MERIT BEAUTY | Review + Five-Minute Minimalist Makeup Look

These days, the market is so saturated with emerging beauty brands that it takes a lot to grab my attention. Merit Beauty* is one that stood out from the rest to me. The brand was founded by Katherine Power, who is also the co-founder of Avaline Wine alongside Cameron Diaz. I was immediately drawn by the simplicity and ethos of the brand, featuring a small selection of products meant to keep your makeup routine fresh and most importantly, with no harm done as the ingredients are clean and non-toxic. I was excited to put these luxury products to the test in my latest video and share my thoughts and first impressions with you.

Lise Watier Diamond Dreams | Holiday Makeup Look

The most wonderful time of the year is here! I've already gone down the rabbit hole of having Christmas decorations up and have been watching (too) many Hallmark holiday movies (and I'm not ashamed to admit it)! It's also been an insanely long time since I shared a holiday-inspired makeup look (take a trip down memory lane here) so I figure it was about time I got to it! Once my eyes were treated to the Lise Watier Diamond Dreams Collection Set* I knew I had to share it because it is absolutely gorgeous, from the holographic packaging down to the colours and the quality and performance of the makeup itself. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Lise Watier is part of Canada's largest cosmetics brand based here in Montreal and it has been around since 1972. The entire line is cruelty-free and products are made in Italy and available at pharmacies and department stores across Canada as well as online.

NEW! Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Collection | First Impressions + Makeup Look

I recently experienced one of those "pinch me" moments when this adorable pink box filled with the entire Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Collection landed on my doorstep. I am such a big fan of both the makeup artist and the amazing cosmetics line she has built, having tried quite a few of her products over the years. Surprisingly though, I had never tried the ever so popular Pillow Talk lipstick, one (if not the) most sold lipstick shade in the world. I saw on social media that Charlotte Tilbury was expanding her line to include not only deeper shades in the existing lipstick, lip liner and blusher but was also adding a bunch more Pillow Talk products to her range, such as an eyeshadow palette, highlighters and eyeliner. I was super stoked to put the new Pillow Talk products to work, and I figured it would be great to not only show you what's new but also have you see in action how these apply in my latest video, too!

This Works Deep Sleep Breathe In and Deep Sleep Pillow Spray | Review

I consider myself lucky as I have had very little trouble falling or staying asleep for most of my life. Lately, however, I have been having more difficulty getting a restful night's sleep. I've been trying to find ways to better set myself up for some quality shut-eye. Taking a hot shower, drinking herbal tea, listening to relaxing music and meditating before going to bed has helped, as has incorporating these two products from This Works* into my ritual to restore a sense of calm before hitting the hay. I have tried similar alternatives from other brands in the past, however, I just had to give these two their time to shine because they have been so incredibly effective in my night time routine.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Face Of Makeup | Get Ready With Me

Charlotte Tilbury recently came out with new makeup which I was lucky enough to receive, namely the Airbrush Flawless Foundation*, Magic Vanish Color Corrector* and Starry Eyes to Hypnotize Eyeshadow Palette*. As I was sorting through my vanity makeup, I came to the realization that I have collected quite a few of the brand's makeup over the last couple of years, enough to create a full-face look! I love watching one brand tutorials as you get to see what a brand has to offer in action and such videos speak to a product's application performance.

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder Foundation & Ultra HD Light Capturing Self-Setting Concealer | Review

Having been on a pressed powder kick for a while now, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that Make Up For Ever recently released their Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder Foundation*. I had previously reviewed their original Matte Velvet Skin Foundation (liquid form) and was overall really happy with the results, so I was looking forward to see if this one would yield a similar afterthought. The brand also not too long ago released its range of Ultra HD Light Capturing Self-Setting Concealer*, so  I decided to film a first impression using both together. Did my initial feel for these products go as expected? And do I still feel the same way having used them a few more days after filming? Keep reading to find out!

Sothys Summer Chill Collection | Review + Makeup Look

I always look forward to seeing the makeup Sothys releases, and this year's Spring/Summer collection is no exception! I am a summer baby through and through, so when I saw that they had named their latest one the Summer Chill Collection*, I was immediately drawn to it. I got my hands on a few items from this limited edition release, namely a blush, bronzer, eyeshadow palette, lip pencil, two lip crayons and nail polish. I figured I might as well show you how these apply and how you can easily achieve a wearable look using them together, so I have also put together a video showing you exactly how I have been using these products.

OSEA Seaweed Face and Body Care | Natural Skincare Review

It's no secret that I am a big fan of California-based and family owned and operated skincare line Osea. I first professed my love for the brand last year and have been enjoying discovering what other products they have to offer. Over the last few months, I have been trying out a handful of new-to-me products from the range. What makes this line so special you ask? Their founder's story, their mission and their use of high-quality ingredients are just some of the things that drew me to them, not to mention they are also vegan and cruelty-free. Organic seaweed is a key ingredient in their products, something I had never tried topically prior to coming across their brand and I was definitely missing out!

Sephora and Hudson's Bay Clean Beauty Haul

I feel like it's been ages since I shared a beauty haul, something I would often do in my early blogging days - so it's been long overdue! I recently placed a few mini orders on both Sephora and Hudson's Bay, so I figured I would share some of my long lusted over purchases, you know, in case you needed to be enabled (basically the story of my life whenever I read other blogs)! As you will see, these are all skincare products, which you may have already noticed is a category I am a huge sucker for, and they all happen to be clean and natural as well - yay!

Gold Elements Luxury Skin Care with 24K Gold and Truffles | Review

I have recently been awakened to the benefits of gold in skin care, and I have since been testing out a handful of gold-infused products by Gold Elements*. When researching, I learned that gold has been used in cosmetics for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt. Apparently, Cleopatra would apply a gold mask at bedtime to maintain a youthful glow, and in Ancient Rome, it is said to have been used to treat a slew of skin ailments. Since gold is known for its property to remain unchanged and untarnished by time and the environment, it only makes sense that this natural element can also be used to enhance one's natural beauty while providing anti-aging benefits when applied topically! Let me break down how my skin care routine has been taken to the next level thanks to Gold Elements.

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Foundation | First Impression + Wear Test!

If I had to narrow down which makeup product I enjoy testing out the most, I would have to go with foundation. Since I have problem skin, it's what makes the most noticeable difference in my skin! I used to be all about full coverage foundations, but in recent years have grown to enjoy makeup bases that provide less coverage. The "matte but not flat" look seems to be in at the moment, so when I received the new Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Foundation*, I was curious to see if it lived up to its claims. I figured I would film a first impression video and show you how this foundation wears throughout the day to give you a better idea of how it performs.

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils | Review, Swatches + Look!

I had never been artistically inclined growing up (art class was a toughie), so if you had told me that I would be using a variety of brushes and applying pigments to my face on the regular as an adult, I would have had a hard time believing you! That is how I view makeup: your face is a canvas and the possibilities are endless when it comes to deciding how you want to appear to the world. Being able to express myself through makeup has certainly unleashed a creative side to me that I would not have discovered otherwise. While on some days I keep my makeup to a minimum and stick to neutral shades, other days I will experience with brighter hues and try new techniques. Seeing the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils* reminded me of just how amazing and versatile makeup is - and these new gems really make the possibilities endless, as they can be used on your eyes, face and lips - pretty cool right?

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Blush Glow + Your Lip Service Royal Lipstick Trio | Review + Swatches

Beauty products fit for a queen? Yes, please! I first dabbled in a few Charlotte Tilbury makeup and skincare products last year and was most definitely on cloud nine after putting them to the test. Charlotte Tilbury is one of those beauty brands that everyone and their mother seem to be raving about, and I am one of those who has proudly joined the gang since that first introduction! I recently received the Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow* as well as a few of the brand's lip products*, including the Your Lip Service Royal Lipstick Trio*. This was my first time trying her powders and lipsticks and I wanted to share how I got along with them!

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Skincare | Review

I've been coveting the Juice Beauty brand for many years, as it seemed to be well-loved by many in the green beauty community. All of their products are cruelty-free, and although their products are on the more pricey side, I always wondered if they were worthy of a splurge. I recently got to put them to the test with three skincare products from their Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle line*: their Exfoliating Peel Spray, Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum and Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer. I mean who doesn't want to smell like fresh fruit, a lovely blend which Juice Beauty has mastered by incorporating organic fruit extracts into their skincare. After using them for the last couple of months, I am ready to share my thoughts! Spoiler alert: I found a new holy grail product!

Epic Empties | Winter 2018 Edition

Spring is near, although it doesn't feel like it quite yet! Just when I thought it was warming up for good, we got hit by yet another snowstorm - Canadian problems, I know. Truth be told, I don't mind snow that much - this last snow dump covered the trees and landscape in a thick white layer and is a real feast for the eyes. Flashback to a couple of days ago on Daylights Savings (when the birds were happily chirping), I decided to film my winter empties, pretty early for once! I had to make the best of this extra daylight, so as tradition holds, I am sharing all of my beauty as well as a couple of random products I've used up over the winter months. It's a rather long one, I still hope you enjoy!

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadows + Step 1 Skin Equalizer Eye & Lip Primer

Back in 2014, I shared a review of the Artist Shadows that Make Up For Ever had just come out with after previewing them at an event. Fast forward four years later, Make Up For Ever has replaced these with the Artist Color Shadows* (C$22 / US$17 each, 2.5g or 0.08 oz), a new line which includes 121 shades, similarly named according to five different finishes: Diamond (D), Matte (M), Metallic (ME), Satin (S) and Iridescent (I). You can purchase these pan refills individually to create you own palette. The main visual difference is that the new pans are rectangular as opposed to circular to go with their Artist Color Refillable Makeup Palette magnetic system, which also works with their highlight, sculpt and blush powders. I was personally a fan of the previous formula, so I was curious to see how the new-and-improved version would compare.

Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color: Highlight, Sculpt and Blush Powders | Review + $500 Cash Giveaway! (2 Winners)

Did you know that the Make Up For Ever Artist family recently expanded? Over the years, I've covered some of their latest additions, namely their Artist Liners, Artist Plexi-Gloss Lip Lacquers, Artist Shadows, Artist Palettes and Artist Liquid Matte Lipsticks. The new baby? The Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color* line, consisting of a selection of highlight, sculpt and blush powders. This range includes 34 stunning shades: 6 highlight shades, 10 sculpting shades and 18 blush shades that cater to a variety of skin tones, and I've got quite a few to share with you, so let's jump right into it!

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream | Review

It Cosmetics is one of those brands that I've been familiar with for many years from following other beauty blogs, and one that I have been lusting over. Their Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream* has been raved about over and over again, and with It Cosmetics making its way to the Great White North (aka Canada) at Sephora back in August, I was super stoked to see if this product actually lives up to its outstanding reviews. After testing it out for a few months, I am ready to share my insight!

Make Up For Ever Artist Liquid Matte Lipsticks | Review, Try On + Swatches

Confession: I'm a liquid lipstick convert. I didn't really get the craze when this lip product hybrid started taking over the makeup world, but after trying a few brands out, I have been enlightened by their amazingness. One brand that has been killing the liquid lipstick game is Make Up For Ever. Earlier this year, they came out with a small selection of Artist Liquid Matte Lipsticks, and I tested out a handful of nude shades: 103 Warm Beige, 105 Rosewood and 107 Neutral Beige. They recently expanded the line and have added a bunch of colours, many of which I have to share with you today. While my first sampling was of more neutral shades, this time around I have bolder and more vibrant hues to show you.

First Impression | Charlotte Tilbury Makeup and Skin Care

I still remember quite vividly the whirlwind surrounding Charlotte Tilbury's beauty line launch back in 2013 - I myself had not been familiar with the makeup artist, but once news broke that she had released her own products, she had definitely piqued my interest. I later learned that she was a household name in the makeup industry and worked with a slew of celebrities including Emma Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, JK Rowling and Kate Moss. Since her brand's launch at Selfridges in London, her products are not only available in Britain but also in stores in the US, Canada and the Netherlands as well as online. Her products are on the pricier side and I always wondered if they are worth the price tag. I recently had the opportunity to try a handful of her beauty products, and I am happy to report back on how I have been getting along with them.