NOTD: Summer Inspired

It snowed again the other day, which made me overcome with a longing for summer. With these 'tropical' temperatures as of late, it was painful to watch the snow fall and to bring out (once again) the winter boots. So in order to cheer myself up, I cracked out the summer nail polishes and painted away...


It's a simple manicure, to be sure. I wasn't up for doing anything too fancy or elaborate. And the fact that I had to cut off all my nails because they were all broken prevented me from going all out.


I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polishes. Really, it does not get any better than this. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking for affordable yet pigmented polishes (just don't pick up White On or Black Out - they are the two exceptions to the line). Otherwise, absolutely fantastic. 


I used 2 coats of Fuchsia Power on the majority of my digits, and 2 coats of Sun Kissed as an accent color on my ring fingers. Finally, I topped my polish off with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. Turned out pretty well if I do say so myself!

Definitely reminds me of summer time!


What are you wearing on your nails today?
xoxo

B&BW Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Mist

Oh the deliciousness that is this scent. You can probably already tell which way this review is leaning, can't you?


Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Mist is available at Bath & Body Works stores, while stock is still available. Normally, a 8 fl oz bottle retails for $12 CDN, but as B&BW is phasing out the Fragrance Mists in favor of the newly packaged Fine Fragrance Mists. B&BW describes this as "an alluring scent inspired by vine-ripened berries drenched in vanilla cream." This particular scent is part of Bath & Body Works' Signature Collection. 

My brand-spankin' new bottle of Black Raspberry Vanilla,
and my half used bottle.

Top notes: Blackberry, Sparkling Bergamot, Black Currant, Orange and Anjou Pear.
Middle notes: Orris, Osmanthus Flower and Sambac Jasmine.
Base notes: Creamy Sandalwood, Vanilla Orchid and Taffeta Musk. 


Call me crazy, but I don't see any raspberry in that concoction. Either way... I love it.


It's pretty hard to review scents. Each scent is going to react with your body chemistry differently than it does with mine, and scents that appeal to me may be absolutely repulsive to you (and vice versa). Keep this in mind while reading through my review.


This scent is absolutely mouth-watering, though. I don't consider myself a 'fruity,' 'musky,' 'sweet,' 'sugary,' 'sandalwood-infused,' or anything of the like, scented-girl. I smell scents, and if I like them - WHOOT! I want that baby ALL up in my goodies... haha.

I was drawn to this scent initially when I visited a friend's house out of town. She had the Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in the Black Raspberry Vanilla scent, and I just about died. After you washed your hands, they smelled fruity and scent-ual (like how I did that there...??) for hours. Mmmm... so good. When I got home, I searched B&BW stores high and low, but could not find it. Turns out B&BW has discontinued the Black Raspberry Vanilla scent in this collection. Bah!


Meanwhile, I picked up the Fragrance Mist to tide myself over, and wouldn't you know it - this is one of my favorite fragrances of all time. Nothing compares to the clean, subtle scent of sweet ripe berries with a touch of vanilla. I frequently get compliments when I wear this scent - especially by my husband. This is his favorite scent in the whole world on me. If it were up to him, I wouldn't even bother smelling or purchasing other scents...


This scent is subtle enough to wear every day, but loud enough that it's not like you just sprayed water all over yourself. It's light and clings to your skin and clothing easily. It's detectable as you move throughout your day (similar to the way the smell of detergent lingers on your clothes), but doesn't produce that chemically obnoxious 'perfume' after-scent that can give people headaches. 


I can't really speak to the longevity of the typical B&BW fragrance mists, but this one lasts pretty well. So long as I'm not busting a move on the dance floor, the fragrance mist will be distinctly noticeable for typically 4 or 5 hours. Usually by that point, I don't mind re-spritzing myself, or I just don't care if I smell delectable anymore...


I'm intrigued to try the Fine Fragrance Mists - if anything about the longevity or scent has changed from the old Fragrance Mists. And I definitely want to try the Eau de Toilette in this scent. 


All in all, I think this is a great scent for women who want the flirty fun of a fruity scent, but the subdued sophistication of vanilla. It's a great scent for spring and summer, but I wear this bad boy all year round! Plus, it's cheap. Who doesn't want that!?


Overall, a definite 5 out of 5.
* * * * *


What do you think of Black Raspberry Vanilla? Have you tried any other noteworthy B&BW scents? Let me know!!

LOTD: Studying got you down...?

So next week is Reading Week, which means 7 days of blissful nothingness before the craziness of the semester kicks in... this week, however, I have two exams to study for and a book report due... nothing major, but still... I have lots to do...


In the meantime, I'm trying out some new products that I recently picked up, and to cheer me up I decided that traditional winged liner and a pop of color on the lips would be exactly the kind of look to brighten my otherwise gloomy day...

With Flash.

Yep. We needed to throw in a pouty face-d picture.

Smiling just didn't work for me today...

Face

Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller in Light

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Cream

Lips

Annabelle Lipliner in Heatwave

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Pinkerbell (968)

 

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Tease

Annabelle Mono Eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Brown

Annabelle Smoothliner in Brownie

Maybelline Volum'Express One by One Mascara in Very Black

And that is my look for today. My face is having some difficulties with breakouts lately, so I'm trying to minimize the amount of foundation, concealer, and powders that I put on my face. Slowly, but surely, they are healing. I'm loving this really natural makeup look though - you don't need to go for a crazy bold lip, just slap on some lip balm and you'll be set to get out the door!


And I thought I'd share with you guys some of my newest interests:
-My brother in-law taught me how to solve a Rubik's Cube this weekend, so I'm all over that.
-"Out of Goodbyes" by Maroon 5 and Lady Antebellum
-"Far from Home" by Five Finger Death Punch


What are you guys wearing today?! 


xoxo

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

The Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer retails for anywhere between $5 and $8 CDN. It can be purchased anywhere Rimmel cosmetics are sold. I mainly purchase them from WalMart, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Zellers. This concealer comes in a 0.23 fl oz (7 mL) tube. They're available in three shades: 010 Ivory, 030 Classic Beige, and Soft Beige.

Rimmel markets this product as a 2 in 1 concealer and highlighter for concealing darkness under the eyes as well as brightening and illuminating it. It's supposed to be "skin adapting" while letting skin breathe via it's oxygen complex. WalMart.ca elaborates: "Match Perfection Concealer gives skin a truer, fresher color match and blends seamlessly into skin for undetectable coverage that goes on smooth and lasts all day. [It] incorporates the latest breakthroughs in skin science with a unique trio of skin tone matching complexes: Smart Tone technology mimics skin's natural texture and tone for a match that covers imperfections with traceless blendability; Oxygen Complex helps skin breathe so color stays truer, longer; and Blue Sapphire Complex fights yellow undertones to prevent skin from looking sallow." *Phewf!*


This product is marketed in a squeeze tube with an application brush at the end. In order to obtain product, one must squeeze the tube (gently, mind you!) to get some product to come out through the tip of the brush. You can then use the brush tip to apply the concealer wherever needed on your face. This design is incredibly practical, because it allows you to get every last drop out of the tube before throwing it out. At the same time, this design can also be somewhat wasteful as there's no way to get the product back in the tube if you happen to get a little heavy handed in your dispensing of the concealer.


The concealer is of a creamy liquid consistency. Not watery, but definitely not too thick. A little bit of this product will go a long way, but it is buildable in terms of coverage.

It is incredibly pigmented. I use the shade Ivory, and I find that this shade matches my skin perfectly. I have used the same shade year-round, and I haven't needed to find anything darker or lighter, as my skin tone deepens or lightens with the seasons. I'd say as far as the "Smart Tone technology" goes - it works. This always seems to match my skin tone perfectly, never looking too orange, dark, light, yellow, etc. In the swatches shown, however, this concealer looks more peachy-toned. Normally, that wouldn't be what I'd be looking for, but in the case of undereye circles - peach tones cancel out the blue/purple of undereye circles, so this always works really well for me.

Right: Full application.
Middle: Semi-blended.
Left: Blended in all the way.

I can't speak to whether or not it's a function of the so-called "Blue Sapphire Complex" but this concealer definitely does not yellow on my skin as some other concealers tend to as a result of oxidisation, which I really appreciate.


This concealer, while being incredibly creamy and pigmented, also works really well as a foundation. Yes, you heard me right. On some occasions, I've used this product all over my face and blended it in as a foundation. This may seem a little extreme, maybe even a little wacky, but it works. It's pigmented enough to give you decent coverage, while creamy enough to blend seamlessly into the skin for a beautiful finished product. You can be assured that it doesn't yellow throughout the day, and it definitely brightens your skin.


With normal concealers, I would never recommend doubling up as a foundation - however, because of the lightweight, pigmented, blendable nature that is the Rimmel Match Perfection concealer, I can, with all honesty, say that - if you're daring, I'd totally give it a chance.


For the undereye area and blemishes, I usually apply this concealer (initially) with the brush tip applicator, and then use my fingers or the Quo Precision Foundation brush to blend it out. When I use this as foundation, I place a few swipes of the product on my cheeks, nose, forehead and chin, and then use either my Quo Precision Foundation brush or my ELF Studio Powder brush to blend and buff into the skin.


This is, by far, one of the best concealers I've tried to date. Especially for the undereye area and blemishes. It's incredibly pigmented, blends like a dream, but is thick enough to actually give you some coverage without blending completely off your face. Because it's a liquid, it doesn't cling as noticeably to dry patches on the face, which makes it infinitely more versatile. It has a very respectable longevity, or wear time, on the skin, especially after setting with a powder product.


Overall, I'd definitely encourage people to try this concealer out. It's a very affordable product to try out - and if you find yourself not really liking it, you're not out that much money for trying it.


4 out of 5 stars.
* * * *


What's your favorite concealer??

LOTD: Lonely Shopping

So, el hubby had a man-day-for-one hiking in the mountains, and I decided that to ease my separation anxiety, I should go shopping. Doesn't it always cure a broken heart?!


While out, I took these pictures at the bus stop on my way home and I thought I'd share them...

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Naked 2 palette - Verve, YDK, Snakebite and Foxy

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero

Maybelline Volum'Express One by One mascara in Very Black

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Light 120

Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller in Light

Annabelle Mono Eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla

Face:

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Ivory

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural

Lips:

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Pinkerbell (968)

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in 24 Carrot Gold (969)

My lips look line-y because I was puckering them in both pictures - otherwise they would've looked much nicer. Plus my lips are (still!!) dry from that freaking viral infection... Gar!!! No matter how much lip balm I slather on, the dry-ness isn't completely gone yet... argh!

Anyways, I hope you guys have funtabulous weekends! Let me know what you were wearing on your face this weekend! I'd love to hear about it!

xoxo