Top Knot
Is the top knot over? Sometimes I feel like I’m still the only one twisting my hair to the crown of my head to create the most perfect pineapple bun.
Country Chic
Where country mouse meets city mouse — remember that show? — you find country chic. At least that’s what I told my colleague who asked me to describe my outfit. I know, questionable explanation, but there is something about this Zara dress that makes me want to trudge (read: prance) through haystacks (read: sunflower fields).
Little Green Silk Dress
As an ex-Aritzia employee, I have owned this Wilfred dress since as long as I can remember. It’s become a staple in my wardrobe more so than any little black dress I own. The easy shape is versatile, dress it up or down, it will be happy either way. Paired with my latest addition to my, ahem, shoe collection, this silk dress is perfect for summer, and just enough for my business casual 9-to-5. I just can’t get enough of these Kelsi Dagger sandals. After majorly eyeing over the winter months at Heel Boy, I finally bit the bullet and wished for sunshine. Last week alone I wore them three times, talk about return on investment.
The Goods: Daily Routine
The products that have made their way into my daily makeup routine, are mostly tried, tested and true. Most I have been using for years, and some I switch up based on my mood, or recommendations from others.
The “cannot live without” goods:
Concealer: Benefit Erase Paste – This concealer made me first fall for Benefit Cosmetics. It’s been in my beauty routine for years, and I fear if this favourite was one day be discontinued, I would feel lost without it.
Spot Cover Up: The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer – Tea tree does great things for blemishes. This concealer was actually discontinued at some point, but I guess enough people questioned it’s availability and so The Body Shop brought it back!
Bronzer: NARS in Laguna – This is the bronzer mostly all your friends use, and always topping ‘Best Bronzers” lists. Enough said.
Blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay in Amused – With clay as a prominent ingredient in this blush, the colour actually stays on your cheeks for hours. Amused is a bright pink that works all year round when paired with a bronzer.
The “right now” goods:
Mascara: Benefit They’re Real – I’m not 100% sold on this mascara yet. While it does give incredible length, it nothing I haven’t seen already. Recently, I received a tip from a makeup artist to layer this over a cheaper mascara. Apparently it’s meant to be used this way, to better elongate lashes, and also makes it much easier to wash off at night.
Eyebrow Pencil: Benefit Instant Brow – The brows are so, so critical for me. Instant Brow in Medium is the absolute perfect colour for my brows, and I love the waxiness for super easy application, but because the pencil is SO waxy, I have so far had to sharpen the pencil every two uses. At this rate I’ll have used the entire pencil in three weeks time.
Do you use any of these products on the daily?
Faux Leather & Denim
This is my dream everyday uniform. Leather + denim – switch up the shoes based on your occasion. I swear this outfit could take me anywhere. While I’d much prefer real leather pants, these Zara faux leather pants, fool almost everyone. And although it’s quite the task to sit in these things without contracting restless leg syndrome, I still think they were my best Paris purchase, and I know Gillian agrees as well.
P.S. how do you like that side part?
Manicure Monday: White Hot
White is 2013′s favourite neutral. Come spring/summer black on black is now white on white and that goes for everything, even polish. I initially thought Essie’s stark white polish, Blanc, was too white. But here’s what I’ve learned, at first you will find it tacky and white-out-like, without a doubt. Give it a chance — a day — and soon it will also be your favourite neutral nail colour. Not to mention the fact that it compliments your soon to be tan bod and a boy complimented me on my manicure, which must mean something.
The Goods: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
For a hydrating moisturizer that holds true to its word you have to go with Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. After moving condos and starting a new job all within the same week, my skin had a hard time adjusting to the different environments and the dryer air in my new place. I tried this mask on a whim after it sitting in my cupboard for months. I have always believed in the Origins brand, but I was afraid the strong, though absolutely delicious, apricot scent would be too much for my sensitive skin to handle. As soon as I put this on, my skin felt like it had never before — no joke! The avocado, apricot kernel oil, and Japanese seaweed ingredients help to quench and repair your skin.
Best for: Dry skin
Best used: While this product is named a “mask” simply use this as an overnight cream. Your skin will absorb the moisturizer overnight. As a person with dry/normal skin, I choose to use this every night, but if you have oilier skin you can use it a few times a week.
Results: Every morning my skin feels super soft, and I have even used this moisturizer under my eyes (where in the past I had eczema) with no irritation. Since I am a sun lover, I have a few fine lines on my forehead and I have seen a minimization in these slight wrinkles.
