Nails: My All-Time Favourite Top Coat

SECHE VITE!

This really is the best top coat! It's a lot thicker in consistency than other brands I've tried, and I think that's what makes it so good. It seals everything up and ensures that nothing will chip for a solid few days. I found mine at Winner's, but I know some drugstore are beginning to sell it now too. Warning: this stuff is toxic smelling! It's the strongest nail product I've ever smelt. It's right up there with 100% Acetone nail polish remover. 

NOTD: featuring Wet n Wild

I featured this nail polish colour in part #5 of my nail polish collection post here.

This is a really awesome duo-chrome colour. It changes from a purple, to a blue, to a greenish-gray. It's so awesome. It's similar to a few other duo-chrome polishes out there, including Deborah Lippmann's "Wicked" which retails for approximately $20CAD, whereas Wet n Wild polishes are typically $2 - $4. 

The staying power of this polish is surprisingly good. But like I said, the main great thing about this polish is the awesome colour. I'm not typically into metallic-duo chrome colours on my nails, but for this colour I'll make an exception. 

I haven't tried any other polishes from Wet n Wild apart from this one, but I definitely want to. They have 3 different ranges of polishes: fastdry, megalast, and another one I can't remember and am too lazy to look up. I've heard really good things about the megalast, so if I find a colour I like, I'll give 'em a go.
Another fun this about this NOTD post is that I used a matte top coat. I thought that it gave a really nice finish to a duo-chrome nail, since there's already so much sheen going on with the colour. I'm into layering glitters with matte top coats because it changes up the effects of the finishes. It's neat! 


Ciao for now!
xoxoDarlingBuds

HOTD: Hair of the Day

MESSY BUN!

I went to bed really late last night because I was studying for a midterm. I fell asleep with my hair in a bun. I woke up super late this morning, and had next to no time to get ready to get to class. Instead of rocking my bed head to class, I decided to go for my go-to messy bun. 

I basically just pile all of my hair on top of my head and tie it into a hair elastic in a random way. All of the bits and pieces that stick out of the elastic, I pin down with bobby pins. Sometimes I stick the pieces of hair back into the middle of the bun (where the elastic is) or I pin them to the side. Does that make sense? 

I like the look. It looks effortless and it actually is! It's not one of those "messy" and "easy" hairstyles that actually takes hours to get together. Trust me: if I can do this, so can you! I can't even braid hair.

And then I just stick a headband on top, and that's it! Off to class I go!

P.S. these photos were after a couple of hours of wear. I would probably re-arrange the bobby pins a little bit to pin up some ends that came loose.

Other than that, this is my go-to messy bun look. Not only is it my go-to messy bun, but it's also the only way how I know how to do a messy bun! It's tried and true

xoxoDarlingBuds

#1 Fave Song: FAST CAR

FAST CAR BY: TRACY CHAPMAN
And now the wait is finally over. This is such a great song. It's an instant mood lifter. It's a feel good song; and I can't help but sing along with it. 

#2 Fave Song: ESCAPE

ESCAPE BY: ENRIQUE IGLESIAS 
I LOVE THIS SONG! This is such a feel-good song. It's such good pump up music when you'e getting ready for a night out. You wouldn't think that Enrique would be good pump up music, but ESCAPE totally is! I love the  music video too...it's hot.
P.S. Something went a little wrong with my countdown. I should be on #3 today but I'm clearly not...I'm pretty sure I posted two fave songs on one day, but that's okay! The countdown will just finish one day sooner

FOTD: Drugstore edition

I decided to do a FOTD using only drugstore products. All of these products can be found at a drugstore and they are all ranging in price from $3 to $15. Not too shabby. 


FACE:

Primer - Hard Candy Sheer Envy primer. Honestly, this isn't my favourite primer, but for the sake of this look, it was all I had. It has the same silicone-y feeling that you get with other primers such as Smashbox Photo Finish. It's that silicone-y aspect to the product that fills in lines an pores ad makes for a smooth application and feeling. I don't like this product that much because I find that it feel a little greasy and slick, not just silicone-y. It does a pretty good job as far as primers go: keeps my foundation in place all day and makes for a smooth makeup application over top of it. 
Foundation - Neutrogena Healthy Skin liquid makeup in 20 Nautral Ivory. I talked more in depth about this product in my first FOTD post which can be found here. I still absolutely love this foundation and it hasn't changed from my everyday routine to now because, coincidentally, it's still a drugstore product, yay!
Concealer - Revlon PhotoReady concealer in Fair. This is a really creamy concealer that is super easy to blend. It's not cakey looking so it's perfect for under the eyes. I find that I have to build the product a little bit more in order to get better coverage on certain darker spots and blemishes on my face, but otherwise, I really like this product. Even if I do have to build it up a bit more, it never looks to thick and unnatural. Good stuff!
Highlighter/Concealer - Rimmel Match Perfection concealer in the shade 3. I like this product even more than YSL Touch Eclat (which I also featured in my previous FOTD post). It's more of a concealer, yes this is true, but I find that it's highlighting capabilities are even more outstanding than YSL. And it's a bajillionX cheaper. This is a seriously worthwhile buy. I want to try out the lighter shades, but even for me shade 3 is pretty good.
Blush #1 - NYC Blushable Cream Stick in Plaza Pink. This is my only other drugstore cream blush other than the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush which I used, once again, in my first FOTD post and also in my Valentine's Day makeup. Plaza Pink has a bit of shimmer in it, which y'all know I like, and it's basically a cream version of Nars' Deep Throat, which I also love. It's super easy to blend and the colour last a pretty good while. Obvi I top it with a powder blush on top (you know that's how I roll) so the staying power is pretty decent. And this product is like $3! What's not to love?
Powder - Maybelline Dream Matte powder in Medium. In no way am I "medium" for the majority of the year. This is my summer colour. I did have a lighter version of this powder, actually I had 2, but they both broke!!! I was so peeved. This is a really great setting powder, and it gets rid of shine instantly for touch-ups, without looking too caked on and powdery. The only really annoying thing about this product is that 2 out 3 that I've purchased have broken. That's a major bummer for a great product 
Blush #2 - Rimmel Powder Blush in 102 Santa Rose. This blush is so pretty! It's has a satin finish, and it's a really pretty yet subtle pink with a hint of coral to it. Considering that you can find it for $4 to $6, depending on what drugstore you go to, this blush is a steal! It's actually so pretty and since breaking out for this post, I solemnly swear to use it more
Bronzer - Rimmel Bronzing Powder in 021 Sun Light. For a really long time, this was my go-to bronzer. When I first started wearing bronzer, this was the first one I got. I've since branched out and tried different brands, but after preparing for this post, I've decided that this one is my ultimate drugstore favourite. It has really buildable colour, so you can either just give yourself a light dusting for a bronzy glow or apply it more heavily for contouring. There are a couple different shade you can buy of this product too, some are matte like Sun Light, and some have shimmer. The only con is that I hate the packaging, but the stuff inside is good. 

Highlighter - Maybelline eyeshadow in Champagne Fizz. Obviously this is not meant to be a highlighter, but I really love the effect it gives. Elle Fowler, otherwise known as AllThatGlitters21 on youtube, first spoke about using this particular eyeshadow as a face highlighter. I don't know how she got the idea but it's genius! 


EYES:

Primer - Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool and Tough As Taupe. Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you've heard of these new products to come out from Maybelline. Maybelline has been in a serious whirlwind of new products! These Color Tattoos are basically cream eyeshadows, but they are very comparable to MAC paint pots. They are great to use as a base because they don't crease and provide a good base colour for anything put overtop. 
Eyeshadow - Maybelline eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes. All of the quads from Maybelline's "stylish smokes" range are really good. The colours are very wearable and pigmented. I could honestly just bring this quad with me on vacation and be fine. Obviously I don't, but I could. Great stuff from Maybelline. 
Mascara - top: Covergirl Lashblast 24hr. This is basically one notch above waterproof mascara. You needn't worry about your mascara running or flaking with this bad boy. Lashblast isn't my favourite mascara; I don't like the wand, bristles and the watery formula, but I bought this because I was in a pinch and I needed a long-wearing mascara for a certain occasion I went to. This doesn't come off easy either; you'll probably wake up in the morning with racoon-eyes, but if long-wearing is what you wanted, than that's what you get with this mascara. 
        - bottom: Maybelline Lash Discovery (waterproof). This is a really great mascara to use to separate each individual lash. But it's especially awesome for lower lashes because the wand is so itty bitty! Multi-purpose mascara, another great buy from Maybelline. They're awesome!
Eyeliner - Prestige waterproof in Star. This is a shimmery, white eyeliner that I used on my lower waterline just to make it appear that my eyes were larger and more awake.
Eyebrows - Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde. This is a really neat product. It's double-ended: on one end is an eyebrow pencil used to fill in your brows, and then on the other end is a tinted brow gel used to set your brows. Everything you need is in this little tube. 

LIPS:
Lipliner - Prestige in 206 Silk. Apparently this lipliner has a bit of a cult following. It's just the perfect pink-nude colour for any lip look. It's a super smooth liner, so it's easy to apply, and it lasts a really long time!
Lipstick - Rimmel Kate Moss collection lipstick in shade 03. This is a really beautiful fuchsia pink colour. It's a really great shade for spring and I can't wait to get more wear out of it. The new Kate Moss collection for Rimmel features about 6 shades of lipstick. It's a similar formula, if not the exact same formula, to Rimmel's Lasting Finish lipsticks. They're very pigmented and long-wearing. 
Gloss/Balm - Rosebud Salve. A staple in any cosmetic bag. This stuff is basically pink, rose-smelling vaseline. It's useful for a bunch of different things, but I really like it on my lips because it gives a hint of colour and a lot of shine 


SO That's the finished look! Here's a close up, and so you can see more details on my eyes...

DONE!

these types of posts are fun to do, but man do they take a while...until next time!


xoxoDarlingsBuds

#3 Fave Song: WONDERWALL

WONDERWALL BY: OASIS
This is a song that brings me waaaaay back whenever I listen to it. So many good memories. 

It's kind of really exciting how close to the end of this list we're getting! All 29 songs are almost all posted. 
Also, on a side note, check out my Oscar Predictions for 2012 post. Let's see how accurate my predictions were. THE ACADEMY AWARDS ARE AIRING TONIGHT. I KNOW I'LL BE WATCHING, WILL YOU?


xoxoDarlingBuds

NOTD: featuring Ciate (again)

Like I said in my previous NOTD post, I wasn't completely sold on the Ciate formula. This colour is called "Sugared Almonds" and it's a really pretty corally-nude (it's not a bright in real life as what came out in the picture). Once again, the colours are beautiful, but the application process isn't up to par with some other nail polish brands. Ciate is a notch above Revlon in terms of opaque-ness and the number of coats it takes to get a good colour payoff. "Cookies and Cream" and "Sugared Almonds" are the only two colours I have from this brand, and I don't think I'll be purchasing anymore :S

#4 Fave Song: NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW

NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW BY: JEFFERSON STARSHIP
This is such an awkward story: but you know those video compilations on youtube that focus on a certain couple from a tv show or movie? Well I first heard this song watching a video like about Anne and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables. So lame, I know. But I'm going to post that video down below just because it's so great.

The original youtube video that got me hooked on this song

#5 Fave Song: BLACKBIRD

BLACKBIRD BY: THE BEATLES
first of all, who doesn't love the Beatles? Second of all, who doesn't love Blackbird? I can't pinpoint exactly what the first Beatles song I ever knew was, I think it was Hey Jude, but I know that Blackbird was one of the first, and it remains to this day one of my all time favourites; although it's so difficult to choose just one Beatles song. There are so many classics that can't be overlooked, but for the sake of this post, this is my fave.

App-session!

I became obsessed with the app Tiny Tower over the Christmas break. It's seriously the funnest game ever! Think of it as a mix between sims and a tamagotchi, but for you iPhone or iPod or what-have-you. It's not one of those games that you have to constantly watch, like FarmVille. On Tiny Tower, you can just go on, hit a couple buttons and then leave.
The context of the game is that you have this tower and you need to add floors to get more money. You can add floors in the form of residential (like apartments) or shops. You make money from the shops, and then the bitizens (tiny tower people) that move into your residential floors work in your shops. It's kind of difficult to explain. It one of those things that you have to see/play yourself to understand. So go do it! You won't regret it

#6 Fave Song: GRAVITY

GRAVITY BY: JOHN MAYER
This song has so many plays on my itunes. I first discovered it a couple years ago on a hungover morning. It was perfect for my mood at the time. There were a bunch of us in the car on our way to Tim Horton's and this song was playing and even though I was hungover, I was so happy to be with great people having just had a great night. Good memories; good song.

On another gravitational note, the song "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles is awesome too!

Nail Polish Collection: Part #6 - Random Drugstore Polishes

This is the last post in my nail polish collection! YAY!
This is a super random grouping of polishes...

So random, I know. From left to right: Rimmel French White Nail Top, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in "Whirlwind White", Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Set the Stage" and "Blue It" and Wet n Wild in "Purple Potion"
I'm not going to get into any kind of detail with these (honestly, they're pretty self-explanatory). They're all available at the drugstore; except the Wet n Wild one which was limited edition for Halloween. 


DONE!!!
Oh and if anyone was wondering what the writing is in the background of all of the nail polish collection photos, it's this:

xoxoDarlingBuds

#7 Fave Song: DOWN DOWN DOWN

DOWN DOWN DOWN BY: CHARLIE SIMPSON
I discovered Charlie Simpson (a super sexy British singer) back in August 2011. I love his voice and his sexiness...and his music, of course. I also really love the song "Farmer and His Gun." 

#8 Fave Song: MAN IN THE MIRROR

MAN IN THE MIRROR BY: MICHAEL JACKSON
How can anyone pick just one favourite song by Michael Jackson. Between this, The Way You Make Me Feel, Rock With You, and P.Y.T...these are my ultimate faves. 
I couldn't just pick ONE! SO a collective grouping of Michael consisting of those songs are my faves
Amazing Man!

Nail Polish Collection: Part #5 Random "High-End" Polishes

It's a pretty random collection of polishes. Some I like more than others. Some are easier to find than others. But all in all, they make up part of my collection so that's what makes 'em special.

The first little grouping I have is China Glaze polishes.

I only have two colours but I can honestly say I love them both. The bright neon pink is called "Flip Flop Fantasy" and it is literally the epitome of neon pink in a nail polish. Perfect for summer or a rave! The red polish is called "Winter Berry" and it's actually a bit of a deeper red than what's coming off in the picture. I don't necessarily prefer this polish to my OPI reds but I do really like it.

Next up are some polished I picked up last year from American Apparel. From left to right the colours are "Cotton," "Office," and "Berry."

I don't really have anything outstanding to say about these polishes other than since last year they've come out with a bunch more shades. I don't think I'll be buying anymore though because I just don't think they're worth it. They don't last particularly long and I don't like the brush.

MISA! I wish I had more of these nail polishes but sadly I only have two colours as of right now.

The bright blue is called "Blue Over a Boy" and I featured it in a NOTD post here. The sparkly forrest green shade is called "Toxic Seduction" and it's my favourite colour to wear at Christmastime, more than any red colour. It's a very unique shade. Misa nail lacquers last a very long time and the application process is very simple. This brand is so under the radar but they definitely deserve a lot more publicity. Great brand of nail polish!

Nicole by OPI. This brand is good considering you can get it from the drugstore and a lot of the times you can find it on sale. I don't find that any of the colours from this brand are anything special, but whatever; it is what it is.

The bright, metallic pink is called "Believe It, Do It." I honestly don't like the colour of this polish at all and I bought it for a really dumb reason. I got a manicure once and the girl did a terrible job and the colour was very similar to this one, so I bought it so that I couldn't fix up my botched manicure. It was a bad situation all around. I do however really like the gold colour. It's called "The Next CEO" and I mostly like to use it on an accent nail (i.e. my ring finger) when I have another colour on my other nails. The brush of Nicole by OPI polishes is really short and stiff so it makes it super simple to apply a good coating of polish. Because it's not a flimsy brush, there's no fear of the brush folding and painting something other than your nail, if that makes any sense. 

"Happy Birthday" by Deborah Lippmann. 

If someone were to have bottled a party and crammed a whole bunch of confetti in it, that would be this nail polish. It is literally a confetti party in a nail polish. Deborah Lippmann does glitter polishes better than anyone. Lippmann is the best glitter nail polish you will ever lay your hands on. Absolutely impossible to get off though.

nails inc. Magnetic polish was the big thing to come out in 2011 at Sephora. Everyone went crazy for it. And I admit, the effect is really cool, but it takes a lot of effort to get it to look really good and, well, polished. Orly's  "Rage" is a beautiful rose gold nail polish and I love it. I can say no bad things about this colour. I would love to try more Orly polishes to get a better feel for the brand. This Borghese polish is called "Carnevale Grape" and it's a pretty close dupe to OPI's "Lincoln Park After Dark." I've never actually used this polish so I can't comment, so I'll have to get back to you about my thoughts on this brand.

2 polishes I forgot to include in the overview...

Sephora by OPI "Metro Chic"...NOTD post here.

Wet n Wild in "Gray's Anatomy." I know it's not a high-end brand but I had nowhere else to put this when it was all said and done. This colour is an amazing duo-chrome nail polish that when it's on I cannot stop looking at it! It's so mesmerizing. I have to do a NOTD post with this to show how amazing it is.

Part #5 is now complete. Only 1 more part and then I'm done. *sigh of relief*  

xoxoDarlingBuds

#9 Fave Song: NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN

NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN BY: FLEETWOOD MAC
Funny story: I had a really terrible summer coming back from camp, and I set my ringtone to this song while I was there. Although that's a negative story, I still love this song so much! 

#10 Fave Song: ROCKET MAN

ROCKET MAN BY: ELTON JOHN
"and I think it's going to be a long long time, til touchdown brings me 'round again to find..." 
such a good song!

#11 Fave Song: SEE THE SUN

SEE THE SUN BY: THE KOOKS
I went a to Kooks concert back in November of 2011, and while I preparing for the concert, I stumbled upon this old gem. It's from their second album (circa 2008) and I never really gave it any thought until last year. Now I love it!

#12 Fave Song: GHOSTING

GHOSTING BY: MOTHER MOTHER
If you don't know who this band is, you should be ashamed of yourself. Just kidding. They're a Canadian band from BC who are really gaining in fame right now. I discovered them a couple of years ago opening for Matthew Goode and I've been hooked ever since. This is the song that got me to love the band.

NOTD: featuring Ciate

I've heard a lot about Ciate polishes from all the British beauty bloggers. This colour is called "Cookies and Cream" and it was recommended in a video from Lisa Eldridge. It's a really creamy grey-brown. It's a perfect nude. I can't stop looking at my nails while I have this on. I like the colours available from this brand but I'm not a huge fan of the formula. I find the application is a touch streaky, and some nails I've had to go over 3 or more times to get a good opaque colours. It's too bad, because I was really hoping to like these polishes. I'm going to still use them, but I don't think I'll be purchasing anymore...it's just not worth the price.

#13 Fave Song: ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE

ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE BY: THE KILLERS
I probably first heard this song on the OC and that's most like the reason I love it so much. It's also just a song to list your spirits. All of my fave songs seem to be about putting me in a better mood.

Honourable mention goes to MR. BRIGHTSIDE because let's be honest, who has never belted that one out alone in their room before? (and I love the music video. It reminds me of Moulin Rouge)

#14 Fave Song: SMILE

SMILE BY: NAT KING COLE
Such a feel-good song. This song is literally giving you instructions to smile and just be happy, how could you not love it?

Smile

Honourable mention goes to his song "Unforgettable" which is just an unbeatable classic. 

Unforgettable

#15 Fave Song: I MISS YOU

I MISS YOU BY: BLINK 182
I'm sure you all can tell from my previous fave songs that "punk," or whatever Blink 182 is, really isn't my absolutely favourite genre. This song though...oh it just brings me back. I love it. I don't know what it is, or why, but I just do. (And the music video is really cool and gothic)

A Haul for Y'all

And it's not a makeup haul! YAY! 
This is actually a really exciting haul for me because everything I got was on sale! Or just really inexpensive :)

I started off at Bath and Body works because I wanted to check out their new Spring collection. Turns out, they're changing the bottle design on a bunch of their products so they have some great stuff on major clearance. 

I really like the scent Twilight Woods (can you tell?) and they had their hand soap for 50% off $5.50 - so $2.75 a bottle, which may sound expensive, but it's Bath and Body Works so that's actually a good deal and COME ON it's TWILIGHT WOODS! I also picked up a pair os shea infused lounge socks because I've heard great things and they had the cutest designs on them! I'm really into colourful, fuzzy socks so these are perfect.


Next up, I went to Winners. I usually don't peruse through the clothing at Winner's because I find it so tiring; however, they always have really great deal of hair care products and fragrances, if they have what you're looking for at the time. During this shopping, I wasn't looking for hair products because believe you me, I stocked up the last time I was there. Instead I was looking through the tights because I recently ripped a hole through my last good pair of opaque black stockings. 

I found a lot of great stocking deals at Winners. The Betsey Johnson tights are a 3-pack. It comes with 2 pairs of black opaque tights and one pair of sheer black tights with a heart pattern. So cute! I also found these Givenchy lace stockings. I've never owned a good pair of lace tights. I had a pair from H&M that I only wore once before they ripped, so hopefully the Givenchy ones are good. I also picked up a 3-pack of ankle socks from Calvin Klein. 
Now, all of these foot-related garb is all from major designer brands, this is correct. However, I paid uber discount prices for all of these goods. Just look...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! I can honestly say I've paid more at Walmart for similar products of lesser quality. I am so pleased with myself 


Last stop was American Eagle. I didn't even buy any clothing there; I bought books and shoes. Who buys books and shoes from American Eagle?! So random, I know; but I got amazing deals on both!

The books are all style books. They were all under $10 because I found them on the %50 off table at AE. Honestly, I have never seen books or a %50 off table at American Eagle so I was seriously surprised. I have a quick look through all of these books and they all seem really interesting so I will be reading through them more in depth soon. 

Randomly, I also found a headphone cord wrapper-thing on the %50 off table. My headphones always come out of my pocket in knots so this is going to be a fun and efficient way to hopefully avoid that. I got the cord wrap from AE for less than $2. 
Last but not least are the shoes. These weren't on sale, but they were still an amazing deal. 

I had no idea that Sam Edelman had a shoe line for American Eagle! He's a major shoe designer who makes cray-cray shoes that all the celebrities wear. They're also cray-cray expensive. 
The line he did for American Eagle is much more affordable and more wearable for everyday. 

I just bought this adorable pair of ivory crochet flats. I worn them around my room a couple of times and I can say from experience that they are super comfortable. I'm thinking of going back to American Eagle and having another looksy at more shoes and sandals from the Sam Edelman line. 


And that's it for my haul! I'm loving everything that I got. A lot of stores are having major sales right now because they are clearing out their old winter inventory and getting ready for new stuff. I can't wait for more spring collections to hit the stores so that I can start putting together my spring/summer wardrobe. I love the warm and cozy apparel of winter, but it's now time for a change. You know what I mean?


xoxoDarlingbuds

#16 Fave Song: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE

YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE BY: HALL & OATES
You know that part in (500) Days of Summer when the guys is happy he got laid and there's a little dance sequence to this song and after that everyone you know loved this song? Ya, well I loved it way before that. My parents have this thing with Hall & Oates and I guess I got into it because of them. My first ultimate favourite Hall & Oates song was Rich Girl, over-playing and Down With Webster ruined that one for me. You Make My Dreams Come True is the perfect pick-me-up song! It instantly puts me in a good mood. Sometimes I set it as my alarm in the mornings to put me in a great mood from the get-go, but not all the time because I'm sure I would come to associate it with 6am wake up calls. 

Honourable Hall & Oates mention goest to "Everytime You Go Away" which is the exact opposite of the above song. To me, Everytime You Go Away is the perfect break-up song. 

#17 Fave Song: KISS ME

KISS ME BY: SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER

Who doesn't love this song? It's made an appearance in basically every teen movie from the 90's and it comes back time and time again just to remind us all how great it is

I love the singer's airy voice, and the music video is so whimsical. So pretty and lovely 

#18 Fave Song: THE A TEAM

THE A TEAM BY: ED SHEERAN
I listen to this song once a day...I kid you not. I first discovered Ed Sheeran in September of 2011 and since then I've never looked back. He's like a male version of Kate Nash...amazing!

Ed Sheeran's "The A Team"

Honorable mention goes out to Ed Sheeran's "Wake Me Up." This song is legit just like Kate Nash but with testosterone.

Ed Sheeran's "Wake Me Up"

Nail Polish Collection: Part #4 Barry M

Unfortunately, Barry M nail polishes are exclusively available at Boots in the UK. I always watched the British Beauty Youtube Gurus raving about Barry M nail polishes and I was bummed that I couldn't get my hands on them. Lucky for me though, my friend Jenna recently took a trip to England and she graciously picked up some polishes for me :) 

From left to right: Cobalt Blue, Berry, Lemon, Pink Flamingo, Dusky Mauve, Mushroom 
I love these nail polishes! They are very easy to apply, the paint is opaque and presents a vivid colour and the staying power is really good considering that it's a drugstore brand of polish. Pink Flamingo is really similar to OPI's Elephantastic Pink. It is a very bright, almost coral-pink hue. It's perfect for the summer. Mushroom is really nice warm brown, similar to Essie's Mink Muffs. Berry is a beautiful lilac colour that I am going to really love wearing in the spring. I'm most excited to wear Lemon though. Ever since Chanel's yellow "Mimosa" nail polish became popular last summer I've been inkling to try out a vibrant yellow polish and Barry M's lemon is just that polish. 
I'm so excited for NOTD posts for Spring and Summer because they're all going to be so bright and fun! Y'all can definitely expect some Barry M polishes making features in NOTD posts once the snow melts 
I have 2 more nail polish collection posts left to do and then I'll be done! How exciting!


xoxoDarlingBuds

#19 Fave Song: YOUR LOVE

YOUR LOVE BY: THE OUTFIELD
I love both the original and acoustic version of this song. My roommate and I had a jokes time watching this clip from a movie called "Dirty Girl" where a guy is stripping on top of a car to the acoustic "Your Love." So uncomfortable to watch, but so entertaining. This song is a classic 80's song and you'll notice that it's featured in a lot of 80's movies (either filmed or set in the 80's). 

(Original version)

("Your Love" acoustic)

#20 Fave Song: WALK THIS WAY

WALK THIS WAY BY: RUN-D.M.C. & AEROSMITH
A classic song originally by Aerosmith made a little hipper by Run-D.M.C. in this cover. I L-O-V-E dancing to this song, I kid you not. "It's Tricky" (also by Run-D.M.C.) also hold a special place in my musical, beating heart, but Walk This Way is too great to pass up. 

#21 Fave Song: OXFORD COMMA

OXFORD COMMA BY: VAMPIRE WEEKEND
"Who gives a fuck about an Oxford Comma?" Well I do, in fact. The first song I ever heard by Vampire Weekend was "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" and I loved how the lyrics were so whimsical and nonsensical. I listened more to their first album and came across my fave. It's a chipper song, like many of my favourites, and I never tire of listening to it. I also really enjoy their high-pitched voices haha

FOTD Valentine's Day Makeup: Think Pink!

I'm not really into the whole Valentine's day thing, but I can't deny that I love the little trinkets and baubles that shops sell around this time. I love all the little cute little heart shaped things that come out at this time of year, but the holiday itself is a bummer. 
To lighten my spirits, I decided to do a little Valentine's Day makeup idea. Enjoy!

CHEEKS:
I followed by regular foundation routine, found here. I switched up the blush a bit though by choosing a more pink blush rather than coral. I used the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush in "pink blush" underneath my setting powder (because it's a cream blush) and then I topped it with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in "Blonde" for some more pink and little shimmer. 

EYES:
For the eyes, as per usual, I primed my lids with MAC's painterly paint pot. This product is perfect because it washes out any discolouration or veins that show on my eyelids with a pale pink that matches my skin tone - so it's just like second skin!

I chose all pink colours for this Valentine's Day tutorial (go figure), and it just so happens that the best pinks I have are all from MAC.

orb, jest, da bling, cranberry

From left to right: Orb, Jest, Da Bling, Cranberry. I used jest on the inner half of my lid to lighten it up a bit. Da Bling went on the outer half of my lid to add even more of a pink pop! I used cranberry in the outer V to darken up the outer part of my eye and to add definition. Orb is a boring, skin tone, satin finish colour that used under my brow bone for a highlight.

To define the eye even more, I used my Physician's Formula eye boosting liquid eyeliner in Black and created a winged eyeliner shape.

To soften up the liner, I used my cranberry eyeshadow again and a flat angled brush to make the line a little less black and a little more pink. Running an eyeshadow over an eyeliner (gel or liquid preferably) is a really quick and easy way to create a soft eyeliner and add a bit of colour. 


LIPS:
I followed through with the pink theme and chose to do a hot pink lip. I used a new product from CoverGirl called blast lipstick in the shade Perky to create a ombre effect to the lips. This product is double-ended: one side is darker, while the other is more shimmery and lighter. By applying the lighter shade in the centre of the lip creates a fuller looking lip. 
I topped it off with a lipgloss from Revlon from the ColorBurst range in the colour Hot Pink. Fun lip look - check!

And that's, that! Not going to lie, this is a really pink look. But it's festive and Valentine's day oriented so it's allowed.

Happy Valentine's Day!


xoxoDarlingBuds