Marc Jacobs Beauty new Coconut primer + bronzer + highlighter (review)
Haven't you heard, matte is soooo last season, lol. There's something really sexy and youthful about glowing skin, not just for summer, but year round. I've just changed my makeup routine and I'm all about dewy skin these days.
I'll powder my t-zone because it's oily prone, and then I leave the rest of my skin sans powder, allowing the luminosity of my sheer foundation and cream blush to come through.
A few days ago, I got a PR package from Marc Jacobs Beauty containing four of the items from his coconut collection - the primer, highlighter, and limited edition bronzer and brush.
I'm a die-hard Marc fan and at 13 years old, MJ was the one designer who's collection fully resonated with me - mainly because it was the 90's and I was going through a grunge stage of my own, but still...
My first designer bag was also MJ and when his beauty line launched, I bought deep into the collection because his formulas are reliable and the colours are beautiful and easy to wear.
In this post we're going to look at MJ's latest coconut-based products and chat about that summery glow that we all want.
marc jacobs beauty
Marc Jacobs Beauty Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer
$55 cad / $44 usd
I've heard lots of great things about this primer - that's it's hydrating and works nicely on the skin. The description on Sephora says that it's ideal for normal to dry skin, but I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and it worked well for me.
I love how it's light in texture and feels like a lotion on the skin. Even though it's coconut-based, this primer doesn't have a strong, overpowering scent, which I really appreciate.
My makeup lasted all day and looked fresh and dewy, which is really all I want these days.
marc jacobs beauty
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter
$55 cad / $44 usd
I have a love /hate relationship with highlighters. Love because they give skin a really luminous glow when applied properly. Hate because I have textured skin and the wrong highlighter will bring that out.
With that being said, I've been doing some research on makeup application and I learned that using a liquid or cream highlighter, lightly dabbed on the cheekbones and then layered with a blush on the cheeks, will create a glow-from-within effect that looks beautiful on the skin.
This Gel Highlighter is highly shimmery and has a beautiful golden colour that can be too much on its own, but when dabbed lightly on the high points of the face, it looks amazing and very natural!
Just take the smallest amount and apply to the skin with your fingers for an amazing glow.
marc jacobs beauty
Bronzer Brush + O!Mega Bronzer
Marc Jacobs Beauty Limited Edition Bronzer Brush No.12, $92 cad / $78 usd
Limited Edition O!Mega Bronzer $59 cad / $49 usd
I have been wanting to try the O!Mega bronzer for longer than I can imagine and the only reason I haven't bought it is because I'm a die hard fan of Benefit's Hoola Bronzer.
Marc Jacob's released his limited edition, coconut-scented bronzer in a new shade with white packaging for summer. While I haven't used it yet, I've heard many great things and based on the fact it's already sold out in a lot of retailers, I'm sure I'll love it.
Finally MJ, also released his No.12 bronzer brush in white to go along with the bronzer. It's also limited edish so make sure you grab yours before it goes, because it's such a beautiful, well-functioning brush.
I won't deny it's expensive at $90 (CAD), but I did buy the black one a couple of years ago and I use it all of the time. So worth it.
In case you're wondering, I completely intend on keeping the white brush because; A) it's a great keepsake, and B) I can rotate between the two No.12's as one needs a wash. I know. I'm nuts.
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
DISCLAIMER
Marc Jacobs Beauty Coconut Primer, Highlighter, Bronzer Brush and Bronzer were all provided as PR samples. Other Marc Jacobs Beauty items in this story are from my personal collection.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as a form of compensation.
How to dress when spring takes a chilly turn
It's been freezing cold again in Toronto and everyone is taking to Instagram to complain. I know, I know, we're sick of the cold and we all want warm weather now, but sulking isn't helping anyone now is it? Instead, I say get out the ankle boots and embrace layers because soon enough it'll be too hot to even think. It's always one weather extreme or another but I think we're very lucky to have such diverse seasons in Canada. Now suck it up and go throw on your favourite coat and get out there!
WHAT I'M WEARING:
Jeans | Jbrand
Leather Jacket | The Kooples
White V-Neck Tshirt | WoahStyle x Queen of Hearts Collection
Bralette | Victoria Secret Sport
Belt | Brave Leather
Bag | Mackage
Leopard Boots | Givenchy
layer up
I layered a cute bralette from Victoria Secret under my favourite white v-neck of. I actually designed this one in classic white and black because it goes with everything, and everyone needs a good v-neck tee in their closet. You can find it in my shop here.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
Mackage Rubie bag in this post was gifted by the brand.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
5 Mother's Day gift ideas she'll love!
Mother's Day is only a week away and I'm already excited about how I'm going to spoil my mom. I gathered up a few gift ideas for you to think about what to get the mum in your life. From beauty to skincare, wellness, fragrance, and jewelry, I hope to inspire you in your gift giving endeavours this spring. Happy Mother's Day to all of the mum's out there!
Mother's Day Gift Guide
b e a u t y
NARS x Charlotte Gainsbourg brush set
NARS x Charlotte Gainsbourg Au Poil Brush Roll
limited edition
$200
Charlotte Gainsbourg is probably one of my favourite actresses of all time. Her acting is superb and her fashion sense equally so. As the daughter of Jane Birkin and the late Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte is a true artist - from acting to singing, she's also a muse to Nicolas Ghesquiere, current creative director of Louise Vuitton, previously of Balenciaga. If that's not enough, Charlotte has just launched her own limited edition capsule collection under NARS. This limited edition five piece brush set is so luxurious and unique, it'll make any beauty aficionado weak in the knees. It comes neatly packed in a faux leather roll (not pictured) that's perfect for travel. The set includes a complexion brush, blush/ highlight brush, concealer brush, eye blending brush, and eye shadow brush.
s k i n c a r e
Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask
Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask
limited edition packaging
$75
If skincare is your mum's jam, considering this Umbrian Clay mask from Fresh. The clay comes from Umbria, Italy and is mineral-rich "miracle" that refines the appearance of pores, mattifies, and smoothes skin. If this is mum's first time trying this mask, tell her it can be used be used in three ways; as a daily deep cleanser, a pore-purifying mask and as a spot treamtment. While the mask itself has been part of Fresh's lineup since 2000, the packaging featured here is limited edition and features artwork from Rometti's Ceramic Studio located in Italy.
p e r f u m e
Jo Malone Star Magnolia Cologne
Jo Malone Star Magnolia Cologne
limited edition scent
$90
If mum is a fragrance junkie, Jo Malone's limited edition Star Magnolia is for her. It's light, flirty, fresh, fruity, floral, and perfect for spring and summer and contains magnolia leaf and orange blossom with a kiss of lemon, ginger, and shiso. Also, how cute is this petal decoration on the bottle?
w e l l n e s s
Saje Sleep Well mist.
This Works Deep Sleep.
Drybar silk pillowcase.
Sage Natural Wellness restful sleep mist, $19
This Works Deep Sleep rollerball, $36
Drybar silk pillowcase, $57
If you're not sure what to get mama, consider these items that will help her get a good nights sleep. Place them in a small box with a ribbon wrapped around it and she'll be delighted when she opens it. Included in this sleep aid gift is a luxurious silk pillow case from Drybar. It'll extend the life of her hairstyle, keep her hair frizz-free, and her skin free of those yucky pillowcase creases. Before she goes to bed, tell her to spray Saje Natural Wellness' Sleep Well mist around the bed and on her pillowcase for sweet dreams. Finally, This Works Deep Sleep rollerball is excellent when used on the pulse points. It contains lavender, chamomile, vetiver, and sandalwood for a relaxing sleep.
j e w e l r y
David Yurman cable bracelet
David Yurman The Renaissance cable bracelet (in 5mm)
$525
If mum is a jewelry kinda girl, consider going with classic Yurman. The Renaissance cable bracelet (in 5mm), is sterling silver and perfect for everyday wear. She can stack it with the other pieces in her collection or she can wear it alone if she's a minimal kinda gal.
Oily Skin Loves This! Ole Henriksen's new Balance skincare
I recently picked up Sali Hughes book, Pretty Honest, and read it cover to cover over the course of a weekend. What I thought was going to be a fun, fluffy read turned into something really informative and valuable in terms of skincare and what I've been doing wrong all of these years. I cringe now knowing that I've unintentionally enlarged my pores by using oil-based creams on my combination skin for too many years. Alas, ignorance isn't bliss when it comes to skincare and I've now started reading ingredient lists to make sure the products I'm putting on my skin are suitable for my skin type. With my new found knowledge I became determined to help Geoff's skin get under control. His skin produces oil quickly, especially in his T-zone, and by the time he's home from a long day at the office, his forehead is an oil slick. Anyone with oily/ combo skin will the feeling and how frustrating it is to get that excess sebum under control. Well, in the midst of cleaning out my skin care products I get a PR package from Ole Henriksen, a brand I've heard lots of good things about, but have never tried until now. In this post, I’m going to run through Ole’s new Balance skincare line, as well as give you some tips on how to get your oily/ combination skin under control. If you want to learn more about your skin type and some holy grail beauty items, I’d suggest you pick up Sali’s book. I can’t get enough of her right now and I have her second book in my Amazon shopping cart as I write this.
Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser, $30 CND / $25 USD
This gentle foaming face wash reduces oil, deep cleans, and unclogs pores. It contains glycolic and lactic acid to help loosen and lift dead skin cells that can clog pores over time. Eucalyptus leaf and peppermint oil make this cleanser super refreshing, which is always nice in the mornings.
Ole Henriksen Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub, $34 CND / $28 USD
This scrub warms up when it makes contact with damp skin and cools down quickly for a spa-like experience. The scrub refines pores with a blend of glycolic and lactic acid to help loosen and lift dead skin cells that can clog pores over time. It's formulated with volcanic sand, Green Fusion Complex, and neem seed oil to help absorb excess oil, unclog pores, and minimize the appearance of pores. Recommended use 2-3 times a week. If you have combination skin like me, apply this scrub only to your T-zone or where you're the oiliest.
Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner, $32 CND / $26 USD
This concentrated astringent effectively removes excess oil, refines and detoxifies pores without drying skin. It's formulated Green Fusion Complex, and neem seed oil and a powerful blend of salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids to freshen skin and absorb oil.
Ole Henriksen Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator, $42 CND / $34 USD
This lightweight, mattifying hydrator contains Rosehip fruit extract to reduce oil production, fight shine, and minimize the appearance of pores. Like all of the other products of the new Balance line, it's also formulated with Green Fusion Complex, neem seed oil and powerful acids to keep pores clear.
OLE HENRIKSEN BALANCE SKINCARE FOR OILY SKIN
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
All Ole Henriksen products in this post are PR samples.
All opinions are my own.
The curse of the Levi's 501 wedgie
Growing up in the 90s, grunge music, band tee's and denim was my world. (Not much different from now I guess.) I used to dress like a boy and I lived in old jeans and oversized band tees. I supplemented my closet with pieces from Zellers, Sunrise Records, thrift stores and my dad's closet. Yup. While most girls were playing in their mum's closet, I was rummaging through my dad's old jeans. My favourite pair were these loose Levi's that were super worn in, complete with paint splatters and rips in the knee. I thought they looked amazing until I turned around one day and looked at my butt, only to realized it looked like I had a massive wedgie. UGH! Then I realized all of my other Levi's also gave me wedgie butt!! I stopped wearing most of my Levi's at that point and became really conscious of buying only derrière flattering jeans. I did though keep around my dad's old Levi's because they were so cool and so comfortable and embodied that 90s grunge look that I was so obsessed with.
Twenty-three years later I find myself in the department store, taking a pair of Levi's to the fitting room to see if the wedgie curse is still there. It is. But god dammit, they're so ridiculously comfortable and when you live in skinny jeans like me, you embrace comfort and fabric being away from your legs for once as opposed to being encased in it. I've been rocking them almost every day since I got them and at this point, I could care less about wedgie butt.
WHAT I'M WEARING:
Levi's 501 CT cropped jean (exact here)
The Kooples leather jacket
Gucci gold Princetown slippers
Chaser black tank
Marc by Marc Jacobs red + black striped bag (circa 2015)
Ray Ban gold aviators
David Yurman bracelet
Valentino black Rockstud bracelet
Photopgraphy by Michael Biro.
All opinions are my own.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
Smashbox Be Legendary lip glosses: Review + Swatches
In my line of work I see a lot of PR packages but it's not often that I get excited about the PR box itself. This stunning one here is from Smashbox and features lip art by @vladamua, aka, the woman who created the image of gloss dripping from the lips.
Let's talk about what's in said box - 17 shades of Smashbox's new Be Legendary lip glosses, available in two finishes - metal and pigments. The shades range from cool to warms, and neutrals to metallic blues and even shimmery greys. They retail for $28 ($24 in USD), and can be found at most counters that carry the Smashbox brand.
The formula is thick and highly pigmented but doesn't feel uncomfortable and sticky on the lips. I should elaborate because yes, it's a sticky gloss, but it's not overly sticky and apparent once on the lips and almost feels hydrating. The glosses have a very faint fragrance to them but it's non-offensive and hardly noticeable.
One swipe of gloss gives off perfect colour payoff, even on the blue colour, which I was really impressed with.
As always, I'd recommend using a lip liner with these to prevent the gloss from bleeding and to help it last longer as well.
The Be Legendary glosses aren't an overtly high shine vinyl finish, but that's fine by me because it means the formula is perfect for every day wear - a nude mid-toned pink like Mauve Wife is great for the office, while Bad Apple, a bright red shade, is perfect for a night out.
Overall, these glosses are fab and just what I expect from Smashbox. I just hope they expand their colour range because right now I find the shades almost too similar too each other. I personally would have wanted to see more colour range from their new line of glosses and considering they put out 17 colours, there should have definitely been more versatility in terms of colours. But that's it, that's my only complaint with these.
Go check them out if you're at a Smashbox counter and let me know what you think!
SPRING TREND ALERT: Gloss is everywhere, from fashion to beauty, eyes, lips and even hair. Put your mattes away because Spring/ Summer 2017 is all about natural skin with a sheer flush of colour to the cheeks and a vibrant glossy lip.
SMASHBOX BE LEGENDARY LIQUID PIGMENTS, $28
Pink Drank - midtone pink pigment
Rose B4 Bros - cool blue/pink pigment
Bad B - light cool pink pigment
Mauve Wife - cool mauve pink pigment
Girl, Please - pink/brown pigment
Brick Trick - deep red/ brown pigment
Crush It - deep magenta pigment
Bad Apple - warm red pigment
SMASHBOX BE LEGENDARY LIQUID METALS, $28
Petal Metal - metallic rose gold
Mauve Squad - metallic mauve
Haterade - metallic orange
Moscow Muled - metallic copper
Crimson Chrome - metallic true red
Brains ’N’ Bronze - metallic bronze
Foiled Brat - metallic burgundy
Iced Out - metallic royal blue
Space Case - metallic grey
PIGMENTS LIP SWATCHES (left hand column)
- BAD APPLE Be Legendary Liquid Pigment lip gloss paired with Make Up For Ever lip liner in No. 41
- BRICK TRICK Be Legendary Liquid Pigment lip gloss paired with Make Up For Ever lip liner in No. 42
- GIRL PLEASE Be Legendary Liquid Pigment lip gloss paired with NYX lip liner in Nutmeg #811
- BAD B Be Legendary Liquid Pigment lip gloss paired with Bite Beauty The Lip Pencil in No. 010
METALS LIP SWATCHES (right hand column)
- MAUVE SQUAD Be Legendary Liquid Metal lip gloss paired with Bite Beauty The Lip Pencil in No. 010
- ICED OUT Be Legendary Liquid Metal lip gloss paired with Make Up For Ever Aqua XL eye pencil in No. M-22 as lip liner
- MOSCOW MULED Be Legendary Liquid Metal lip gloss paired with NYX lip liner in Nutmeg #811
- FOILED BRAT Be Legendary Liquid Metal lip gloss paired with Kat Von D Everlasting lip liner in L.U.V.
MAKEUP REMOVAL TIP: Use an oil based remover to get these lip glosses off because the staying power is unreal!
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
In collaboration with Smashbox Canada.
All opinions are my own.
Chill the F*** OUT! 20 things to make YOU happy!
Two pivotal points in my life were the passing of grandmother, who was the only grandparent I ever knew, and the recent passing of my best friend’s father. He was diagnosed with cancer last year and this February, we were burying him. Both deaths happened quickly and both hit me really hard. Loosing them made me reassess my priorities and made me realize the importance of spending time with my loved ones while they’re still around. Taking time to savor the little things matters so much more to me now, and I'm really uninterested in whipping my phone out and documenting every moment on social media. I know, weird coming from a blogger, right? (Insert eye roll here people.)
As an entrepreneur, I'm basically a one woman show and my days are spent editing, writing, keeping up with emails, etc. Some days are too much and all I want to do is nap and hope that when I wake up, it’ll all be better. It’s easy to loose sight of what makes us happy and in some cases, even feel guilty about taking some me time. When I first started logging off social media for a day or two here and there, I felt very guilty, like I was doing something horribly wrong and like I was committing a crime. Really the problem lies in the expectation that I’ve set for myself to work 7 days a week and not be present in my life. Dinner with family, lunches with friends I haven’t seen in ages, and mini getaways with Geoff- there have been too many moments where I wasn’t fully present because I was too distracted and trying to capture a perfect moment for social media. Gross, I know.
Since I’m reevaluating how I live my life (I’m not sure what else to call it really), I thought I’d share some of the little things that I’ve been enjoying recently. Small things like lighting a scented candle and curling up with a good book have been helping me create more balance and harmony in my life. I hope this this list will inspire you to take the time to do something that makes you happy and be more present. If you create even one happy moment a day, I think you’ll start to feel clearer and happier, which is exactly the point.
Chill the EFF OUT! 20 things to make YOU happy.
1. Spoil yourself with a new lipstick.
2. Take a luxurious bath.
3. Light your favourite scented candle.
4. Read a book.
5. Watch a sunset.
6. Log off social media.
7. Call a loved one. Better yet, spend time with them.
8. Be present.
9. Make a your favourite meal.
10. Curl up in bed.
11. Smile - it’s known to lift your mood!
12. Visit a greenhouse and bring a new plant home.
13. Cuddle with your cat, dog or favourite person.
14. Go for a walk.
15. Meditate.
16. Plan a vacation.
17. Do an act of kindness.
18. Watch your favourite movie or your favourite show.
19. Sleep in.
20. Be good to yourself.
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
REVIEW + swatches: STILA Magnificent eye shadows Mermaid collection
The first time I saw these Stila liquid eye shadows swatched on a YouTube, video my jaw dropped open at how glittery they were. Beauty gurus use a lot of bright lights in their channels which would make even the dullest of colours pop on screen so I wanted to get my hands on these and see how they stand up in real life. Here I’ll be showing you three shades from the original Magnificent eye shadows range, Gold Goddess, Diamond Dust and Kitten Karma, and the new Duo Chrome Magnificent Metals in Sea Siren, Into The Blue and Sunset Cove.
From left to right: Diamond Dust, Gold Goddess, Kitten Karma, Sea Siren, Sunset Cove and Into The Blue.
Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow - Duo Chrome Shades
These three mermaid-inspired Duo Chrome shades are not to be confused with the original formula. They’re not a true glitter but more of a high shimmer shadow that has a duo chrome finish, as the name suggests. They’re beautiful worn alone as a light wash on the eyes and add such an amazing high-shine shimmer that’s beautiful with a no-makeup makeup look. (I’ll be doing a post on three ways to wear these shadows next week so stay tuned!)
Sunset Cove and Sea Siren, are the least pigmented so it’s best to use a shadow layered underneath if you really want the colour to pop. I had to use multiple swipes in my swatches to get the colour built up to where you see it. (No primer was used on the swatches). Into The Blue is more pigmented and truer to what you see in the bottle but again, I’d recommend layered an eyeshadow underneath for the colour and chrome finish to pop.
Overall these liquid shadows are beautiful. They’re fun to play with and set beautifully once they’re dry, even sans primer. They also wash off easily with just soap and water.
Swatches from left to right:
- Sea Siren (Bright Lavender with Duo Chrome Bright Blue Pearl)
- Sunset Cove (Cool Mid-Tone Pink with Duo Chrome Bright Gold Pearl)
- Into the Blue (Deep Blue with Duo Chrome Purple Pearl)
Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
If you’re looking for glitter and a high-shine appearance from your eye shadow, these will be your new best friends. Kitten Karma and Diamond dust go on with plenty of glitter and pigment while I find Gold Goddess deposits less pigment and and seemingly less glitter. I find the formula of Gold Goddess to be somewhat watered down compered to the other two I have. Just look at the swatches and you’ll see what I mean. I had to swipe the colour a few times to get the colour intensity to what you see here. For a high pigmented look, I’d suggest wearing Gold Goddess overtop of a shadow while Kitten Karma and Diamond Dust could work well on their own. Again I’ll be doing three different looks for you guys using these shadows next week!
- Gold Goddess (Sheer antique gold with silver sparkle)
- Kitten Karma (Champagne with silver and copper sparkle)
- Diamond Dust (Sheer silver with multi-color sparkle)
Photography by Nathalie Martin.
In collaboration with Stila Cosmetics.
All opinions are my own.
Follow me on my press trip: NYC with Fresh !!
Sensorial Bar at the Fresh Store on Broadway, New York
A quick trip to New York is always a good idea, especially when it's a press trip with Fresh! While there, I had a chance to meet with the owners, attend a product launch for their new Rose Toner and visit their Union Square store on Broadway to do a little bit of shopping. I brought my vlogging camera along and shot a video for you guys so make sure you hit the play button!
NYC TRAVEL DIARY WITH FRESH
PRESS PLAY !!
DAY ONE
I got to New York at noon, checked into the Walker Hotel and had a quick lunch at the Society Cafe before getting ready for the Fresh event. First thing I like to do when I check into my room is take a shower and do a quick face mask it time allows. Flying, no matter how short the distance, always makes me feel gross and leaves my skin feeling dull. For this reason I like to drink lots of water when I travel to keep well hydrated.
THE EVENT: CELEBRATING THE NEW ROSE TONER
The event was so beautiful it was unreal! Fresh roses filled the space and pink drinks flowed aplenty. Make sure you watch my video for the whole experience and for a little surprise announcement for my readers at the end.
WHAT I WORE
Mackage leather jacket
Queen of Hearts Collection tank (available on my shop here)
Frank & Eileen Tee Labs hoodie
Zara jeans
Converse sneakers
Saint Laurent black crossbody bag
Kate Cate leopard print shoulder bag strap
DAY TWO
I skipped breakfast and opted to sleep in since I wasn't feeling the greatest. Regardless, I was super excited to do some shopping at the Fresh store on Broadway! I'm going through a major fragrance phase right now, so I picked up a couple of perfumes, candles, scented bath & shower gels and body lotions. I'm still in awe at how beautiful the store is and the pictures don't do it justice. Make sure you watch my video (at the beginning of the post) to see it come to life! After shopping it was back to the hotel to quickly pack and head back to the airport. It was a short trip but an amazing one no less!
MY FRESH BEAUTY HAUL
As much as I love Fresh skincare, I wanted to try their line of their fragrances and bath and body care line. I opted for the Cannabis Santal perfume and candle since the scent is so unique and beautiful. Try it if you're ever at a Fresh store. Their bath & shower gels are so nicely scented and gentle on the skin so I grabbed a few of those in citrus based scents, a body oil to use post shower, a couple of body lotions and their new Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar. I also got a bottle of their new Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner to take home and try. It contains two and a half crush roses in each bottle and has hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated and plump!
Special thanks to Fresh for this collab.
All photos and video footage by me. Additional pics and footage by Adrienne Fraser.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.