Work it work it!

Photo Credit: Google Images

So lately I've been a bit obsessed with attempting to be healthier, change up my lifestyle.  Thanks to good genes I have been blessed with a high metabolism and thus far the effects of my late night snacking haven't had much ill effect however, I am a believer of the importance of exercise and a good (better) diet.

I gave the 30 day vegetarian challenge a go and I will say it was not an easy feat! But it was a nice challenge to attempt all the same.  Perhaps it was a result from all the tumblr's I've been browsing through of late but I was overtaken with the desire to get in better shape and joined both a local gym and an online one by Zuska Light.  I've come across Zuska before when she was still with BodyRock TV but never really spent much time with it.

 For those of you who are too busy to keep up a gym membership and just can't be bothered with all the extra equipment required with other workouts I highly recommend checking out Zgym, the routines are at most 30 minutes and use very little of any gym accessories, not to mention it costs only 10 dollars a month and you can complete them in the comfort of your own home away from curious eyes.

 I wasn't aware of how effective Zuska's routines were until I finally went for some cardio about 2 weeks ago and found myself able to run for a good 30 mins and a fast recovery rate at that! Of course donning some cute workout wear is also a plus and I'm rather a fan of the Lululemon tops and shorts, but please remember that yoga pants/shorts are not proper pants for everyday wear.  I have seen one too many yoga pants being worn as dress pants, it is about time something is done about that!

Gotta Have Dreams...

Photo Credit: Google Images

It seems this summer we've been blessed with incredibly good weather which I have been enjoying most profusely.  As the title would suggest we all have those dreams and goals that someday if the fates allow will come to fruition and while I have my long term aspirations that I hope to achieve in the next few years there are some shorter material goals I've been having lately.  

Cue the glamglow mud mask which promises "super sexy super radiant skin."  Now I've always been a believer that skin care is something worth investing in because hey you only have one face (usually) and it is what you present to the world so of course you should present your face the best it can be.  I generally dislike foundations liquid or otherwise because of the heavy mask sensation/ tendency to rub off on everything factor, this coupled with the fact I have what Elaina and I like to refer to as "weenie" skin (a.k.a extreme sensitivity) not many products have been suitable.  Not to mention it being the summer and warm weather the addition of foundation just feels unnecessary and I do hear mud touts incredible benefits...

Wen in Rome...

Photo credit: Google Images

It has been a busy couple of weeks and as a result we have been unable to do much of any posting apologies everyone!

Lately the weather in Vancouver has been a bit up and down but it is expected of the season and the city.  I am counting my lucky stars I don't get frizzes in muggy, rainy weather however my hair does tend to tangle quite often.  After my many bouts of hair colouring my locks were beginning to feel stressed (re: feeling dry and extremely tangled in the shower) and thus spurred my search for a hair mask or treatment to help calm things down.  Enter Wen hair care line.  

Now I had come across these products in the past and hadn't bothered to research it further figuring I didn't really need it and honestly with hair on the oily scalp side the idea of slapping on loads of conditioner even ones labeled "cleansing" wasn't altogether appealing.  But as fate would have it I found myself drawn towards Chaz Dean's products and decided on a whim to give it a try.  It was a miracle! My hair felt restored, smooth, luxurious and no tangles hallelujah!

The price not er so much, the cleansing conditioners range from $32 for a 16 oz bottle, $58 for a 32 oz to $210 a gallon. In order to properly cleanse the hair and of course depending on length, type of hair and so on you're looking at about 20-30 pumps of conditioner per washing to get the desired results.  As much as I loved how my hair feels I can't possibly justify spending that much.  

After some further digging on the interwebs I found that as long as you're using a silicone free conditioner, you can get similar results with any old brand.  A popular alternative is the Suave naturals line, I've also tried using the Live Clean line with promising results as well.  So lesson learned here kids, a heftier price tag isn't always better and it's important to know what else is out there before settling down.  

Arched

Photo credit: Google Images

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the brows are the drapes that frame them and I must say some drapes I’ve seen are in dire need of a revamping. Roots and unruly brows are on top of my pet peeves (I’m sure there are other things on there too but I don’t want to get ahead of myself). As a teenager I grew to be fascinated with eyebrows and the difference they can make for a person’s face.  

 

Properly shaped and groomed eyebrows will lift and balance your features almost instantaneously. There is a golden ratio to go by when attempting to find the correct shape, too far apart between the brows will make the nose look enormous as well as the forehead.

It is always a good idea to see a professional before attempting to tackle that gnarly brow on your own. Plucking less = more is definitely key here, we all fall victim to over plucking every now and then but it takes months to repair a mistake so tread carefully.

 

 

Photo Credits: Google Image

Angled faces with sharp features should go with a rounder softer eyebrow to balance out the edges, round or curved faces should go for angler brows, and long faces look best with flat eyebrows, shorter faces look best with high arched eyebrow, smaller eyes look best with a lower arch, and big eyes look their brightest with a high arch.

My Many Many Faces



Travel Makeup Case: Betsey Johnson 17

Like any girl we tend to forget that we only have one face to colour in, in the morning. I know that I buy more makeup than I need on a day to day basis; of course once in a while you DO need to shop for that special occasion or for that perfect red lipstick. All in all I may have a decent collection now and organization always comes to mind when we have a hoard of stuff. I find that organization allows for two things, one to keep me from wearing the same look days on end; two it also is very pleasant to the eye when you do it right! (Don’t tell me you have never admired a makeup collection video on YouTube!) I tend to keep my daily essentials separated from the rest, that way I can reach for what I always use and throw in some different things here and there to change it up.



Storage boxes: Daiso 2 each

Makeup organization doesn’t need to get too technical; you can find inexpensive ways to keep everything together and separated.

 



 

Gift Boxes: Daiso 2 each



Always organize with what you need and leave a bit of room for what you may want to add in the future.



And That's When I Saw it...



Photo Credits: Tumblr

I am a hoarder sometimes. I feel the need to buy backups of products I like for fear I’ll run out one day and find myself with partial eyeliner (yikes!) and I tend to keep the empty packages around as well because I thought it was a clever design or something to that effect. It is inevitable I’ll find my drawers jammed with half used makeup long forgotten hiding in a dark corner.

A very good habit to get into is to do a routine cleaning of your makeup on a monthly basis. This ensures that:

• You don’t spend money on a product you forgot you had

• Bacteria does not accumulate and give you an eye infection upon discovery of that mascara you thought was okay and

• Ease of access.

It can be a chore but once done properly the rest is easy. Take an afternoon to clear out all your makeup drawers and take stock of everything, if you can’t remember the last time you’ve used something chances are it’s probably better to chuck it.

 This is especially true for products such as mascaras and liquid eyeliners; a good rule to follow is to replace them every 2-3 months.

Photo Credit: Marie Clarie

Liquid foundations are water based which is a welcome mat for bacteria to breed, if the bottle is brand new it will last for a few years but once used it’s a good idea to change out your foundations after a year.



Photo Credit: Google Image

Cream blushes should be replaced after a year and to prolong the life of any blush clean your brush on a regular basis and store your product in a dry dark place.

Photo Credit: Allure Makeup Ally



Liquid concealers should also be tossed after a year whereas powder or stick concealers may last up to two. 

Photo Credit: radicalcosmetics.com

Skin products containing sunscreen tend to expire so it’s best to be mindful of the dates given.



Photo Creidt: Beauty Arena



Lipstick and lip gloss fanatics should note that its best to replace a lip product after a year as repeated contact with the mouth area leads to bacteria spread, pouty lips yes, sores not so much!

What's In Our Bags?

I am borderline OCD when it comes to organization in my handbag. I hate HATE when people rummage through their purses trying to find change, a pen or gum. If time really was money I would have lost a small fortune just waiting for that lady in front of me to pay for her $10 salad. Some people like to carry their whole life inside a handbag (which may be sharing a bit too much of yourself) but I prefer the necessary everyday essentials that will help me make it through my day.

Elaina’s handbag essentials:

1. Gum – Just in case because you never know who you will meet!
2. iPhone – Okay so it doesn’t need to be an iphone…well okay maybe it does. It’s the people contactor, social media medium, music provider and good companion all packaged into one highly marketable pretty chuck of technology. I cannot be the only person who feels naked without her phone?!
3. Lipstick – Not only does it happen to complete my look of the day, but it also helps to keep my lips conditioned and looking oh-so-good.
4. Cash – because money can buy you pretty much all the materialistic things that your little heart desires
5. Pouches – They are wonderful little organizers that help you to not be that rummaging lady in line. They are affordable and comes in a variety of cute patterns, shapes and sizes; adding a bit more personality to your handbag.

I have big bag syndrome, somehow the phrase the bigger the better stuck with me in this case. I like to throw in everything I think I'll ever need ever so if by some freak accident I'm stranded I'll be prepared. New year new me I figure I should at least try to keep things super minimal so I only take the barest of necessities with me:

 

Margaret’s handbag essentials:

1. Phone – If I could only take one thing this would be it.
2. Kiehl's Lip Balm – Sadly one of the only lip balms I can safely use without risking balloon lips
3. Oil Blotting sheets – nNcely packaged with a mirror which is always handy
4. Gum – Because you never know
5. Roller ball perfume – I'm a big fan of the roller balls, it ensures that I don't over spray and it's perfectly sized to throw in a small bag
6. Hand cream – I'm slightly OCD when it comes to the cleanliness of my hands I despise the grimy feeling of unwashed hands on piano keys and cringe when I see others do it, unfortunately this means drier hands as a result of excessive washing so hand cream is a must

Tell us what are some of your handbag essentials?

 

A Little Bit of This a Little Mist of That...

I must confess to a problem... I am Margaret and I’m addicted to dying my hair.

With dye jobs it is inevitable that my truecolour peeps out every now and then (the horror!) and when it does I have an urge to re-dye it. The roots bother me, I have tried very hard to grow it out and go with the ombre effect popular these days but I can’t do it! Call it OCD because you can bet I’ll be perusing the hair dye aisle at my local drugstore comparing shades.

 

As a result of constant colouring, my strands are feeling a bit on the dry crunchy side (well not really but some pampering was in order!), and so I stumbled on Live Clean’s Argan Oil leave in spray. “Exotic Nectar argan oil leave-in conditioner spray with certified organic grape seed and olive oils is a weightless leave-in treatment that seals in moisture to provide enhanced long-term conditioning, shine and UV protection.” I have hair bordering on the oily side and by bordering I mean frolicking carelessly with reckless abandon so I’m cautious when approaching anything that has “oil” in the name, thankfully this spray is indeed weightless and leaves my hair feeling smooth and healthy although I’m not a huge fan of the scent but it doesn’t last so live and let live I say and mist away happily.

Shhh...

MAYBELLINE COLOUR WHISPER

Move aside traditional lipsticks! Say hello to the new Maybelline color whisper line.  It was a bit difficult to hunt these down but finally managed to get my hands on one and I must say they are something to blog about.  The packaging is very sleek and feels quite nice in the hand, rather study actually for a drugstore lipstick.  The color is sheer with a smooth formula that feels nice on the lips.  “Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel, no heavy waxes or oils,” which works just fine for me, I’ve got what I like to refer to as weenie lips.   I sadly have strong reactions to most wax based lip balms and lipsticks re: peeling, painful mess of misery.  The color whisper does not have much staying power however it really is more of a gloss than anything else.  Slightly less pigmented than the Revlon lip butters although Maybelline does have a nice variety of shades to choose from.  Worth picking up in my opinion for a light pop of color on days when a little extra is all you need. 

 

 

NYFW Beauty Trends

Photo Credits: mbfashionweek.com                                             





Style is about much more than just clothes, it’s the whole package, the makeup, the perfume, and the attitude.  All around the globe Fashion week 2013 brought forth several memorable makeup trends just in time for spring.  Some looks such as the whimsical heart face paintings crafted by Val Garland are destined to remain on the runway, while others like the matte complexions and fresh red lips are meant to welcome in the seasonal changes.









At the top of the list: less is more! A statement I’m sure we’ve all heard more than once.  A common trend spotted this year was simple clean makeup, flawless and matte.  This look is easily achieved with a new drugstore favorite the Revlon colorstay whipped foundation.  Applies like a dream and super light, simply use your fingers to spread the product on your face, set with powder and you’re runway ready in less than five minutes.

 

 

Spring is all about color! And that was no exception with the bright jeweled toned lids spotted on the runway of Donna Karan.  BH cosmetics feature a great range of affordable palettes with all the colors of the rainbow, pick one up today and give those hues a go!

 

 

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous vibrant red lip? No longer a shade reserved for the fall and winter, red is in the lead this spring.  I am a huge fan of the black eyeliner, a staple (I feel personally) in every girl’s makeup arsenal.  This year featured both demure thin lines and dramatic dark lines for the inner vixen in us all.  Which one will you be sporting?  My favorite eyeliner currently is the Stila stay all day waterproof liner.  No need for an extra brush or reapplications this nifty pen has got you covered whatever look you’re feeling.

 

 If the eyes are the windows to the soul then the brows are the curtains that frame your face.  I am a strong advocate for the fuller brow and lucky for me the final trend this year is the bold brow.  Give those tweezers a break and embrace the change! If you have naturally thinner eyebrows fill them in with the ELF eyebrow kits, an all in one kit that’ll keep you looking runway perfect all day. 

 

 

Photo Credits: Google Image