Dior Bird of Paradise: Dior Addict Lipsticks

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Dior released their Summer 2013 collection this month, called Bird of Paradise. It features 27 products in total, but not all retailers will carry the full range (I think select items are exclusive at certain stores). According to Dior's website, there are four shades of Dior Addict Lipstick released with this collection, but I only saw two shades available at The Bay (where I previewed the collection). I decided to pick both up on a whim, since my friend got me a discount on them and you know my affinity for lipstick in pretty packaging. Both shades are new and will be added to the permanent Dior Addict Lipstick range, and are packaged in transparent iridescent plastic square cases with the name Dior embossed on the side. The actual bullet is encased in a silver metal tube that fits into the plastic case. Each lipstick contains 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $31.

751 Exotique and 771 Passionnée

751 Exotique and 771 Passionnée

751 Exotique is a medium vibrant warm strawberry pink with a high shine finish. This is a new shade, and will be added to the permanent range. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is warmer and more sheer than MAC Lustering, more pink and more sheer than MAC Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick, less reddened and more sheer than MAC Elegant Accent Mineralize Rich Lipstick, darker and brighter than Clinique Woppin' Watermelon Chubby Stick, and warmer than Revlon Sweet Tart Lip Butter.
771 Passionnée is a medium vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink with a high shine finish. This is a new shade, and will be added to the permanent range. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is less bright and more sheer than MAC Lickable, cooler and more sheer than MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick, brighter and slightly cooler than YSL Pink in Devotion Rouge Volupté Shine, and slightly less cool than Revlon Lollipop Lip Butter.

There are a lot of similar formulas to Dior Addict now, but when it first came out, it was really the only lipstick that combined the emolliency and hydration of a lip balm with the shine of a gloss and the colour pay-off of a lipstick. Of course, due to the more emollient nature of the texture, these lipsticks will wear two, maybe three hours at most before needing to re-apply, but they do keep lips looking and feeling hydrated throughout the duration of wear. The two shades here are lovely and perfect for this time of year, the semi-opaque colour pay-off is ideal for those who want to get into wearing a brighter lip colour, they feel very moisturizing and comfortable to wear, and they are both scent- and taste-free. On that note, it seems every single make-up brand has a similar type of lipstick now and there are a lot of dupes out there available at a range of different prices, so I'm not going to say that these are worth $31 a pop. But they look luxurious, they feel luxurious, and well, they're Dior. Fans of the Dior Addict Lipstick formula who want a nice pop of colour without being overwhelmingly bright should find these enticing.

Dior Bird of Paradise: Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow

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Dior released their Summer 2013 collection this month, called Bird of Paradise. It features 27 products in total, but not all retailers will carry the full range (I think select items are exclusive at certain stores). When my friend who works at Dior gave me a sneak preview of this collection a few weeks back, I knew immediately that I had to pick up the Coral Glow Paradise Duo. I didn't know all the hype that this product was going to receive, but the moment I swatched it, it was instant love. The Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo is "a collector's edition powder that combines the sunny shades of a powder and the bright pearly tones of a blush in a single palette to highlight and sculpt tanned, summer skin. The skin is illuminated with a sunkissed effect, as if glowing in the sunlight." There are two shades of Paradise Duo, each one packaged in a silver metal mirrored compact featuring Dior's signature quilt pattern. Each compact comes with a kabuki brush, contains 9.5 grams of product, and retails for $56.


Coral Glow consists of four "quadrants" of colour, each one with a different letter to spell out the word, "NUDE." The "N" quadrant is a medium-dark orange-toned tan with in a natural matte finish. The "D" quadrant is a medium yellow-toned peach tan in a natural matte finish. The "U" quadrant is a medium pink-coral with red undertones in a satin finish. The "E" quadrant is a medium pink-coral in a satin finish that is slightly less reddened than the "U" quadrant. For its purposes, the "N" and "D" quadrants are meant to be swirled together to use as a bronzer, and the "U" and "E" quadrants are meant to be swirled together to use as a blush.

Swatches of each individual "quadrant"

Swatches of bronzer "quadrants" blended together and blush "quadrants" blended together

Coral Glow Bronzer is a medium-dark orange-toned tan brown in a natural matte finish. The texture is silky and very finely-milled, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more orange than MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder, slightly darker and warmer than MAC Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, and lighter and less red than MAC Bronze Bronzing Powder.
Coral Glow Blush is a medium-dark brightened pink-coral with red undertones in a satin finish. The texture is silky and very finely-milled, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more reddened than MAC Fleur Power, brighter and more pink than NARS Torrid, similar but less shimmery than Tarte Blissful, and much less red than Tarte Frisky.

At $56, this compact is definitely a splurge, but it is truly gorgeous — it sits beautifully on the skin, has amazing colour pay-off, and layers and blends out incredibly well. Coral Glow definitely leans warm, so it is generally more suitable for those with warmer undertones, but it's a nice option for those with cooler undertones looking to add warmth to their complexion. Surprisingly, I find that this duo would work well on all skintones from fair to dark. What I love most about this is that the finish on both the bronzer and the blush isn't too matte and not shimmery at all — it leaves a naturally luminous finish to the skin without being shiny. Seriously, everything from the silky, soft, finely-milled texture to the weighty silver compact screams "luxury!" Plus, having both a bronzer and a blush in one compact makes it handy for travel, too. If there's one thing to splurge on from Dior's Bird of Paradise collection, it's Coral Glow.

MAC Art of the Eye: Eyeshadows

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Monday, April 29, 2013

This coming Thursday, MAC will release a collection called Art of the Eye, "a luxurious colour collection where eyes are the fascinating focus." This collection will be available online and at select MAC Stores only. It is inspired by the make-up of the Middle East, "from exotic smoky looks to breathtaking, grand celebration statements that dazzle like ornate multicoloured jewels." This collection sees the release of 18 products —six of which are new and limited edition, three of which are re-promotes, four of which are permanent at all locations, and five of which are permanent at PRO only. Art of the Eye sees the release of five shades of single eyeshadow. Each eyeshadow comes in regular black packaging, contains 1.3 to 1.5 grams of product, and retails for $18. These shades are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at participating locations.

Clockwise (from left): Gameela, Farasha, Hajar Karim, Parrot, and Banafsaji

Gameela, Farasha, Hajar Karim, Parrot, and Banafsaji

Gameela is a medium-dark vibrant hot pink with subtle cool undertones in a Veluxe finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier side, and as a result, can go on slightly patchy. (It goes on smoother on the eye than it does in a swatch.) It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter and less reddened than Passionate, and warmer than Tease with Ease Pro Longwear Eyeshadow.
Farasha is a medium brightened tangerine orange with subtle yellow undertones in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly brighter and more yellow-toned than Rule, and lighter and less red than Orange (PRO).
Hajar Karim is a medium brightened kelly green in a Veluxe finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler and more matte than Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eyeshadow, and brighter and warmer than Kelly (PRO).
Parrot is a medium brightened aqua blue with green and gold pearl in a Frost finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2004's Salsabelle collection and 2007's Originals collection, and is limited edition. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and less green than Aquadisiac, and more green than Blue Calm (PRO).
Banafsaji is a dark indigo-purple with blue pearl in a Veluxe Pearl finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and more purple than Contrast.

These five eyeshadows are the only products I bought from this collection because I love the variety of bright colours here (many of the other products being launched with Art of the Eye are either permanent or re-promoted with a lot of close dupes, and I didn't feel the need to buy them). The only shade that I was disappointed in was Gameela because it's stiffer and more dry than the other shades. It does show up much better with good colour pay-off when applied on the eye, but ultimately, I think you're better off getting Passionate as it's similar enough to Gameela in colour and finish, but Passionate has a better texture. Hajar Karim is a great option if you're looking for a bright green eyeshadow with a flatter finish, as there's not a lot that's similar from MAC (Feeling Fresh from last year's Hey, Sailor! collection is similar in colour but it has a frosted finish). Banafsaji is a must-have for fans of blue eyeshadow; I thought it was going to be similar to Contrast, but it is decidedly more vibrant and has a gorgeous blue shimmer-sheen that catches in the light.

And, finally, Parrot makes a comeback after nearly six years! This was a much beloved shade when it was launched and is still one of MAC's most coveted eyeshadows (I think it was going on eBay for $180 at some point!). I'm not sure why it's not permanent because it's a truly beautiful shade and there's nothing similar to it in MAC's current range — it tiptoes that fine line between a bright sky blue and an aqua blue, and it has a stunning green-gold pearl that makes it look almost duochrome. Fans of Parrot can rejoice and snatch up a new one before it's gone again! Or for people who weren't able to get their hands on it the first time around, here's your chance now (and then five years later, you can sell it on eBay or whatever the equivalent of eBay is in the future). In the end, this is a super fun range of shades that fans of bright colours will love — it's the perfect time of year for them, too!

Purdy's Chocolatier

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Once in a while, when I'm really craving sweets, I'll go to Purdy's and get a bar of their English toffee or a little bag of chocolates if I'm feeling particularly decadent (usually a Hedgehog truffle, a Himalayan pink salt caramel, and a piece of dark chocolate crystallized ginger). Recently, they've introduced French macarons as a part of their in-store collection, with six signature flavours and another six seasonal flavours. They get their macarons shipped from Paris every few days, but they seem to be selling like hot cakes because they're always nearly sold out. When I went in this afternoon, they had five flavours left, so I chose two pistachio, and then one each of raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, and lemon. They're not the best (that honour still goes to Ladurée), but they do the job when the craving hits with crisp shells and flavourful creamy centres (the raspberry is especially lovely with a raspberry jam filling complete with little seeds). The pistachio wasn't as authentic as I'd like, but they still have a decent nutty flavour. My favourite from this selection was, not surprisingly, the chocolate. (What do you really expect from a chocolate store?) They're slightly smaller than the typical macaron, but they're also cheaper at six for $10.50. Still, considering that Purdy's is a chocolatier and not a bakery, these are actually surprisingly good. And, best of all, they're available at the mall!


Purdy's Chocolatier
Multiple Locations

Sunday Video Love: I Was A Fool

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Brokenhearted? Feeling a little stupid for loving someone who was just so wrong for you? Put someone on a pedestal who you realized later was so not worth it? Disappointed that a relationship just didn't work out? Wasted time liking someone who was just a complete and total douche bag? Then, Tegan and Sara's new single is just for you!

(And, look, it's Roxy Richter from Scott Pilgrim! Tegan and Sara upped their game.)

Julep Maven Box: April 2013

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

This month's Julep Maven box features shades from Julep's new Brights collection, which was inspired by "neon lights, rainbows, and colourful spring accessories" to get out of the "winter colour comfort zone." During this time of year, just after all the Easter-inspired pastel colours come out, many cosmetics companies will launch bright nail colours to get us amped up for the summer (e.g. "beach season"). It seems that neons are taking center stage right now, and not just in your typical "highlighter" shades — it's as if someone hit the "saturation" button on all colours to make them brighter, bolder, and more in-your-face. I decided to get the "Classic with a Twist" style box this month, which included their new Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum, and two shades from the Brights collection. I decided to add on a third shade for $4.99. So, the shades I got this month are:

Avery, Jackie, and Lena

Avery, Jackie, and Lena

Avery is a medium cool-toned fluorescent pink in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency, but is a little on the thicker side. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is brighter than Julep's Lauren, similar though perhaps slightly less neon than Orly's Beach Cruiser, and more cool-toned than Essie's Bottle Service.
Jackie is a medium bright maraschino cherry red in a jelly-cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in one medium-thick coat or two thin-medium coats. It is similar to Butter London's Come to Bed Red, slightly warmer than Essie's Silken Cord, and cooler than Joe Fresh's Tomato.
Lena is a medium brightened teal with fine iridescent gold micro-shimmer. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in one medium coat. It is less bright and less green than Butter London's Slapper, slightly darker and more teal than Joe Fresh's Turquoise, and lighter and more green than Illamasqua's Muse.

All three polishes applied beautifully across the board — smooth, fluid, pigmented, and completely self-levelling. Honestly, this is the quality I've come to expect from Julep now. Looking back at my selection for this month's Julep Maven box, I'm actually quite surprised that I picked this style. I'm not usually a pink/red girl, but I was really feeling it this month for some reason, maybe because I have the least pinks and reds in my collection. Avery ended up being more neon than I thought it would be; my first reaction was, "It's like the Candy Yum-Yum of nail polishes!" I think it will become many people's go-to colour for summer, especially once tanning season starts. Jackie is by far one of the most perfect reds I've come across, not just in colour but in formula as well. It's not too cool and not too warm, and will look flattering on literally every single skintone and undertone. It also has a jelly quality to it that makes it appear juicier and glossier than a regular cream finish. Lena ended up being much more unique than I had anticipated. Now, as a true blue nail polish fiend, you'd think I'd have nearly every kind of blue, teal, turquoise, or aqua shade out there. But I actually couldn't find an exact dupe for it; others were either too blue, too green, too light, too dark, etc. So fitting to its namesake. I'm actually loving the look of wearing the red and the teal together — something about these two contrasting each other makes me inexplicably happy.

Lastly, the Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum is a really nice treatment for nails and cuticles, making nails stronger and cuticles softer — if you can be bothered to apply it regularly. Which I can't. The reason being is that it works best on bare nails, and I always have to have nail polish on. It's my thing. I tried using this serum on my bare nails before applying nail polish — it says to let serum dry completely first. So I waited ten minutes until the serum was completely dry, and went about my business of putting on my nail polish. Finished my nails and then went to bed. Then the next day, my nail polish fell off each nail one by one throughout the course of the day, probably within a six-hour window. I'm not talking about like, chips or strips of it coming off. I'm talking the whole layer of nail polish. It literally looked like my nails fell off because the polish was in the exact shape of my nail. I knew it was because I had used the serum, since that was the only thing I did differently. So, yeah, great for use on bare nails, like if you're letting your nails "breathe" in between nail polish applications or manicures. Not the best for someone like me, who always needs to have polish on.

Friday Five: Play

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Friday, April 26, 2013
This week's Friday Five:
  1. What was the last play you saw? Oh, wow, it's been a while... I think it might've been Wicked on Broadway two years ago. I really should remedy this. I really want to see Book of Mormon. I doubt I'll be able to go anytime soon, since tickets sell out like, a year in advance, but I am determined to watch it. And not in Toronto, either. I mean on Broadway, as it was meant to be seen.
  2. What kind of experience have you had as a performer in plays? Absolutely none. Even in high school, I hated drama class. Orchestra, yes. Plays and musicals, definitely no. I like watching them, not being in them.
  3. In general, what kinds of plays most turn you on? I'm not sure a play has actually ever turned me on, but I think Spring Awakening would do the trick, if the actors were hot enough.
  4. There are many movies where the characters say, “Let’s put on a play,” often as a means for raising funds or bringing attention to some cause. If you and your friends decided to do that, what would be the play, who would be its star, and what role would you play in its production? Beauty and the Beast, 'cause the story is awesome and the music is awesome, and who doesn't like talking teacups and candelabras? I have no idea who would be the star, since I don't know anyone personally who has an affinity for both singing and acting... Regardless, my role would be key make-up artist. Obviously.
  5. If I handed you a lump of Play-Doh right now and asked you to sculpt me something, what would it be? A penis, probably? 

MAC Baking Beauties: Lipsticks

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection called Baking Beauties. This collection was inspired by "everything about a cupcake; from the ruffled liner and creamy rosettes to shimmering sprinkles. It's this air of confectionery bliss that frosts eyes, lips, and nails in colours of irresistible lusciousness." This collection sees the release of 24 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, one of which is a re-promote, and eight of which are permanent. Baking Beauties sees the release of four shades of lipstick. All of MAC's lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $18. These shades are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Devil's Food, Pure Decoration, Raspberry Swirl, and Lavender Whip

Devil's Food is a dark reddened plum-brown in a Frost finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, but it has a tendency to settle into lip lines resulting in unevenness. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more brown than Desire, and more plum than Polished Up.
Pure Decoration is a light warm peach-beige with orange undertones in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, but due to the milkiness of the shade and the nature of the finish, it can look dry on the lips. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more peach than Creme d'Nude, and lighter and brighter than Shy Girl. 
Raspberry Swirl is a light blue-based cotton candy pink in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less blue-toned and less bright than Saint Germain, and slightly lighter and less grey than Snob. 
Lavender Whip is a light-medium cool-toned lavender-pink in a Cremesheen finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2009's Cremeteam collection, and is limited edition. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is warmer and more pink than the original Lavender Whip. It is lighter and more purple than Syrup, and much lighter and more sheer than Up the Amp.

I like that the colours go well with the theme of the collection, but with the exception of Devil's Food, they are far more suited to fair to medium skintones. Devil's Food looks dark in the tube and in swatches, but it's actually quite flattering on a variety of skintones, as it takes on a much more plum tone once on the lips. The finish reminds me more of a Lustre than a Frost, though, since it has that tendency to settle into lip lines. Pure Decoration leans very orange, so it will be more flattering on those with warmer skintones. It also goes on lighter than it looks, so it will also be more suited to fair to light-medium skintones. Raspberry Swirl will appeal to those who like their cool-toned pinks (e.g. Snob, Saint Germain, Viva Glam Gaga, etc.), though MAC has released a lot of shades like this before (and actually quite recently), so check your stash to see if you have a dupe.

Surprisingly, Lavender Whip is my favourite release from this collection. Even though MAC states that it is a re-promoted shade, it is much more pink than the original version, so for those who wanted the same Lavender Whip from 2009, this might be disappointing news. But for those who wanted Lavender Whip to be less purple, this will be a welcome change. I, for one, found the original Lavender Whip a bit hard to wear in the same way that Viva Glam Nicki 2 can be difficult to wear — it's just not that flattering across many skintones. But this year's version, with the added warmth and pink undertone along with the slight translucency that the finish offers, it is decidedly much more wearable, and better yet, actually flattering across many skintones and undertones. For me, this year's Lavender Whip is a must-have; it's like a softer, less bright version of Up the Amp that is just perfect for Spring.

MAC Baking Beauties: Pearlmatte Face Powders

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Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection called Baking Beauties. This collection was inspired by "everything about a cupcake; from the ruffled liner and creamy rosettes to shimmering sprinkles. It's this air of confectionery bliss that frosts eyes, lips, and nails in colours of irresistible lusciousness." This collection sees the release of 24 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, one of which is a re-promote, and eight of which are permanent. Baking Beauties includes two new and limited edition Pearlmatte Face Powders, which combine "pearlized and satin shades… to achieve an array of looks with a rich texture and velvet finish... for highlighting and blush effects." Each powder features an "exclusively designed cupcake pattern." Each Pearlmatte Face Powder comes in regular black packaging, contains 12 grams of product, and retails for $34.

In for a Treat

In for a Treat features a light warm peachy champagne base and a white overspray border, with medium-dark reddened coral flowers in a matte finish and light-medium mint green leaves in a satin finish. When swirled together, it creates a light peachy champagne beige with golden champagne shimmer-sheen. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer and slightly darker than Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish, and slightly lighter and less metallic than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish.

Pink Buttercream

Pink Buttercream features a light silvered pink base and a white overspray border, with medium-dark cool-toned pink flowers in a matte finish and light periwinkle blue leaves in a satin finish. When swirled together, it creates a light cool-toned pink with soft silver-white shimmer-sheen. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is much cooler and more pink than Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish, and lighter than Veronica's Blush.

In for a Treat and Pink Buttercream


I actually really love the texture of Pearlmatte Face Powders in general — they're very soft and finely-milled so they go on really smoothly with good colour pay-off. I like that they mix two different finishes, too, so that they're not overly metallic. That having been said, I can't really see either of these shades being used solely as a blush, even on the most fairest of complexions. They're excellent as highlighters and to add an overall illumination to the face (I like using them on top of really bright or dark blushes to give them a glowy, buffed effect). I advise using a light hand if you want to dust it all over the face, since the more you put on, the more metallic the finish (however, if you want the "disco ball" effect, by all means, pile it on!).

In the swatch photo above, it doesn't look like there's much of a difference between the two shades, but In for a Treat is definitely much warmer than Pink Buttercream, so for those who like a peachier tone in their highlighters, In for a Treat is more ideal. Likewise, for those who want a cooler, more pink tone to their highlighters, Pink Buttercream is the one to go for. In for a Treat works beautifully as a highlighter on all skintones, and I didn't find that it looked ashy on darker skintones at all. However, due to the coolness of Pink Buttercream, I find it better suited for fair to light complexions. On that note, I wouldn't say that either of these are necessarily must-haves — they're nice to have as novelty items because of the cute designs, but aside from that, the shades themselves aren't particularly unique, and MAC has released many highlighting shades like these before. 

Campagnolo

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Steph had been raving about Campagnolo for ages and we'd been meaning to go there together for a while now, but couldn't seem to get reservations on the days we wanted to go (apparently, they are always busy so the chances of getting a table without reservations are slim to none). But we made reservations on Sunday and were finally able to go there for dinner tonight:

Fresh Burrata Cheese with Roasted Grapes and Toasted Bread

Roasted Bone Marrow with Oxtail Marmalade and Plums

We decided to start with two appetizers — the first, of course, being the burrata cheese that Campagnolo is lauded for. The cheese is light and mild and beautifully silky, but also somehow soft and creamy... it's what dairy dreams are made of. Rested atop garlic-kissed toast and drizzled with olive oil, you almost don't want to share it (but you should, since there are so many delightful things to try here). Lovely plump, slightly tart roasted grapes provide the perfect textural and flavour contrast, and make for a fantastic palate cleanser for more deliciousness to come. The second appetizer we decided to try was the roasted bone marrow, a plate of pure decadence: rich, silky marrow topped with a most addictive mixture of savoury, smoky oxtail and sweet-tart plums. Toasted baguette slices are provided as a means of eating the marrow, but you could just as easily use a spoon and just scoop it right into your mouth if you should feel so inclined. Sharing is recommended here, as it's incredibly rich (not to mention that it's probably a bajillion calories and fat grams).

Potato Gnocchi Pomodoro with Arugula Pesto

Pappardelle with Braised Rabbit and Hedgehog Chanterelles

We also ordered two entrées to share, both pasta dishes. The portions aren't big here, but looks are deceiving because they pack a punch. The first dish was the housemade potato gnocchi, which turned out to be the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life: soft, plush pillows of light, fluffy potato coated in a smooth, tangy pomodoro sauce and savoury arugula pesto and topped with crispy fried basil leaves. Simple, fresh, and ridiculously addictive. The second pasta dish was the pappardelle; fresh ribbons of homemade pasta cooked perfectly al dente with generous chunks of tender braised rabbit meat and crisp chanterelle mushrooms, coated in a light, buttery sauce. Rich, flavourful, and beautifully balanced. Absolutely glorious. If you're debating what you get for dinner here, you really can't go wrong with the pasta dishes — they have perfected them, and this is where they truly shine.

Salted Caramel Budino

Finally, for dessert, we ordered the infamous salted caramel budino. Light, crunchy chocolate meringue pieces in a perfectly whipped bittersweet chocolate pudding with a hint of espresso, and drizzled with creamy salted caramel sauce. A gorgeous combination of textures and flavours that is extremely addictive and thankfully not too sweet — the perfect ending to a truly fantastic Italian meal. The restaurant itself is small and cozy, comforting and sleek at the same time, sort of rustic chic so that you can just as easily dress up as you can dress down to go there. Our waiter was nice and welcoming, attentive but not cloying, laidback but very considerate. Was it worth the hype? Absolutely. Did it live up to the high expectations I had through Steph's constant raves? Definitely. I had a seriously good time tonight, and I can see why it's one of the 50 best restaurants in Canada. I can't wait to go back.


Campagnolo
832 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON M6J 1V3
(416) 364-4785

April Pick-Ups & Deliveries: Part II

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013
So, as I mentioned yesterday, I ended up hauling way more beauty products than I had thought. I couldn't help myself, though — Sephora was having their 15% off VIB event, and then my friend who works for Dior told me there was a weekend where she could get 35% off so I should let her know if there was anything I wanted, and then my other friend who works for Estée Lauder told me she was going to the employee store so I should let her know if there was anything I wanted... And, well, you know I can't resist a deal.

Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette (with Breathless Eyeshadow) and Eyeshadows in Bordello, Last Call, and Chopper

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #10 Provocative Pink and Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 365

Dior Bird of Paradise Collection Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo Iridescent Blush & Bronzing Powder in 002 Coral Glow

Dior Bird of Paradise Collection Dior Addict Lipstick in 771 Passionnée and 751 Exotique

Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil ($10 from $40)

Origins A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea (x2 at $8 each from $31)

Origins Have A Nice Day Super-Charged Moisture Lotion ($10 from $40) and Make A Difference Night Skin Rejuvenating Gel-Cream ($10 from from $40)

I'm going to New York in a couple weeks, so I tried to control myself during Sephora's VIB event since 15% off isn't that much less than the retail prices in the States (especially given that our retail tax is still much higher). I was debating between Urban Decay's Naked2 Palette and the custom palette, and even though the Naked2 Palette is cheaper and you get more bang for your buck, I've been eyeing the custom palettes for a while now. And let me tell you, it took me nearly half an hour for me to even decide on those three shades (I ended up choosing shades that I would use all the time, so cost per use would be lower than, say, a bright turquoise or dark green). The palette actually comes with an eyeshadow already in it (Breathless, a widely flattering medium warm taupe-brown shade), but I ended up loving it so much that it was worth getting for me. I'll probably build another palette when I'm in New York, since they're $4 cheaper per eyeshadow in the US. As for the lipsticks, Shu Uemura is now being carried at more and more Sephora locations, so when I saw that I could get 15% off, I decided to splurge on a lipstick in a gorgeous strawberry pink shade. And I also took the opportunity to replace my YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #10 Provocative Pink that I lost, since getting a small discount is better than none at all. 

As for the Dior stuff, I was so, so tempted by the Summer collection that when my friend told me she could get me 35% off, I had to jump on it. I would've bought more, but I'm still trying to budget (admittedly, I'm doing a half-assed job), so I just got my favourite items from the collection. I really wanted both of the Paradise Duos, but at a retail price of $56, I really couldn't afford both even with a discount, and decided I liked Coral Glow more than Pink Glow. Finally, at the Estée Lauder employee store, my friend gets 70% or more off all their brands so, again, I had to jump on the chance. They didn't have a great selection this time around, but I managed to get a bottle of the Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil (I am now a big fan of body oils, and thought the Beach scent would be great for summer), two tubes of my favourite Origins body lotion, plus the day face lotion I love (I bought it last year and loved it but hated the bottle — however, for $10, I couldn't resist) and a lightweight night cream that I wanted to try a while ago (it's actually discontinued now, but again, for $10, I couldn't say no). Despite all that I spent, though, I am happy to report that I didn't buy any of it at full price, so it's still a win for me!

April Pick-Ups & Deliveries: Part I

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Monday, April 22, 2013
So, in between working a ton (wedding season has begun, folks) and reading obsessively, I found a bit of time to do some shopping... and, boy, you should see the damage I can do in a matter of five minutes. After weeks of careful budgeting, I found myself a little more financially relaxed this month and picked up some goodies here and there. I surprised myself by being more and more curious with lower end beauty brands, starting with a trip to Loblaws with Cynthia, followed by a trip to Target with Steph (which was actually quite disappointing — the small selection of NYX products they carry was all opened and touched resulting in a most disgusting display, and nearly all the Sonia Kashuik products were sold out), and, of course, my monthly stop by Bath & Body Works.

Joe Fresh Rose Gloss in Pink, Mauve, and Berry

Joe Fresh Powder Blush in Rose, Melon, and Pink

Joe Fresh Nail Polish in Aqua, Blueberry, Sour Citron, Tomato, Orange Sorbet, and Tigerlily

Joe Fresh Regular and Extra Strength Nail Polish Removers

Essie Spring 2013 Nail Lacquers in Maximillian Strasse-Her and Avenue Maintain and Essie Grow Faster Base Coat

Essie Resort 2013 Collection Mini Nail Lacquers in First Timer, In the Cab-ana, Under Where?, and Come Here!

L'Oreal Color Infallible Eyeshadow in Pepsy Coral, Forever Pink, Sahara Treasure, and Bronze Divine

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Quenched and EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet

Method + Orla Kiely Spring Collection Hand Wash in Honeysuckle, White Nectarine, Tomato Vine, and Cloudburst (x2) 

Bath & Body Works Scentportable Fragrance Refills in Mahogany Leather (x3), Eucalyptus Mint (x2), and Spring, and PocketBac Anti-Bacterial Gels in Eucalyptus Mint (x3)

Non-beauty purchases: eight new books from Amazon, a black disc-sequin top on clearance for $12 from $27.80 from Forever 21, and a pair of black The Diva skinny jeans on sale for $8.98 from $39.50 and an oversized red Hello Kitty tee (that I will use as a sleep shirt) on sale for $5.98 from $20 from Old Navy (I had a Friends & Family 25% off coupon). I totally didn't need any of this stuff (except for the nail polish removers 'cause I ran out of my beloved Zoya), but I just couldn't resist, especially given that most of it was either on sale or a total bargain. Also, I have since learned that I am obsessed with cosmetics shopping at Loblaws. Like, I go there maybe three or four times a year, and every time I go through their Joe Fresh stuff, I am always impressed and wonder why I don't shop there more often. I mean, the prices are affordable ($6 blushes and lip products, 3 for $10 nail polishes!), the packaging is cute and minimalistic, and the products are generally good quality (reviews are forthcoming!) — but then I look at my make-up collection, and I'm like, "Oh, yeah, that's why." But seeing as this is only the first half of my haul this month, I will be the first to admit that I went a wee bit overboard this month on the beauty products... Stay tuned.

Sunday Video Love: Cups (When I'm Gone)

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

My friend, Steph, posted this on my Facebook wall, well knowing about my addiction to Pitch Perfect. It was about time they made an official video for this song. Things I have learned from watching this video: My girl crush on Anna Kendrick is still going strong. And magic happens when you're baking biscuits.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

No, this is not a music video. It is one of the official trailers for the upcoming movie, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, that's coming out this summer. I rarely ever get this excited from a trailer, but when I'm obsessed with something, you know I have to post it here and share it with y'all. I originally saw the first trailer (this is the second one) in the theatres a few weeks ago, and was so intrigued by it that I was like, "I have to read the books before this movie comes out." Because, you know, the books are always better and whatnot. So, I just finished the five books in the series in the past week (yes, they were that addictive), but the reason I'm excited for this movie, aside from the story, is that Jamie Campbell Bower is playing Jace.

Let's face it, he's basically the main reason I like the books — I mean, generally, we like the main character's love interest more than the main character (he's what Four is to the Divergent books or, more popularly, what Edward Cullen is to the Twilight series... but, you know, less annoying and way hotter). And this is one of those few times that I have to say that the casting choice is spot-on, 'cause Bower honestly embodies everything that I imagine Jace to be — from his Kurt Cobain-esque grunginess, to his lanky-but-muscular smokin' hot bod, to his deep sexy British-accented voice, to his general badass-ness. So, basically, I will watch this movie in theatres and then buy it on DVD and watch that repeatedly because the fangirl in me is obsessed with him. Like, seriously, I don't even care if the movie turns out to be crap. Of course, come August, when this movie hits theatres, Bower's fame will pretty much rise to super-stardom the way Robert Pattinson's did after Twilight, and then I'll probably get sick of him. So I shall enjoy him while I can.

Also, this trailer features Radiohead's "All I Need," which just gets me more pumped for this movie.

Friday Five: Frosting

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Friday, April 19, 2013
This week's Friday Five:
  1. How much frosting do you like on a slice of cake (or on a cupcake)? This might be a little controversial, but I actually don't like a lot of frosting on a cake or cupcake. A little bit is fine, but I prefer the actual cake part to the frosting.
  2. What's something else (besides cake or cupcakes) that's excellent with frosting? Pop Tarts, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, apple turnovers, gingerbread cookies, cinnamon buns... 
  3. How close are you (or how many years removed) from your hair turning grey? Unless I get premature grey hair, then hopefully not close at all!
  4. With whom would you say you have a frosty relationship? No one that I can think of on the top of my head. If I don't like someone, I don't have a relationship with them at all. I cut all ties. I'm kind of cutthroat like that, I guess.
  5. What item in your freezer is most likely to be consumed next? Pizza Pockets, which I intend on eating for dinner tonight because I cannot be bothered to make something. And ice cubes, since I usually put them in whatever I'm drinking, and I usually have a drink beside me at all times when I'm at home.

369 Shanghai Dim Sum

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Thursday, April 18, 2013
I was craving some Shanghai-style food, and since we were in the area, my mom and I went to 369 Shanghai Dim Sum for dinner and ordered our usual dishes, some classic Northern Chinese cuisine favourites:

Spicy beef hand-pulled noodle soup

Shanghai-style stir-fried noodles

Steamed pork soup dumplings

Pan-fried pork dumplings

Okay, so since trying Ding Tai Fung, I just feel like all other Shanghai restaurants are inferior. Not that 369 is bad, it's just very... standard. It'll satisfy your cravings for Shanghai-style food, absolutely, but the quality is just average. The pork soup dumplings are decent, but they aren't quite as plump, the wrappers are a bit on the thick side, and the pork doesn't have that perfect meat-to-fat ratio that makes Ding Tai Fung's version so melt-in-your-mouth glorious. The hand-pulled noodles are a bit too firm for my liking here, and not quite as fresh, and the beef is way too lean and tough (perhaps we got a bad batch?). I will say that they get the heat factor just right, though, as the broth is quite spicy (Ding Tai Fung's broth was, by comparison, quite mild). The Shanghai-style stir-fried noodles and pan-fried pork dumplings are, again, very standard. Good, but not particularly memorable. Honestly, if I'm in Markham, anyway, I'd drive the extra five minutes down to Ding Tai Fung for Shanghai-style food.


369 Shanghai Dim Sum
8380 Kennedy Road, Unit C8
Markham, ON L3R 2N9
(905) 305-7713

Rosemary & Thyme

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013
As many of you will know, I am nocturnal. Hopelessly so, in fact, as no matter how early or late I wake up, I always somehow find a way to be nocturnal again. I passed out on the couch while reading (I am seriously addicted to The Mortal Instruments series right now, and somehow finished three of the books in the past week) and found myself waking up at 8:00am — two hours after I typically go to bed. I decided to be productive instead of going back to sleep, so I took a shower, made some iced coffee, made an appointment with my auto guy, got my tires changed, went to Loblaws to pick up a few Joe Fresh goodies and some groceries, stowed my winter tires in my garage (which was basically my workout for the week), and then decided to meet up with Steph for brunch at Rosemary & Thyme.


For those who have never been there, it's a neighbourhood breakfast joint, a super-quaint, family-owned operation in a relatively run-down plaza. It's one of those places that you would never even notice if a local didn't point it out, but it's a lovely gem of a place. The food is tasty and decently priced, the waitresses are incredibly nice and welcoming, and the restaurant is small and cozy. They specialize in comfort food, and are really known for their breakfast/brunch options (they close quite early, sometime in the afternoon, but they serve their breakfast menu from open to close). I'd only been there once before, and decided to try the Eggs Benedict this time. Two toasted English muffins, topped with just-salty-enough pan-fried peameal bacon, three poached eggs, and drizzled with an extremely generous coating of creamy hollandaise sauce. The eggs were very slightly overcooked so that the insides weren't as runny as poached eggs typically are, but hey, I'm not looking for authenticity here, and they were satisfying, comforting, and perfectly delicious. I opted for homefries as my side, and was delighted to see that they were freshly pan-fried potatoes rather than the frozen crap dumped in a deep fryer that many breakfast places serve. It's not the classiest breakfast place, but there is something incredibly charming about it. If I ever get up early enough to go out for breakfast again, I will certainly return here.


Rosemary & Thyme
2798 Victoria Park Avenue
North York, ON M1W 1C2
(416) 499-0880

MAC In Extra Dimension (2013): Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Triple Impact, Opalesse, Zestful, Extra Silver, Dimensional Blue, and Smoky Mauve

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection called In Extra Dimension, featuring "MAC's modern hybrid make-up that combines the smoothness of a cream, the blendability of a liquid, and the finish of a powder with long-wearing colour and prismatic reflections." This collection sees the release of 16 products —14 of which are new and limited edition, and two of which are re-promotes. In Extra Dimension includes six new and limited edition shades of Extra Dimension Eyeshadow, which "ranges from sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect." They feature a wave design embossed on the surface with the MAC logo imprinted around it. Each Extra Dimension Eyeshadow comes in regular black packaging, contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $25.

Clockwise (from bottom): Triple Impact, Opalesse, and Zestful

Triple Impact, Opalesse, and Zestful

Triple Impact is a pale iridescent cool-toned lavender with pink-lavender pearl in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less sparkly than Kitschmas Pigment, and lighter and cooler than Amethyst Pressed Pigment.
Opalesse is a pale iridescent white with pink-green pearl in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less silvered than Vex, and softer and less sparkly than Pink Opal Pigment.
Zestful is a pale iridescent pistachio green with soft golden-green shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. There are no close dupes in MAC's permanent range at this time.

Clockwise (from right): Extra Silver, Dimensional Blue, and Smoky Mauve

Extra Silver, Dimensional Blue, and Smoky Mauve

Extra Silver is a pale brightened silver in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is smoother and more pigmented than Filament, and lighter than Electra.
Dimensional Blue is a light-medium greyed sky blue in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more metallic than Moon's Reflection, and darker and more blue than Blue Willow Pressed Pigment.
Smoky Mauve is a medium plum-mauve in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and silky, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more plum than Sable, and much more metallic than Haux.

I've always been a fan of the Extra Dimension formula, and I'm so glad MAC decided to release new eyeshadow shades with it. It somehow has that really smooth, ultra-pigmented look of a Veluxe Pearl eyeshadow while being super-lightweight like a Mineralize eyeshadow. And you can use these both wet and dry, so you can play around with the intensity and colour pay-off. Triple Impact and Opalesse are absolutely stunning, with a beautiful prismatic effect — you can appreciate the opalescent quality much more in person than in a photo. Zestful is unlike any shade I've really seen before, at least released by MAC, and is a lovely pastel option just in time for Spring. Smoky Mauve is a great shade for those who want to wear plum shades but find that they can look too bruise-like or tired; the metallic shimmer-sheen gives it more dimension and makes it look softer than many plum shades (it's actually gorgeous when worn with Opalesse). Dimensional Blue was also surprisingly more unique than I thought — this is actually the shade I had hoped Blue Willow Pressed Pigment would be. The only skippable shade here is Extra Silver, as there are a lot of dupes for it; if you are looking for a light silver, however, this is a great option as it's very lightweight, finely-milled, and ultra-smooth.