Easy-peasy tips to transition your wardrobe to summer!
There was a time when spring would roll around and all of a sudden I didn’t know what to wear. Don’t get me wrong, I love the warm weather but I also needed to find that balance of looking well dressed and not under dressed. I am not, nor have ever been the type of girl to show a lot of skin, and while I don’t hate on women who do (kudos for loving your body!), I grew up in a semi-conservative home that made me hyper aware of even showing the slightest bit of cleavage.
Now I realize that dressing for the summer is kind of a state of mind. Instead of being overwhelmed and pressured to wear skimpy halter tops, I now know that I can just rock my usual oversized button down with a mini skirt or a pair of boyfriend denim shorts. I appreciate balance and contrast and above all else, I want to be comfortable and not worry about my double-d boobs popping out of a low cut top. (I hide them well.) In addition to that, because the spring/ summer is so short here in Canada, I’m apprehensive about investing too much money on summer clothes. Case in point, last year’s gold Gucci slippers will do it’s job for yet another summer.
So what can I tell you about dressing for the summer? Do you. Swap your skinny jeans for mini skirts and denim shorts and if that’s not your thing, loose pants are chic and cozy and allow plenty of air flow to circulate during those warm summer days. Loose jersey dresses are comfy beyond belief and can look super chic with the right accessories. Loose tops, t-shirts with back details, or oversized button downs are also good and you won’t feel suffocated from tight fabrics sticking to your sweaty body on the hottest of summer days.
I don’t worry about what I’m going to wear during the summer months anymore. If anything my wardrobe is pretty much the same and I just swap out skinny jeans for loose denim shorts or leather minis.
What’s your approach to dressing for the warm weather?
WHAT I'M WEARING:
Commes des Garçons PLAY striped shirt (I'm wearing a size large).
Saint Laurent nano Sac de Jour bag in blue.
Kate Cate embroidered feather shoulder strap (exact here).
The Kooples zippered leather skirt.
Gucci gold Princetown slippers .
Armani sunglasses.
Bracelets by, Hermes, Valentino and David Yurman.
Saint Laurent Nano Sac de Jour with custom embroidered strap from European should strap brand, Kate Cate.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
REVIEW Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick
Bite Beauty is one of those brands who consistently puts out amazing quality products that women love to wear. Their factory is Toronto based the owner is an amazing, inspirational woman named Susanne Langmuir. I was very fortunate to meet her this past summer and visit the Bite factory to see how their best selling Amuse Bouche lipsticks are made. (You can see my beauty vlog on YouTube. Please don't laugh at the quality. I didn't now how to create a proper YouTube video back then. Actually... this was my first YT video!)
I was a customer of Bite way before I started working with them and got on their PR list. Their Agave Lip Mask was, and still is, a staple in my makeup bag and in my skincare routine. So much so that I bought a Lip Mask for Michael's birthday last year and now he's also a fan! (Michael is my blogger bestie if you don't know. Check out his gorgeous blog at globalgarcon.net) Fast forward to present day and Bite is celebrating the 1st year anniversary of their now iconic, Amuse Bouche lipstick. To celebrate, they sent me a package with five of the founders favourite shades - Liquorice, Chai, Gazpacho, Honeycomb and Jam. (In case you're curious, my five faves are Gazpacho, Chai, Verbena, Beetroot and Sour Cherry.) Keep reading if you want my review on these lipsticks and if you want to see swatches.
BITE BEAUTY FOUNDER, SUSANNE LANGMUIR'S FAVOURITE SHADES: LIQUORICE, CHAI, GAZPACHO, HONEYCOMBO & JAM.
We're celebrating the 1st year anniversary of the Amuse Bouche lipstick here on WoahStyle with a review and some swatches! I'm actually surprised that I never got around to doing this sooner because I truly love this lipstick! On the bright side, I now have more Amuse Bouche lippies in my collection so I can share even more colour swatches with you. Yay!
PRICE: $30 Canadian ($26 USD).
SOLD exclusively at Sephora or at the Bite Beauty Lip Labs in NY, Toronto, San Francisco and San Jose.
44 creamy shades available with limited edition shades launched from time to time.
WHAT'S IN IT: Beeswax, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Argan Kernel Oil, Candelilla Wax, Sesame Seed Oil, Jojoba Wax, Sunflower Seed Wax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Grape Seed Extract, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil.
THE VERDICT: I've been using these lipsticks consistently for the past year. In that time the Amuse Bouche lipstick has remained a favourite. The formula is highly pigmented, hydrating, and smell amazing, and taste good too (it's probably all of the fruit oils in the formula). These lipsticks are 100% organic and natural and are handmade in their factory in Toronto.
I'm assuming that what gives these lipsticks it's thick, creamy consistency is their wax and fruit oil based formula which, allows them to give off a rich colour pigmentation that we see in matte or liquid lipsticks. They are super comfortable to wear and don't dry out on the lips. The Amuse Bouche work beautifully without a lip liner but for that extra staying power, I always recommend using a liner. Fun fact: Bite recently launched their own line of lip pencils this spring which retail for $20 a pencil. Yes, they're totally worth it and live up to what you would expect from Bite.
Overall, I love these lipsticks and I'd recommend them to you if you haven't already tried them. With 44 shades available, there's bound to be something in there to suit every skin tone. Both my mum and I are obsessed with the colour Chai, a pink-rose brown that I like to describe as a universally flattering nude. Honestly, after writing this I feel like exploring other shades I don't already have so I might just have to do that.
SHOP MY FAVOURITE BITE BEAUTY
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCHE SWATCHES
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCH NUDE SHADES
Thistle - mauve infused taupe
Honeycomb - beige nude
Meringue - Peachy Nude
Fig - Nude Rose
Sweet Cream - Muted Peach
Verbena - Rose Terracotta
Pepper - Dusty Rose
Chai - Mauve Brown
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCHE SWATCHES
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCH RED SHADES
Sour Cherry - Maraschino Red
Gazpacho - True Blue-Red
Mistletoe - limited edition red for holiday 2016
Nori - Deep Brown-Red
Whiskey - Rich Mahogany with Red
Liquorice - Oxblood
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCHE SWATCHES
BITE BEAUTY AMUSE BOUCH PURPLE / BLUE/ GREEN SHADES
Sprizter - Plum Rose
Lavender Jam - Electric Blue-Violet
Taro - blue-grey purple
Mauvember 2016 - limited edition mauve for 2016
Beetroot - Bold Berry
Jam - Rich Merlot
Black Truffle - Black Violet
Squid Ink - Deep Navy with Black
Kale - Deep Hunter Green with Black
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
Most Bite Beauty lipsticks featured here were provided as a PR sample. All photos are original and opinions are honest and true.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
10 Low maintenance indoor plants
I’m currently in the midst of redecorating my living room. It’s coming together nicely, and I’d describe it as midcentury modern with my own twist to it. Anyway, when I stood back to look at my new decor, it didn’t feel as warm and homey as I wanted. Then it hit me- I was missing plants! Since I have two cats, who are all but too curious with plants, I knew that I needed something that would be resilient and safe for my feline family members. I also live in a townhouse with one big window in the living room/ dining room area which means plants that could thrive in medium-low light conditions would be best.
I had already done some research online before heading into the greenhouse and I learned that snake plants, zz plants, rubber plants and pothos plants are all easy to care for. To be honest I really wanted one of those Instagram-worthy monstera plants but my local greenhouse didn’t have any. I read these plants are toxic to cats so I would have had to keep it high off the ground anyway. After talking to someone at the greenhouse and weighing out the pros and cons of each plant, I decided to bring home some snake plants. Not only are they super low maintenance, but I really like how to the leaves stick straight up into the air, meaning my cats wouldn’t be sneaking into the plant for a little tinkle.
I’m super excited about my newly decorated space so I plan on sharing it with you guys soon so stay tuned for that! In the meanwhile, I hope you learn a few things about the best low maintenance plants for your home.
WHAT I'M WEARING:
Kayu star clutch from their SS17 collection (exact here).
Saint Laurent polka dot ankle boots.
Zara jeans and top circa 2016.
John + Jenn oversized knitted cardigan.
Ray Ban red tinted round sunglasses.
I love lilies but they're toxic to cats. Do a quick google search to make sure the house plants you want are pet friendly.
ARE SNAKE & ZZ PLANTS SAFE FOR CATS?
Snake plants have a low toxicity level to cats and dogs but they would have to be ingested in a large quantity to do damage. I’ve been monitoring my cats carefully and they don’t seem to care for the plants one bit, which is actually surprising since they normally tear into every other plant and floral arrangement I’ve ever had. I also have a large zz plant from way before Geoff and I adopted our cats. These plants are toxic to cats, so I keep the plant on a high pedestal where they can’t get to it.
BENEFITS TO INDOOR PLANTS: AIR PURIFICATION
Snake plants are known to purify the air. I currently have two small ones in my living room, and one medium sized one in my dining room. Our large zz plant lives on a tall pedestal by Geoff’s piano, and away from the cats.
10 LOW MAINTENANCE INDOOR PLANTS
1. ZZ Plant
2. Snake Plant
3. Rubber Tree Plant
4. Pothos Plant
5. Fiddle Leaf Fig
6. Bird of Paradise
7. Dracena Plant
8. Monstera Deliciosa
9. Philodendron
10. Dumb Cane Plant
I define low maintenance plants as minimal watering and medium-low light. If you have pets, please do a quick google search to see if they are poisonous to your furry family members. I'm not adding cacti to this list because they require more light.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
Shot on location at Terra Greenhouse in Milton.
This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
FREE stuff bloggers get + Big A$$ beauty haul!
In this video I'm going to be sharing some of the really cool items that I get for free as a blogger. Now I use the term "free" loosely because when brands sent me goodies, there is an expectation that I share them with you guys to some capacity, which to me means work! We all know influencers are the new advertising right so what else do you expect?
I want you guys to know that for me it's much more important to take the time to review items and swatch them and give you my honest opinion instead of having a major brag fest on Instagram Stories and doing unboxings. My intention of this video is to share some of the cool PR goodies I've received recently and give you my quick opinion. If there's anything in this video that peeks your interest and you want me to do a full review, let me know and I would happily put something together!
Thanks for watching and make sure you subscribe to my channel!
xo, Nathalie
SHOP THE POST
BEAUTY ITEMS IN THIS VIDEO
SKINCARE:
- Fresh Masks: Umbrian Face Mask, Rose Face Mask, Vitamin Nectar Mask, Black Tea Overnight Mask and Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask
- Vichy Idealia skincare line
- Biotherm Life Plankton essence, serum, mask and Mousse Micellaire Water
- Origins Make A Difference™ Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturizer, High-Potency Night-A-Mins Skin Refining Oil and Ginger Bath Bar
- yes to Coconuts Hydrating Paper Face Mask and yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Paper Face Mask
- Philosophy Time In A Bottle Serum
MAKEUP:
- GlamGlow Plumprageous Nudes Collection. (Read my review + swatches here)
- YSL Beauty Vernis A Lévres Glossy Stain #12
- YSL Beauty Glossy Stain Pop Water #202
- YSL Beauty Vinyl Cream Lip Stain #401
- Cover Girl Total Tease Mascara
- Pixi Skintreats Glow Mist, Hydrating Milky Mist, Vitamin Wakeup Mist and Makeup Fixing Spray
- Cinema Secrets Professional Grade Makeup Brush Cleaner
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Light Neutral
- Shiseido Eyelash Curler
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Fine Wine
- Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara in Garnet (deep red)
- Stila Matte 'n Metal Eyeshadow Palette
- Masque Bar by Look-Beauty (available exclusively at Shoppers)
Video, photography and editing by Nathalie Martin.
Some items here were provided as PR samples.
All photos are original and opinions are honest and true.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
Style the same outfit 3 different ways!
Growing up my mother never wore sneakers let alone sweatpants so for me, ahtleisure wear wasn’t exactly something I embraced until recently. Now I’m obsessed. I mean obsessed! A cozy pair of sweats and t-shirts can look pretty slick as long as you’re accessorized to the nines. Seriously. Haven’t you seen the Kardashians sporting their mega-big hoop earrings and their designer sunglasses looking all cute and shit in a bra tops and some sweats? Ya.
Well, I’m not exactly striving for that whole Kardashian look, but I do appreciate them so I’m gonna take a page out of their book and try to glam up my sweats just a little. Below you’ll find three easy outfit ideas for how to wear your ahtleisure so you can still look badass.
BTW - we shot these looks on the weekend and Geoff and I were running errands afterwards and I got a few compliments on outfit number 3, which is the outfit I was wearing after we finished shooting. There you have it, tried and tested and real life approved!
LOOK ONE || LAYERS
Every time I travel I always seem to wrap a shirt around my waist because to me it's the ultimate cozy-comfortable wear. If I get cold, I can throw on my shirt and if it's too warm, no biggie, I'll leave it around my waist. Since I'm going for that layered look here I really wanted to have fun with proportions and texture so I added a scarf (because it was actually cold the day we shot this) to tie in the charcoal colour from my shirt and to keep the outfit from looking too black and heavy. I just feel very comfortable here and this look is something that I would rock on the weekend or if I'm boarding a plane.
WHAT I'M WEARING: Aritzia baseball hat. The Kooples leather jacket and scarf (years old, sorry!). Ray-Ban sunglasses. Queen of Hearts Collection criss cross tank and black joggers (exact pieces available here on my shop). Acne men's sweater in a size medium for that oversized look. Vans metallic sneakers. Alexander Wang Donna bag.
LOOK TWO || BI-COSTAL COMFORT
For this look I ditched the sweatshirt and the leather hobo bag and went for a simple ahtleisure look. This reminds of me the kind of outfit that would be suitable for the comfort of LA, where people are more laid back in terms what what they wear, or it would look amazing and super chill in New York as well. I just love how simple this outfit is! Of course layering a moto jacket overtop completes the look and makes it look more badass and less, "I just came back from the gym". BUT, if you want to show off the gorgeous detail on this tank (exact here), just ditch the jacket!
WHAT I'M WEARING: Aritzia baseball hat. Ray-Ban sunglasses. Queen of Hearts Collection criss cross tank and black joggers (exact pieces available here on my shop). Vans metallic sneakers.
LOOK THREE || SWEAT SUIT
For the last look I'm going to ditch the moto jacket *gasp!*, and throw my Acne sweatshirt back on and just go for a super chill weekend look. Even though this outfit is the epitome of comfort, it doesn't look sloppy because of how it's but together. Around my face; the gold details on my Ray-Ban aviators bring in a little bit of glam, as does the burnt orange lipstick. I'm also wearing a thin gold necklace, which you can't really see from the pics here, but again it adds to the illusion of being more put together. On my hands: my nails are done in a nude polish and I've accessorized with a silver David Yurman cable bracelet and my black leather Valentino Rockstud bracelet. Again, metallic shoes can make any outfit look incredible, so my bronze metallic Vans are the perfect way to complete this outfit. (BTW- I scored these sneakers on sale. They're from a past season and I can't find them online anymore so maybe have a look at a Vans outlet store where they carry older styles to see if you can find them there).
WHAT I'M WEARING: Aritzia baseball hat. Ray-Ban sunglasses. Queen of Hearts Collection black joggers (exact pieces available here on my shop). Acne men's sweater in a size medium for that oversized look. Vans metallic sneakers. Alexander Wang Donna bag.
HOW TO DRESS UP ATHLEISURE WEAR
- Accessorize! Get some fun glasses and bust out the jewelry!
- Wear metallic shoes! Metallic footwear will dress up any outfit, ahtleisure included.
- Do your hair! The Kardashians do it best. You know those adorable french braid, pig tails things they do? Yup do those. Or, just throw on a hat like me if you’re lazy.
- Rock a moto jacket! Nothing screens "I've got my shit together" more than an amazing moto jacket. I bought this one two years ago and I still wear it all of the time. Best. Investment. Ever.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
In collaboration with Queen of Hearts Collection. Shop my favourite pieces from their collection on my shop here and make sure to check out their website to view their entire collection.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
GlamGlow Plumprageous Nudes Collection Review + Swatches
If you're into full, plump lips, a la Kylie Jenner lips, then you've probably already tried a bunch of the lip plumping products out there or you might even have lip injections. Whatever the case, you'll be excited to know that GlamGlow has expanded their iconic Plumprageous lip treatment to a new range of glosses called the Nudes Collection. It features 10 colours from light nude to dark brown nude that suit an array of skin tones and comes in three finishes - gloss, matte and metallic. To promote the launch, GlamGlow sent me the entire Nudes Collection to try. Keep reading for my review on swatches and to find out if these glosses really give you that Kylie effect.
GLAMGLOW Plumprageous Nudes Collection
The Plumprageous Nudes Collection comes in a range of ten colours suitable for a variety of skin tones and is available in three finishes - Matte, Glossy and Metallic. These are all formulated with the same Triple Plumping Complex and yet I find that the glosses vary in plumping/ tingling intensity from one formula to the next. The Metallic and Gloss Tints have the most tingle/ plumping effect and colour pay off. They give the lips an instant tingle as the plumping formula begins to work. In terms of how it feels on the lips; I find that GlamGlow's Plumprageous is more on the cooling side as opposed to that burning sensation that I've gotten from other lip plumping glosses (like Too Faced Extreme Lip Injection). And even though it's a cooling formula, it's still a very noticeable and strong tingling sensation so if you're sensitive, these might be too intense for you so give them a try at the store first and see how you react. BTW - if you get this formula on your tongue, it will tingle.
Like I mentioned, I find the Metallic and Gloss Tints to have the most plumping effect and colour pay off. Just look at the swatches below and you'll see what I mean. I have the Gloss Tints on the left, Matte Tints in the middle and Metallic Tints on the right. You can see right away that the formula on the Matte Tints appear almost sheer, and this is after layering the colour a few times to build up the colour! You'll also notice the Matte Tints aren't exactly matte either and I found that the formula dries to more of a demi-matte finish. The swatch you see below is after letting it sit for 3-5 mins and I'm wonder if perhaps the reason it didn't dry is because I had so much product layered overtop. With that being said, the matte shades are so sheer that it's best to use a lip pencil underneath to get that full colour pay off because these shades really are beautiful. Finally I noticed that these don't seem to tingle or plump as much as the Metallic and Gloss formulas. I wonder if the plump effect was reduced because I had lip liner underneath so the product wasn't in full contact with my lips, but then again even when wore it on my lips my itself, I found it didn't tingle/ plump as much. Regardless the Matte formula does feel very comfortable on the lips. I don't even mind that it's demi-matte but I just wish the colour pay off was more intense.
GLAMGLOW PLUMPRAGEOUS Gloss Tint (left), Matte Tint (centre) and Metallic Tint (right).
Finally, these Plumprageous glosses don't open in the traditional manner and feature a twist top wand that's actually very sleek and modern looking. The wand applicator features a flat silicone wand head, which for me isn't the easiest to apply the gloss onto the lips. I have a tough time staying within the lines and drawing a smooth line with this flat silicone applicator head so I need a) more practice and b) a lip liner to help me colour in the lines. I always overdraw my lips anyway so really, I don't mind.
PRICE: Each tube is $30 CND.
PACKAGING:
- Sleek chrome lip gloss tube.
- Twist off applicator.
- Applicator wand features a flat rubber head.
WHAT'S IN IT:
- Triple Plumping Complex (I couldn't find what this means in terms of ingredients on either the GlamGlow or Sephora sites.)
- Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Cupuacu and Murumuru Butters.
THE VERDICT:
As far as lip plumping glosses go, I find the GlamGlow Plumprageous Nudes Collection has a very comfortable to wear formula. The tingling sensation from these is nice and cooling and continues until the gloss comes off. (As a comparison, I find Too Faced Extreme Lip Injection to have a burning effect for about 20 mins and then it eventually fades and you can't feel it anymore.) The Plumprageous glosses have an array of nude shades that are super flattering. I'm not a big fan of nudes and even I found a few shades that I love - A List, Screen Kiss, Triple-X, Stacked, Body Double and Suggestive. In terms of wether or not it actually does a good job on plumping the lips: yes and no. Yes, it smoothes out fine lines on the lips and it does appear to make them look plumper but no, it's not gonna give you Kylie Jenner lips. I would recommend over lining your lips to get the best results from Plumprageous.
GLAMGLOW PLUMPRAGEOUS NUDES COLLECTION LIP TREATMENT
GLAMGLOW PLUMPRAGEOUS GLOSS LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
GLOSS LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
- Four glossy shades in total:
- A-LIST (mauve nude)
- SCREEN KISS (shimmery coral-brown nude)
- TRIPLE-X (shimmery medium-dark brown nude)
- CASTING COUCH (light coral nude)
- The Gloss and Metallic Tints have the most tingle/ plumping effect and colour pay off.
- These have more of a cooling as opposed to the burning feeling that other lip plumping glosses can have.
GLAMGLOW PLUMPRAGEOUS MATTE LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
MATTE LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
- Four matte shades in total:
- UNSOLICITED (light coral nude)
- STACKED (light-medium brown nude)
- BODY DOUBLE (medium-dark nude brown)
- PYSCHO (shimmery medium-dark brown nude)
- The Matte Tints appear almost sheer. You'll also notice from the swatches above the Matte Tints aren't exactly matte either and I found that the formula dries to more of a demi-matte finish.
- These have more of a cooling as opposed to the burning feeling that other lip plumping glosses can have.
GLAMGLOW PLUMPRAGEOUS METALLIC LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
METALLIC LIP PLUMPER TREATMENT
- Two metallic shades in total:
- LUSTY (metallic rose gold nude)
- SUGGESTIVE (medium-dark Bordeaux nude)
- The Metallic and Gloss Tints have the most tingle/ plumping effect and colour pay off.
- These have more of a cooling as opposed to the burning feeling that other lip plumping glosses can have.
Photography by Geoff and Nathalie Martin.
The GlamGlow Plumprageous featured here were provided as a PR sample. All photos are original and opinions are honest and true.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
March Faves on YouTube: Chanel, Zara & drug store beauty!
For my March Monthly faves I thought I would do something a little different and get in front of the camera and shoot a video for you guys! I'm talking about all of my faves from Chanel's new lip gloss, to my new silver Zara booties (exact on sale for $35 here!) and, sparkling coconut water! Yup! There's lots to cover in this video so I hope you will press play and sit back and watch! I'd appreciate it if you gave my video a thumbs up and subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven't already! Thanks!!
PS: grab a snack! It's a long one!
SHOP MY MARCH FAVOURITES
My Milk Makeup Sephora Haul + Review!
Milk Makeup is trending crazy hard these days. For us in Canada who don't have the much sought after Glossier line, we're gonna happily settle on Milk, the latest minimal makeup brand to come out of New York. While Glossier is more focused on the no-makeup makeup look and, dewy, radiant skin, I feel like Milk is all about looking like a holographic alien creature. Seriously. Just have a peak on their YouTube channel and you'll see what I mean.
Anyway, I went on a little shopping spree and picked up some items that peaked my curiosity. A cooling water stick that looks like deodorant and soothes tired yes? Yes please! A face gloss that makes you look super glam and editorial? Gimme! And how about that Holographic highlight that everyone is talking about? Yes, yes, yes!
Keep reading if you want to know what I think of Milk Makeup. Heads up, I did my homework for you guys and used these products for about a month before reviewing them for you here. You're welcome! ;)
MY MILK MAKEUP HAUL
I picked up four items from the New York based makeup line - one skincare and three makeup items for a total of $111, all purchased at Sephora with my own hard owned money. #NotSpon With tax (HST in Ontario), that comes to a final price of $125.43. Damn!
I felt compelled to pick this up after trying it in store at Sephora. It just felt so good when I swatched it on the back of my hand, like cold liquid water gliding over the surface of my skin. I wanted to see what it would do for my tired eyes in the morning and if Milk Makeup could would actually succeed as a skincare and makeup brand alike. I've been using it for about a month now and honestly, it's one of my favourite things to do in my morning skincare routine.
Price: $29
What's in it: Caffeine and marine minerals.
The verdict: It's soothing and feels incredible! It's a gel stick that feels like you're gliding cool water over your tired eyes and I seriously love how it feels. Honestly, I use it every morning and run it under my eyes a few times to de-puff and hydrate. I hear caffeine is supposed to get rid of dark under eye circles as well, but maybe I just need more sleep because it doesn't seem to be helping me in that department. (Then again the product description doesn't claim to.)
Cons: Honestly, it's pricey. Garnier makes a similar product for literally a third of the cost (here).
Would I buy it again? Probably, but this stick has a whole lot of product so I have a feeling it'll last me a long time.
The product that turned me on to Milk Makeup was their Eye Vinyl. I typed the words “eye gloss” into the Sephora search bar and this was one of the items that came up. After carefully reading the description of Kevin Aucion and Surratt Beauty's “glossy” eye products (more like shimmer from what I could tell), I decided Milk's Eye Vinyl was the way to go. I was looking for a product to give me an editorial glossy eye with minimal creasing and high shine. BTW these vinyls come in four shades and I bought mine in the colour Bridge, which is a super sheer nude shade.
Price: $24
What's in it: Natural oils and rice bran wax.
The verdict: It’s exactly what I was looking for! Super high-shine, editorial, glossy eyes! It's so much better than using lipgloss on my eyelids since this stuff is made safe for the use on eyes. The consistency of this product is thicker than their Face Gloss (below), therefore, it doesn't crease nearly as much.
Cons: Best used on it's own without shadow or liner. Creasing is to be expected when used with an eyeshadow. Smudging is to be expected when using eyeliner. To minimize creasing when used with other eye makeup, dab a little dot of gloss on the centre of your eyelids.
Would I buy it again? Yes! It’s my new favourite thing to add to my no-makeup-makeup look and it looks so fresh!
Being inspired by the whole glossy eye lid thing, I decided to take my look a step further and add gloss to my entire face. That’s right. I’m intentionally choosing to look shiny for the sake of having interesting makeup. Now in case your wondering if you can use this as an eye gloss, sure go for it, but I will tell you now that the Face Gloss is thinner in texture therefore it will run and crease on the eyes. The Eye Vinyl is made for eyes, therefore the formula is thicker to with stand that part of your face. Of course everyone’s skin is different and what works for me, might not work for you.
Price: $24
What's in it: According to the Sephora site, this is a vitamin rich formula. What vitamins you ask, it doesn’t say.
The verdict: Not exactly what I expected. Don’t get me wrong, this product is great! The problem is my skin, which to my dismay, is lightly textured. Adding a gloss to my cheekbones only amplifies my skin texture, therefore aging me. Wah! This product is best left for those lucky folks with a smooth complexion.
Cons: Not for textured skin. Beware, it will amplify the slightest skin texture.
Would I buy it again? No. I might return this one.
I feel like everyone right now is talking about 1) The Milk Makeup Blur Stick or, 2) The Milk Makeup Holographic Stick (pictured left). I couldn’t NOT pick up this up especially since I’m so obsessed with highlights right now and this one is supposed to be holographic!! OHEMGEEEEEE.
Price: $34
What's in it: Mango butter, peach nectar, and avocado oil for hydration.
The verdict: I read a few reviews on the Sephora site that this product isn’t the best for warm skin tones. I find it deposits a cool-lavender colour, but honestly, I love the contrast against my olive-y skin. Sadly though, it doesn't have that cool holographic effect like the name and packaging suggest.
Cons: It’s not exactly holographic as the name states, but more of a cool-based, lavender-toned highlight. When it comes to lavender highlights, I like the purple-ish one from Kat Von D’s Alchemist palette and Becca’s Amethyst highlight so much more. Milk’s Holographic Stick also doesn’t last long, which is disappointing considering all of the hype and the hefty price point. I don’t know if it’s because of the gel formula that it fades throughout the day, even when I use a setting spray in hopes of locking it into place. I haven’t tried it on top of full coverage makeup but I’ve seen a few YouTube videos (this one in particular from Jeffree Star) where it appears to actually take off foundation when applied over top of a full face of makeup. With that said, this product is best used on bare skin or, on top of light foundation. Regardless there are plenty of good reviews for this product out there. I suggest you try it if you're still intruiged and judge for yourself.
Would I buy it agin? No.
Photography by Nathalie Martin
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
Style Inspo: Alison Mosshart
Alison Mosshart's style screams "I don't give two f*cks", which is what I love about her. She is a legit rockstar (unlike musically challenged me), and fronts the Kills and The Dead Weather. Imagine if Kate Moss and Mick Jagger had a style baby; that's Alison Mosshart. I love how she layers; how she mixes and matches patterns constantly and how she makes all of her own rules in the fashion game. In my eyes she is the quintessential queen of cool and she inspired me to look my own closet and pair things in an unexpected way. The look I ended up with is a bolder version of myself, but still never much me.
So, I want to know what you think of Alison's style - are you as obsessed as I am?
Leave me a comment below and let me know who your style icons are and how they challenge you to step outside of the norm. Mine are Kate Moss, Harry Styles, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmanuelle Alt and of course Alison. Can you see how their style infuluences my own? ;)
ALISON MOSSHART
Singer, songwriter, artist; the Kills and The Dead Weather
MY TAKE ON ALISON'S STYLE
SHOP MY LOOK
WHAT I'M WEARING: Emerson Fry polka dot blouse. Zara bomber from SS16. Rag & Bone jeans. Public Desire boots (exact here). The Kooples fringe leather bag. Ray Ban sunglasses.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
Public Desire boots featured here were gifted for PR purposes.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.