Review: Sephora Collection Dramatic Line 24hr Felt Eyeliner

Note to self: Don't use product names as a post title, it's a mouthful.

Today I'll be reviewing the Sephora Felt Eyeliner - my savior after many disappointing liquid/gel liner purchases. I usually buy my eyeliners from the drugstore as I wear eyeliner almost everyday and I can't justify spending over 20 dollars on a product I will have to buy frequently.

I have three requirements when it comes to black eyeliner. Firstly, it must be black, not grey, not brown, not almost black but black. Secondly, it has to be long lasting - I wear makeup to work and school so it's on my face hours at a time and I need to know it doesn't just smudge off. Lastly, it should be easy to apply; no mess, no fuss. 

My skin looks jaundiced here but ignore my skin and focus on the lines!

This product ticked two of the my three boxes - it has amazing staying power and the pen applicator makes it so easy. I love the tip as I can do thin or thick lines. This particular one is waterproof and I'm not entirely sure there is another option. The one box it does not tick, however, is that it isn't black. It takes two or three swipes to get it to the colour I want though, in its defence, I put it over glittery gold eyeshadow.

Verdict: I will probably be purchasing this again, it's a great product and doesn't break the bank!

What are your favourite eyeliners? 

Review: Neutrogena Night Cream

I love washing my face for the sole reason that it just makes me feel clean. Off comes the make up that seems to feel heavier as the day progresses and what I'm left with is fresh, clean, naked skin. But that happiness is fleeting as, mere minutes after, my skin feels tight, dry and itchy. I didn't understand why my skin would feel this way when it usually is combination oily. Truth be told, this was the one thing I hated about washing my face. (Note: was)

But along came Neutrogena Deep Moisture Night Cream (doesn't quite have the same ring to it as "Polly") and banished that feeling. This is all starting to sound very dramatic but that is how much I am in awe of this cream! This cream moisturizes my skin without leaving it feeling greasy or heavy. It has balanced my skin out and now, after washing my face, the horrid feeling of dry skin is gone (which is remarkable considering it's winter). 


I apply this bad boy after I've cleansed, toned and applied acne cream to my face. My skin soaks up that moisture and feels so hydrated - I have no complaints about this product. But I'm going to be honest with you (as I believe my reviews should be my genuine opinions and observations): I have noticed that my combination oily skin is now slightly oilier. Slightly! Not enough to make me stop using/wanting/needing/obsessing over this product. Overall, I recommend and would repurchase this product.

 Have you tried this product before? If so, did you like it? What are your favourite night creams and why?

Handcare for Winter

I don't know how many more posts I can start by talking about the cold, dark, winter months. But here's yet another one.

One thing I hate about winter is how dry my hands get. Not only are my hands not as soft, but they feel tight and that annoys me beyond belief. Soon as it hits September, I double down on my hand moisturizers to minimize the effects of the harsh Canadian winters.

My day product is the Glysomed Hand Cream. It has a thick formula so a pea sized amount suffices in keeping my hands soft and moisturized for several hours and through a couple of washes. This cream is popular with my friends but I do know that the consistency of this cream is a bit odd at first. It is quite thick (which is what makes it work so well) but if you're used to thin, slippery creams, it takes a bit of time to get used to.



My night cream is by far the best thing I have ever laid my hands on (see what I did there?). It's the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula. It's a solid formula so I rub my fingertips all over the solid cream and this melts it on my fingers. I then rub whatever is on my fingers onto my hands. I do this right before bed and this process takes one or two minutes but I've noticed a huge difference on my hands. I wear a wrist splint to bed (I have carpal tunnel) and this splint cuts into the skin between my thumb and index finger. I would wake up and my skin would be painful and chafed but, after using this cream, my skin there is much softer and less painful.


What do you do to take care of your hands during winter? Any changes in your hand creams?

My Autumn Hat

Random Note: I had the idea for this blog post weeks back and so I photographed my hat weeks ago. I sat down to write the post today and looked at the photos I'd shot and I've just now realized how ridiculous it was to use my bedside flowers as a model for this hat. So forgive the ridiculous pictures!

As soon as summer rolls around, I whip out my wide-brimmed straw hat that goes with practically anything. This is a favourite of mine because it's not only fashionable but functional too: it keeps the sun out of my eyes and keeps me cool. A lot of my sun- and heat-loving friends make fun of me for the sheer size of this hat but I love it anyway.

When I noticed the trend of wide-brimmed, soft, floppy hats for Fall, I couldn't help but get excited. One of my favourite trends was now almost year round! I immediately went on the hunt for a Fall hat and found a wine coloured one from Marshalls ($25) that I fell in love with. 



This hat originally had a black feather on it but I cut it off at the risk of looking like Yankee Doodle. I love the colour of this since it's bold but still goes with everything. I also love that it hides any greasy roots and protects my hair from rain! I love pairing it with neutral colours and generally opt for ivory or oatmeal tops when wearing this hat. 

I can't find this particular hat online but similar ones can be found here, here and here. 

Are you a hat person? What are your favourite fall accessories? 

Documentaries I Highly Recommend

What a creative title. I bet you can't tell what this post is about.

With darkness creeping up on us earlier everyday, there's nothing I like doing better than curling up in bed under a furry throw or a fluffy duvet, and watching Netflix. I've been on a documentary kick lately and these are the three documentaries I've watched and loved. They have nothing to do about fashion or beauty but my interests are diverse and I think it's important to expand our horizons (cue inspiring music). I warn you that my descriptions are horrendous and do not do these documentaries any justice but if you bear with me, I'm certain you'll enjoy them and learn a thing or two. 

1. Miss Representation: This eye-opening documentary shows how powerful women are underrepresented and how the media trivializes women's roles in society. Women are noticed for their appearances while their words and ideas go unheard or even ridiculed. Despite the growing awareness of the gender divide, feminism is still considered a dirty word. This documentary shows us how and why it's important to empower women and to rightly give them the credit they deserve. 

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Representation

2. Forks Over Knives: If you need a reason to eat healthy or become a vegetarian, this is it. This documentary debunks myths about vegetarianism using scientific evidence and gives reason as to why a plant based diet is beneficial for all of us. It shows how food plays a huge part in treating diseases, curing ailments that medicine cannot. This documentary, amongst other things, inspired me to start have a vegetarian week each month (and, as a huge carnivore, this is no easy feat!).

Image from: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/forks-over-knives-review/

3. Park Avenue: If you weren't disgusted by the greed and selfishness of those living in 740 Park Avenue, you will be now. This documentary shows how money rules our governments - lobbying and deep pockets make for bills and laws that favour the wealthy while leaving many Americans in poverty, unable to get out of their dire financial situations. Did you know that many of the Billionaires living in Park Avenue pay less taxes than their secretaries? 

Image from: http://mgross.com/740blog/gibneys-740-park-documentary-in-eye-of-pbs-storm/

Let me know if you've seen any of these and whether or not you liked them. What documentaries or shows have you been watching lately? Or have you read any controversial, eye-opening books that you'd like to share?

5 Things I've Learned About Life

 In 4 days, I'll be turning 22. 22! I realize it's still very young but I feel as though 22 means I'm an adult and no longer under the forgiving umbrella of age. That's deep.

I decided for this week I'd throw out my scheduled beauty related posts for something about me and related to what I've learnt in my 22 years. So without further ado:

1. There will always be someone better than you. While this is a depressing thought, it's certainly humbling. There will always be someone smarter, prettier, taller, richer, etc than you. But that's okay - do the best you can do given your means and circumstances. While life makes others prettier or taller or smarter than you, you can work harder than anyone else, you can be nicer than anyone else. Just do what you can to be who you want to be and the rest will fall into place. Which brings me to my next lesson...

2. Don't worry about the things you can't control. There really isn't any point in wishing you could change the things you can't. What has to happen will happen and while you can (and should) try your best, there will always be things you can't do anything about. No amount of guilt will change the past and no amount of worrying will change the future.

3. It's okay to be sad. This has been a common theme lately but I can't stress it enough. I've had hours and days and months of being sad - it comes randomly, in waves and it can't always be explained. A close friend of mine died in a tragic accident over a year ago and I was sad every night for months. But sometimes I'll get sad just because it's dark outside! Sometimes I'm just in a funk and that's okay. As long as you realize how blessed and loved you, it's okay to not always be happy all the time.

4. Life goes on. Whatever you're going through may seem like the end of the world at the time but it never is. Breakups, failed tests, lost friendships - they're all a part of life. Look around you, life goes on. The drama I cried over in high school seems so trivial now. Had I realized when I was younger that everything will always be okay in the end (it really and truly will), I would have been a much happier teen!

5. Be humble, be grateful, be kind. Be humble to know that everything you have is a result of someone's (or your) hard work and isn't something you deserve just because. Be grateful for everyday you spend in good health and with loved ones. Be kind to everyone around you and strive to be the bigger person at all times. Being kind (and still strong) will always be the right decision.

If you have any tips or life lessons, please let me know below! Let's all help each other out for a happier, kinder world. 

Autumn/Winter Lips

I love the transition from summer to autumn - especially in terms makeup. Autumn calls for darker shades and bold colours - plenty of (badly executed) smokey eyes and dark lips for me. My favourite autumn lip colour is often paired with oatmeal coloured sweater and ivory blouses. I love mixing the dark make up with light colours just so I don't look too vampy. 

The lipstick is Covergirl and in the shade 360 Euphoria. It's applied over the Annabelle Waterproof Lipliner in Boisenberry which ensures me long lasting colour with minimal mess.  Boisenberry is a deep purple and Euphoria has more of a red tone - the combination gives way to beautiful berry lips.

I wanted a picture of the combination on my lips but I was having a bad selfie day and the lighting wasn't doing the colour any justice! 

What are your favourite lipsticks this season? Any lipliner/lipstick combinations you can recommend?

Autumn/Winter Lip Essentials

Being a full-lipped girl has its advantages and its drawbacks. While most lipsticks suit my lips, one shade too bright can easily have me looking a bit drag. Also a disadvantage of full lips: having bread crumbs stuck to it after eating a sandwich. Ugh.

As soon as the weather gets cooler, my lips are the first to show signs of dryness. Here are the products I use to keep these bad boys looking at its best.

My first step is brushing my lips: after I take off my make up, I brush my lips with a soft toothbrush to really take my lipstick off as well as any gross skin. I do step almost every day in fall and winter.

Once a week I use a sugar scrub: I'm not picky when it comes to this - I generally use whatever body scrub I've been using, my favourite being the Shea Moisture Argan Oil & Raw Shea Hand & Body Scrub. I prefer smaller grains to scrub my lips. I just put this on wet lips, scrub with my finger and wash it off.

My last and favourite step is using lip balm: after months of riding the EOS bandwagon, I realize that nothing hydrates my lips as much as Burt's Bees. I love the scent of the Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit and use it at least twice a day.

PSA: DON'T lick your lips! This just makes everything worse - though it provides temporary relief for dry lips, all it does is dry out your lips in the end. Just don't it, okay, promise? (Anyone get that reference?)

What are your favourite autumn/winter lip products? 

The Tag for Makeup Addicts!

Happy November bloggers! This is exciting - it's my first tag as a blogger! Thank you to Iqra from The Blushing Giraffe for this tag! Her blog is really lovely, great pictures and reviews on all things beauty and fashion. She also has great ethical purchasing principles which I truly admire.

Let's dive right in!

1. Which product do you still keep buying more of despite having plenty in your collection?
Eye shadows. I absolutely adore palettes and continuously shop for eye shadows even though I don't wear it so often and haven't yet perfected a smokey eye on my tan skin tone.

2. What's the one product you can't live without?
Eyeliner. And lipstick. And lip balm. And foundation. But if I had to choose just one (this is a mean question!), I'd say lip balm, especially this time of year (shameless promotion: check my autumn/winter lipcare here *coming soon*).

3. Favourite makeup brand?
Another mean question! I have to say if it's in terms of quality and environmental friendliness, it would be Tarte. Their foundation has the best coverage and doesn't make me oily! But I do love Nars in terms of blushes and lipsticks. Sephora does a great liquid liner and their brush quality is fantastic. I can't choose! 

4. How big is your makeup collection?
The pictures show just a fraction of my makeup but it's small compared to most. I like using make up till the very end unless it's abysmal. And I'm an animal of habit, I can't let go of the things I love. 

5. And how do you store it?
There's no Muji in Canada so I've bought clear drawers from Amazon and brush tins from Ikea.

6. How many items of makeup have you got in your handbag at the moment?
Lip balm, lipstick, mattifying power, eyeliner, and blush make 5. With my brushes make 7.

7. If you could raid another blogger's stash, who would it be?
Probably Amelia Liana's because though she doesn't wear a tonne of make up, the products she uses are expensive and luxurious.

8. How long does your usual makeup routine take and how many products do you use?
For work I wear minimal makeup - it's all done in ten minutes! I use foundation, bronzer, blush, mascara and lipstick. When I go out with my friends or family, it's the whole shebang: primer, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter, lipstick - the whole thing taking over a half hour.

9. Have you ever bought makeup knowing you wouldn't use it?
Yes - a smokey eye palette from Quo. I knew that I wasn't good enough with makeup to pull off a purple smokey eye with my skin tone but I bought it anyway. It ended up looking like a bruised, black eye. I later dropped and smashed the palette, thank God.

10. Tag a few other makeup addicts to do this tag!
I'd like to tag the Velveteen Rabbit from BF GF Does Blogging, Rikki from Luscious Lane and Mikela from Simply Davelyn, as well as anyone reading this post: you're up!

Guilt-Free Pancakes

I love all things breakfast but my mom is a "healthy helicopter" (a phrase my little brother coined) and so pancakes are a rare food at my house.

Luckily, I discovered a healthy pancake recipe and all it takes are:

- 2 eggs
- 1 (ripe) banana
- A pinch of baking soda
- A pinch of cinnamon OR a dash of vanilla extract
- Optional: half a handful of blueberries or chocolate chips

All you do is mash the banana (very, very well) in a bowl and beat in the eggs (this step can also be done in a blender). Add the cinnamon/vanilla, blueberries/chocolate chips and baking soda and wait five minutes. This gives the baking soda time to do it's thing and produce fluffy pancakes. Then pour a spoonful of the mixture into a hot skillet (as you would normal pancake mix), cook, flip, remove and repeat!

This recipe makes a small stack that is great for one. I've found this mixture cooks very quickly so you can probably do the stack of pancakes in five or so minutes.

I add the vanilla and chocolate chips because it takes away the subtle egg flavour that my sensitive palette notices. I also add maple syrup because I'm a Canadian with a massive sweet tooth.


Hope you guys enjoy the recipe and tell me what breakfast foods you guys love!