The NOTD I forgot to post: featuring Essie

I didn't post this because I was a little self conscious about the state of my nails at the time: I had just cut my nails so they were super short, and my cuticles were in a dire state. 

I don't know why, but whenever my nails are really short, I like to paint them with a soft colour, preferably translucent. Essie's Mademoiselle is the perfect colour for that

You could totally use this polish as a base for a french manicure look, but it also looks really great on its own. It's makes the nails look really elegant and polished (haha, I'm so puny). 


xoxoDarlingBuds

Shoppers & Lush Haul

Canadians rejoice! This past weekend was 20X the optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart! I always save up my shopping list of necessities for this joyous day. Apart from picking up some basics (toothbrush, toothpaste, kleenex, etc.) The 20X the optimum points event is also the perfect time to mosey on through the Beauty Boutique...and that's what I did. I also stopped by Lush because my skin has been being a little bitch lately, and I can always count on Lush for a handy-dandy face mask to make everything better.

click below to read/see more...

Book Haul!

I have been in a severe book rut lately. Being an English major means that I never have time to read for pleasure during the year; I'm always to busy reading Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Keats. Super fun stuff. 
Now that it's summer, I can finally read books that interest me. So I walked on over to Chapters and picked up the books that I have been dying to read all year. 

 The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From my Frontier by Ree Drummond. Ok well this is a cookbook, but I'm still going to be "reading" this, in some sense. If you haven't heard of Ree Drummon, go check out her flippin' amazing website/lifestyle blog/food blog The Pioneer Woman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Described by my buddy Donna as "Harry Potter with swearing and sex" - why not give this a read?


The Maze Runner & The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. The first two books in "The Maze Runner" trilogy. I've actually already read The Maze Runner and I'm halfway through The Scorch Trials already. I meant to get this blog post up before I dove into any of my new books but I was just so antsy and I couldn't help myself! These books are very similar to The Hunger Games in the sense that they are set in a dystopian society. [between actually writing and posting this, I have also finished the Scorch Trials! So good! Can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy, "The Death Cure"]


Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. The book that everybody is talking about! This is basically some sort of erotic novel based on Twilight. LAWL! It's gonna be an interesting read.


Divergent by Veronica Roth. This book is supposed to be very similar to The Hunger Games as well. I've from people who have read both series that they actually preferred Divergent to The Hunger Games. Very interesting...I shall have to wait and see. 


What have you been reading lately? I'm always curious to hear what books have been tickling other people's fancies.


xoxoDarlingBuds

Decor Envy: Lovely Desk

I mostly use my desk for clutter and homework - not exactly the most inspirational area in the world. Until now. 

I started "pinning" on Pinterest a few months ago. Since then, I have come across so many lovely office/desk areas! I want to change my old habits and make my desk a place of efficiency, organization, and beauty. These are my favourite desk/home office decor ideas:

I love the organized chaos of this area! I love
the magazine clippings above the desk.

LoveMaegan's Home Office

Ikea Expedits are useful! They're modern, yet classic looking, and they provide ample storage for anything!

Just a lovely thing...

Not a desk, but still a beautiful way to
display makeup and other lovelies on a vanity

A girl can dream...


xoxoDarlingBuds

It's the Most Wonderful Thing...

For anyone who lives in Canada, you will be just as excited as me to know that it's 20X the Optimum Points at Shopper's Drug Mart this Saturday! YAHOO!

So get your shopping lists and optimum cards ready!
You know I'll have a haul coming soon after 
Get excited!


xoxoDarlingBuds

Another Beauty Wishlist

1. Dior Hydra Life BB cream (SPF 30):  I have been very into BB creams lately. For the past 2 months or so, I have been using the Garnier Skin Renew BB cream non-stop (full review here). I've also heard that Maybelline and L'Oreal are coming out with their own BB creams that will hitting the shelves in Canada in July. However, I have been very tempted by the Dior Hydra Life BB cream - I've just heard the most amazing things about this product, and the SPF 30 doesn't hurt its cause.


2. Dior Rosy Glow - healthy glow awakening blush: Apparently this blush "adjusts" to the perfect colour to suit your skin colour. Even if that is the case, I think this blush looks like the most lovely true pink colour. Almost all of the blushes I have lean more towards the coral end of the spectrum - I don't own any nice bright pink blushes. Dior wouldn't be a bad place to start...


3. Dior 5-Colour eyeshadow in Earth Reflection: I'm going a little wish-crazy with the Dior products, I know; but, Dior has a reputation for not only being one of the finest Haute Couture fashion design houses, but also the creator of fabulous cosmetics. Their 5-colour eyeshadow palettes are, according to the divine Lisa Eldridge, the best eyeshadows on the market.


4. Clarins Liquid Bronze self tanner: I love being tan, but I don't want to damage my skin for the future or get skin cancer. I've heard this self tanner is a really great product, especially for the face. 


5. Clinique Airbrush concealer: Another because -of-Lisa Eldrige want. I'm trying to use up the last of my YSL Touche Eclat and Rimmel Match Perfection concealers, and then this Clinique concealer will be mine!

6. Stella McCartney Stella eau de parfum: Vivianna Does Makeup recently did a blog post about how this is her new favourite perfume for summer (her blog post here). I honestly haven't even smelt thsi perfume yet, but I covet everything Miss Vivianna talks about, so naturally, I put this perfume on my wishlist without even the faintest clue if I'll like it.


7. Phyto Volume Maximizing shampoo: 

Just reading the description of this product will explain why I want it. I have very fine hair so I have been looking for hair products lately to provide my hair with more body and volume.


8. Lush Ocean Salt cleanser: As far as I know, this product can be used on the face and on the body. It's basically a deep cleanser/exfoliant - I've heard it's a good scrub to use on the body before applying fake tan. It's also one of Lush's best-selling products.


9. Lush BIG shampoo: Yet another shampoo that promises volume and body for your hair. Another one of Lush's best-selling products. I have been wanting to try this product for a long time, especially after watching MissGlamorazzi's favorite Lush products video.


10. Clarins Instant Light Natural lip perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer: between a gloss and a balm, this is the only lipgloss I have tried that literally isn't "sticky". I have one  already in a pink colour, and it just leaves my lips with the loveliest hint of pink. They smells good and they moisturize the lips. I'm looking forward to trying this peachy shade in the near future. 


11. Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Emerveille: this product is basically a cream eyeshadow. It's the most beauty pinky-champagne colour. It would be such a luxury product


A girl can dream...


xoxoDarlingBuds 

What's in My Shower

After doing my skincare routine post, I thought I would also do a "haircare routine" post...but that got morphed into a "What's in My Shower" post. I still plan on doing a haircare routine post but this will have to do for now. 

click below to read/see more...

Mascara of the Week #5

NYC HIGH DEFINITION VOLUMIZING MASCARA

Recently, I tried out the NYC High Definition SEPARATING mascara as a part of my mascara problems series. I decided to just get the other NYC mascara I had in my stash out of the way, so it'll be up for review this week.

Stay tuned!


xoxoDarlingBuds

I Got Mail!

Have you ever heard of ChickAdvisor? Well it's a website, much like MakeupAlley, where people login and write reviews and provide unbiased feedback on products they've tried. They're all normal people who just want to let others know about what's out there. The other great thing about ChickAdvisor is that it's based in Toronto so a lot of people who are writing reviews, or articles, or commenting in the forums are from Canada. The site also provides many blog-style articles regarding current trends, DIY crafts, recipes, and opportunities for free stuff! "Product Review Club" allows people to sign up for the chance to be sent any  product in question for review. The product is mailed to you, you try it out, and then post your review to ChickAdvisor within 2 weeks of receiving the product.

I signed up to be a part of the most recent Product Review Club and I was selected, so I was sent these products...

Click below to read more...

The Never-Ending Body Wash

I love the Satsuma scent from the Body Shop but 750mL is a lot of Satsuma to love...

Click below to read/see more...

NOTD: featuring Minty Essie

 Click below to read/see more...

Skincare Routine: as of right now

Honestly, my skincare routine is always changing. I like to try new products or sometimes go back to old favourites. As of right now, I am very content with my skincare routine so I thought I would share it with y'all!

click below to read more

Anxiously Awaiting...

A lot of beauty blogs based in the UK and the United States have really been really teasing me lately. It seems that all other countries except Canada have already released these awesome new products...

The Revlon "Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains" resemble the Clinique Chubby Sticks. According to many sources, they are even better than the oh-so-loved Revlon Lip Butters. Revlon has really been stepping up their game lately, and these balm stains look so cute! I can't wait to try them

Another lip product that has been tickling my fancy are the L'Oreal Caresse lipsticks. They are supposed to be L'Oreal's answer to the Revlon Lip Butters -- AGAIN, another lip butter "dupe". Obviously the head honchos behind new beauty products have discovered that people are super into sheerer lip products that still offer good colour payoff, à la Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

Once these products finally hit Canadian shelves, the next problem I'll be facing is which colours to get. Until then...

xoxoDarlingBuds

William-Sonoma Inspired Home Fragrance

Completely unrelated to beauty, but related to lovely things, is this DIY home fragrance I found through pinterest. 

New blog functions!

Hiya everybody!

So I recently just figured out how to add the "read more" function to my blog posts

click read more below to see what I mean...

NOTD: featuring Sally Hansen

yet another Nail of the Day...surprise, surprise. Y'all should be getting used to this by now. Once my nail polish starts to chip, I find that it's time for a new colour. Right now, it's this super unique cornflower blue shade from Sally Hansen called "Pacific Blue"

Mascara of the Week #4: NYC High Definition Separating Mascara

WEEK #4

Week #4 of my Mascara Problems series. Up for review this week was the High Definition Separating Mascara from NYC (New York Color).

NOTD: Two-Tone Brights, featuring OPI & Essie

It's a yucky rainy day where I am today, but my nails are really brightening my mood!

FOTD: Lazy Weekend

Mascara of the Week #4: NYC High Definition Separating Mascara

On trial this week is a mascara from NYC (New York Color). I've never tried a mascara from this brand before so I'm interested to see how it fairs. It was super cheap, less than $4 at Wal-Mart. I've heard some people talk about this mascara on youtube and other beauty blogs. I want to give it a try myself and put it through my rigorous testing process (sarcasm).

Will have a full review on this mascara soon


xoxoDarlingBuds

April Lovelies, and some "Not-So Lovelies"

I'm going to start a new little series on my blog: monthly favourites. Monthly Favourites videos are some of my fave videos to watch from beauty gurus on youtube. I just love seeing what other people are using, what some new products are, and re-discovering old faithfuls. I like to live vicariously through beauty gurus on the internet, either youtube or their own personal blogs. But now since I have my own blog, I can do these things for myself, and I have to say I'm pretty excited :)