ASOS Swim

            

The change of weather has gotten me excited for spring and summer clothes! When perusing ASOS the other day, I came across quite a few gorgeous swimsuits that I couldn't help but share. I don't wear bikinis - it used to be because I was self conscious about my body but I recently realized that it's more about modesty for me than anything else now. I've learned to accept my body in all it's glory and with all it's imperfections - so my decision to wear one pieces is a choice, not fear. 

             

             

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

Will you be picking any of these swimsuits? Which is your favourite? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe.

20 Ways to Feel Happier

It's spring! Despite the sun and the anticipation of summer, spring means exam season and it's easy to feel down when you spend all day in the library staring at your books or computer screens. Here are 20 (out of 34) things to do to make you feel happy:

1. Listen to music - fast, happy tracks, not melancholy ballads!
2. Plan a vacation - it doesn't have to be far, just give yourself something to anticipate.
3. Remind yourself of how amazing you are.
4. Work out - sweating gets those endorphins going which is great for your mood (and body).
5. Go outside.
6. Meditate
7. Read a positive message
8. Talk to someone in real life.
9. Take a cozy bath.
10. Stop to smell the (blooming) flowers.
11. Drink a glass of milk - milk contains tryptophan which helps create seritonin.
12. Go deep - have a deep conversation with someone, get to really know them.
13. Play with a puppy/kitten.
14. Send someone an email saying how much you appreciate them.
15. Get enough sleep.
16. Spend money on experiences - buy a board game and have a games night!
17. Think of happy memories.
18. Celebrate little victories - good job on studying for an exam that's still days away!
19. Count your blessings.
20. Give back, even if it's paying for someone's coffee or helping someone study.

What do you do to make yourself happy? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe. Let's spread the happiness!

Kelly's Going Green

Kelly from Glitter Diaries has written a wonderful post on all things green (literally and figuratively!), I hope you all enjoy: 

Hey lovely The Sunday Wardrobe readers!

This month, the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Network dedicated March's guest posting theme to any and all things green. I kept thinking about green eco-friendly products and green coloured makeup that I love using and then decided to combine both of those ideas into a round-up of my favourite green products, both eco-friendly and in the pretty shade of green. So, here goes!

I collected my favourites of the boldest shades of green I owned, from neon green pigment to pressed eyeshadows to glitter (gotta include that!) and also an awesome green mascara I love pulling out for themed makeup looks. I also had to include one of my favourite brushes and lip crayon, unfortunately not in a shade of green but still gorgeous none-the-less.

From L-R: Urban Decay Electric Palette 'Freak & Thrash' Eyeshadows, MAC 'Green Space' Pigment, Annabelle 'Kryptonite' Glitterama Liquid Eyeliner, NYX Cosmetics 'Glam Lagoon' Glam Liner Aqua Luxe Waterproof Liner, EcoTools Skin Perfecting Brush , Burt's Bees 100% Natural Lip Crayon, Hard Candy 1000 Lashes Mascara

Urban Decay Electric Palette 'Freak' & 'Thrash' Eyeshadows (reviewed here): What can I say about these shadows except that they're two amazing shades from an equally amazing palette that I tend to grab for often. Super pigmented colours that are vividly bright and so much fun to wear for an electrifying (get it? ;)) look.

MAC 'Green Space' Pigment: If I want a higher dose of saturated green pigmentation, Green Space is my go-to. It is the bomb at delivering intense colour that is easy to blend help me create whatever crazy look I'm going for.

Annabelle 'Kryptonite' Glitterama Liquid Eyeliner: Annabelle's Glitterama liners are something I just can't live without ever since discovering them years ago. I love how gorgeous this liner is and how I can use it as a straight forward liner or all over my lids to achieve green apple glittering eyes. The possibilities are endless with these liners!

NYX Cosmetics 'Glam Lagoon' Glam Liner Aqua Luxe: Delivering a sparkling finish as well as bright colour, my favourite green coloured liner is Glam Lagoon by NYX. It truly is smudge-proof and long lasting which is what I look for in bright waterproof liquid liners. This one makes your eyes pop and adds great dimension to any look.

EcoTools Skin Perfecting Brush (reviewed here): I wanted to fit more of these brushes into the pictures because, really, I'm in love with EcoTools and their natural and very affordable brushes. The Skin Perfecting Brush is great for using with light weight liquids like BB Creams and tinted moisturizers. Every time I use any ET brushes, I'm always blown away by the quality and how extremely affordable they are!

Burt's Bees 'Hawaiian Smolder' 100% Natural Lip Crayon (reviewed here): This is just one lipstick out of a collection of all natural lip crayons that deliver great colour and make your lips feel really good too! Hawaiian Smolder is like the perfect shade of pink to brighten up your mood on a gloomy day.

Hard Candy 'Lush Green' 1000 Lashes Mascara: For crazy makeup looks or to simply add a bit of fun to something more subdued, Hard Candy's 1000 Lashes Mascara in Lush Green is where it's at! I used this a heck of a lot during the weeks leading up to Halloween last year, but it also is fun to wear on your bottom lashes for a nice pop of colour!

From L-R Amie Skincare Bright Eyes Very Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, Amie Skincare Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturizer, Amie Skincare Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash

Amie Skincare Bright Eyes Very Gentle Eye Makeup Remover: When my eyes are covered in tons of shadow and glitter, Amie's Bright Eyes helps really soothe my eyes as it strips everything off which is critical for me when I'm taking off makeup like that.

Amie Skincare Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturizer (reviewed here): Another fave of mine from Amie is Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturizer because it isn't too heavy (so it's perfect for wearing now that the weather is getting warmer outside!) and leaves your skin feeling nourished and moisturized all day long.

Amie Skincare Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash (reviewed here): My skin always feels so soft and refreshed after cleansing it with Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash. It gets rid of everything and smells really good too!

Thank you Nabihah for letting me post on your blog! This round-up was a lot of fun to put together :) What are your favourite green beauty products?!

An InLinkz Link-up

STWW: One Less: Tissue

One of my biggest peeves is people using many tissues. It sounds weird but I hate when I go to a public restroom and see people pull out 5 or 6 tissues from the dispenser just to wipe their hands. Especially when I pull out one maybe two and my hands end up just as dry as theirs.

Tissues are something we don't usually think about but impact our Earth. But did you know that most of the heavily advertised tissue products are made from trees rather than recycled paper1,2? The paper manufacturing industry is the third highest industrial emitter of global warming gases1. If every household in the US replaced one roll of virgin fiber paper towels with 100% recycled ones, we could save 544 000 trees3.

A fast and simple way to start doing good for the environment is using less: use less tissues! Try pulling just one out from the dispenser and using the entire piece to wipe your hands. If your hands are still wet, grab one more (I usually find them dry enough that they air dry within a few seconds). Or at least start off with using one less tissue than you'd normally use. It sounds like a small step but if we all do it, we can all help!

Even better, start buying tissues made from recycled paper! Popular brands include: 365 (Whole Foods), CVS Earth Essentials, Trader Joe's and more, which can be found here. Brands to avoid include Bounty, Charmin and Kleenex among others.

Does this sound like an easy tip for you to pick up? What are your wasteful peeves? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Review: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

It's no secret I'm a Neutrogena fan - for a drugstore brand, they're just so good! This past Autumn I picked up the Neutrogena Shine Control Primer from Chicago and I've been in love ever since.

If you're a shiny disco ball after a few hours of wearing foundation like I am, this product is your best friend. This primer claims 8 hour shine control, to extend the wear of make up, a matte finish and it won't over dry. While it definitely gives a matte finish without looking too dry, I would say I started getting a little oily after 6 or 7 hours of wear. 

It doesn't minimize pores or make it easier to apply foundation but it definitely mattifies and keeps your foundation lasting a good long while. This product is perfect for the summer when my skin displays the effects of heat and humidity. Yes, it's definitely a product I'll be repurchasing though I have yet to see it in Canada yet.

Have you tried this product? What is your favourite drugstore Primer? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe.

STWW: One Less: Plastic Bag

This issue made a buzz a few years ago when Toronto implemented a 5-cent charge on plastic bags in an attempt to reduce the number of bags being used. While this worked for a while, the charge has now been lifted and I've seen consumers go back to the convenience of plastic bags.

Plastic bags are aptly named since they're made of plastic, a substance that takes over 1000 years to break down. These bags are accumulated in landfills where they don't biodegrade, they photodegrade: the bags break down into smaller pieces that soak up toxins and then contaminate soil and waterways. Also, unsuspecting animals mistake these bags for food and die from choking on the bags or the toxins of the plastic.

It is estimated that one million plastic bags are used every minute. Each square mile of the ocean has approximately 46 000 pieces of plastic floating around. Also, 10% of plastic product ends up in the ocean, 70% of which ends up on the ocean floor where it cannot degrade. Only 0.5% to 3% of all plastic bags end up recycled.

So what can you do?

1. Reuse your plastic bags. I use any that I have at home to line rubbish bins so I don't have to wash the bins each time I empty them.
2. Recycle your plastic bags. If you have many and no use for them, recycle them. Recycling is the best way to dispose of them.
3. Use reusable bags. I keep a few in the trunk of my car and one folded in my purse in case of emergencies. This means that I'm almost never without one. Bonus: they come in really cute designs!
4. Just don't use a plastic bag. Whenever I have five or less items and I've left my reusable bags in my car, I say I don't need a plastic bag. The walk to the car is not long enough to justify using this environmental nightmare. At supermarkets I can easily take out the trolleys to my car so I opt for that and just put them in a bag once I have one. 

If more of us stop using plastic bags, it gives companies that produce them a reason to stop making plastic bags and destroying the world that we live in. 

Do you use reusable bags? How do you remember to carry them? Let me know if you have something you'd like me to write about or if I'm missing some important information by commenting below or tweeting me @SundayWardrobe!

Cute reusable bags:

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Information from: 1 / 2

Neutrogena Mornings

My skincare routine in the mornings is very, very simple. I wash my face with cold water, spritz on some toner, apply moisturizer and I'm onto make up. When it comes to moisturizer, I believe a good one is crucial as it is something you leave on your face for hours at a time. I don't believe that the more expensive a product is, the better it is as Neutrogena is a drugstore brand that impresses me time and time again.

I've been using Neutrogena products for years, trying out their toners, face washes, and body washes and I always come back to their moisturizers. If you've been a consistent reader of this blog, you'll know that their Deep Moisture Night Cream was a game changer for me.

Another game changer is their Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen (SPF 55). Sunblock has the tendency to make you look ghostly, shiny and smell funny but all three problems have been solved in this miracle tube. This sunblock, while providing SPF 55, isn't shiny at all and you cannot detect it on your skin unless you use flash photography (as is the case with any SPF product). There is no smell and it is easy to apply as it isn't sticky. It also doesn't make me break out; I've been using it for the Summer and Winter months and I have no complaints.

Another product I use daily is their Oil Free Moisture (SPF 35). As you can see, I'm doing my best to be proactive against wrinkles and skin cancer. It is non-greasy and moisturizing while providing that ever important SPF. I use this for both winter and summer months but, with this harsh winter, I've been using the night cream during the day and saving this for warmer days.

Have you tried any Neutrogena products? What were your thoughts? What's your favourite sunblock/day cream? Leave a comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Easy Ways to Look Nicer Than You Feel

If you've read my Quick Day to Night Products, you'll know I'm always looking for fast ways to look nice. It's not an exact science but, over the years, I think I've figured out easy (and lazy) ways to look nicer than I want to.

Scarves

Especially in this weather, scarves are so easy to loop around your neck and look put together. I love going for an all black look and adding a punch of colour with bright, patterned scarves. This look also works in the summer with lighter fabrics - Forever 21 makes great, affordable scarves if you're looking!

Statement Necklaces

Statement necklaces are so quick to wear and really glam up a look - perfect if you're going for something dressier. I usually get gold or silver necklaces since I can easily pair them up with any colour but necklaces with colourful stones are perfect for solid-coloured outfits. I tend to keep my colourful necklaces for monochrome looks or I try to make sure there's at least one similar colour in both my top and necklace if I'm mixing it up. All of mine pictured above are from H&M from years back but they're still going strong! 

Bold Makeup

This falls in with my Quick Day to Night post - if you've got a little more time, you can apply a bold lipstick or brightening eyeshadow and head out the door. My quick-fixes include a Kat Von D lip or the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen which I can't get enough of. 

What are your quick and easy ways to dress up? Comment down below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

STWW: Why We Still Need..

..Feminism. I read an article today which blatantly reminded me why the world needs feminism. Because men like Mukesh Singh (who is one of the convicted in a case where a 23 year old female student was raped, attacked and ultimately killed in India) still believes it is the victim's fault as she "should not have been roam[ing] around at nine o'clock at night".

My friend told me that her ex-boyfriend had often said that women shouldn't wear revealing clothes and expect men to not hit on them/harass them. This is scary because it is the same defense that rapists use - women shouldn't have dressed/walked/spoken the way they did if they didn't want to be harassed/attacked/raped.

And my response was that the problem isn't the woman or her clothes; it's the act of rape. How a woman chooses to dress her own body is up to her. It isn't an invitation for a man to treat her how he sees fit. Each person is responsible only for what they do, not for what others do to them. A woman shouldn't have to dress for how a man would react to it and, likewise, a man shouldn't act on how a woman is dressed. Women (generally) don't harass a man based on how they are dressed so why is it any different?

To put things simply, if I stole something out of an unlocked car, the problem isn't that the car was unlocked. The problem is that I stole. Likewise, don't blame the victim for doing what she wanted to do to her body, blame the person who violated her body and her rights.

What are your thoughts on the article or feminism in general? Do you think it's okay for women (and men) to be harassed based on how they are dressed? Are they "asking for it"? I'd love to know your point of view even if it's different from mine so feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Disclaimer: Before people get all #NotAllMen on me, I know all men don't blame the victim - a lot of the men I personally know believe that this is wrong. The point isn't that all men do this, the point is that all women have felt this way before.

February Favourites

Monthly favourites are hard to think of; I want to be entirely honest on this blog and, realistically, I can't have monthly favourites every month. I can't call them favourites after only trying them out for a few weeks because I don't want to recommend things that aren't really that great.

So this month only four products have stood out to me and so I'm keeping it honest, short and sweet.

The first is a product I purchased in the beginning of the month and I've been using frequently and it's the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow. If you read my post Quick Day to Night Products, this was first on the list. It lasts for a long time, is so easy to apply and is pigmented. I swipe this on the inner corner of my eyes to brighten my face and add some glam.

I picked up the Sonia Kashuk Spoolie Brush and the Synthetic Buffing Brush in the liquidation sale at Target and I've loved them this past month. Previously, I used the free spoolie brushes I'd pick up at Sephora and they worked just fine. Until they broke and I was left with untamed brows. After using this spoolie brush, I can't and won't go back to the free plastic brushes since this makes neat brows so easy. The buffing brush is dense without being hard and applies foundation so quickly and beautifully, making it look almost air brushed and like a second skin.

The last is this Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser which I apply over a dry, made up face and wipe off with a damp face cloth. It's incredibly moisturizing, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and clean. It also is an effective make up remover, removing eye make up very well but not perfectly (I'm not too fussy on this as I don't use waterproof mascara). There is a bit of a rosy scent with it which I like but I can't say everyone will. With the freezing temperatures here in Toronto this moisturizing cleanser is favourite my skin is thanking me for.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? What is your monthly favourite? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!