and chopped herbs. Reduce liquid by 3/4.
Add butter and coffee. Stir continuously over high heat for 3 mins.
Pour into a bowl and let cool.
Boil water in a pot with a pinch of salt and the white vinegar.
Poach eggs for 3 mins each (drop them into the water one at a time).
Remove eggs from water and drain on paper towel.
Cut the mozzarella into thin slices and lightly season with salt + pepper.
Toast bread until golden brown.
On each toasted bread slice, arrange mozzarella slices and sautéed mushrooms, then top with a poached egg. Add a touch of olive oil. Serve with your favourite coffee.
Bon apetit.
Recipe by Olivier Perret, Chef at Renoir, Sofitel Montreal
Photo by: Natalie Ho, mylittlesecrets.ca
Photo by: Natalie Ho, mylittlesecrets.ca
SHOP NESPRESSO VERTUOLINE
Wild Mushroom & Coffee On Toast recipe by Olivier Perret.
In collaboration with Nespresso Canada. All photos and opinions are my own.