What's in my Céline bag

I recently bought myself a new bag - a Céline nano luggage in the colour Vermillion. 

Two things you should know right off the bat. First, I've always wanted a Céline luggage bag. In fact, I wanted one so bad that I got my Saint Laurent nano Sac De Jour in hopes to curb my need for the Céline. Why didn't I just get it to begin with? Who knows. Second, I've been wanted a red bag for a long time now. But not just any red. It had to be a happy bright-orange shade. Vermillion if you will. 

So this bag gets posted on Love That Bag earlier this summer but I kept holding off. You see, as much as I love having nice handbags, I'm actually pretty careful about what I buy. Mainly because I have an insane shoe obsession but that's a topic for another day. As you can see, I finally bite the bullet and decide to buy it. There's just something so special about this colour that is so magical to me and it makes me insanely happy. Just peek inside my bag and you can see how much I love red.  

I got my bag last week and I haven't stopped wearing it since. The leather is soft and buttery but it doesn't scuff easily. It's so much more comfortable to wear than my Saint Laurent nano bag and it fits a surprising amount of stuff in it. I'm pretty confident that I won't get tired of this bag anytime soon. Considering it was on my wishlist for so many years now I know it was a solid buy. Also, my small leather goods fit beautifully in my new Céline luggage. ;)

If you haven't heard of Love That Bag then you might be a new reader to my blog (oh hi and welcome!) because I've blogged about them lots in the past. LTB is an online consignment shop based out of Montreal, Canada. They specialize in luxury bags and pride themselves in selling authentic bags in excellent condition. I bought my Chanel patent leather Jumbo Flap bag from them last year and I couldn't have had a better experience.

I love small leather goods for keeping my life organized. In my bag you can find my small LV agenda, Chanel card holder, Tumi makeup bag and my iPhone, which is always dressed in a Felony Case. This is one is real marble!

I don't actually have a proper wallet. I toggle between my Chanel cardholder and my Louis Vuitton agenda which has compartments for cards. For tiny bags, I love using a card holder because it keeps my essentials in one place. Before I got it, I used to just throw my license and credit cards into my bag and let them float around. I'm lucky I never lost anything this way because it would have been easy to drop my ID on the floor without noticing if I was pulling out something else. 

My LV agenda is my life line. I bought it in the small size because I wanted it to fit into my small bags. It keeps my schedule, my banking cards and license. While it's not the easiest to write on the small pages, I do love it for what it is, a chic and convenient accessory for keeping my life organized. It has extra compartments to stash my receipts and business cards which is great. 

A small leather bag to hold makeup is a must. I got this one from Tumi on sale year for about $30 at Toronto Premium Outlets. It fits inside my Céline bag perfect and holds all of my makeup essentials - oh you know, four or five lipsticks as per usual, a compact, hand cream, powder and a small powder brush, all which are oddly absent from my bag at the moment. Hmm...

That's pretty much it! The makeup I carry with me can change on any given day and sometimes I'll carry a small travel sized perfume if I have an event but my accessories usually stay the same. It's about staying organized so I don't loose anything or have to go digging deep into my bag to find lip balm for my debit card. That was the old me and trust me, I never want to be that messy again!

This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.

4 Beautiful & Unique Fall Fragrances

With fall just around the corner and I've already started to transition my perfumes. For the cooler weather I favour warmer scents with lots of depth and complexity in comparison to the lighter notes I wear in the summer. 

Full disclosure, I went on a bit of a perfume binge recently and picked up a couple of new scents to add to my personal collection. Tom Ford's Santal Blush is new to me and as soon as I smelled it I was whisked away to away place of simple luxury and happiness. Another new one in my collection is actually an old classic that I'd forgotten about until now - Kiehl's Original Musk. I remember being 26 when I first discovered this scent and I was blown away by the unique and intoxicating perfume even back then. I'm not quite sure what I ever stopped using it but I'm glad it's back in my life. 

From vanilla notes to plenty of sandalwood, these are my five favourite scents for fall. 

---

Shop The Post

---

---

1. 

Tom Ford Santal Blush

This is the third Tom Ford scent to add to my collection and for good reason. It's sexy, mysterious and warm- like you're ready for fall and all you want to do is wrap yourself up in a cashmere blanket and never leave bed. It's woodsy, with sandalwood notes and floral tones that will have you getting compliments everywhere you go.

---

2.

Kiehl's Original Musk

Like I said in the intro, I fell in love with this perfume about a decade ago. I think at the time it was probably a bit too sophisticated for my liking because I ended up switching over to Marc Jacob's Daisy - another favourite of mine to this day. Anyway, I'm glad to have rediscovered Kiehl's Original Musk just in time for fall. It's a floral woody musk with notes of orange blossom, bergamot, neroli, rose and patchouli. Best of all, this truly unique scent is unisex and the most affordable on this list at $57 (CND).

---

3.

Fresh Cannabis Santal

This perfume comes recommended from one of my PR contacts who told me it was her personal favourite scent. I picked it up at the Fresh store in NYC when I visited this spring and I've been using it non-stop since. Another sensual woodsy scent, this one has is intended for men but it's lovely on women. It has notes of dark plum, patchouli, magnolia, chocolate, vetiver and vanilla musk. I also have this scent in a candle and keep it in my living room for a unique experience.

---

4.

Le Labo Thé Noir 29

The brand actually surprised me with this beautiful scent in December of 2015. I had been away on a trip the Banff when I came home to a little brown box with a small perfume bottle containing my name and the date it was made on. I kid you not, every single time I wear this scent I get loads of compliments. It's the longest lasting scent I have a little goes a long way. Again, I've the bottle since 2015 and it looks like it's barely used. Thé Noir 29 is inspired by black tea and has notes of black pepper, amber and black rose. 

---

Disclosure:
Tom Ford scent was gifted by Nordstrom Canada.
Thé Noir 29 was gifted by Le Labo. All opinions are my own.

---

The Return of Thin Brows

For those of us who haven't been able to grow those thick luscious Cara Delevingne brows because we just happen to be naturally predisposed to thin arches or because we just foolishly over tweezed in the 90s (and can't seem to grow them back for the life of us), rejoice, because thin brows are back with a vengeance. I'm calling it now. Just look at my favourite Hadid sister, Bella, who's look screams 90s supermodel and rocks her thin brows like nobody's business. Then there's Girlboss Sophia Amoruso who's thin brows frame her face beautifully.

After a painstaking two years of desperately trying to grow back my own over-tweezed brows, I finally gave up after a chat with Maddox, Benefit's Senior National Educator and eyebrow expert. I asked, umm, more like begged him for some brow advice and he simply told me to tweeze them back a touch because they were too thick for my face. That night, I took out the tweezers. Omitting a few hairs here and there helped a lot.

I wouldn't exactly qualify my brows as thin, but they are compared to the likes of Cara and all of those bold Instagram brows we see everywhere. The thing is, thinner brows suit my face and frame my eyes better. I even noticed my mom rocking a thinner brow lately and you know what, she instantly looked a few years younger. 

BEAUTY TIP:

If you're not sure about what brow shape suits your face, just visit a professional and have a chat about what results you're looking to get. Benefit has amazing brow experts at Sephora stores across the nation.

4 Hot New Foundations + The Best Way to Apply Them

Whether you prefer your foundation sheer, in CC form or full coverage, the end goal is always the same - to look effortless like you have naturally amazing flawless skin. Am I right ladies?

Well lucky for us, there are four major brands that have just dropped some amazing products that are sure to suit everyone’s needs. Below I’m giving you the breakdown on what to expect from these newbies on the block as well as the best way to apply them. 

CoverGirl Vitalist Healthy Elixir Foundation, $18

Best for: Normal / Dry / Combo
Coverage: Light-Medium
Texture: Semi-dewy / Semi-matte 
Best application: Fingers for light natural coverage. Beauty Blender for medium coverage.

This foundation feels lightweight on the skin and reminds me of a thicker version of my all time favourite foundation - MAC's Face & Body. If you're looking for something with a natural finish that's hydrating and won't clog your pores, this is it. Imperfections will still need to be covered with concealer as it's not full coverage but it's easy enough to build it up to medium coverage by using a damp Beauty Blender. This formula might not be best for oily skins as it does have some slip to it. I'd just recommend using a good mattifying primer first, then foundation, then concealer (if needed) and then locking it in place with powder. One thing I should mention is the pump on my bottle stopped working and now I have to unscrew the cap to get the product out, but that's not going to deter me from using it.  

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50, $49

Best for: Normal / Dry and combination skin types
Coverage: Light-Medium
Finish: Semi-dewy / Semi-matte 
Best application: Fingers for light natural coverage

I recommend you try this product to see how your skin will take to it before buying it. When I first started using it, I loved it. I was applying it with my fingers and setting it with a light dusting of loose powder. I enjoy the high SPF 50 protection and the fact it looked natural on my skin. It did fade by the end of the day, but that's to be expected from a light coverage foundation.

On one of my event days, when I normally apply my makeup differently to make it last all day, I used the CC cream with a damp beauty blender for the firs time and baked my under eyes. Before I was even done my eye makeup, the CC cream started to break up around my forehead and get really patchy. That should have been my first sign to wash it off and start over but instead I shrugged it off and patted my Beauty Blender over the area to smooth it out. By the end of the night, my makeup was a patchy muddy mess and my under eyes were cakey and dry. It's all very confusing since I had used a primer along with my fail-safe makeup application technique. That day, I also broke out into an itchy rash after testing this CC cream for a week. I did some research on makeupalley.com and some people are known to break out with this product and have a similar experience to mine. Other people love it and swear by it. 

Again, I'd recommend trying out this product to see if it's for you. Since I got my rash, I haven't been using it at all. 

Now if you are interested in buying it, I have a coupon code you guys can use for this product or any other IT Cosmetics products.

Coupon code: ITGIRLMARTIN
10% off until October 31, 2017 on itcosmetics.ca

Their brushes are bomb btw! Comparable to Marc Jacobs Beauty brushes. I don't make a dime if you use this coupon btw and it saves you 10%.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation, $59

Best for: All skin types (oily skins may need a primer)
Coverage: Medium-Full
Finish: The most natural looking matte I've ever seen
Best application: Beauty Blender for full coverage. Artis brush Oval 7 or fingers for quick medium coverage

Let me just start by saying I was originally hesitant on this foundation. When I first tried it at Sephora, it seemed too think and dry for my liking but my beauty contributor bought it and reported back to me saying it was the best thing since sliced bread so I had to try it for myself. It smoothes over my skin beautifully with my fingers and if I need full coverage, I simply apply it with a Beauty Blender. It looks natural and covers up a lot of the imperfections on my skin with one layer, but it lacks the dewiness I like from a foundation. Those with normal-dry skin might want to skip the powder for that reason. Since I have an oily T-zone, I always set it with loose powder to lock it into place. This is the foundation I’ve been wearing when I have events and I’m in meetings all day and it hasn’t failed me once! If you’re on the oilier side, you might want to use a primer first so make sure it wears all day. 

MAC Next To Nothing Face Colour, $31

Best for: Dry/ Normal skin
Coverage: Sheer (aka; next to nothing)
Finish: Dewy
Best application: smooth directly onto skin with clean fingers 

Fans of MAC’s iconic Face & Body foundation are going to love this sheer new face colour. Packaged with nourishing fruit extracts, this stuff is hydrating and perfect for dry and normal skin types. It glides on like a gel and leaves the prettiest balmy finish on the skin. For quick application, use your fingers but if you’re looking for a bit more coverage, I’d recommend MAC’s new synthetic face fan brush in No. 141 ($35). For those like me with combination skin and an oily T-zone, yes, you can still use this foundation and I personally love it. Just make sure you set it with a powder to lock it into place. 

PIN IT!

3 Affordable Graphic Tees for Fall

It's no surprise that t-shirts remain a staple in every fashion girls closet. They're comfortable, easy to wear, versatile and most of all, are unforgiving after a big meal.

Graphic/ concert tees have been my go-to item since I was 13 back when I rocking black hair, an under-cut, and horrible black chipped nails. Wait... that was 15. At 13 I was just straight up dressing like a boy. I guess my style hasn't changed too much since then but at least it's more refined now...

Well, graphic tees continue to have a big moment for fall and Gucci continues to kill it with their version but straight up, there's no way I'm spending $1500 on a t-shirt. It just makes NO sense. 

Instead, I play the high/low game. High on accessories like shoes, bags and designer eyeglasses (because I never ever wear contacts), and low on a majority of my clothing, in particular t-shirts. 

I had the chance to partner with Topshop this weekend and celebrated their newest store opening at The Bay in Oakville Place. I wore my new Rolling Stones tee, a pair of black flares, silver boots and sequinned utility jacket, all from Topshop. I was pretty confident I'd be the only one wearing this outfit so imagine my surprise when I walk in to see Liz Trinnear wearing a something similar, down to the exact same tee! Liz was DJ-ing for the day and it was great to catch up with her. Though I don't see her often, Liz is one of those women I admire. She always looks amazing when she's on air, but it's her off-duty style that I'm such a big fan of. I just loved that we were both wearing the same tee.

Finally, what's a Topshop event without a little bit of shopping? I picked up a couple of more shirts on the weekend, including this Pink Floyd tee with side lacing, and a Gucci-inspired tee that says Amour.  

I just love the versatility of a good t-shirt. It's the ultimate all wear round piece of clothing. Since we're heading into fall, I also grabbed this amazing faux-shearling style jacket that has crazy-good Almost Famous vibes. It's not quite what Kate Hudson was wearing in the movie, but her character would have totally gone for it. 

SHOP MY LOOK

1. RoLLING STONES

This creamy white tee is super soft and has distressed holes throughout for a vintage look and feel. 

2. PINK FLOYD

One of my favourite iconic images from the band, this tee has lace up details on the side that would look amazing with leather leggings. 

3. AMOUR

Something about this shirt reminds me of the retro Gucci tee we saw from last season. Bonus, this one is only $25.

PIN IT!

This post was in partnership with Topshop. All photos and opinions are my own.

Important lessons in marriage

I was at a friend's baby shower recently and we were talking about how time seems to speed up as we get older and how it sucks. Remember when you were little and it seemed like Christmas was forever away? Now we blink and it's another year. Man. 

Yesterday, Geoff and I celebrated our ninth year wedding anniversary. I still can't believe it! 9 years married! I feel like we've accomplished so much together in that time and I really do feel like the luckiest girl having such an amazing partner. I honestly believe that I wouldn't be where I am career wise, being a freelance blogger and all if it wasn't for his constant support. He's truly incredible and patient with me even when I'm at my nuttiest, depressed, anxiety-ridden self.

One of the most important lessons we learned in that time is to take time for us and not allow other people (aka familial obligations) dictate how we spend our time off. In the past, we've always prioritized family over our holidays, but this year we're putting us first. In October, we're skipping a family's wedding (sorry G&A!) to cross something off our bucket list and flying to Iceland for an epic road trip! Then in November, Geoff's youngest sister is getting married in Halifax. We're extending our stay in Nova Scotia by a few days for yet another road trip, this time around to the Bay of Fundy, up to Moncton, driving up the Magnetic Hill, and circling back to Halifax for the day before flying back home. 

If there's one thing that's made our marriage stronger each year it's communication coupled with respect. We don't oblige each other to do anything we don't want to but yet we know when to comprise. Putting us first to take time off as a couple and to do the things we want is super important. While I have the luxury of setting my own hours as a freelancer, Geoff has an allotted amount of vacation days in a calendar year. We wanna make sure we're using our holidays for us because next thing we know, we'll blink and we'll be a couple of old people looking back on our epic road trips.

What I'm Wearing

Queen of Hearts tank sold on my shop here
Ferragamo sunglasses
Zara striped trousers
Balenciaga red clutch/ document holder
Hermes and David Yurman bracelet
Vans checkered slip-ons
 

Photography by Geoff Martin

5 Must-Haves for Fall

To be perfectly honest, I'm over summer and ready for fall. When I met Kim Kardashian's makeup artist, Joyce Bonelli, last week, the fall vibes were real. That morning as I got dressed, I opted for a pair of black skinny jeans, a colourful tweed top from Zara and my trusty Saint Laurent platform boots from last season. Low and behold, Joyce and I were wearing the exact same YSL boots and I couldn't help but smile over my twin-moment with someone from the Kardashian crew.

I believe one should update their wardrobe with small touches as opposed to doing an entire over haul. Remember those back to school commercials where kids get a brand new closet just because it's September? Ya, I never really stood by that. Good clothes and good style are timeless and will only need minor tweaks and updates along the way.

Since I'm already in fall mode, I thought I'd share my top 5 Must-Have items for fall this season. Of course, take it with a grain of salt because, at the end of the day, you gotta do you. Everyone's body and tastes are different and what I think looks good on my frame, might feel foreign and uncomfortable on someone else. Remember, fashion, like beauty, is about having fun and feeling like your best self. :)

1. SUNGLASSES

I'm a little sad and embarrassed to admit I recently broke a pair of my favourite sunglasses. They fell to the ground and half of plastic arm broke at the end. Needless to say, a sunglasses update was necessary. I went with these new Carrera Bound sunglasses with the aviator vibes, gold frames and red rim around the lenses because hi, if you can't tell already, I love red. Unlike my broken sunnies, these new ones are slightly oversized which I love because I feel like I can get away with wearing less makeup when I go out. Also, I'm secretly still in love with the whole Olsen-twin-oversized-sunglasses thing.

2. HATS

If you've been paying attention to Zara's fall campaign shot by Steven Miesel, you'll have noticed the models all wearing this chic little newsboy cap. I was on the waiting list for this hat three times before I was finally able to get it. Three times! I love the Parisian vibe of it so much that I picked it up in two colours. It's an inexpensive way of updating my wardrobe and it'll keep me warm when the weather starts to get chilly. 

3. CHECKERED OVERSIZED BLAZER

Oversized checkered blazers always remind me of the 80's, teased hair and the term "working woman". Well, they're having a big moment this fall so ditch the gingham and get out the checkered pattern. Mix it with a pair of jeans for a more casual look or add a matching pant for a chic dressed up look that's perfect for work. ;) 

You might remember this blazer from my Summer Sale Haul video. I scored it for $50 at Zara and it quickly sold out. They have a similar version out right now that's still available. 

4. SLIDES & MULES

Gucci, Prada, Zara, oh my. Designer or not, slides are still holding a big place in my heart for fall. I bought a couple of pairs on sale recently and I already have my eyes on a luscious pair of brown Prada mules with a curved chunky heel. Slides go well with everything and can easily be dressed up, or down, making them a truly versatile piece of footwear. I'll be rocking my gold Gucci's until the weather gets too cold and it's time to cover up my bare ankles. Alternatively, I could invest in a cute pair of socks... 

5. LIPSTICK

Believe it or not, one of my favourite things about fall is changing up my makeup. That's right. We all know the power of makeup and nothing makes me feel more pulled together than a bold lip.

In the summer I go for brighter lip hues but come fall, it's time to bring out the russet lipsticks, burnt orange glosses, and deep wine mattes. In this post, I reached for one of Bite Beauty's new Amuse Bouche Liquified lipsticks in the shade Braised. I'll be reviewing and swatches these bad boys on my lipstick blog so make sure you check back tomorrow.

DISCLAIMER:
This post is sponsored by Carrera sunglasses. All photos and opinions are my own.
Photography by Geoff Martin.

Love it or hate it? Testing new beauty

The beauty world is forever changing and there's always a large emphasis on newness and "life changing" formulas. Brands promise to get rid of wrinkles or give you plump lips but we all know that isn't the case. Even so, I can't help myself and I get carried away trying out new products all of the time. Some are products that are sent to me by the brands, and others I purchase myself. Even with my short list of ride or die beauty products, I always want to know what's happening in the beauty world so testing new products is a way of life for me.

Below are items I'm testing, whether I hate them or not, mixed with a couple of products that I will continue to repurchase. 

1

I learned about this Kiehl’s Ultra Facial moisturizer when I attended Makeup by Mario's Masterclass. He says he skips the primer and preps skin with a highly emollient lotion. I love this product so much I use it on my décolletage and backs of my hands. 

2

This brightening mask from Herbivore contains pineapple and papaya enzymes to gently exfoliate and slough away dead skin cells. Use it at night though and follow up with an SPF in the morning because it will leave your skin sensitive to the sun's rays.

3

Chloé Love Story is floral and sultry for date nights. For some reason, it doesn't last long on my skin but I love the scent nonetheless.
 

4

Darphin’s HydraSkin Light moisturizer is one of my holy grail skincare items that I can't do without. Even though it's light in texture and weight, it has the hydration of a cream without the greasiness so it's perfect for all skin types.

5

Even though it's been around for ages, I'm new to this Jo Malone Basil & Neroli scent. It's an intoxicating unisex scent that layers nicely with other fragrances from the brand.

6

I love skin to look like skin when I wear makeup so I have different tricks to get rid of an over-powdered face. An easy way to get the skin to look dewy and natural is to pat a bit of Glossier’s Balm Dotcom on the cheek bones. I also like to dot a bit on my eyelids if I'm not wearing eyeshadow to bring dewiness to my entire face.

7

Dior’s Lip Glow Pomade is a staple for any lip balm addict. It's hydrating and feels nice on the lips but I wish it was a bit cheaper. Biotherm makes a similar product that retails for $10 less. 

8

Eve Lom’s iconic cleanser gets rid of makeup and has a lovely "natural" scent but its main ingredient is mineral oil, therefore, I’m not the biggest fan. Mineral oil is a distillation product of petroleum and is super cheap to produce. Considering Eve Lom's cleanser retails for $100, you can understand why it's hard for me to get behind this product. Skin care guru, Caroline Hirons made a cleanser for Pixi that's better than Eve Lom's that's gentle and more effective at removing even the most stubborn makeup like waterproof mascara and red matte lipstick for $25 (USD). It's hard to find in Canada but if you're ever in the States, check Target and make sure you pick up Caroline's cleanser.

9

My all time favourite Jo Malone scent is English Pear & Freesia. It's such a happy, celebratory scent and I only use it on special occasions. One of my dear friends bought me the candle and I love it so much, I have yet to light it.

10

Yves Saint Laurent makes a lovely sheer lip balm that's perfect for summer. The packaging alone is beautiful and feels like a work of art in itself. Make sure to check out my new lipstick blog, LipSick.me, for a full review on the YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm.

11

Le Petit Marseillais is a well-loved brand from France that has just arrived in Canada. It is the #1 selling body wash brand in France and I get why - the naturally scented cleansers are gentle, calming and feel luxurious for a drug store product. My favourite scents are Cotton Milk & Poppy (lightly floral), White Peach & Nectarine (lightly sweet and fruity) and Orange Blossom (lightly sweet and floral).

12

Chanel’s lip balm is another in my daily skincare routine. I keep this one on my vanity because it’s so chic but also, it's a beautiful product. At $50 for 0.35 oz, it's definitely a splurge but in my opinion, it's so worth it!

Le Petit Marseillais

is a well-loved brand from France that makes the nations #1 selling body wash. The naturally scented formulas are gentle, calming and feel luxurious for a drug store product.

DISCLAIMER
The following was provided as PR samples: Eve Lom, Le Petit Marseillais, Chloé Love Story, Darphin and YSL Beauté.
All opinions are my own. 
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as compensation.

Travel Diary: Chillin' with EOS in NYC

I love NYC so when I get a chance to travel there and hang out with an awesome brand like EOS, it's win/win. I was there for another 24 hour press trip and I thought it would be fun to document my stay in the photo diary you see here. I hope you guys enjoy the layout and getting to know more about the new EOS Crystal lip balm, launching this September. 

WHERE TO STAY:

The Ludlow Hotel, 180 Ludlow Street, NY, 10002

WHERE TO EAT:

Dirty French for wicked avocado toast, 180 Ludlow Street, NY, 10002

NoHo SoHo for dinner and tasty cocktails, 9 Crosby Street, New York City, NY 10013