Monthly Favourites - May 2012

Sometimes, I feel like time gets away from me... This is one of those times. Pretty soon, we'll be ringing in another new year and I'll be dumbfounded as to where all that time went. :p

Ahh, but right now, we're still in June. So as I always do, I present to you all my favourite products from the previous month.

1. Pure+simple All Natural Sunscreen 

I confess that sun protection is not something I always think about. In fact, I downright forget about it during the late Fall, through the Winter, and in early Spring. But when I noticed that my left arm was darker than my right (curse you, driving tan! *shakes fist*), I realized it's time to whip out the sunscreen again.

This Pure+simple sunscreen is the best I've tried so far. It doesn't feel sticky and doesn't smell like your typical sunscreen product. Also, it evens out my skintone. So for those few days in May where I didn't want to wear any foundation at all, I found that this product and some concealing were enough to make me look presentable... It also made me realize that my skin really doesn't need foundation to look good. So I'm going to aim to go foundation-less at least 4 times a month to give my skin a bit of a breather.

To read my full review, click here. 

2. Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Powder*

I've been using this to set my foundation nearly every day now. I also wore it during my foundation free days just to add a bit of illumination.

But does it make my skin look youthful? Well, I can't say it did. Though at 26, it's not really much of a concern for me. That said, it does give a very nice glow; so while my skin didn't necessarily look more youthful, it did look healthier and more glowing, which is always gets a thumbs up in my books!

3. Lush Ro's Argan Oil Body Conditioner

I don't think I can rave about this product enough! It leaves my skin so deliciously smooth and it smells amazing, to boot. All I need to do is do a quick slather of this stuff while my skin is still wet from the shower and then do a quick rinse. This removes the excess, but it doesn't remove everything. It definitely feels like I've got product on my skin. It moisturizes my skin so well and it lasts all day, too! My skin feels just as soft, smooth, and moisturized at the end of the day as it did in the beginning (though the product does seep in a bit more - meaning there's less tackiness, but your skin still feels hydrated). The scent, as I mentioned, is absolutely lovely and also lasts the whole day. Incredible!

To read my full review, click here.

4. Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker pH Powered Bronzer & Blush

Say that 10 times fast!

These two products have been doing a lot of work for me lately. Whether worn alone or paired together, they both colour-match to a shade that is both lovely and wearable for my skintone. I love that the bronzer doesn't look orangey on me and that the blush does double duty by leaning more pink when worn along and leaning more coral when worn with the bronzer. 2-in-1 is better than 1-in-1! (that doesn't even make sense -_-')

To read my full review, click here.

5. Hand Therapy Avocado Hand Repair Butter

I'm always on the lookout for a great hand cream. I wash my hands quite often and my hands can get pretty dry, so that means I require some lotion application fairly frequently. I have two requirements for a great hand cream: 1) fantastic hydration, and 2) no shiny, greasy residue left behind... So far, I have only found one that does that, and that's L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream. But it's $30 CADqw for a 150mL tube and around $12 CAD for a mini tube at Sephora. I mean, the larger tube did last me a long time, but $30 for hand cream still feels a bit like a kick in the gut.

So when I found this Hand Therapy product, I decided to give it a try... And boy, am I ever glad I did. This product makes my hands feel silky smooth and super hydrated, without the greasiness! And for the cheap price of $6.99 (I found this product in Superstore), it can't get any better!

I lied, it totally gets better. This hand cream is paraben free, synthetic dye free, mineral oil free, SLS free, and phthalate free. Amazing, no? I always have to resist the urge to buy more every time I pass by the display at my local Superstore.

6. Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense

Ahh, the new love of my life!

This perfume has been my latest obsession... It smells divine and it lasts all day, two things that are most important to me when it comes to fragrances. It's really hard for me to describe what this smells like, but it's definitely one of the most interesting scents I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. With some perfumes, I can tell straight away if it's floral or citrusy or what have you. But this one is pretty complex, at least for me, and that's what I love so much about it.

To read my full review, click here.

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So there you have my May favourites.

It is now officially June. Which means the next two Wednesdays are my Evening & Bridal final exams. I'm nervous, but kind of just looking forward to getting it over with. I've gotten to the point where I don't really sweat it anymore. Yes, marks are great, but that's not going to book me a job, is it? No, I just want to focus on doing a great job so that I can be more confident in my skills.

Aaaand I just remembered I have to do makeup, hair, and styling in under 90 minutes...

*thud*

Happy June, lovelies!

NOTW - Glitter And Hot Pink Tips

I was debating whether or not I wanted to do a blog post about this... The nail stuff is kinda taking over at the moment and my girl Winnie is entirely to blame (if you haven't seen her blog, check it out!). Seeing her designs always sparks my imagination. And while I'm nowhere near her level, I certainly enjoy the the whole process.

Anyway, I actually really like this one, so I figured I'll share it with you all.

When I started doing my nails on Friday night (I know, I'm wild!), I knew only two things: 1) I wanted to use the new glitter nail polish I got, and 2) I wanted to use french manicure tape. So I started off using a peach shade for the tips and then layering the glitter nail polish on the top...

(Apologies for the crap photo. This was just something I sent to Winnie over Whatsapp late at night.)

As you can see, it's no bueno. The peach did not stand out as much as I wanted it to and the glitter over the peach doesn't look so good. So I took that off and started over. 

Products used:

butter LONDON - Horse Power Nail Fertilizer

Sinful Colors - Cream Pink

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear - 180 Disco Ball

I ended up layering the Sally Hansen glitter nail polish over Horse Power, which I used as a base. Then I placed french manicure tape on my nails and painted the tips with Cream Pink, which is actually more like a neon pink. It's quite bright! A layer of Seche Vite later, and my nails were done!

Hope you like, lovelies!

Monthly Favourites - April 2012

We are now one step closer to Summer and I'm not dreading it as I normally do. Highly unusual, I must say!

I'm kind of getting back into the groove of makeup classes and blogging again, which I'm really happy about. Classes have been going great (I'm in Evening and Bridal right now, for those who don't know), though I definitely need more practice. It's times like these I wish I lived close to my Bandits, so I can practice on their gorgeous faces!

Anyhoo, enough with the waffling! Here are my favourite products from the month of April...

Burberry For Women Eau De Parfum

This fragrance is probably my very first "big girl" perfume and it's had a special place in my semi-fickle heart ever since. I go through a lot of difference phases, like most women do, but Burberry For Women is one of the few perfumes I own that I will consistently repurchase. This month, I rediscovered why I love it so much. It's party fruity, part musky, and a whole lotta loveliness. I also get a lot of compliments whenever I wear this perfume, which is always a good thing.

Revlon Nail Polish in Chic, Timeless, and Fashionista

I've used these three nail polishes to create a somewhat ombré design, which I posted about here, and I was absolutely in love with it. Revlon nail polishes are among my favourites, not only because of the price, but also because of the quality. They apply smoothly, evenly, and only require a few coats to achieve a nice, opaque finish. Also, Revlon is pretty consistent with dupes, so if I fall in love with a particular shade but am not willing to shell out a lot of money for it (which is most often the case :p), I simply have to wait for Revlon to create something similar.

MAC In Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb and Whisper of Gilt

Having never been much of a fan of highlighters or luminizers, these Skinfinishes have come as a bit of a surprise. They apply so smoothly, they never look grainy, they create the most amazing sheen, and have such a lovely texture. I can't believe I haven't jumped on the highlighting bandwagon until now!

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

If you haven't guessed by the two posts that were the precursor to this one, I have been really getting into nail polish lately... My love for nail polish ebbs and flows, and right now, we love each other a lot. Now, the thing about doing nail art or wearing gorgeous shades is that you find yourself constantly looking at your nails... Which then leads to looking at your cuticles.

Now, if yours are lovely, then there's no trouble. But if yours are as atrocious as mine, then you get all cringey and embarrassed. So, I've started to be more diligent in applying this cuticle cream every night (or nearly every night, at least) and my cuticles are looking much better! I honestly don't know how this stuff works, but after applying it every night for a week or two, my cuticles look clean and well moisturized.

MAC Blush in Lovecloud 

 Lovecloud (released in MAC's recent Très Cheek collection) was a bit of a sleeper hit for me... Originally, I was only interested in Immortal Flower and Modern Mandarin, as they were shades that are not very well represented in my budding blush collection. However, I was really taken by the finish of Lovecloud (all Très Cheek blushes have a satin finish, but out of the three that I own, it is the most prominent in Lovecloud). Lovecloud has been my most worn blush since I've purchased it and my love for it is still going strong!

MAKE UP FOR EVER 24S Blush Brush

This brush came with my makeup kit at school and at first, I wasn't all that impressed. Mainly because I was used to rounder brushes that were incredibly soft to the touch. But as I continued to use this brush, the more I began to love it. The flat shape actually makes applying/blending blushes really effortless and patting more pigmented products a breeze. It took some getting used to, but this has quickly become my absolute favourite blush brush.

Butter London Horse Power Nail Fertilizer and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

As I've mentioned before, I've been really into nail polishes lately. Normally, I don't use a base or a top coat (for shame!), but I've taken to using Horse Power as a base under my nail polish. FYI: it can be used as a base. It's even stated in the back of the bottle under Directions. But silly me decided I'll only use it when I'm not wearing nail polish -_-'. As for Seche Vite... The first time I used it, I remember thinking, "this can't be good for you." It smells very strongly of chemicals and I wasn't in a well ventilated room, so there was this anxiety of getting a headache, or worse. (#SayNoToHuffing!)

That said, I've started using Horse Power as a base coat and Seche Vite as a top coat and mother of pearl, does it ever make a difference in my manicure! Horse Power really grabs onto the nail polish and I find I can apply a second coat even quicker with it than without. And Seche Vite is definitely an appropriate name for this top coat because it definitely dries my manicure fast; and you all know waiting for the polish to dry is my weakness! This combination really makes my manicure looking pristine quicker and for longer, which has been amazing when you're constantly washing your hands/dishes/brushes, etc.


Welcome call it beauty. (back) to Facebook!

For those of you who may not know, I created a Facebook page for the blog a while back but didn't really feel that it served much of a purpose. Well, I've kind of changed my mind and decided to get back into it.

<tangent> Oddly enough, I had deleted my account on FB, and I was notified that my account will still be up for a month before being fully deleted. Well, as I tried to create another page, I was then told by FB that there's already an account connected with that email address. Lo and behold, there my page still was. Not deleted by Facebook... That's kind of creepy. </tangent>

So now that call it beauty.: is officially on Facebook (again), I would really love it if you guys took the time to "Like" my page. I promise to be more active on there, so please feel free to join me!

Happy May, lovelies!

NOTW - Mottled Sunset With Nails Inc. And Maybelline New York

Two nail posts in a row? What's that about?

So here's the thing: I'm kind of in love with Chanel June... However, it is approximately (or maybe exactly?) $30 CAD. $30 CAD!!! That's ridiculous, yo! For $30, that nail polish better sing me a song, too!

All kidding aside, I've been patiently searching for a dupe for this gorgeous shade and I think I may have finally found it. Granted, I've never tried Chanel June, so I can't say for certain if it's similar enough. But, it's still the same colour I've been wanting to get for ages (and by ages, I mean months): a pastel, peach-melon type of shade.

Ladies and ladies, I introduce you all to Wellington Square, by Nails Inc. Nails Inc. has been available in North America close to a year, but I've only really remember seeing them in Canadian Sephoras this week. I'm not sure if it's only made its way to Canada now or if I'm just late to the game (the latter being the more likely of the two). Anyway, when I saw Wellington Square, I knew I had to have it. And at $11.50 CAD, it is more in line with how much I am willing to spend on nail polish.

Now, because I've become obsessed with using a sponge to apply nail polish, I've decided to use another shade (Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Tulip Tango) to create a mottled effect that reminded me very much of a sunset. Tulip Tango is a gorgeous, pinky-coral shade that is absolutely perfect for summer; and at $5.99 CAD each, you can't really go wrong, can you?

And here is the finished, "Mottled Sunset" look. I love how subtly the two shades blend together; as opposed to my previous post, which had a more drastic colour change. I decided to do the mottled effect on only two nails (on both hands, of course), just because I can. <insert-emoticon-with-smug-smile-and-sunglasses>

Also, I used Butter London's Horse Power Nail Fertilizer as my base and Seche Vite as my top coat. Both of which make for a kick-ass manicure combo. But more on that in my April Favourites post...

Anyhoo, hope you guys like this rather simple NOTW/Nail Art-thingy! Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

What is your favourite peach/melon nail polish?

Dani Attempts Nail Art And Isn't Half Bad At It!

That said, this is probably one of the simplest designs one can do on oneself and seeing as it's not meant to be neat in the slightest, it's pretty much fool-proof! Or Dani-proof, whichever you prefer.

For this Blue Ombré design, I used three Revlon nail polishes: 310 Timeless (a pale, grey-blue), 480 Chic (a slate-blue), and 471 Fashionista (a deep, peacock-blue); all of which I purchased last night. I'm not normally one to buy multiple nail polishes at once, but caman! Look how gorgeous these three are!

When I got home, I immediately sent Winnie a photo so she can squee over the loveliness with me. Good times were had by all, yo!

*I don't know where I'm going with this. All I know is that I'm dead tired.


**Don't ask me why I decided to blog instead of sleep.

I'm sure you all know the mechanics of an ombré nail design. But for the few of you who quite possibly don't know how this works, here's a quick recap:

Step 1: I applied Timeless from the base of my nails to around the centre area.

Step 2: Using a cosmetic sponge, I applied Chic on top of Timeless with a patting motion, making sure to leave a good amount of Timeless still showing.

Step 3: With a clean area of the same sponge, I dotted Fashionista along the top third of my nail. Then, I applied the same shade with the nail polish brush along the tips for a more opaque layer.

Step 4: Wait a few minutes, then apply top coat (I used Seche Vite).

Et voilà! Ombré nails!

I'm actually quite proud of myself! I didn't even have to re-do any of the nails, which is an absolute first for me. So you should all be proud of me, too :p.

I'm just kidding! You all probably think I'm ridiculous, and you're right, I totally am! :D

What's your favourite fool-proof nail art design?

Get My Nails Did...

For someone who professes to not use a lot of nail polish, I seem to have acquired a fair amount in the last 2 months... I generally don't like to spend too much on nail polish. Since I don't paint my nails that often, I can't really justify a Dior or Chanel purchase. So most of what's in my "collection," if you can even call it that, is drugstore fare.

Before I start, can I just say that there's nothing like zooming into your cuticles to make you realize how much you've been neglecting them? I actually cringed a few times! I definitely need to start using my Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream again.

So, yeah... Let's not pay any mind to them, shall we?

Anyway, these five shades have really caught my eye, so I thought I would share it with you all!

Elegant, indeed!

There's something so classy about nude nails and I've decided to finally jump the bandwagon. I've seen some nude + insert-colour-here combinations online that are so gorgeous; alas, I just don't have the coordination or the patience to do them myself. I did buy an Art Deco nail polish in black though, because I think this would look super cute with a black stripe on the edge.

I luuurve this green! It's definitely a very earthy, slightly ashy shade, and it's absolutely gorgeous! There's also a tiny hint of shimmer in it, which makes for a really lovely sheen.

The formula's very creamy and a bit thick, so it doesn't require a lot of coats to achieve opacity. In fact, you kind of have to be a bit careful, or it'll end up applying a bit goopy on the nails.

Love the brush on this one, though! It's thicker than other Revlon nail polishes and is quite similar to Rimmel brush heads. If you have rather wide nail beds, like me, having a thicker brush definitely saves time.

I'm not usually into blue nail polish, unless it's a deep navy. But I fell in love with this one from OPI's Nicki Minaj collection because I'm kind of a sucker for teal. It's pulling more blue in the photos, but it actually looks more teal in real life.

This nail polish applies kind of gel-y; but when it dries, it takes on more of a creamy look. It may take more than two coats for full opacity though, because it can apply a bit streaky. Also, this stuff will stain your skin!

The SEPHORA by OPI display at my local Sephora had set aside various pinks and reds for Valentine's Day and I was really drawn to this one. Oddly enough, the website describes Casanova Is So Into Me as "sheer metallic smoky amethyst," when clearly... Well, it's not that. I'm not very good at describing colours but there's nothing metallic or amethyst-y about this shade. Personally, I would call it a dusky rose. It appears much brighter on the photo than it does in real life. It's kind of like, pink's sophisticated, well-travelled auntie. The cool one that she rants to when her mother's being impossible... I don't even know if that makes sense.

I love how creamy and muted this shade is. Seeing as it's pink, it's obvious that it's still very feminine, but in a more mature way, I guess.

That's a lot of words to describe this shade... IT'S PRETTY! There...

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister!

Look at me, being on trend and such. This shade is such a lovely tangerine/orange and I love! At first, I was expecting it to be more like June by Chanel... Don't ask me why. Clearly, I have sight issues. Anyway, somebody needs to dupe that ASAP, coz I'm not spending nearly $30 on nail polish!

I love how bright and punchy it is. It's definitely more gel-like in its consistency and it only takes two coats for it to turn opaque. It looks lovely with my skin now because I'm quite yellow and warm-toned, but this shade would look absolutely, drop-dead-gorgeous on somebody with really tanned or dark skin. Don't you think? Ugh, so pretty <3.

What shade are you sporting on your nails right now?

Fall Nail Colours!

During the Summer, coral was my go-to shade. For the Fall, I'm taking a cue from Summer by sticking with the same shade family and using mustard and orange shades. Admittedly, I was a bit excited for Fall so I started wearing this at the end of August and early September. 

Joe Fresh Style Nail Polish - Pineapple

Joe Fresh Style nail polishes are great quality, two coats is all you need. The only thing I don't like is the rather short and fat handle, which makes it difficult to use sometimes.

NYX Cosmetics Matte Nail Polish - Orange

I love this shade! The matte finish definitely makes it more interesting as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to make this nail polish chip. Admittedly, I didn't use a top coat; but seeing as there are plenty of products out there that last even without it, this is going to be labelled a disappointment. Even still, I love wearing it, I just don't expect to be wearing it for very long :p.

What are your go-to shades for Fall?

I've Never Felt This Way About Nail Polish Before...

I'm not really that into nail polish. My love for it goes in phases, you see. I'll want to paint my nails every week for months, then I'll see what horrid shape my nails are in and then I forgo nail polish for a few months to grow them out. I typically use nail polish a few times and promptly forget about it...

Not so with this one. For the first time ever, I found myself considering purchasing a backup. I mean, can you blame me? Just look at it!

First of all, I've been aching for Facets of Fuchsia ever since I saw it on Makeup Savvy. I may or may not have gone to drugstores nearly every day checking to see if it was in stock and I may or may not have gasped and walked at a brisk pace towards the display when it finally was. No confession here...

It takes a lot of coats to get opacity (I think I did 4 or 5), but do I care? Nope! Coz it's soooo gorgeous *insert-pitiful-sigh-here*. I have bought a black nail polish to layer under it, though (I got the idea from Larie); so that should help a lot. It has a bumpy texture due to the glitter so I applied a top coat to "seal it in" so to speak.

I'm not normally into glitter nail polishes but the mixture of the bigger chunks and the smaller pieces looks much more interesting than your normal glitter. Fuchsia on black is pretty sexy, too. I love!

What are your favourite glitter nail polishes?

Monthly Favourites - August 2011

You guys, it is September. That means in four months, it'll be the Christmas season. You have no idea how excited this makes me!

Anyway, you know how this works; the first of the month rolls around and I whip out my monthly favourites. Here they are, in no particular order:

Z Palette

Super cute and super functional, I've been loving having all my depotted products in one palette. Don't let the cardboard look fool you, these palettes are quite sturdy. The clear, plastic top makes it easy to see which products are inside. So if you have, say the exact same black palettes holding all your eyeshadows, there's no need to label the outside or take a peek inside to make sure you're grabbing the right one. Love, love, love these!

Korres Lip Butter - Jasmine

The smell... The smeeellll, it is divine! Like Korres' Wild Rose moisturizer, I can just sniff this all day. Too bad the body butter doesn't smell as amazing :(...

Lately, my lips (and the skin immediately around them) have been über dry & inflamed and this Lip Butter has been an absolute Godsend! It's slightly tacky consistency really coats my lips and keeps them hydrated for a few hours. Because it doesn't apply with any colour, I apply this on the skin around my lips as well and it keeps it from being itchy, which is a bonus!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - Honey

This powder has been much needed this Summer as I found myself, for the first time in a long time, dealing with unwanted oiliness. Actually, it was Rae of TheNotice that told me about this product. I've seen it, of course (I don't live under a rock :p), but honestly never considered it for some reason. Rae told me over Twitter that she's read recommendations of this powder and MAC's blot powder and of course, I was gonna go for the cheaper one; after all, I wasn't expecting to use it for very long. 

Anyway, I've been really enjoying using this powder. It's been pretty hot in Vancouver recently (with the exception of a typical rainy day here and there), which meant that I was a lot oilier than usual. Applying this after blotting my face left me looking and feeling much fresher and more presentable. 

Maybelline Shine Sensational Pop Stick - Fruit Punch

You guys, it's translucent. How awesome is that? It also has a yummy, fruity scent and actually imparts a little bit of colour on my lips. I love it's lip balm-like consistency; my lips remain hydrated and it doesn't  create that gross white residue in the inner corners of the lips. 

Lancôme Star Bronzer - 03 Éclat Bronze

I love this bronzer! It suits my colouring really well, applies so smoothly, looks natural, and smells amazing. I've been reaching for this a lot lately because it doesn't take a lot of work; I don't need to use a light hand in order to make it work for my skin because it's quite subtle. This past month, I've been using it to contour my cheekbone and then applying a blush on the apples of my cheeks.

The Body Shop Hand Cleanse Gel - Mango

Hand sanitzers are... Hand sanitizers.

But what makes these hand cleanse gels from The Body Shop special is that they are Triclosan free and they smell amazing! I've been obsessed with the Mango scented one since I purchased it. Love the scent and love that it doesn't harm marine life. Win-win!

L'oréal Skin Genesis Micro-Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes

In general, makeup remover wipes are a great addition to any nighttime skincare ritual because it simplifies the process. All you need to do is swipe them across your face and off goes your makeup. But I think these wipes from L'oréal are a step above the rest because they contain BHA, which "enhance daily cellular renewal to help provide smoother, brighter and fresher skin."

I can testify to that! I had run out of these wipes and went without it for about a week. When I finally repurchased and used it again, the effects the next day were apparent. My skin looked brighter, a little bit more even, and my blemishes had gone down in size and redness. Amazing stuff! I think these wipes will be a staple on my counter for a while...

What are your August Favourites?