Friday Five: What Do You Like?

This week's Friday Five:

1. What do you order to drink when you're at a fast-food restaurant? It switches between Diet Coke and Nestea depending on whether I'm in the mood for carbonation, but it's usually one or the other.


2. What kind of dressing do you have on your salad when you eat out? When I eat salad at a restaurant, it's usually because it comes with my entrée, and then I typically get Caesar salad. But on the occasion that I choose a garden salad instead, I usually opt for whatever the restaurant's house dressing is... and if they don't have one, then Italian. 


3. What do you like at those self-serve frozen yogurt places? It depends on my mood and the flavour offerings of the day, but on the regular, I usually like the original tart frozen yogurt and I pile on strawberries, blackberries, pineapples, granola, coconut, and mochi. But if I'm PMS-ing, which is the only time I crave chocolate and extra-sweet things, I'll go all out and get a mix of cake batter and red velvet cupcake frozen yogurts, and top it with mini marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, peanuts, Reese's Pieces, cheesecake pieces, cookie dough pieces, and chocolate fudge with those rice crispy balls. But I honestly prefer Yogen Früz to self-serve places like Menchie's or Pinkberry.


4. How do you like your popcorn? If it's at the movies, then obviously with butter. Lots of butter. But I rarely ever get popcorn at the movies because I usually go after dinner and I'm already really full when I get to the theatre. However, if it's popcorn that I eat at home, then I'm currently addicted to Orville Redenbacher's Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn. I buy two or three bags at a time.


5. What kind of shampoo do you use? I'm currently rotating between three: Lush's Big Shampoo for volume and shine, Lush's I Love Juicy Shampoo for deep cleansing, and The Body Shop's Banana Shampoo for gentle everyday cleansing.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: True Love, Fearless, and Flush

To celebrate getting approved for Tarte's pro discount, I went on a little shopping spree earlier this month during which I picked up the three new shades of Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush that are new for Spring 2014 and will be added to the permanent range (!). Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $31.
Clockwise from bottom right: True Love, Fearless, and Flush
True Love, Fearless, and Flush

True Love is a medium-dark vibrant watermelon coral in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, 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 lighter and more coral than Natural Beauty, more pink and more matte than Frisky, darker and more reddened than MAC Fleur Power, more reddened than MAC Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush, lighter and less bright than MAC Salsarose (PRO), and more pink than Illamasqua Tweak.

Fearless is a medium vibrant warm passion pink in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, 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 lighter and more pink than True Love, darker and warmer than Amused, more pink than MAC Fleur Power, darker and brighter than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush, and brighter and warmer than NARS Mata Hari.

Flush is a light-medium cool-toned pink in a satin finish. (Note: This is an entirely different shade from the original Flush, which was a dark berry shade.) It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler than Dollface, darker and brighter than MAC Well Dressed, lighter than MAC Dame, darker and brighter than Illamasqua Katie, and lighter and more muted than Illamasqua Nymph.

Fans of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes can rejoice at three more lovely additions to their permanent range! Having almost all of the shades from this line, I can say that Tarte is really working at making more widely flattering shades. I actually find it kind of funny that they discontinued the original Flush, which was their darkest shade, and gave the same name to their now lightest blush. On that note, Flush actually darkens and brightens on the cheeks despite looking very light in the pan and in a swatch, so it does show up well even on medium skintones (on my NC30 skintone, it showed up as a natural rosy shade with only a hint of cool undertones), though those with medium-dark to dark skintones will find it starting to look ashy. Both True Love and Fearless are fun and cheerful, though I do recommend using light layers with both as they can go on quite bright. I was reading some initial reviews that these are stiffer and less pigmented than their original formula, but I didn't have any problems with these at all; they went on as smoothly and pigmented as all their other shades. I found that they were easily layerable and likewise easy to blend out. If you're a fan of the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush formula, these are fun, new shades to look into for Spring!

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipsticks in Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold

Last month, I found out that Tarte has an online pro program that offers approved make-up artists a 40% discount on all of their products. It's completely free to join; you just have to send proof that you're actually a make-up artist, and if you get approved, your online account with Tarte automatically processes the pro discount. Obviously, I had to jump on this, so I sent them my info and they approved me a couple days later. And then I may have gone on a little shopping spree. My haul included five shades of their Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick, of which I will review four (the fifth one is limited edition and no longer available in stores so I'm leaving that one out). The Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick is Tarte's "first long-wear, clay-infused lipstick. A unique blend of emollient-rich butters (mango, avocado and shea) is encapsulated in this Tarte 12-Hour Power™ formula to achieve rich, vivid, and long-wearing colour that applies smoothly and won't fade away." They are packaged in long bamboo tubes featuring a leaf-pattern design in the colour of the lipstick shade. They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $34.
Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold
Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold

Whimsy is a medium vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less purple-toned than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme, darker and brighter than MAC Pink Nouveau, less neon than MAC Candy Yum-Yum, lighter than Urban Decay Anarchy, lighter and brighter than Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia Perfect Rouge, and lighter than NARS Schiap.

Inspired is a medium warm rosy brown in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though more pigmented than MAC Modesty, cooler and more pink than MAC Kinda Sexy, lighter than MAC Glamour Era Mineralize Rich Lipstick, more brown and less glossy than MAC Impressive Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more pinked than Urban Decay Liar, more brown than Illamasqua Climax, and similar though more pigmented to Revlon Pink Truffle Lip Butter. 

Pure is a light-medium peachy beige-brown in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more peach than MAC Cherish, slightly lighter and more peach than MAC Posh Tone Mineralize Rich Lipstick, less brown and less glossy than MAC Tea Ceremony Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more peach than Urban Decay Naked2, slightly darker and more brown than Urban Decay Naked, and less brown than YSL 4 Sweet Honey Rouge Volupté. 

Bold is a medium-dark vibrant true coral in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and more pinked than MAC Vegas Volt, similar in colour but much more pigmented than MAC See Sheer, more muted and less reddened than MAC Lady at Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick, darker and more orange than MAC Ultra Darling Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more muted and more orange than YSL 27 Rose Paris Rouge Volupté, and softer and more coral than Clinique Heftiest Hibiscus Chubby Stick Intense.

There are only nine shades in this lipstick range, but there is something for everyone, and I have personally found my perfect nude in Pure and my perfect MLBB in Inspired. Bold is a gorgeous true coral that doesn't lean too orange or too pink, and is vibrant but not neon or in-your-face bright. Whimsy warms up on lips to become a beautiful, vibrant pink that hints at blue undertones but doesn't veer into magenta, and it actually looks much softer on the lips than in a swatch so it's a lot more wearable than many fuchsia pinks out there. Shades aside, it's the formula of these lipsticks that's to die for. Incredibly creamy, glide on effortlessly, and go on completely opaque in one swipe. They stay vivid and hydrating on the lips during the entire duration of wear despite drying down to a semi-matte finish. They don't wear a full 12 hours for me, but I don't expect non-stain lip products to wear that long, especially through drinking, eating, and smoking. Realistically, the lighter shades wear about four to five hours without fading and the brighter and darker shades wear about eight before needing to touch-up. Still impressive wear-time for such a creamy formula, and I didn't experience any bleeding, feathering, smudging, flaking, or settling into lip lines.

The major downside of these for me is the packaging. They're housed in bamboo tubes that feel flimsy, and the bullets feel loose at the base like they're going to fall out or break. They're also significantly longer than your average lipstick, and added to the fact that they house less than the average amount of product in a lipstick (these only have 2 grams of product, whereas MAC's and NARS' have 3 grams, and YSL has 4.5 grams), they feel much more breakable and are a bit more cumbersome to use. Granted, the lipsticks are so creamy and pigmented that the lightest pressure will give you amazing colour pay-off, but they still feel delicate to use. As cute as the packaging looks, it really does feel incredibly cheap. At $34 a pop (that's another thing: how is it a whopping $8 more in Canada than the US?!), you're paying entirely for the stellar formula. If you can get past the packaging, then these are definitely worth getting, especially if you like your super-pigmented, cream-finish lipsticks.

Ciaté Paint Pots in Helter-Skelter

Ciaté isn't a brand that I often look at because I'm not a fan of their manicure sets, which is what they're really known for. But they do sometimes have some gorgeous, unique shades in their regular nail polish range, and I found a few that I ended up really loving last month so I snatched them up. I am a little confused as to why they decided to name their nail polishes, "Paint Pots," though. Aside from being totally misleading because these don't actually come in pots, they totally took the name from a pre-existing MAC product range. After their whole "Caviar Manicure" trademarking fiasco, wherein they accuse nail bloggers of biting the term "Caviar Manicure," I find this incredibly hypocritical. Despite the quality of their products and the cute packaging, I'm kind of on the fence about supporting them because I've sort of lost my taste for this brand due to their questionable ethics, but I will give them a fair review. (Disclaimer: I'm not putting myself on a full ban because I'm a nail polish fiend at heart and if there's a shade that's too pretty to resist, I may still pick it up. I'm just more conscious about it, and will look to see if other brands have dupes first.)

Helter-Skelter is a clear purple-grey base with medium lilac-purple glitter and micro-glitter. It has a slightly thicker consistency that is common with glitter polishes, but it doesn't hinder the application. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has a clear base but it is so glitter-packed that it will almost reach full opacity in two coats, though I do recommend using a base colour if you don't like any of your nail bed to show through (in the swatch photo above, I've layered it on top of Illamasqua's Jo'mina). I can't think of any exact dupes for this; it is more purple than Formula X for Sephora Intergalatic, darker than China Glaze Tail Me Something, and has a totally different finish than Zoya Stevie. There are plenty of purple glitters out there, but I haven't found one in the same hue as this particular one. It's darker and more vibrant than a pastel, but lighter than a straight-up violet. This type of shade is usually reserved for cream shades, metallics, or shimmers, but I find it quite unique in a glitter, which is the sole reason I picked it up. Judging by the amount of compliments I got on it from people of all ages (seriously, from kids to teens to stroller moms to grandmas), it's quite the crowd-pleaser, too. The glitter makes this fun and festive and gives it an icy edge that is wintery, but the lilac shade makes it perfect for the transition into Spring (and coincidentally, it's in line with Pantone's Color of the Year, too).

Sunday Video Love: No Diggity

So, due to watching Pitch Perfect three times last weekend, I've been obsessed with finding covers of "No Diggity," and Larie mentioned that this version was her favourite so I checked it out. Chet Faker's interpretation of "No Diggity" is such a striking contrast to the topic of the song and so different from many of the other covers out there that you can't help but stop and pay attention. It's mellow, groovy, and just... goddamn sexy. I love this cover so much that I went on to look up his other music and downloading his EP, Thinking in Textures. It's such a beautiful album that I wonder how I hadn't heard of Chet Faker before this. If you like straight-up chillin' music, he is so worth checking out. Thanks, Larie!

Friday Five: Accessories

This week's Friday Five:

1. What was the last computer accessory you acquired? Wow, I haven't bought a computer accessory in a really, really long time. Probably my Incase laptop bag, but that was at least two years ago. I also bought a Logitech wireless mouse around the same time... What can I say, I like to keep it simple.


2. What was the last clothing accessory you acquired? My black cashmere and wool Babaton infinity scarf that I ordered from Aritzia last month.


3. What was the last auto accessory you acquired? If it counts, then my license plate sticker that I had to renew on my birthday last year. If it doesn't count, then probably the auto air freshener I bought at Pacific Mall last summer.


4. What was the last accessory you acquired for one of your hobbies? The Tarte goodies I ordered a couple weeks ago. 'Cause make-up is my hobby. (And my life. Actually, though.)


5. What was the last hair accessory you acquired? I bought a pack of bobby pins sometime last month. Because they always go missing. Without fail.

Clinique Cheek Pop Powder Blush in Plum Pop, Berry Pop, Ginger Pop, and Peach Pop

It's not often that I am interested in a make-up product that Clinique has to offer. I mean, aside from the Chubby Stick Intense, there hasn't been much that they've launched in recent years that has really impressed me, and they're not the first (or even Top 20) brand that comes to mind for colour cosmetics (at least, for me). But when they launched the Cheek Pops last month, rave reviews appeared all over the place, and my interest was piqued. Cheek Pops are described as "vibrant yet natural-looking cheek colour that looks virtually powderless. In a silky smooth, stay-true formula with shades for every skin tone." Let's be honest, the blush fiend in me doesn't need much persuasion to check out a new cheek product. So I headed over to my local Clinique counter and swatched these babies. And I was completely blown away. So much so that I needed to buy every single damn shade. The Cheek Pop Blushes are packaged in clear circular compacts with the Clinique logo on the lid. Each blush contains 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $24.
Clockwise (from bottom left): Plum Pop, Berry Pop, Ginger Pop, and Peach Pop
Swatches: Plum Pop, Berry Pop, Ginger Pop, and Peach Pop

Plum Pop is a medium cool-toned cotton candy pink with a soft satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, 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 darker and brighter than MAC Dame, more pink and less shimmery than MAC Gentle Mineralize Blush, less matte and more muted than NARS Angelika, cooler and less shimmery than Tarte Adored, and darker and less matte than Tarte Dollface.

Berry Pop is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink with a soft satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, 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 cooler and brighter than MAC Dollymix, darker and cooler than MAC Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush, warmer and more muted than MAC Rhubarb (PRO), darker and warmer than NARS Desire, and lighter and more muted than Tarte Flush. 

Ginger Pop is a medium burnt orange-coral with a soft satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, 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 lighter and more coral than MAC Pinch Me, brighter and less bronze than MAC Peachtwist, darker and more reddened than MAC Style, softer and slightly less orange than NARS Torrid, more orange than Dior 676 Coral Cruise, softer and more orange than Tarte Charisma, and more muted and less reddened than Tarte Frisky. 

Peach Pop is a medium pinked coral with a soft satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, 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 pink than MAC Melba, lighter and more muted than MAC Fleur Power, more coral and less shimmery than NARS Orgasm, lighter and more pink than NARS Deep Throat, more pink and less shimmery than Tarte Glisten, and lighter and less coral than Illamasqua Sophie.

All four of these are spectacular — super-silky, ultra-smooth, highly pigmented, and easily blendable. The four shades they chose to launch are fun, bright, and cheerful, but still incredibly wearable and lovely across most skintones. You can build them up very easily to create bright pops of colour, but buff them out effortlessly to create soft washes of colour. They have a gorgeous satin finish with a subtle sheen that leaves skin looking perfectly luminescent without being shiny or shimmery. They don't emphasize skin texture, so they are great for all ages and skin types, too. That having been said, these feel and execute an awful lot like MAC's Extra Dimension Blushes, which were limited edition. They might actually be the exact same formula, which wouldn't surprise me given that they are both Estée Lauder companies (in fact, they are both baked products and made in Italy, so they may very well share the same factory). However, the four shades here aren't similar to any of the shades that MAC has released in the Extra Dimension formula, so they are still ultimately unique to Clinique. The quality is beautiful across the board, so while the shade choice is personal preference, you really can't go wrong with this formula. And blush fiends like me will want all of them.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 16 Pourpre Preview

Seems like I've been eating my words quite a bit lately. When YSL came out with their Glossy Stains nearly two years ago now, I wrote them off as totally gimmicky. How can a lip product be a gloss and a stain while being effective as both? It seemed like an oxymoron. But I found myself at Sephora a couple weeks ago looking at the YSL section and decided to give these Glossy Stains a good swatching session. And I now put my tail between my legs and admit that these execute exactly as marketed. I was tempted to grab several of these upon swatching because YSL released these in some seriously gorgeous shades, but as they're quite pricey, I decided to get one first to see if I loved them enough to merit buying more. So I snatched up the one that caught my eye the most: 16 Pourpre Preview. The Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains are packaged in rectangular black tubes (with a clear panel in the centre to show the shade inside) and gold caps embossed with the YSL logo. They have a light grape-like scent, but no discernible taste as it dries down. Each Glossy Stain comes with a pointed sponge-tip applicator, contains 6 ml of product, and retails for $38.
16 Pourpre Preview
16 Pourpre Preview

16 Pourpre Preview is a vibrant fuchsia-purple with a glossy cream finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and gel-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more purple than YSL 19 Fuchsia in Rage Rouge Volupté Shine, brighter and more fuchsia than MAC Up the Amp, lighter and more purple than MAC Zen Rose Sheen Supreme Lipstick, darker and more purple than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme and Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia Perfect Rouge, and more purple than Urban Decay Anarchy.

We all know I'm a sucker for purple lip products, but this one manages to be incredibly unique even in my personal stash. MAC's Up the Amp continues to be one of my favourite purple lip shades because it manages to be firmly in the purple camp rather than pink, and this is a more — for lack of a better term — amped up version of that. Even though it has fuchsia in it, it still manages to be a purple lip colour. What sets this particular shade apart, of course, is the finish. It really is both a gloss and a stain. Like, it goes on fully glossy, but good god, does it wear like a champ. (Fair warning: If you swatch this on your hand, it will stay on until the next day. Even after using multiple make-up removers and washing your hands a million times.) It stays glossy for nearly eight hours which is already a huge feat for any gloss, but after the glossiness fades, it leaves a seriously vibrant stain that wears over 12 hours. And even after that, there are remnants of that stain that you need a really damn good cleansing oil to remove. The best part is that they aren't drying at all. I think a huge drawback to lip stains in general is that they're ridiculously drying. These don't technically hydrate, but they don't feel uncomfortable or drying at all during the entire duration of wear. If you're someone who often finds that lip colours don't stay on your lips or hates re-applying lip products, the YSL Glossy Stains are a truly exceptional option, high price tag be damned. And if you're just a sucker for purples like I am (coincidentally, this shade is the Pantone Colour of the Year, too), 16 Pourpre Preview is perfection.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 15 Corail Intuitive

When YSL initially came out with their Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks, I was truly uninterested and had written them off has boring because they seemed too similar to many lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm hybrid formulas already out there (e.g. Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, MAC's Sheen Supreme, Dior's Dior Addict, Revlon's Lip Butters, etc.). But since buying and totally falling in love with 19 Fuchsia in Rage, I've eaten my words. Now, one of my favourite and most used lipsticks is Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage, but I have since learned that they discontinued that shade (at least, I can't find it in stores anymore). So in search of a good dupe for it in both texture and shade, I ended up snatching up YSL's 15 Corail Intuitive. The Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks are packaged in a weighty gold metal tubes with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube. Each lipstick contains 4.5 grams of product, and retails for $39.
15 Corail Intuitive
15 Corail Intuitive

15 Corail Intuitive is a light-medium warm pink-coral with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a light tropical fruit scent and flavour. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is much sheerer and much more muted than YSL 13 Peach Passion Rouge Volupté, sheerer and darker than YSL 26 Tender Peach Rouge Volupté, brighter and glossier than MAC Coral Bliss, more pigmented and more peach than MAC Peach Blossom, lighter and more pink than MAC Fashion City Sheen Supreme Lipstick, sheerer and less pink than MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick, slightly more peach than Chanel 50 Rivage Rouge Coco Shine, lighter and more vibrant than Clinique Mega Melon Chubby Stick, and lighter and more pink than Revlon Juicy Papaya Lip Butter.

YSL describes the Rouge Volupté Shine as "an innovative and comforting lipstick enhanced with fruit extracts rich in vitamins and antioxidants that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration... The luscious, hydrating texture glides on your lips leaving a lightweight aqua shine effect." I definitely agree that these feel really smooth and lightweight going on, and the finish has that almost-wet glossy look (especially great when I am too lazy to apply gloss on top). The semi-opaque colour pay-off gives an almost jelly-like effect, which makes lips look fuller and plumper, too. They do feel hydrating when worn, though I can't say it had any lingering or long-lasting hydration after it wore off. For such a lightweight, glossy lipstick, though, these do wear quite well — this shade in particular wears about three hours before fading which is pretty good considering the lightless of the shade (darker and brighter shades wear about four to five hours). There are a lot of almost-dupes for this lipstick, but I couldn't find an exact one to replicate both the colour and the texture of it. It's one of those shades that aren't terribly exciting or unique, but one that I will use a lot (if my near completion of Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage is any indication). Is it a must-have at $39? No, probably not. But I love the formula and the colour is so incredibly wearable (I love bold, bright shades, but I reach for these softer shades way more for regular use) that I reckon it'll have one of the lowest cost-per-use rates for me; it's already become a staple in my cosmetics bag.

Sunday Video Love: Bellas Finals

Basically going to spend the entire long weekend watching Pitch Perfect and replay Anna Kendrick singing "No Diggity" over and over again. And when I finally decide to move on from that, I'll keep watching until the end and replay her singing Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" over and over again. Seriously, my Pitch Perfect DVD? Best $10 I've ever spent.

Friday Five: Themes

This week's Friday Five:

1. What would the title of your autobiography be? Confessions of an Introvert with Brilliant Extrovert Skills.


2. What's your favourite movie soundtrack? Ooh, I have quite a lot: Veronica Mars, The Vampire Diaries, Californication: Season 1, Romeo + Juliet, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Drive, Cruel Intentions, Sucker Punch, Pitch Perfect (Anna Kendrick's rendition of "No Diggity" will never get old), Twilight (say what you will about the movie, but there's some amazing songs on the soundtrack)... I also love a lot of songs from The Craft and 10 Things I Hate About You soundtracks.


3. What do you want your epitaph to be? It would probably an Albus Dumbledore quote: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." Or perhaps, "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." What can I say? Dumbledore's one wise, well-spoken wizard.


4. What everyday object would be a good amulet for you? A lipstick. It would be so fitting for me, too.


5. What animal would be "your" spirit-guide, like in Clan of the Cave Bear? Obviously, a unicorn.

My Internet was down for most of the day, so this is going up late... but I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day (even though it was a full moon and there were quite a few crazies out and about...)!

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: February 2014

So, I realize that it's only been about two weeks since my last haul post, but as you all know, Chinese New Year happened... and with that comes lucky red pockets... which means extra cash for make-up! I'm sure I could've spent it much more wisely, but it's me we're talking about here, and we all know the first thing I did was make a trip to Sephora. 
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 16 Pourpre Preview and Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 15 Corail Intuitive
Formula X for Sephora Effects Nail Color in Celestial and Vortex
Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion and One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleansers (VIB 100 point perks!)
I wasn't actually looking for anything specific, but I went over to swatch some YSL Glossy Stains and ended up wanting all of them. But they're also $38 a pop and I decided that I wanted to pick up another YSL lipstick while I was there, so I chose the one I was most drawn to, a gorgeous pinky-purple orchid shade, and then got a Rouge Volupté Shine in a soft peach-coral shade as a replacement for my beloved but discontinued Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage. And after so many raves over Sephora's new Formula X nail polishes, I decided to pick up two of the Effects shades that I didn't have anything similar to: Celestial (an aquamarine and gold glitter shift) and Vortex (an ocean blue and rainbow glitter shift). Finally, I was looking for a new day moisturizer and wanted something that was mattifying but also hydrating, so I decided to try Clarins' Truly Matte Hydra-Matte Lotion, because it's lightweight and has a nice texture. And they were offering Clarins' One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser as their 100 VIB point perk that day, too, so I redeemed 300 points to get three.
Hard Candy Nail Color in Hip Hip Hooray, Mermaid Magic, Emerald's Eve, and So So Sequin
Clinique Cheek Pops (clockwise from bottom left): Plum Pop, Berry Pop, Ginger Pop, and Peach Pop
Clinique Gift: Take the Day Off Makeup Remover, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20, High Impact Mascara in Black, Chubby Stick Intense in Heftiest Hibiscus, and All About Eyeshadow Duo in Neutral Territory with Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Sunset Glow
A few days later, I made a trip to the mall to grab some things at Wal-Mart and, naturally, made a detour in the cosmetics section. I thought I did pretty well because I only came out with four Hard Candy nail polishes (can't complain at $3.99 each!). Of course, I was like, "Oh, I'm already at the mall, I might as well take a walk around." Which lead me to The Bay, because I wanted to check out those new Clinique Cheek Pops that are getting so many raves all over the interwebs... and my, oh, my, it was love at first swatch. They are Clinique's dupe of MAC's Extra Dimension Blushes (not surprising, as they are both Estée Lauder companies), but Clinique surprised even me with their bright, fun, cheerful shades that are so... un-Clinique. And the daisy pattern! How could I resist?! They were on their Gift with Purchase event, too, which doesn't usually tempt me, but I was like, "Well, if I'm gonna get these, anyway, I might as well get some free goodies." So I bought not one, not two, but all four shades. Because I am a true blush fiend like that.
Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hour Perfecting Primer and Clean Slate 360º Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes in True Love, Fearless, and Flush
Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick in Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, Bold, and Timeless (from Aqualillies for Tarte collection)
A couple weeks ago, a make-up artist friend of mine told me that Tarte has a pro artist program that allows approved make-up artists to receive 40% off (models can apply for a 20% discount). It is absolutely free to join (there is no annual fee like MAC's PRO membership), but it is an online-only discount (Tarte doesn't have physical stores). I figured I had nothing to lose by applying for the program, so I sent in my resume. Two days later, I got approved. And then I knew I was in trouble, because I want all the things. I looked through their website for about half an hour, fresh on the excitement of getting my pro discount approval... and ended up ordering ten products. It was like going grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You end up buying way too much stuff, totally blowing your budget on things you didn't need at all but just really, really want (blushes are my potato chips). And I was already trying to control myself, because these products are only a third of my list. Thank god you can only use your pro discount one a month. (Side note, though, I put my order in three days ago and my shipment arrived this afternoon. Speedy delivery, indeed!)

Lush Antiphilitron Shampoo, Coolaulin Hair Conditioner, Back for Breakfast Shower Gel, and The Enchanter Bath Bomb
As for stuff I didn't actually spend my own money on... My Lush friend, A., insisted that he needed to get me a Christmas present no matter how late it was because he felt guilty for not getting me one before Christmas. He didn't know what to get me, so I asked if he could make a Lush Retro order for me (Lush's Retro products are only available online, which is a damn shame because I think some of their best products are Retro), and order regular sizes of Antiphilitron Shampoo and Coolaulin Hair Conditioner. A couple weeks ago, I got the Lush package from him, and he ended up surprising me with jumbo sizes of both, plus an extra mini Back for Breakfast Shower Gel (one of my favourites), and The Enchanter Bath Bomb (which I love, but is being discontinued). It seems like I get spoiled with Lush every month, doesn't it? What can I say, I'm blessed with lovely, generous friends!
Bath & Body Works Shea-Infused Lounge Socks in Honey Bee, Blue Bubbles, and Coral Daisies, and Fresh Picked Mason Jar Candle in Pomelo Grapefruit
Speaking of which, a client of mine, who also happens to work for Bath & Body Works, surprised me with three pairs of shea-infused lounge socks because she knows how much I love them. I couldn't get anymore after the holiday season and was totally bummed out about it because they are the softest, warmest, most delightful socks, ever, and so perfect in the subzero weather we've been having for the past three months. My friend had mentioned that they usually only bring them out for holiday so I'd have to wait until the next holiday season to stock up... but they decided to release Spring edition ones this year! So she got me three of those, plus a Pomelo Grapefruit mason jar candle, which she knew I tried getting my hands on multiple times but couldn't because it was always sold out. Okay, so I was doing pretty well for the last three months in not buying that much make-up 'cause I went so overboard in November with IMATS and Sephora's VIB sale... but clearly, I made up for the past three months in the past, um, two weeks. I didn't really have an excuse, either, because it's not like there were any crazy sales or anything. I am henceforth on a make-up ban. At least until... March.

North 44º

Had a second Winterlicious dinner tonight at Mark McEwan's North 44º, again $45 for three courses:

Steak Tartare
For the first course, I was really undecided because all the choices sounded so good, but steak tartare won in the end (other choices are beet salad or crab chowder). Finely chopped raw beef, firm but tender, mixed with slightly crispy fried capers. The mild sweetness of the beef works incredibly well with the far more pungent salty-tart flavour of the capers to create a most addictive tartare. Served with thin slices of baguette toast; add a smear of mustard, a scoop of tartare, and top with a slice of radish. A most harmonious combination of flavours and textures. Almost like a ceviche, but stronger and with more depth. A good portion size, too.
Roasted Mushroom Chicken Ballantine
I was tempted to get steak for the main course, but as I had ordered the steak tartare for my first course, I decided to get the chicken ballantine as my main (the other choice is pan-seared rock fish). The chicken was just so perfectly cooked, so juicy and so tender, that a knife wasn't even needed to cut into it. It was stuffed with crisp mushrooms, and served in a deliciously creamy curry that had just a touch of sweetness (perhaps coconut?). Served with chopped vegetables and squash, and topped with roasted okra with the perfect crispy exteriors that added a lovely smoky sweetness. I absolutely loved this course. I don't usually opt for chicken dishes because I tend to find most of them boring, but this one was wonderfully executed.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Finally, for dessert, I got the sticky toffee pudding. And given that all three of us ordered one of each of the desserts, I can say with confidence that I chose the best offering. The cake was, as expected, sticky and moist, served warm with plump prunes and dates. I don't normally like prunes or dates, but they worked really well here, adding a nice fleshiness and sweetness that worked well with the deeper toffee flavour. What made this dessert perfect, though, was the vanilla bean cream served on the side. It was chilled, but not frozen; the consistency was somewhere between whipped cream and gelato. I think the pudding on its own might start to taste too monotonous, but the cream just added such a nice boost of flavour that it became really addictive.
In general, North 44º has a more laid-back feel that makes it more comfortable to eat in despite its prestige and high ratings; it's sophisticated and elegant with a modern twist, but it's not obnoxiously trendy. I felt like our food was all excellent quality and executed really well, even for the Winterlicious menu (a lot of restaurants order in bulk for Winterlicious so the quality isn't as good as their regular menu). I am also glad to report that the service tonight was fantastic. No snobbery or pretentiousness. Our server was nice and sweet and attentive without being overbearing. She made us feel comfortable and made sure we had everything we needed and came by during every course to see how our food was. No giving us attitude for not ordering wine, no looking down on us for being there for Winterlicious (and their regular menu is a lot more expensive than Nota Bene), no grief about how we wanted to pay the bill at the end. Oh, and there's no stupid water fee here, either. All in all, a wonderful experience. It is the best Winterlicious experience I have had to date, and I'd definitely be more inclined to splurge $100 on a meal here on a regular day. 

North 44º 2537 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4P 2H7 (416) 487-4897

The Lipstick Tag

I've decided to do the Lipstick Tag. No one actually tagged me, but as a lipstick hoarder, how could I not?
1. How many lipsticks do you own?

Um... I stopped counting after 400. I got lazy.

2. What was your first lipstick?

I actually don't remember the exact one because this was, like, a decade ago. But it was either MAC's Hue, Jubilee, or High Tea. Basically, a semi-sheer nude. Because lipstick scared the crap out of me. My, how things have changed...

3. What is your favourite lipstick brand?

This is a pretty controversial question. I obviously use MAC the most and I'd have to say they're still my top brand because they make the most shades in the most finishes. But I would say a very close second is YSL. It seems they can do no wrong when it comes to lip products. Rouge Volupté, Rouge Volupté Shine, Glossy Stains, Rouge Pur Couture... I want all of them.

4. What is your most worn lipstick?

I answered this before, but I have three: MAC's Viva Glam I, MAC's Faux, and Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage.

5. What is your favourite lipstick finish?

I typically favour ultra-pigmented, creamy lipsticks with a slight sheen, like Urban Decay's Revolution Lipsticks or YSL's Rouge Voluptés. Although, it really depends on my mood. Like, MAC's Mattene Lipsticks are also a favourite formula of mine when I want more matte, and YSL's Rouge Volupté Shines and Chanel's Rouge Coco Shines are my favourites for glossier, sheerer formulas. 

6. What was your last lipstick purchase?

Last week, I made a trip to Sephora and ended up getting a YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in 15 Corail Intuitive and a YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 16 Pourpre Preview. Yes, my Chinese New Year money really came in handy!

7. How many lipsticks are in your bag right now?

I've actually made a conscious effort to cut down how many lip products I carry with me now because my bag started to get way too heavy. (Yes, this is a real problem. Don't judge.) At the moment, I have 10 lip products in my bag, with six of them being actual lipsticks (I assume a stain-gloss hybrid doesn't count): Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage, YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine in 19 Fuchsia in Rage and 15 Corail Intuitive, and MAC's new A Fantasy of Flowers lipsticks in Snapdragon, Dreaming Dahlia, and Fleur d'Coral.

8. What is your favourite red lipstick?

MAC Viva Glam I. Always and forever. 

9. How do you store your lipsticks?

Like a crazy person? Well, I've tried to be more organized about them, but when you have so many lipsticks, it gets really hard to be neat about it. I have a big eight-drawer chest from Ikea just for make-up, and three of those drawers are dedicated to lipsticks right now. Currently, I rubber band them by brand and then category (e.g. MAC permanent or LE, type of finish or collection) and then put them in cardstock boxes (gotta make use of all those fancy box packages, right?). But I do have a lot just lying around that need to be organized into my "system" that I am just way too lazy to do.

10. What lipsticks are your currently lusting after?
Tom Ford Lip Color. There are like, ten shades that I want. But they're so expensive that I always think to myself, "Well, for the price of one, I could get two of any other prestige brand..." But I will eventually take the plunge... maybe when I go to NYC this summer, 'cause they're way cheaper in the States. I do also want to finally get a couple of Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gel Lipsticks because I've been eyeing them since their launch. And several more YSL Rouge Volupté Shines (of which I only have two, surprisingly) because I am seriously in love with that formula.

I think most people (well, beauty bloggers, anyway) have already done this tag, so I'm not going to tag anyone specifically. But if you wanna do this tag and haven't already, then I tag you!

Sunday Video Love: Gem

So my favourite YouTube musician has started releasing more original material, and while I love, love, love her covers, I think her original songs have much more soul and show her true talent far better. This is the latest music video of hers and my personal favourite of her original songs — hypnotic, haunting, and heady. I genuinely don't know how this girl is still unsigned.

Nota Bene

Winterlicious dinner last night with the gang at Nota Bene, $45 for three courses:
Hamachi Ceviche
For the first course, I decided on the hamachi ceviche. The yellowtail was fresh, smooth, and fleshy. Chunks of buttery avocado added a nice nutty flavour and textural contrast, chiles offered a nice kick of heat, and a squeeze of lime added a lovely fresh tartness that rounded out all the flavours. What was most surprising, though, was the inclusion of crushed corn nuts! A fun element that added a fantastic crunch and a nice smoky flavour. I thought this was a great choice for the first course — light, fresh, and great for opening up my appetite for the next two courses. 
Cumbrae Farms Boeuf Bourguignon
For my main course, I decided on the boeuf bourguignon. The stew was perfectly flavoured with garlic, onions, and a hint of red wine that wasn't too overpowering. Huge chunks of braised beef were tender and moist, and mushrooms and carrots keep it classic. Nota Bene's version is served on a cloud of creamy rosemary polenta with a hint of horseradish and pieces of smoky bacon. A piece of bread is needed to soak up any remaining broth; too tasty to waste. Comforting, hearty, and filling — so perfect on a cold winter night.
Bittersweet Chocolate Tart
Finally, dessert! I chose the bittersweet chocolate tart, which is a bit of an odd choice for me because I typically don't love chocolate desserts, but this one was perfectly executed. The chocolate tart, as stated, is bittersweet; if you don't like dark chocolate, you won't like this. I actually prefer dark chocolate, and like that it isn't too sweet, which is why I decided to give this a go. The custard was smooth and rich, and the crust was firm and buttery. To accompany it, a scoop of s'more ice cream, extremely addictive on its own and perfect for balancing out the bittersweet chocolate with its sweet milky flavour. Espresso caramel added depth and a lovely smoky-sweetness. No regrets on my course choices at all.
The restaurant itself is sleek, modern, and trendy, but ultimately kind of pretentious. Our server was informative and polite enough, but totally condescending. The others wanted wine, and our server asked them, "Do you know how to choose wine? Do you know what wine pairing is?" Um, are you asking everyone else this? We want informed advice, not judgement. Snobbery is not unexpected, as Winterlicious gives the masses a chance to try out top restaurants at a much lower set price, and restaurants like Nota Bene are used to people dropping $100 on a meal. But that doesn't mean you have the right to talk down to us, right? That having been said, the service was otherwise attentive and meticulous: courses set at the table all at the same time by different servers, water and wine poured when glasses were running low. They made sure we had everything we needed and asked how we were doing at regular intervals. I think on a non-Winterlicious day, the service would be perfect and our server wouldn't be talking to us like we were stupid children.
I think the thing that irked me the most, though, was the water fee. Right after we sat down at our table, our server went around with a carafe of water and asked if still water was fine. Of course, we said it was. It wasn't until he poured our water that he set down the menus which stated that still and sparkling water cost $3.50 a person. I think this is complete highway robbery. It's one thing to not actually tell us that the water you're pouring into our glasses has a fee, but it's another to pour it before even giving us the menu that states the fee. Another thing I didn't like was how our server made it seem like splitting the bill was such a faux pas. He actually said, "If I split the bill, it can't be put back onto one, so you need to make sure you want me to separate these." And then he said, "You want one bill per person? There's not even a couple here?" Like, stop asking questions. You're getting an automatic 18% gratuity for a party of eight people, so just do your damn job. Ultimately, the food is fantastic, but there are plenty of other, much classier restaurants that have way better (e.g. less douche-y) service, Winterlicious or not.

Nota Bene 180 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5V 3X3 (416) 977-6400

Friday Five: Like Family, Part 2

This week's Friday Five:

1. In what good ways are you like your father? I like to think I have a good sense of humour like him.


2. In what good ways are you like your mother? Being generous, whether it's with material things or time or company. And my mom doesn't hold any grudges, ever, so I have tried to learn that from her; just to let go of little things.


3. In what good ways are you like your sibling(s)? My brother and I tend to be opposites in everything, but I think we are both efficient people that also have an appreciation for efficiency.


4. In what good ways are you like another relative outside your immediate family? Maybe being down-to-earth? Most of my relatives are really humble and down-to-earth.


5. In what good ways are you completely unlike anyone you're related to? I have a fairly sociable, extroverted personality, which I don't think many people in my family have.

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers: Lipsticks

Today, MAC will be launching their first official Spring colour collection called A Fantasy of Flowers (it has been available online since last week). It is inspired by "a drifting dreamworld, bursting with brilliant blooms of colour... as a magical fantasy emerges glowing with a floral essence." This collection will see the launch of 35 products, 20 of which are new and limited edition, five of which are re-promotes, and ten of which are permanent. A Fantasy of Flowers will see the release of six shades of lipstick, all of which are new and limited edition. They are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, comes with 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Heavenly Hybrid, Snapdragon, and Rose Lily
Heavenly Hybrid, Snapdragon, and Rose Lily

Heavenly Hybrid is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned berry pink in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and brighter than Plumful, more muted and more plum than Lickable, and lighter and cooler than Craving.

Snapdragon is a light-medium cool-toned pink with iridescent micro-shimmer in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and less purple-toned than Syrup, brighter and more cool-toned than Sweetie, and darker and brighter than Dreaminess Mineralize Rich Lipstick.

Rose Lily is a light milky cool-toned pink in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is lighter and more muted than Saint Germain, lighter and sheerer than Snob, and cooler than Dreaminess Mineralize Rich Lipstick.

Fleur d'Coral, Naked Bud, and Dreaming Dahlia
Fleur d'Coral, Naked Bud, and Dreaming Dahlia

Fleur d'Coral is a light warm peach in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is lighter and more peach than Shy Girl, more peach than Japanese Maple, and less pink than Pure Zen.

Naked Bud is a light-medium peachy beige with gold micro-shimmer in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is lighter and less brown than Jubilee, similar though slightly less yellow-toned than Freckletone, and more peach than High Tea.

Dreaming Dahlia is a medium brightened coral-orange in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and more orange than See Sheer, more muted and less red than Korean Candy Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more muted and less pink than Lady at Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick.

I was a bit disappointed that all the lipsticks from this collection have a Lustre finish because I like a bit of variety, but that having been said, I think it fits the overall theme of luminous, dewy floral blooms really well. All of these shades being Lustres also means that they are all really wearable. Shades like Rose Lily and Fleur d'Coral would be very pale and milky in a more pigmented or matte finish and would be much too light for most people (e.g. corpse lips), but because they're sheerer washes of colour, they look much softer and more delicate. It also means that shades like Heavenly Hybrid and Dreaming Dahlia become easy gateway shades into bright lipsticks because they go on more muted than they look in the tube. These shades give lips a natural luminous look which is a refreshing change from all the dark, matte shades of fall and winter. However, due to the finish, these have a shorter wear time than many other lipsticks; about two to three hours at most. I don't have issues with dryness with Lustres in general and actually find them quite creamy and comfortable to wear, though there are some people that have experienced dryness with them.  if you prefer your lipsticks to be more saturated in colour or more matte or have a longer wear-time, these will be entirely skippable. If you like Lustres, these will be some lovely additions to your lipstick stash for Spring — such happy, cheerful colours!