My Daily Skincare Routine

I finally feel confident enough in my daily regime to bring you this post. Do I have perfect skin? Hell no. Are there probably other products that would work better or the same on my skin? I think, yes. But I have finally found a ménage à tois that is treating my skin pretty well. Just as a bit of a disclaimer before dive right in, I have ca-razy skin. It's definitely dry (which is kinda new I think, this was the first winter that I had some really bad flaking issues) but it can definitely get oily in my T-zone. And of course, I also have some acne, not like really bad but on my forehead I have a bunch of teeny tiny little dots and I will occasionally have the odd pimple on my chin. So basically, I have a buffet of all you can eat on my face. Great.

The first part of my regime is also the newest. Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil is apparently for Dry Skin and as far as I know (and the NEW sign on the bottle is also a leading trigger) this is a fairly new product. I heard itsblondie mention this product in one of new videos and said it may be a dupe for Boscia's Make-up Break-up cleansing oil and honestly, I've been dying to try that product for months but can't seem to bring myself to spending that kind of money. So I wandered off to Walmart and very surprising they had it! I've only been testing out the product for about a week now but I love it! If you've never used a cleansing oil you're supposed to pump a few squirts into your hand, and just rub it into your skin (which should be dry not wet). Automatically you will see your makeup literally just start to melt away, it's actually pretty amazing. Then add a bit of water to your hands and it starts to emulsify the oil (which really means it mixes the oil + water together to create a sort of creamy mix). And then voila, you rinse it off and you're set!

I'm pretty sure you can use the cleansing oil as a one step thing, but I like to follow up with this cleansing gel just to be sure I got every last bit of makeup and dirt off my face (ya know incase I was rolling around in a mud pit or something that day). I am really shocked that I haven't mentioned this on my blog yet because it is a really reliable product. The Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel is kind of like the boy you expect to Taylor Swift to date. Is it a drop dead, throw everything else away, write to every magazine kind of product? No. But it does what it says it will, it's kind of cool (it's a dry-to-wet product like the oil but obviously my face is wet when I use it), its reliable, works hard, and doesn't stress you out. I just want to say that I got this for Christmas and used it for about a month, it was good but it was one of my first high end products so I wasn't sure if it was really worth it. Then I started to experience super dry skin. I was sure it was because of the cold weather, but also a bit worried it was because of the gel. I'd been hearing glory story after glory story about all of the First Aid Beauty products, so I went to Sephora talked to a wonderful guy about all the products and he sent me away with a First Aid cleanser and Serum all probably worth $50. Well, I've never been so brokenhearted as I was after using those products. My face broke out, I felt like I had a weird filmy sheen to my skin, and the dryness was still in full force. So I went back to this, and can happily say it is still my cleanser of choice. It makes your skin feel super clean, definitely not oily, but not super dry either!

My last product is my moisturizer. I feel like such a let down here. I talk all the time about how dry my skin is, so you'd expect me to have found some holy grail, spill your milk, moisturizer. But the truth is, I haven't and I'm always searching. I've tried numerous products and serums in hopes of quenching my skins thirst, but I've to totally satisfy it. The Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer is good. It has SPF 15 (which is essential at all times of the year especially for a pale gal like myself) and you know what, I feel safe enough to say that yes, I do feel like my face is more "toned" and bright when I use this. So if dryness is not your issue I would 110% recommend this product as it really does make your skin radiant. However, I often find my skin begging for more, so please, if you have dry skin, or know of a moisturizer that is worth its weight in gold please tweet me, comment below, instagram me, email me, call me, text me, show up to my front door. Honestly, do whatever you need to do, just pass the info on!!!

xoxo

-A

-ps: I'm still looking for opinions for my giveaway as I am very indecisive and only one person voted, so PLEASE take one millisecond (I mean you've already wasted how long on this post, whats a second more) and vote ladies (and maybe gentlemen????)!!! 

Would you prefer a giveaway with 1 big winner or a giveaway with 2/3 smaller winners??
	1 BIG Winner
	2 Medium Winners
	3 Smaller Winners
	Don't Care
pollcode.com free polls

*Disclaimer: you can click on the links to purchase/ see the prices on all items mentioned, links may be affiliate links but this post was not sponsored all items were purchased by myself or given as gifts from friends/family

Summer Necklace Lovin'

From Top Left to Bottom Right: Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Target & Target.

     Well here we are again with another Summer Lovin' post (part 1 here and part 2 here). I know these posts aren't particularly "meaty" but they are fun and I know I get a lot of inspiration for outfits and daily looks from them on other peoples blogs. So without further adieu I give you my favourite summer necklaces (although the picture is right up there and you've always been able to see it, so not really much waiting I guess). I know I said in my June Favourites (click here for those!) post that I haven't been wearing a ton of jewellery due to the heat and my crazy hair, but when I do, I like to go big. I am all about theatrics and making a statement. I think adding a necklace like one above has the ability to completely draw together an outfit! What do you think? Do you prefer chunky or simple necklaces?

Also if you could just take a moment to vote I would really appreciate it!!

Would you prefer a giveaway with 1 big winner or a giveaway with 2/3 smaller winners??
	1 BIG Winner
	2 Medium Winners
	3 Smaller Winners
	Don't Care
pollcode.com free polls

xoxo
-A

Summer Lipstick Lovin'

From Left to Right: Hot Plum, Pink Quartz, Coral Crush.

This is part two to my Summer Lovin' series. Is it a series? I don't know! I've only photographed for these two posts but I could very well continue it if ya'll are enjoying it? As much as I've been enjoying a nude lip, I always come back to bright and bold. I think it's because if you're in a time crunch but still want to look like you put in a decent amount of effort, its easier to go for a simple eye and bold lip than vice versa. Hot Plum on the left is one of my all time favourites because it is so versatile! Just a light coat and it keeps things fresh & fun, but if you layer it on a bit thicker it adds so much drama! Pink Quartz is honestly one of the most beautiful lipsticks I own. It's the perfect pink & purple mix, with stunning gold flecks & shimmer. I love to wear it whenever I use the Naked 3 palette as I think they compliment each other really well. And lastly, Coral Crush. Do I really need to say anything about this lipstick? I'm pale, it's summer, isn't there some sort of law that I have to love coral??

As you can see the colours are gorgeous and I'm obviously a big fan of the Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks. I love the shine and amazing quality of the product. 

xoxo

-A

**As a bit of a side note, I am planning to do a giveaway reallyreally soon! But, I wanted to ask, would you prefer 1 really big prize, or like 3 smaller (but still good!) prizes? Tweet me or reply in the comments what you prefer!!**

Twitter | BlogLovin' | Instagram

Summer Lip Gloss Lovin'

As our beloved Ingrid aka MissGlamorazzi said in her last video, we are smack dab in the middle of summer. Summer is one of my favourite seasons, followed by fall, winter and spring (this normally changes depending on which season we're in). Matte's are amazing for fall and winter, and I am definitely looking forward to breaking out my dark purples and reds, but until then, I am loving lip gloss this summer. I feel like lip glosses are so much less fuss than lipstick, no lip liner needed, you don't have to worry about it being even etc... Most times I don't even need a mirror, just add a quick coat & smack your lips together! Depending on what kind of look I'm going for, these 3 lip glosses are my favourites for summer.

We have Revlon's Colourburst lipgloss in Bellini (which admittedly I do like more with a nude lipstick as a base) which is pretty sheer and goes amazing with any nude lipstick. And let's just talk about the packaging, is it just me or could this baby pass off as a NARS lipgloss? It's freaking stunning! Next up is Tanya Burr's lipgloss in Picnic in the Park! I mean, I don't even know what to say about this one. Perfection, perfection & perfection. Lasting power? Check. Amazing colour payoff? Check. Smells like heaven in a strawberry field? Check. Cute name? Check. Cute packaging? Check. Fellow beauty blogger knows how to get shit done. And lastly, Elizabeth Arden's lipgloss in Passion Fruit. This is the most opaque lipgloss out of the three and is most like a lipstick. It's a bit sticky, but not enough to turn me off. I do however suggest using a very light coat and then blending with your finger, because this a very bright and thick gloss that can get messy if you don't know how to show it whose boss!

Top to Bottom: Bellini, Picnic in the Park, & Passion Fruit

What lip glosses and/or lip products have you been loving this summer??

xoxo

-A

Cover Girl CGSmoothers | A Review for my Fellow Pale Skinned Girls

 This is something I never thought I would get the honour of doing!! I have officially found a drugstore foundation that is perfect for my skin!!! I know this may seem boring and typical for most people, but if you have super pale skin with a red/pink undertone than you will know my dilemma! I know my friends always walk over to the foundations and have a bountiful amount of options. But not me. In fact up until now, not a single drugstore foundation matched my skin perfectly. Sure there were options, but all of them were either far too dark, or yellow!

Alas we have the new Covergirl CGSmoothers Hydrating Makeup! Not only is this shade made for us pale ladies with a more pink undertone (which is more evident in person, not the photo below) but it isn't drying or matte! I have dry skin that is prone to the odd pimple so anything matte just doesn't do it. But this foundation is hydrating enough that it doesn't stick to my dry spots. Its about a light to medium coverage foundation, so it will cover up Ralph who lives just smack dap centre of your forehead (oh, you don't name your pimples.. hm, weird) but still lets your skin breathe!! And the fact that I can have all of this for under $10, uh yes, sign me up!!!

xoxo

-A

-ps: if you, like me, are super pale, do you enjoy posts like this? Because I know I am always scouring the beauty blogging community for posts geared towards us pale folk! So if you wouldn't mind commenting below so I can identify you as a fellow "ghost" maybe we can have a little chat???

#FOTD | Birthday Dinner

Today's "Face of the Day" is a bit fancier than usual as I am about to go out for dinner for my Moms birthday! I was going to do a step by step tutorial but my camera died halfway through so you will have to settle for the end result!

Eyes

1. NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
2. Cookie Dough from Too Faced "Joy to the Girls" in the crease
3. Chestnut from Too Faced "Joy to the Girls" in the outer V
4. NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in "Pink Topaz" over the lid
5. Milani Eye Tech eyeliner
6. Maybeline "Define-A-Line" used to tight line
7. Tarte "Lights, Camera, Flashes" mascara

Face

1. Clinique Super Primer Colour Corrects
2. Covergirl "CG Smoothers Hydrating Makeup" in 705 Ivory
3. Hard Candy "Glamoflauge" in Ultra Light
4. E.L.F Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder 
5. Milani Illuminating Face Powder in 03 Beauty's Touch (used for blush/ illuminator)
6. Coty Airspun Foundation Powder in Translucent 

Lips

1. NYX "Butter Lipstick" in Lollies
2. Revlon "Colour Burst Lip Gloss" in Bellini 

And I used my NuMe hair curler (25mm) to do my hair & then flipped my head over and took the blow-dryer to the roots to give it more volume!!

xoxo

-A

DARCCY | Vintage Inspired Clothing

Darccy is a company that is dedicated to selling amazing vintage inspired pieces that are made for today's world. I love all of their dresses as they are just so versatile. The dresses I chose can be worn for a fancy night out, just add a nice pair of heels and some jewellery! Or if you're like me and want to wear pretty things for no occasion you can add a nice cardigan or leather jacket and make it more everyday wear! If you're looking to glam up your wardrobe than I suggest you take a peek at some of their amazing pieces, including their accessories! I wish I could buy every single headband and belt they have! Use the coupon code darccy10 for 10% off!

Darccy.com

xoxo

-A

*This was not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own

*Links may be affiliate links

Wet N Wild Lipstick | 912C "In The Flesh"

If you follow me on Instagram (& if you don't you really should) then you would know that I've kind of unleashed a beast. The shopping beast. But in all honesty I've been really good lately and haven't really gone overboard or bought unnecessary things, but today I decided to have a little treat and get some things I'd been eyeing. You can expect a bunch of new reviews and tutorials, and possibly a giveaway in the coming weeks (shh don't tell)! 

But were here to today to celebrate the welcoming of another lipstick into my collection. I saw an Instagram post of this and knew I had to have it because it wasn't like anything I already own. It is definitely a more natural tone lipstick, but I wouldn't call it a nude as it is much darker. The consistency is pretty good for the price. I know the swatch looks glossy but it really is more of a matte. The staying is power is great! I think this colour will be awesome with smokey eye, or just a plain old winged liner. The packaging and shape of the lipstick drive me crazy but for under $3 I can definitely accept it!

xoxo
-A

June Favourites

So before it get's a little too late and socially unacceptable for me to post my June favourites, I figured I would gather my thoughts and show you what I've been loving this month. And since we all know I have some OCD tendencies I decided to better organize this months favourites into different subsections!!

Beauty

I can't believe I am actually going to say this, but it's the truth. I actually haven't been wearing a lot of makeup this month. What, how, why you ask?! Well, the weather has been extremely hot and humid and that pretty much just means "makeup melt" (can I like copyright that as an official thing??). No matter how much powder or setting spray you use you're walking down a dead end. Also, the heat means a lot of pool/ sprinkler time which also means this pale skinned girl got burnt. And theres no use putting makeup on dry yet greasy red peely skin *shudders*. SO yes, the makeup blogger/ addict has been fairly makeup free. But of course that did not stop me from doing a little shopping/ playing around.

First up, we have my NARS single eyeshadow in Strada. I bought this baby awhile back, but haven't really used it all that much. But this month I've been doing a bit of a smokey eye with this and another matte purple from my Too Faced Joy to the Girls palette!

And then of course this wouldn't be a true Mirror, Mirror post if I didn't include some sort of lip product. This month I have been loving obsessed with NYX's black label lipsticks. I did a post over here on how amazing they are, but I just had to mention it one more time!!

As we know, I've been digging the whole vibrant, colourful look lately. So it wouldn't be right to skimp out on ya! This Milani Baked Blush in Delizioso Pink is just amazing. I don't know if it's the heat or it's just different than my other Milani blush, but this one is so creamy feeling! But once you apply it it is totally powdery. Obviously the colour payoff is insane and a little bit goes a long long way. I think this colour will be amazing in the fall/winter as well!!

Lastly, ladies, please let's take a moment to really give praise where praise is due. I don't know about you, but I see all of these amazing YouTube ladies mentioning a hundred different products and it's often hard to tell if they really are good products, or just really good endorsement deals. WELL I can't speak for every product but the NuMe curling wand stands alone in all of it's glory. I spotted mine at Marshalls for waitforit.... $30!!!! And I had a $10 gift card! So I got a $200 curling wand for twenty-freaking-dollars!!! But what's more amazing is how fantastic this makes my hair. I don't want to give too much away because I really do want to do a full review, but I just had to include it in my favourites!!!

Fashion

If you've recently taken a look around the blog then you will know that I've been into an assortment of fashion items lately. For example, Louboutins (check out my shoe wish list here), high-wasted skirts (check out my skirt trend here), and fun patterns. In term's of what my wardrobe actually looks like (because of what I can actually afford) here is a bit of a breakdown. Skirts, skirts skirts, my daisy/ sunflowerish shorts, a grey cardigan for cold nights, a mix of appropriate heels & sandals.

This month I've decided to take a break on my bigger necklaces as it has been really hot, so it's all the focus has been on earrings. Since my hair is basically the equivalent to wearing a wolf on my head, I often have my hair in a bun (please see my favourite trend ever "The Harper Beckham Hair Knot") and so I like to have cute earrings to show off/ take attention off my lack of hair effort.

TV

So here's the thing. I am currently unemployed. And off for summer break. So needless to say I have a ton of free time on my hands. And if you know me, you know I am obsessed with film.

Image from: Celebitchy.com

I started off this month by watching the entire series of Mike & Molly. I'd like to start this off by saying, is there anyone who doesn't love Melissa Mcarthy?! If you're a movie/film buff like me you will know that this is one of those series that is more funny than it is good. If you really like to get into a show and feel fully involved, this probably isn't worth your time. But it will definitely give you a good laugh and let your mind unwind if you've had a crappy day.

Image from: singleblackmale.com

I'm almost embarrassed to say my next TV favourite because I know there is already a huge following behind it. But I decided it was time to finally get into Scandal. And oh baby, have I been missing out! I watched the entire first season last night... Yeah, that good. If you love law, politics, lies, suspense, mind-twisters, amazing acting, and good fashion then you must give Scandal a try!!

Books

So, here's the thing. I am still reading the Divergent series. I am about halfway done Insurgent. It's... meh. In all honesty it's only taking me this long because it's not that good. I'm still invested in the characters and what happens so I want to finish it, but I find myself skipping multiple paragraphs/pages at a time just to get to some dialogue.

Image from: wikipidia.com

But the good news is, I did get around to reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene and... wow. I know there are far better reviews than any I could give, but just trust me when I say if you haven't read it yet, you should. I read the book in about a day and a half. It is very well written and has very few (if any) slow parts. I just want to say, that it is not your typical cancer book. Of course after a few chapters you may be able to anticipate the ending, but the eloquence that Greene has in writing about such an overdone subject is just beyond any negatives. If you're timid to read it because it became such a big Hollywood film, I would just say, completely disregard that. The book has enough merits to stand alone from the movie.

Blogger

After my brief "hiatus" I am so happy to be back to blogging & writing. But, I think there's another aspect to being a blogger that I've missed. I've missed exploring other peoples blogs and opinions and reviews and tips. I have found so many amazing blogs this month (which if you take a peak at my blogroll you will not be disappointed). But I really just wanted to mention The Sunday Chapter written by Angela and Thirteen Thoughts written by Paula. These ladies have amazing blogs & I really aspire to put out the kind of quality that they put out. They also have amazing photo's and I am so jealous of their natural photographer talent. Please, go check them out and leave them some love!!

xoxo
-A

My Vanity Set / Battle Station

I can feel the anticipation building as I start to write this post. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22, but battle station / makeup table posts are some of my favourite things. I love seeing everyone's beautiful tables and organization and just pretty things. As I may have mentioned in the past, I recently moved before winter into a bigger and better bedroom. So, with all that new space, I knew I wanted a really grown up and sophisticated space. In fact, I am very interested in home design and DIY, and one of my favourite blogs Young House Love once said something to the effect that you should try not to worry about if everything matches or follows a theme. Rather, think of three words that you want your room to be, and then choose whichever items you love that fit within those words. I know that seems extremely simple and risky, but I swear it works and relieves so much stress. When designing my room I wanted it to be simple, sophisticated, and classic. I like neutral and pale colours, zero clutter, and personalized decor.

So this is it! Honestly, it's even a bit cluttered for my liking and I'm thinking of reorganizing the candle holders and such. But alas, I am very proud of this space, and it is very me! I will try to list everything and where I got it, but if I miss anything just leave me a comment and I will let you know!! First thing's first, the table itself is the Malm Dressing Table from, you guessed it, Ikea. I paid $120 for it and it is worth every penny. It's the perfect size and I think it can serve as so many different functions in the future should I move. The candle holders and makeup brush holder is also from Ikea. The mirrored tray and table mirror are from Winners and by Cynthia Rowley, but you can find her items at Marshalls, TJ Max and other home good stores. The little glass bowl is from ikea and houses the rings and earrings that I wear most often. And the large mirror on the wall is also from Ikea, but I don't use it to actually apply my makeup as I find it easier with a close small mirror. I do use it to do my hair though!

Here is an up close view of the glass tray and my perfume! 

Here is the opposite side of the table, the lipstick tray is actually from Hautelook but you can purchase this and other acrylic products just like this here! Of course these are not all of my lip products, but the ones I use most often. The flowers and vase are just from my local dollar store, super cute but super cheap! And then I temporarily have my mini iHome station sitting on my table because I love to listen to music while I do my makeup but couldn't find another space for it. 

And here we have the meat of the post! My makeup! It looks a bit messy but I have quite a few products stacked on top of each other because I haven't organized my Alex 5 drawer organization station yet! Don't mind the mess to the right, that's just extra face products/ healthcare products. The drawer organizers are from Target!

Here we have my blushes, bronzer, and illuminators, eyelash curlers, and my foundation sponge (which is from real techniques and is AMAZING)! The top right section is where I keep my foundations and face primers. Top left is my eyelash and eyebrow products.

In the centre of the drawer is where I keep my eyeshadow palettes as well as extra lip products (can't get enough)!! The little pink organizing cubes are from the dollar section in Target I believe!

In the far left section of the drawer is where I keep most of my eye products. As you can see I have a mascara addiction. In the top right corner is where I keep all of my single eyeshadows and the top left is where I keep my lip glosses and extra lipsticks!

I hope you enjoyed a little tour through my makeup battle station! If you have any questions or organizational tips feel free to let me know in the comments! And, if you've done a similar post please please leave your link in the comments so I can check it out! In fact, half of these items/ designs were inspired by my browsing similar posts!!!

xoxo

-A