{Beauty} Holiday Makeup Must-Haves

Deborah Lippmann nail polish in 'Red Silk Boxers,' $20 | Nars lip gloss in 'Bleecker,' $26 | Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in 'Dark Chocolate Ink,' $24 | Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Color, $30 | Dermablend Cover Creme SPF 30, $38

It's no secret that I rarely stray from my daily makeup routine (save for the odd, seasonal lipstick switch-up), but the holidays are the one time of year I actually get excited about makeup. Aside from the products I use on the regular, I could generally take it or leave it where makeup is concerned (what, I really like skincare!). But the way Sephora dangles gift sets in my face and M.A.C. inundates me with flashy, limited edition everything, it's no wonder I can't say no. So aside from some shimmery shadows I'll probably never wear past the new year or yet another illuminator that I really don't need, my holiday must-haves this year are all about creating flawless-looking skin (complete with uber rosy cheeks!) and bright eyes, with festive (and in my case, standard) pops of red thrown in for good measure... Because less is more, right?

These are just a few of the products I'm including in my holiday makeup arsenal, but I'd love to hear what you're obsessing over right now as well! And as a tip from one homegirl to another, if you're looking to try a new skincare range, I would totally recommend Tata Harper; I recently splurged (and believe me, they aren't cheap!) on a few products to help restore my totally neglected (aka- sleep deprived) skin and I'm officially obsessed... Who knew natural skincare could actually be good? xx

{DIY} Striped Makeup Bag...

I've been incredibly drawn to the striped pouchettes at Chapters right now, and always stop to admire them whenever I'm in the store. Mr. AiF scolded me last time we were there together with, you know, words of reason and whatnot... Pfffft, AS IF I don't need another makeup bag! What does he know, anyway? Well, I guess something he said must have sunk in, because I decided to revamp this old Zara clutch instead of caving to my baser instincts (to which shopping totally applies) and buying yet another pouch.

Want to breathe new life into an old bag too? Repeat after me: Tape, paint, dry, remove tape, acetone smudges... It's as simple as that, my friends! xx

 

{Valentine's Week} Two-Tone Lipstick...

When I first saw the makeup from Holly Fulton's S/S 13 show, I instantly became obsessed with two-toned lips and filed the idea away in my mind for this very occasion... And by occasion, I of course mean Valentine's Day (don't hate). Seriously though, when else is it permissible to walk around sporting pink and red lipstick in the light of day if not V-Day? Please don't say never...

Happy Wednesday, friends! xx

{Beauty} Everyday Makeup

We all have our beauty routines, and when it comes to makeup, I have mine down to a science. I rarely deviate from my 'everyday face' (or whatever you want to call it), which now only takes me about five minutes to do in the morning. The key? Finding products you love and holding on to them for dear life... So with that said, here's a quick rundown of my daily makeup routine:

I've tried many foundations in my day, but my favourite by far is NARS' Sheer Glow Foundation. The formula goes on smooth and covers all my imperfections without looking too intense, and a bottle of the stuff lasts forever (which, at $55 a pop, is definitely a good thing). A recent addition to my cosmetic arsenal is Bare Minerals' Ready SPF 20 Foundation, which is beyond amazing. I don't usually wear powders because I'm not a fan of matte finishes (plus if I'm not careful, I get maaaajor cake-face), but when perfectly applied, this stuff is like a pressed miracle... For serious.

When it comes to mascara, I'm not a fan of shelling out big money for something that will only last me a month or two, so I always opt for CoverGirl's Lashblast Mascara. It works great and is super inexpensive, which is always a plus. The same goes for eyeliner (I switch between Revlon and L'Oreal based on whichever is cheapest at the time), and lipstick I can go either way on. I rarely find a difference between high end lipsticks and drugstore varieties (with certain exceptions of course), and after trying what feels like a million different products, my favourite is definitely CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in a basic red (surprise surprise).

Oh, and let's not forget blush! Blush makes everything better, am I right? I love everything from cream to powder varieties, but the best and most natural-looking blush I've ever tried is hands down Benefit's Benetint. And if you don't believe me, I think it's cult following says it all.

Now it's your turn! Tell me lovelies, what are your makeup must haves? xx

Product details: 1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation; 2. Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation; 3. CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara; 4. CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick; 5. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner; 6. Benefit Benetint

{Oxblood Week} The Makeup...

Wardrobe Wednesday // Instagram Edition

I love shopping as much as the next girl, but I've been trying to cutback a bit this month as a bit of a personal challenge... Now I know you must be thinking 'Wow, she must really hate herself,' but I assure you, I do not... I just wanted to try my hand at reducing my clothing consumption while making more out of what I already have. And although I've picked up a couple things here and there (see my Forever 21 jewelry haul above!), it feels pretty darn good saving money for a change... Go figure.

So for this week's Wardrobe Wednesday I thought it best to focus on some cherished accessories and my new favourite store, with only minimal attention paid (no pun!) to new purchases... I must be turning a new leaf or something! xx

Clockwise from top: Clothing & amazing oxfords from Loft 82; skull bracelet from H&M Against AIDS (so cute!); a few of my fave lip colours from Joe Fresh, Revlon & Sephora; a super old nail polish DIY on old H&M rings; my House of Harlow bangle and new Forever 21 bracelet; my latest jewelry haul from Forever 21; a nail polish DIY I did for the Edmonton Journal