Sunday Video Love: West Coast

I finally got around to downloading Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence last week. I'm still listening through the album and, as with Born to Die and Paradise, her music usually takes some time to grow on me. I'm not sure how I feel about Ultraviolence as a whole yet — it's dreamy and ethereal and somewhat melancholic as we come to expect from her, with her breathy, sultry, bluesy voice that seems to transcend time — but it's quite slow and many of the songs seem to meld into one another so that nothing really stands out. But the one exception is this song, which I fell in love with the moment I heard it. It's different from her usual sound, kinda indie/surf-rock-meets-blues, and it's single-handedly made this record worth downloading.

Canadian National Exhibition: Summer 2014

My brother and his girlfriend flew up here from New York on Thursday, so we decided to coincide their trip with our annual excursion to The Ex yesterday. They don't have carnivals like this in Manhattan (and apparently Coney Island is way too ratchet), so they were even more pumped to go. As many of you know, I don't go to The Ex for any other purpose than to eat. Anything else is secondary. Because Ronsee had work and I had an afternoon freelance wedding job, we didn't actually get into the grounds until 7:30, so we met my brother and his girlfriend at the Food Building. (We don't mess around.) For whatever reason, there wasn't as much fanfare over The Ex this year as there was in previous years, but we still managed to get in some deliciously fattening foods, including:
"Jack'd" from Pull'd: Pulled pork between three red velvet pancakes and doused in Jack Daniels-infused syrup
"The Canadian" at Bouchard's Poutinery
"The Behemoth" from Epic Burgers and Waffles: Cheeseburger with grilled cheese sandwich buns
Chocolate fried chicken from Coco's Fried Chicken
Deep-fried Oreos
Our stomaches were too full to eat any more (we are getting weak in our old age), but I do wish that we had done more research prior to going in. There are so many things that I wish we had checked out: the Thanksgiving waffles (cranberry stuffing waffle filled with roast turkey, mashed potatoes, green onions, gravy, and cranberries) and maple toast breakfast boxes (deep-fried slices of egg bread drizzled with maple syrup, hollowed out and stuffed with bacon, sausage, and egg) from Fran's, the "s'more bao" (a Chinese bun filled with Nutella, marshmallow fluff, graham cracker crumbs, condensed milk, and chocolate) from Far East Taco, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup "crobar" (a chocolate bar baked inside a buttery croissant) from Hula Girl. Not our most impressive year, but at least everyone had a good time and everything we did have was incredibly tasty. I think the chocolate fried chicken was the most surprising. It's just genuinely good fried chicken, chocolate or not. Tasty buttermilk batter, really moist chicken, perfectly crispy skin. It's not that chocolatey, either, just a tinge of sweetness. Really quite delightful.

We ended the night by walking thorough the midway, playing some games here and there (a novelty for my brother and his girlfriend, who found some of the games a little too addictive...) and spending a good half hour trying hard to find the deep-fried butter truck. Apparently, they weren't open this year which was really quite disappointing, because I feel like that's one of the things that everyone associates with The Ex now. I mean, we ended up getting deep-fried Oreos, but my brother and his girlfriend were super-intrigued with the deep-fried butter business so it was too bad that they couldn't try it. 
Did you go to any carnivals or fairs this year? Fellow Torontonians, did you go to The Ex? If so, what did you eat?

Linkin Park & 30 Seconds To Mars: Carnivores Tour at Air Canada Centre

So, this is kinda random, but I went with my friend Ronsee to see Linkin Park on Sunday night at the Air Canada Centre. I say "kinda random," because I hadn't really given Linkin Park that much thought since, like, middle school. I mean, we all know their huge singles but the only album of theirs I actually own is Hybrid Theory, which I bought in Grade 8 (my "nu metal" phase, obviously). I don't think they were really ever one of my favourite bands, but I've always respected them because they try to keep things new and fresh and still have relevance after all this time (even after the early 2000s, when "nu metal" had the most prominence, Linkin Park still managed to retain their popularity and win Grammys along the way). Anyway, we just wanted to go to a big, loud, testosterone-fueled rock show and just have fun. So that's what we did. And if the insane amount of people in the audience is any indication (it was a sold out arena concert!), Linkin Park is still going strong.

So I only knew like, six of the songs they played (like, literally, I can list them here: "One Step Closer," "Leave Out All the Rest," "Numb," "In the End," "Crawling," and "What I've Done"), but boy, do they put on a show. Their set was just so well-executed. A good mix of old songs and new songs, big singles and lesser known tracks. Their stage was visually stunning, too, like the lights and projectors were artists in their own right. And, when it comes down to it, they sound fantastic live; I mean, it's clear that these guys are seasoned musicians, but they play their hearts out and Chester still has a damn good set of pipes on him (and, holy crap, dude is fit as hell!). I can definitely see why they still have such a huge following. I do wish they were more interactive with the audience, though. It's almost as if they've done this for so long that they just don't care to be personable anymore. I wonder if they even bother to find out what city they're in. I guess it doesn't really matter if they keep playing well; it's just a little disheartening.

On the flip side, 30 Seconds to Mars, who is co-headlining with Linkin Park on this tour (they are the opening band), was extremely interactive with the audience. Something has to be said for Jared Leto — Oscar-winning actor or not, the guy has some incredible charm and stage presence (rocking a dress and a Jesus haircut, too!). He talked with the crowd, pulled people up on stage, actually walked around and into the audience, and really made sure we knew how much they appreciated being in Toronto and how much this city means to them (to the point where he performed an entire song while waving the Canadian flag). He even performed an acoustic solo set in the centre of the general admission area so that he could get closer to the people in the back of the arena. Most importantly, they sound fantastic live, and Jared has proved that he can really belt it. I haven't actually listened to any of their music since the release of their debut album back in 2002 and I didn't know a single song off their setlist, but they were just so entertaining to watch and made for a really memorable experience. (Photos after the break.)

MAC A Novel Romance: Lipsticks

This past Thursday, MAC launched their first official Fall colour collection called A Novel Romance. As the name implies, it is inspired by romance novels. MAC describes A Novel Romance as "a colour collection teeming with deep, luscious shades that will have you feeling overwhelmed with desire. Passion mounts, and untamed hues fan the flames of your deepest emotions, as an amorous adventure begins... Like fiction brought to life, the surging passions of this after-dark adventure seem almost too good to be true." This collection will see the launch of 41 products, 15 of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), 13 of which are new and permanent, nine of which are re-promotes, and four of which are permanent. A Novel Romance will see the release of six limited edition lipsticks, one of which is an online exclusive shade and one of which is a re-promoted shade. Each lipstick comes in a regular black packaging, contains a total of 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Myself, A Novel Romance, Good Kisser, Yield to Love, Hearts Aflame, and Lingering Kiss
Myself, A Novel Romance, Good Kisser, Yield to Love, Hearts Aflame, and Lingering Kiss

Myself is a light soft cool-toned pinked beige in a Lustre finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2010's All Ages, All Races, All Sexes collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer to semi-sheer buildable colour pay-off. It is cooler than Politely Pink, lighter and much cooler than Viva Glam V, and much pinker than High Tea.

A Novel Romance is a light-medium cool-toned pink in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler than Angel and Creme Cup, and warmer and softer than Saint Germain.

Good Kisser is a medium-dark vibrant watermelon pink with subtle cool undertones in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more pink than All Fired Up, cooler and more pink than Relentlessly Red, and cooler and more matte than Speak Louder.

Yield to Love is a medium-dark pinked plum with subtle cool undertones in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and limited edition shade, and is an online exclusive. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and more pink than Plumful, slightly warmer than Craving, and lighter and more pink than Captive.

Hearts Aflame is a dark warm-toned rich oxblood red in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more brown than Diva, lighter and more red than Media, and warmer than Sin. 

Lingering Kiss is a deep dark burgundy plum in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than Media, and more reddened than Cyber and Smoked Purple.

At first glance, the variety of lipsticks in this collection is kind of odd. I mean, you have your vampy shades (Hearts Aflame and Lingering Kiss) and even a brightened plum (Yield to Love, which is online exclusive) which are expected for a fall collection, but then you've got a bright pink that's quite summery and a light pastel-like bubblegum pink that's quite springy. But it all makes sense when you put it together with the rest of the collection and consider the colour story, because these shades look stunning when paired with the eyeshadow quads. Either way, all the lipsticks here have gorgeous textures and great colour pay-off (even the Cremesheens go on opaque!), with the exception of Myself, which is very sheer. I have to put on about ten layers of Myself before it looks like I'm wearing something on my lips, and then it's actually a very nice pink-nude shade (like Blankety or Viva Glam II), but you really gotta work it. It's also a nice shade to lighten up very reddened lips or if you want a really subtle, really natural shade... but if you're going to spend the money, there are many other shades from MAC that give very similar colour but with a lot less work. Regardless, if any of these lipsticks entice you, you better grab it ASAP, because as with all lipsticks from MAC collections, these ones will sell out fast.

MAC A Novel Romance: An Amorous Adventure Eyeshadow Palette

This past Thursday, MAC launched their first official Fall colour collection called A Novel Romance. As the name implies, it is inspired by romance novels. MAC describes A Novel Romance as "a colour collection teeming with deep, luscious shades that will have you feeling overwhelmed with desire. Passion mounts, and untamed hues fan the flames of your deepest emotions, as an amorous adventure begins... Like fiction brought to life, the surging passions of this after-dark adventure seem almost too good to be true." This collection will see the launch of 41 products, 15 of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), 13 of which are new and permanent, nine of which are re-promotes, and four of which are permanent. A Novel Romance will see the release of three new and limited edition eyeshadow palettes, each including four shades. Each eyeshadow palette comes in a regular black square compact with a clear lid, contains a total of 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.

Top: Sable and Sex & the Oyster Bottom: Brawn and Black Tied
Sable, Sex & the Oyster, Brawn, and Black Tied

Sable is a medium-dark plummy brown with bronze pearl in a Frost finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, 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 brown than Satin Taupe, more plum than Bronze, and lighter than Twinks.

Sex & the Oyster is a medium muted smoky blue-grey with a hint of teal in a Veluxe Pearl finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Indulge collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, 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 teal than Smokeluxe #4, more metallic and more teal than Linger Softly Pro Longwear Eyeshadow, and more teal and less sparkly than Smoky Pressed Pigment.

Brawn is a medium-dark taupe-brown with slight warm undertones in a Satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, almost buttery 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 warmer and more brown than Satin Taupe, cooler and less bronze than Sable, and lighter and cooler than Twinks.

Black Tied is a cool-toned black with silver sparkle in a Velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, 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 sparkly than Carbon, less blue and more sparkly than Nehru, and less metallic than Cinderfella Mineralize Eyeshadow.

Like the other two quads in this collection, this palette contains four soft, finely-milled, beautifully pigmented shades that go on smoothly and evenly, and blend out easily. Overall, this isn't the most exciting palette in terms of colour, but it does contain two beautiful neutral browns that I can see being workhorse shades for many, a black to transition day looks to night (or to use as liner), and a muted stormy seafoam blue to add a pop of colour in an otherwise very neutral palette. I have to note that the version of Black Tied in this palette is by far the best I've ever used; it's soft, smooth, and pigmented, whereas the original permanent version is much drier and patchier by comparison. The only complaint I have about this palette is that it contains two permanent shades as well as one re-promote (which is always kind of annoying in a limited edition palette), so if you have them already, this one is definitely skippable. On that note, I'm really glad to report that all three palettes in this collection are beautiful and high-quality in both texture and pigmentation; now it's all about deciding which colour combination to go with because they're all gorgeous for fall.

MAC A Novel Romance: A Passion Quest Eyeshadow Palette

Yesterday, MAC launched their first official Fall colour collection called A Novel Romance. As the name implies, it is inspired by romance novels. MAC describes A Novel Romance as "a colour collection teeming with deep, luscious shades that will have you feeling overwhelmed with desire. Passion mounts, and untamed hues fan the flames of your deepest emotions, as an amorous adventure begins... Like fiction brought to life, the surging passions of this after-dark adventure seem almost too good to be true." This collection will see the launch of 41 products, 15 of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), 13 of which are new and permanent, nine of which are re-promotes, and four of which are permanent. A Novel Romance will see the release of three new and limited edition eyeshadow palettes, each including four shades. Each eyeshadow palette comes in a regular black square compact with a clear lid, contains a total of 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.

Top: The Wrong Man and SerenadeBottom: Brazenly and Stay Sultry
The Wrong Man, Serenade, Brazenly, and Stay Sultry

The Wrong Man is a light muted dusty pink-beige in a Satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 more pink than Orb, warmer than Yogurt, and lighter than Malt.

Serenade is a medium cool-toned orchid purple with blue duochrome pearl in a Veluxe Pearl finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 purple than Stars 'n' Rockets and Pink Pearl Pigment, cooler and more frosted than Creme de Violet.

Brazenly is a dark red-toned plum in a Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's PRO-only Nudes & Metallics collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, almost buttery 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 more reddened than Nocturnelle, more frosted and less reddened than Fig. 1, and darker and more purple than Plum Dressing.

Stay Sultry is a deep dark cool-toned indigo-purple with navy micro-shimmer in a Satin finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2012's Taste Temptation collection, and is limited edition. It has a slightly dry but 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 more purple than Contrast, more blue than Shadowy Lady, and cooler than Indian Ink.

MAC is on fire with their eyeshadow palettes this year! Like this collection's namesake quad, this palette contains four soft, finely-milled, beautifully pigmented shades that go on smoothly and evenly, and blend out easily. These four shades used together create a stunning purple smoky eye that leans surprisingly cool (from blending Serenade and Stay Sultry together). Purples aren't new for fall, but I think MAC did a great job of curating this palette because it's not just your typical plum shades which are the most common and predictable colour (for eyes, lips, nails) during this time of year; the addition of an indigo-leaning shade and an orchid shade with a blue duochrome adds interest and a unique twist.  I also have to note that the version of Stay Sultry in this palette is significantly different from its original incarnation; aside from being much smoother and far more pigmented, this version is also lighter and more purple, whereas the old version had a more blackened base and was more blue. Brazenly, a seriously stunning, buttery plum, will still appeal to those who wanted a more classic fall palette, and The Wrong Man, a soft neutral matte pink-beige, rounds out an otherwise purple palette. In terms of colour combination and textures, this one is my favourite quad of the collection.

MAC A Novel Romance: A Novel Romance Eyeshadow Palette

Today, MAC launched their first official Fall colour collection called A Novel Romance. As the name implies, it is inspired by romance novels. MAC describes A Novel Romance as "a colour collection teeming with deep, luscious shades that will have you feeling overwhelmed with desire. Passion mounts, and untamed hues fan the flames of your deepest emotions, as an amorous adventure begins... Like fiction brought to life, the surging passions of this after-dark adventure seem almost too good to be true." This collection will see the launch of 41 products, 15 of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), 13 of which are new and permanent, nine of which are re-promotes, and four of which are permanent. A Novel Romance will see the release of three new and limited edition eyeshadow palettes, each including four shades. Each eyeshadow palette comes in a regular black square compact with a clear lid, contains a total of 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $47.50.

Top: My Fantasy and Fall in LustBottom: Dance in the Dark and Rising Passions
My Fantasy, Fall in Lust, Dance in the Dark, and Rising Passions

My Fantasy is a pale green-tinged champagne gold in a Veluxe Pearl finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 green than Retrospeck, darker and less sparkly than Greenluxe #2, and darker and more green than Dazzlelight.

Fall in Lust is a medium cool-toned taupe in a Frost finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 frosted and cooler than Quarry, much lighter and more grey than Satin Taupe, and less purple than Shale.

Dance in the Dark is a deep dark cool-toned brown in a Matte finish. This is a permanent shade in the Warm Neutral 15-Pan Palette. It has a slightly dry but 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 similar to Brun, cooler than Mystery, and warmer than Concrete. 

Rising Passions is a dark cool-toned brown with dark olive and gold shimmer in a Velvet finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 brown and less sparkly than Greenluxe #4, darker and more brown than Greensmoke, and darker and less metallic than Gilt by Association.

I've mentioned this before, but MAC has really upped their eyeshadow quad game this year. This palette contains four soft, finely-milled, beautifully pigmented shades that go on smoothly and evenly, and blend out easily. These four shades used together create a cool-toned smoky eye that leans ever-so-slightly green (from blending My Fantasy and Rising Passions together) but is ultimately very wearable because they're all within the realm of neutral. If these shades look somewhat familiar, it's because they're very reminiscent of the eyeshadows that were launched with last year's Fall collection, Indulge. My Fantasy is similar to Gilty Morsel and Rising Passions is pretty much a dupe for Beluga. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because I think they're gorgeous shades for fall (and, really, they can be worn all year round to do a smoky eye that doesn't rely on grey and black), but if you picked up those shadows last year, you can probably skip this palette. However, if you're on the market for a quad to create a dark, sexy, smoky eye that's a little more interesting than your typical neutral palette, then this is one to look at.

MAC A Novel Romance: Powder Blushes

Tomorrow, MAC will be launching their first official Fall colour collection called A Novel Romance (it is currently available online). As the name implies, it is inspired by romance novels. MAC describes A Novel Romance as "a colour collection teeming with deep, luscious shades that will have you feeling overwhelmed with desire. Passion mounts, and untamed hues fan the flames of your deepest emotions, as an amorous adventure begins... Like fiction brought to life, the surging passions of this after-dark adventure seem almost too good to be true." This collection will see the launch of 41 products, 15 of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), 13 of which are new and permanent, nine of which are re-promotes, and four of which are permanent. A Novel Romance will see the release of two shades of Powder Blush, both of which are new and limited edition shades. Each blush comes in a regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains 6 grams of product, and retails for $26.

Animal Instincts and Fun Ending
Animal Instincts and Fun Ending

Animal Instincts is a medium-dark warm-toned plum with a soft sheen in a Frost finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 similar though slightly more brown than Plum Foolery, darker and more plum than Mocha, warmer and less pink than Love Joy Mineralize Blush.

Fun Ending is a light-medium warm pinked peach in a Satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, 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 peach than Blushbaby, more pink than Tenderling, and more muted and less pink than Stay By Me Pro Longwear Blush.

Oh, yes, it's officially Fall in the world of MAC, and with it comes richer, deeper, lusher shades in a cheeky romance novel-inspired collection. These blushes are actually more muted than the rest of the collection, but they're both incredibly wearable and create a realistic flush of colour (which is probably what they were going for, given the inspiration). Animal Instincts is quite similar to Plum Foolery from MAC's permanent collection, so it's skippable if you already have the latter, but it's otherwise a beautiful shade of plum that's not too cool-toned or too pink, and should work on both warm and cool undertones and on fair to dark skintones (our fairer sisters should use a lighter hand, but this blush is incredibly blendable). Perfect for the season, and not so dark that it would make you look bruised, and not so bright that you couldn't wear it in the daytime or at the office. Fun Ending, on the other hand, is great for fair to medium-dark skintones; don't be fooled by how light it looks in the pan or by initial swatches, though, because it darkens on the skin quite a bit. A truly great workhorse shade, as I can see this being a go-to for many all year round. These aren't the most unique or interesting in terms of colour, but they're great overall staple shades with lovely textures and amazing pigmentation to boot.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction: Mrs. Mia Wallace 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Pulp Fiction, and in honour of this occasion, Urban Decay announced they were going to release a limited edition Pulp Fiction collection inspired by Mia Wallace, played by Uma Thurman in the film. Pulp Fiction is my favourite Tarantino film and the first one I ever watched (on VHS!), and y'all already know my love for Urban Decay, so I was doubly excited about this collection. When I finally saw the products they were launching in this collection, though, I was disappointed at the selection; there are only five products in total with this launch, and I think I was expecting more products and more variety in general. But I picked up the two lip products in this collection, because I think the red lip is what really defines Mia Wallace's signature look. 

Urban Decay's Pulp Fiction collection sees the release of one new and limited edition shade of 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil. It's described as a "creamy, waterproof formula [that] applies smoothly, prevents feathering and lasts all day. Draw lines that define, then fill in your lips to help prime them for lipstick or gloss. Vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil nourish the skin and ensure a smooth application." The pencil itself features the same design as all the other 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils, but the box for the pencil features the Pulp Fiction logo on the outside, and "the fateful Ezekiel passage voiced by Jules Winnfield (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in the film" on the inside. Each 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil contains a total of 1.2 grams of product, and retails for $24. 
Mrs. Mia Wallace
Mrs. Mia Wallace

Mrs. Mia Wallace is a medium-dark vibrant blood red with subtle cool undertones in a matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and more matte than its lipstick counterpart. It is darker and less pink than Urban Decay 69, cooler than MAC Kiss Me Quick Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, darker and more muted than MAC Cherry, darker and less pink than MAC Beet, darker and cooler than MAC Brick, darker and warmer than NARS Dragon Girl Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, darker and cooler than NARS Cruella Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, darker than Make Up For Ever 8C, and lighter and cooler than Make Up For Ever 9C.

This is my first Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil, and I'm wondering how it took me so long to acquire one because it's one of the nicest formulas I've ever used. They go on very smoothly and evenly, and they're creamy, but not so soft that they slip or feather or bleed. They don't tug or skip on the lips, and they don't feel dry after setting like many other long-wearing lip pencils out there. They just execute and wear really well. I don't talk about lip pencils a lot here, but I use them frequently in real life, usually when I'm wearing bright or dark shades, and I almost always use them on my clients (in fact, I feel like the lip is incomplete without using a liner). I think they're such an underrated item in the make-up world, but they make such a huge difference when you're wearing lipstick. Aside from helping lipstick wear longer and to keep colour from bleeding, they re-define the lips and make them look more polished and add a really nice dimension (I actually like using liner after applying lipstick for precision). And this formula is just lovely: they glide on so beautifully, depositing rich, even colour, that you could easily use this alone as your lip colour without anything else.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction: Mrs. Mia Wallace Revolution Lipstick

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Pulp Fiction, and in honour of this occasion, Urban Decay announced they were going to release a limited edition Pulp Fiction collection inspired by Mia Wallace, played by Uma Thurman in the film. Pulp Fiction is my favourite Tarantino film and the first one I ever watched (on VHS!), and y'all already know my love for Urban Decay, so I was doubly excited about this collection. When I finally saw the products they were launching in this collection, though, I was disappointed at the selection; there are only five products in total with this launch, and I think I was expecting more products and more variety in general. But I picked up the two lip products in this collection, because I think the red lip is what really defines Mia Wallace's signature look. 

Urban Decay's Pulp Fiction collection sees the release of one new and limited edition shade of Revolution Lipstick. The formula features "Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™ for insane colour payoff with creamy shine. Maxi-Lip™ plumps and nourishing oils leave lips cushiony soft." It is packaged in special edition, jet-black tubes lined in Urban Decay's signature dark purple. The box for the lipstick features the Pulp Fiction logo on the outside, and "the fateful Ezekiel passage voiced by Jules Winnfield (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in the film" on the inside. Each Revolution Lipstick contains a total of 2.8 grams of product, and retails for $26. 
Mrs. Mia Wallace
Mrs. Mia Wallace

Mrs. Mia Wallace is a medium-dark vibrant blood red with subtle cool undertones and a soft sheen in a cream finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has intense pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and cooler than Urban Decay F-Bomb, darker and less pink than Urban Decay 69, brighter and less brown-toned than MAC Viva Glam I, darker and warmer than MAC Ruby Woo, darker and cooler than MAC Russian Red, similar though slightly warmer than YSL 18 Red Taboo Rouge Volupté, slightly darker than Illamasqua Box, warmer than Chanel 99 Pirate Rouge Allure, and redder and warmer than Chanel 40 La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet.

Y'all know how much I love Urban Decay's Revolution Lipsticks — it's one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time — and this lipstick is no different; it executes flawlessly, going on smoothly and evenly and with intense pigmentation so that it's completely opaque in one swipe. And, as the owner of dozens of red lipsticks, Mrs. Mia Wallace is possibly one of the most perfect reds I've ever come across; one that will suit every skintone from fair to dark, and one that will suit all undertones from warm to cool. As many of you know, MAC's Viva Glam I is my favourite red lipstick of all time, and this one doesn't replace it, but it's a close second. It's deeper than your typical cherry red lip, giving it a very classic, retro vibe that never goes out of style. The slight cool undertones gives it a very clean, polished look making teeth look whiter, but it never looks too blue. To be clear, this is a blood red, not a bright red, so if you're looking for something more along the lines of cherry or tomato (or other red fruits), this isn't it. But if you're looking for something timeless, bad-ass, and sexy as hell, take a look at one Mrs. Mia Wallace.

Sunday Video Love: Ho Hey

I go through phases with television and hadn't watched a show for months until recently, when I downloaded Nashville. I went through both seasons in two weeks. It surprised me how much I loved the show, and more surprisingly, country music. I'd never been a huge fan of country music, but the show features all different sub-genres of it, from folksy to more rock-inspired, and it's really showed me how beautiful country music can be. There's a plethora of talent in Nashville (all the actors actually sing the songs on the show), but this cover of The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" by then 13- and 10-year-old Canadian sisters, Lennon and Maisy (who play the daughters of main character, Rayna James), really impressed me with its simplicity and sweetness.

Friday Five: Mammalian

This week's Friday Five:

1. Have you drunk the milk of some animal other than a cow? If so, how was it? Do humans count as animals? My mom has told me that I was breast-fed, but I obviously don't remember it. Otherwise, I don't think so... but then, I hate milk in general, so I don't know if I'd really care to try. I have, however, had goat cheese. It's quite delightful in small amounts.


2. How sensitive are you to changes in atmospheric temperature? Not that sensitive, given that I live in Toronto and there's like, a 50-degree difference between summer and winter temperatures. I am, however, sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. I get crazy bad headaches.


3. How do you feel about your body hair? I've accepted and learned to live with it, but it doesn't mean I don't hate it. Removing it is absolutely tedious. I wear pants all year round just to avoid having to shave my legs that often. I totally wish I could be hairless from my nose down (I say nose, because I think having nose hairs is quite important to filter out dirt and stuff).


4. What's something you know about the moment of your birth or the events immediately before and after? I was born in the morning on a Saturday in a northern Toronto hospital. It was a cold but sunny November day. I was neither early nor late (which means I was conceived right around Valentine's Day — so cliché). That's pretty much it. 


5. What non-mammalian animal do you feel the most kinship with? It's occurred to me, after contemplating this question, that I don't really care for non-mammalian animals. So... none.

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 338 Mirage, 373 Rieuse, and 575 Wonderland

For summer, Dior launched a new and permanent lip product called Dior Addict Fluid Stick. It's described as giving "the high-impact colour and long wear of a classic lipstick, combined with the shine of a gloss, all in a thin film that delivers sensational comfort. Colour and shine come together as one for maximum impact with intense, long-wearing lip stain pigments directly encapsulated in spheres of gloss. Dior Addict Fluid Stick does not contain wax, but water for maximum lightness, an immediate fresh effect and addictive comfort…" It features a teardrop-shaped foam applicator, and has a sweet, almost soapy scent, but no discernible taste. They are packaged in a clear rectangular tube like other Dior lip glosses, but features the shape of a lipstick inside the tube. Each Dior Addict Fluid Stick contains a total of 5.5 ml of product, and retails for $36. 
338 Mirage, 373 Rieuse, and 575 Wonderland
338 Mirage, 373 Rieuse, and 575 Wonderland

338 Mirage is a medium muted warm peachy coral with brown undertones in a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is darker and more brown than 239 Frisson, brighter and more orange than 219 Whisper Beige, darker and more brown than MAC Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass, darker and brighter than MAC Be Nice Mineralize Glass, and darker and more orange than NARS Odalisque Larger Than Life Lip Gloss.

373 Rieuse is a medium brightened warm coral-pink in a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less pink than 479 Magique, more pink than 550 Aventure, more pink than MAC Whoops! Pro Longwear Lipglass, more muted than Illamasqua Mistress Intense Lipgloss, more pink than NARS Paris Follies Larger Than Life Lip Gloss, lighter and more pink than YSL 12 Corail Fauve Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain, and more pink than Marc Jacobs Beauty 202 Paint It Lust for Vinyl Lip Lacquer.

575 Wonderland is a medium-dark vibrant warm reddened pink in a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than 479 Magique, more pink than 754 Pandore, more reddened than Illamasqua Follow Intense Lipgloss, brighter and warmer than MAC Double Dare Cremesheen Glass, more pink than NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lip Gloss, and warmer than YSL 11 Rouge Gouache Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain.

I've never really had a lip product quite like this. There are a ton of lip hybrids out there these days, but this one really is exactly as it claims: it has the colour pay-off and wear-time of a lipstick, but has the high shine finish of a gloss that feels incredibly lightweight, almost like a gel. When push comes to shove, I would classify these more as glosses than lipsticks, as these apply, execute, and appear like glosses (plus, a lipstick would imply that it comes in, you know, stick-form). On that note, glosses with this kind of texture are usually really sheer with a very short wear-time (e.g. MAC Cremesheen Glass), but these somehow have the pigmentation and wear-time of a very, very sticky gloss (e.g. MAC Pro Longwear Lipglass). They wear even longer than most shiny lipsticks.

They feel a little tingly and almost cooling when you first put it on, and then you feel a very slight tightening as if the product is clinging to your lips. A slight tackiness develops to help with the wear-time, but it never feels sticky or gluey, and it's never uncomfortable. And I also find that as the product wears, it almost looks more lush, more cushiony on the lips, making them appear fuller and juicier. The only thing I don't really love about these is the applicator, which isn't as precise as I'd like it, especially given that the brighter and darker colours can stain; it's very easy to over-apply these. I'm also not huge on the scent, which is almost chemical-like. It doesn't linger on the lips and I don't taste it once it's on, but it's worth noting. Still, the pros outweigh the cons with this formula, and it's ultimately an incredible option for those who want a gloss that behaves like a liquid lipstick.