Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Desirable

Ok, I'll admit it; the name of this lipstick is absolutely ridiculous.  I know because I've been asked a lot by women what lipstick I've been wearing (and because I had to go find the box to write the post title). Similarly to my last post, this purchase was inspired by another beauty blogger, in this case, Suzie from Hello October.  

Finding that perfect "pinky-nude" lipstick was difficult because of my skin's red undertones, not to mention my practically translucent skin tone.  Most nude lipsticks make me look washed out and well, corpse-y.  This is that lipstick that I can throw on without a mirror.  It's incredibly creamy, lasts for hours and tops off any makeup look.

Oh, and did I mention the case is magnetic?!  Yes, the cap is magnetized, so there's no chance of finding this lipstick at the bottom of your purse, cap-less and covered in dirt or leftover cracker crumbs. The future is now.

I promise that the painful price tag is worth the splurge and I'll definitely be saving my pennies for one of the more vampy shades for fall and winter.  Stay tuned...

What do you guys think?

Happy friday!

xo

The Single Product Smoky Eye

After watching Tati from GlamLife Guru's video on the new Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather Cream Eyeshadows, I thought to myself: "If she's impressed, I'll be impressed".  I picked up the shade Chocolate Suede because realistically, it's the only one I would wear on a daily basis and let me tell ya, I've been wearing it on a daily basis.  

Although it looks slightly metallic in the pot, it goes on matte and surprisingly, it blends well, like really well.  Not to mention the staying power; unlike the rest of my makeup, these cream eyeshadows don't crease, move or fade during an 8-hour shift, which is something I'd expect from a product that was 3x the price.

I love throwing it on when I'm in a hurry but need something on my lids.  I apply it with my ring finger and then spend a couple minutes blending out the edges with my Real Techniques DuoFiber Eye Brush.  After blending it out on my upper lid, Ill take what's leftover on my brush and run it under the outer part of the lower lid to even things out.  Remember kids, a properly blended eye look takes time, even if it's only one product.  On a Friday night, I'll apply a second coat on the outsides of my lids to deepen the color and add a little definition.

Often times I find that when I use several colours to do a smoky eye look, they disappear and it just looks messy.  With this, I feel put together and a little 'Keira Knightley-ish' if I do say so myself.  Fun fact: I've gotten several compliments on my eyes when I've worn this, which never happens.

Long story short: Affordable drugstore product with high-end results.  Two thumbs up from the girl late for work.

a day off

Not only did both T and I have a day off yesterday, but I also had a spontaneous motivation to blog, which you would know is rare if you've been visiting my page lately.

Unhappy thoughts and a busy schedule sure do stamp out motivation quickly...

We decided to visit Granville Island, which is technically, a tiny island filled with markets and quaint shops that sell the most interesting things.  From handmade leather-bound books to the freshest fruits and seafood, you can find all sorts of gems at Granville Island.  

Food-wise, we shared the coziest homemade chicken pot pie, followed by unreal donuts and cinnamon sugar donut holes.  Not to mention the freshly brewed White Tea Lemonade, the perfect refreshment on a scorching day by the water.

Hope your week is off to as good a start as mine!

xo

Top: H&M

Shorts: JustFab

Nails: Kiko #226

Bag: Longchamp

Sunglasses: Rayban

Shoes: Converse

Hair: Lazy-ass Pineapple Head.

Top Essie Summer Polishes

I recently had to hide my favorite blood-red nail polish in a drawer to keep myself from using it weekly seeing as how people were starting to comment on how "it's not winter, Jessie, give it up".  Not that I'm concerned with what other people think but I did think it was time to switch over to some lighter shades...temporarily.

Clockwise from top left, I have Essie's Mint Candy Apple, a favorite that I've had for years; it's that perfect "Tiffany Blue" and can really emphasize a tan (if you're lucky enough to have one).  Essie's Topless and Barefoot is great for making your phalanges appear longer; it's definitely my "Duchess Kate" polish, everyone has one, right?

The gorgeous peachy-pink is Essie's Van D'Go; this one takes a little more effort for an even application but once you've got it on, it's the perfect summer pink.  Not to mention it looks amazing as a pedicure pick.  Essie's Peach Daiquiri is definitely a brighter one; it's somewhere between a hot pink and a raspberry red.  This one is a great bright polish for those of you who like me, can't wear colours with a yellow undertone such as orange-y reds.  Last is a year-long favorite, Essie's Lilacism; this pastel periwinkle is just adorable in my opinion.  Sometimes I'll even do Lilacism with Van D'Go or Mint Candy Apple on my ring fingers.  Sign me up for the next My Little Pony convention...just kidding, interesting bunch those "My Little Pony People"...very interesting.

What are your favorite nail colours for summer?  Let me know in the comments!

xo

P.S. Summer is officially halfway over-ish.  Rejoice.

50 Facts About Me | Video

I decided to make a new video yesterday and thought that the "50 Facts About Me" would be a good one to do seeing as how blogging only reveals so much about a person.

I really want to start making more videos so don't forget to subscribe to my channel and stay tuned for some more beauty related posts coming within the next week!

Enjoy and talk soon! xo

Contouring Fair Skin

ATTENTION PALE GIRLS: Are you tired of gazing upon the masterfully sculpted cheekbones of supermodels?  Sick of watching Youtube videos with girls who can actually contour with bronzer??  Look no further...

As a first line player for the Alabaster Angels, I've been searching for quite some time for a shade I could contour my cheeks and temples with that didn't make it look as if I'd rolled around in the mud.  Darker foundation powders were always much too warm and don't even get me started on sparkly, orange bronzers...

Allow me to introduce you to the MAC Pro Palette Blush in Taupe.  Yes, unfortunately, this shade is only available for Pro Palettes; however, if you've already got a palette or if you buy a decent amount of MAC products, this is spot on for you.  Unlike many of the products used to sculpt out cheekbones and foreheads, this one is not too warm yet not too cool toned.  It has taken a spot in my every-day makeup routine and even if I'm in a mad hurry, I still find the time to throw some on.

Like any other contour powder, I apply a little to the hollows of my cheek bones, making sure not to blend it past the corner of my eye.  I then apply some to my temples and up onto the sides and top of my forehead and then lastly, I apply a small amount to my jawline.

Although it doesn't look like much in the photo, it's just enough to keep my face from looking like a beach ball and I'm not sure how I went so long without it.  Not to mention, I also use it in my lid crease to define my eyes.

For the rest of my face I used: Nars SheerGlow Foundation in 01 Siberia mixed with L'Oreal True Match in N1; A little MAC Mystery in my brows; MAC Soft Brown and Taupe Contour Blush on my Lids; Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Mascara in Black; Milani Blush in Dolce Pink; Tanya Burr's Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea.

What products do you use to contour?

J xo.

Canada Day

Happy Belated Canada Day to all my fellow Canuck readers!

This year, July 1st also marked the day I wore shorts for the first time *collective audience gasp*.

I hated them just as much as I remember, from peeling my thighs off a bus seat to constantly pulling them down to cover that fabulous "under-butt" we all love so much.

Now that it is July, I fear I will have to succumb to wearing shorts again in the near future.  The countdown to pumpkin spice lattes is now on...

On a less melancholy note, Tristan and I had a relaxing Canada Day, we headed out for drinks and then downtown to catch a glimpse of the festivities before realizing we were too tired to sit around and wait for the fireworks.  Not to mention we hate crowds.

People were crowding the fireworks-watching area hours before they even began.  As modernly obscure as it may be, I quite like Vancouver's "Big Blue Drop".

The man behind a lot of my photos :D

The Olympic torch was lit last night!  Look at those beautiful stormy skies..

This is how my henna turned out and I absolutely love it!

Gelato down by the marina

Food carts and fairy lights..

I hope you all had a great holiday and to my American readers, your turn is coming!

xo