Tuesday 29 November 2011

Holiday Nails (Post #3): Sparkling Red Wine!

WHAT UP.
Another blog post?!?!?! Crazy right??
I am so on the ball. I have done it again (I am aware it's not even December yet and this is my third holiday nails post).
I used two polishes, both from the new "Spice it Up" 2011 Holiday Collection. I main colour I used was "552 Spice it Up" and I used "530 Glitz and Glam" as an accent of glitter on my middle nail.

Candle burning in the background: Slatkin&Co. Creamy Pumpkin
from Bath and Body Works (in the metal holder with snowflakes on it).

"Spice it Up" is a cranberry-burgundy red which is a great holiday colour. It has a gold shimmer in it that catches the light beautifully. I just love this nail polish, just looking at it reminds me of Christmas decorations and I get this cozy feeling inside. It's not at all a "gothy" dark tone, it's very elegant- it actually looks a lot like red wine. The best part? See how deep the colour is? ONE COAT. This only took me one coat to get it that opaque. WHAT? I don't even have OPI polishes that can do that! This is definitely going to be a staple in my nail polish collection, I absolutely love it (not to mention it's a great price).




"Glitz and Glam" is a fine pink glitter in a deep purple, almost burgundy base. The base colour is very close to "Spice it Up" so it layers over top very nicely (I haven't tried it on its own yet, so I can't attest to how many coats it would take to be opaque on its own). It creates a great accent nail. When layered over a dark red, the glitter takes on an almost red appearance so it blends right in and doesn't look out of place. 





Alrightey, that's it for this holiday nails post! These are a lot of fun to do.
I honestly can't wait for Christmas.
I need the time to finally relax a little and spend some time with my family. 
Thanks for reading!
-Tash <3

Monday 28 November 2011

Holiday Nails (Post #2)- Chestnuts About You!

I am so proud of myself- for keeping up my blogging lately.
I SHOULD be doing homework right now, but that seems to be the only time I can effectively blog-
when it's really important for me to be doing something else.
I thought I'd share a quick post in my "Holiday Nails" series.

This polish is also from the Sephora by OPI holiday collection called Glimmer Wonderland and it's called "Chestnuts About You" which is such a cute name, I had to name the entire post after it.



I love this nail polish! It's a beautiful gold that shines pink. 
It applies beautifully because it's a very smooth polish, semi-thin polish.
But even though it's thin, still only took me two coats to get it opaque.


Despite being a pink-gold colour, this is actually really great for everyday wear. Whereas my first holiday nail post was very dramatic, this is a really beautiful almost neutrally type colour that you could wear all year, not just around the holidays.
Plus, without all the chunky glitter from the last post- this lasts about 94709482943 times longer without chipping.

Just a Few Things...
  • I found out today that my friend Breanne, has read some of my blog posts, so YAY someone is actually reading these!! Hey Breanne, if you're reading!!! :)
  • I'm considering doing Blogmas (where you blog everyday in December) which is crazy because I know I will fail, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try... right? 
  • I seriously need to replace my digital camera. The lens won't even open properly anymore, geeeez.
  • Nail polish photographs so much easier than makeup, holy crap.
  • Is it cheating if I blog some pictures of makeup looks I did last year but never posted? I don't think so... :s


Saturday 26 November 2011

MAC Holiday Collections: Haul, Photos and Review!

Hello again friends!
Today is the day! What day? The day I review the items I have gotten so far from the MAC holiday collections. I have 2 palettes from the "Ice Parade" collection and one paint pot from the "Glitter and Ice" collection (however there are a few that are on my Christmas wishlist so that may change). The quality is great on all these items but I thought it would be a good idea to show some pictures and review them a little more in detail.

*Side note: I cannot do swatches yet. I just don't have the right lighting conditions and I'm never free to take the pictures when there is still enough natural light. So swatches are a work in progress for now. 


All the palettes have a little snowglobe on top!!!


From left to right: 6 Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette in "Warm", paint pot in "Let's skate" 
and the "Festive Frost Face Kit"
Left side: Winterscape, Patina, Gaelic Gold
Right Side: Magical Mist, Buckwheat, Midnight Flurry
I quite enjoy this palette. It's definitely great for every day use, as it's filled with neutrals. My favourite shade in the palette is "Gaelic Gold", it has to be one of the most unique golds I have ever come across. I also like that this palette includes "Patina" which is actually in the permanent collection. Patina is hard to describe, it's kind of a taupey-brown which makes it a great neutral.

My only complaint would be about the top left shadow "Winterscape" while in the pan it looks beautiful- it comes off rather chalky and that makes it hard to work with.





Firstly, I have to say I'm bias with this one, because I truly love MAC paint pots. I have "Indianwood" and  I use it daily. They never crease on me, they last all day and they're super pigmented and creamy which makes them easy to work with.

So when I saw that the holiday collection included some new limited edition colours I knew I was going to pick one up. "Let's Skate!" looks pink in the glass pot but actually comes off more white with a gold iridescence.

The important thing to mention about this product though, is not the colour but that it has a TON of sparkle in it. Not shimmer or shine- legitimate glittery sparkle. I can already tell that this would put most people off, but that friends, is a mistake. I just touch my finger in it and spread across my lid- instantly makes any shadow brighter. Or use it for night and pack it on. But it's something to think about because the sparkle can make it a little more difficult to use regularly.

Left: Once Upon a Time, Expensive Pink
Right: Below Zero, Embark

Blush: Buff

This may be my favourite item that I own from the holiday collection. It's great for doing your makeup quickly because every shadow you need to create a look is included. A nice light colour for the lid, a bronze for the crease, a pink to warm up the look and a really dark brown to intensify the outer edge. I should mention that "Embark" and "Expensive Pink" are permanent collection colours. (I actually wore expensive pink to my prom!)

The packaging is unique, which I like. The eyeshadow quad slides over to reveal a blush underneath. At first I didn't think I would like this blush, but it's gorgeous. A pinky-nude that just blends right into my skin, perfect for avoiding the "racing stripes" blush look (not pretty). 

Overall Impressions:
As always the pigmentation on these is great, the same as the regular, permanent collection stuff. I found a new love with that blush (I will have to find out if it's limited edition, if it is, I will be sad). 
It is true that the packaging is a little too over the top and bulky with this collection. Personally, I love the snowglobes on the front (they're totally fun to play with). They only stick out maybe 1 cm over the top of the palette, however, I would still be very wary of travelling with these. Because that if one of those breaks- that is a HUGE mess to clean up.

Just a Few Things...
  • These pictures took forever! Appreciate people.
  • AHH only one more week of school for me, so excited to be off and spend some time with my family!
  • Hopefully soon I can find the time to blog some Christmas looks soon.
  • Also going to do a wishlist blog post soon! Hopefully Jon reads it... 
  • Also expect a Luxebox blog post soon, LOVE luxebox 
  • Currently reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and I'm about halfway through. Not seeing what all the hype is about. It's a little boring actually. Hunger Games still miles and miles better. 
  • I would love a nice warm cup of tea right now but my dawg is sitting on my feet and I don't want to disturb him

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Holiday Nails (Post #1): Gold Rush

Hello makeup-lovers,
I am dutifully trying my best to keep this little blog-o-mine going. It's not easy (as is probably obvious from the time of night that I'm writing this) but nevertheless I'm trying.
I thought I would do a quick holiday nail polish post.

I get into Christmas and the holiday season SUPER early and dear god, it irritates anyone and everyone who knows me. Seriously, the second week in November, we had our decorations up at my house and I broke out the festive nails! I love festive/holiday/Christmas themed nails. I would say maybe a quarter of my entire nail polish collection. which has become rather large (maybe a nail polish collection blog?) is either a holiday colour OR it came directly from a holiday collection.

I decided I wanted to go all out with my nails and do a gold base with a glitter overlay just on the top parts.
I think it came out really nice!
I used two OPI by Sephora colours.
The base gold is called "Keep Me on my Mistletoes" and it's from the OPI Glimmer Wonderland Collection 
The gold glitter polish is "Only Gold For Me Top Top Coat" which I believe is a permanent colour.


I only did the glitter right near the tops of my nails so
 it almost looks like a glitter french manicure! 
Tip: Try not to create a harsh line with the glitter. Fade it downward.

Both these polishes are very smooth and opaque.
 You barely need two coats of "Misteltoes" to get the job done.
It has a smooth, shiny formula. It's gorgeous and subtle worn alone. 
The glitter top coat spreads nicely (for a glitter polish) and is surprisingly easy to work with.





Just a Few Things...

  • I know all my posts have been super quick, short posts lately. However I do have a post coming up soon about the things I got from the MAC Glitter and Ice Holiday Collection! 
  • Makeup swatches are difficult to photograph because I blog at night and have zero suitable lighting.
  • I forsee many more festive/holiday nail posts- I do love my Christmas colours (I have another one already photographed).
  • Picked up the holiday issue of Chatelaine and I think I will try out some of the recipes :)
  • I have no idea what to get my dad and Jon (my boyfriend) for Christmas, boys are so hard to shop for. Poo.
  • I am so close to being done this semester. So. Close. 
Thanks for reading!
-Tash <3

Monday 14 November 2011

Bold Lip of the Moment: "Rebel" by MAC

Hello all!
I just wanted to update. I have failed at blogging for a while- but school is crazy for me right now.
I just wanted to share a bold lip of the moment with you all.
Rebel by MAC is a beautiful lipstick- it looks dark purple in the tube but when worn it looks like a bright fuschia pink/purple colour. It's extremely bright, so it's not for the timid- but it is totally worth the risk!
Try it out, you may surprise yourself!



 Just a few things...
  • Yea, I take pictures in my bathroom- lighting's best in there... don't hate.
  • Blogging requires commitment, something I need to work on.
  • Exactly 17 days until I get off for Christmas break, WOOT.
  • Tonight's episode of How I Met Your Mother was so sad- but so good!
  • I am already coming up with holiday themed looks in my head...