April Favourites

I bring you a huge sigh of relief winter is officially over, the weather is getting warmer and it seems like my favourites are just brighter in general. Maybe I was lacking the vitamin d, but I am just feeling super happy. Just like always my favourites should come as no surprise. When I like something I am someone that goes on about it. Same thing when I don’t like something… I am shaking my fist at you Glam Glo! So without any further rambling here are my April Favourites.

 By Terry Blackstar

All the online hype about these as of late has rekindled my love for these. I love both shades I own but Misty Rock has been a go to this month. The metallic pink shimmer applies with ease and makes my blue eyes pop. The Blackstar Ombres are so easy, last all day and look like I made an effort when in reality I just kind of slapped on.

I apply this all over my lid and blend in the edges with a MAC 217 that’s it!

OPI Bubble Bath

These make long nails looks amazing and short nails look better too. I think what I’m trying to get to is this generally makes nails look better. This light pink gel polish honestly makes your nails look fake it’s enchanted I tell you. 

Dior Lip Glow

I have loved this product for years and I go through these like bananas. Having just cracked open a fresh tube all those positive Dior Lip Glow memories have come flooding back to me. On one hand this feels like a lip balm but with the added bonus of giving your lips a pinkly glow. Unlike tinted lip balms the color looks completely undetectable on the lips. It is the perfect purse lip companion, because you can swipe it on with ease and it goes with just about any look. 

Bio Beaute Lip Balm

Holy mother of apricot! This tastes and smells amazingThe lip balm itself is a nourishing light formula. I like that this comes in a sanitary tube too!

I just lick this off my lips half the time it tastes so darn good.

Bubble Bath

We’ve all hear about products that are your skin or lips (or anything really) but better.

But what about nails?

Truth is I never knew a product like this even existed. A nail polish that makes your natural nails look fake, takes seconds to apply and goes with any look, crazy talk? Wrong this magical unicorn nail color actually exists. 

OPI’s Bubble Bath! Yes, I am way late to join the Bubble Bath party but this is a great color. Except it’s not really a color! I would describe this as a sheer light pink that applies like a gel. Some how shade of pink whitens your nails tip and yet it the same time makes the pink part look better too. Yes, the pink part because I have no idea what that part is called. The overall look of Bubble Bath is your nail but 100 times better. 

3 Min To Parisian Chic!

For me I always take inspiration by the way French girls do their makeup. On one hand it’s very pulled together, yet on the other it’s kind of thrown on too. While I love wearing makeup, trying new products and fussing over blusher my philosophy is always the minimal approach. So taking inspiration from all those French beauties and applying it with my crazy mornings this is my simple and quick Parisian look.

My dark circles tend to look like burses in contrast to my pale skin. I’m sure there are pale girls out there with the same issue. A great product to use underneath the eye area is the L’Oreal CC Concealer. Not only does this blurr out dark circles, but the roller ball actually helps depuff the eye area too. What really makes this a winner is it also can cover up redness on the face. I simply just dab it on my chin or around my nose and blend it in with my fingers tips. The L’Oreal CC Concealer is a new one to my collection but it’s a great one-stop shop for concealing and undetectable light coverage.

Mascara can make you look more awake, lifts your complexion, brings out your eyes and hides dark circles need I say more? For the time it takes you to put on it most certainly has the biggest impact. To add a thicker lash effect I like to work the brush into my lash line. It gives you that no liner yet defined look that takes only a few seconds to apply.

To channel my inner French girl I choose the obvious choice, a red lipstick.  A red lip in contrast with a nearly naked face always looks super chic. I love sheer reds like the Revlon Balm Stain in Romantic and L’Oreal Color Riche in Cardinal Plume. My favorite among the bunch is the YSL Sheer Candy in Luscious Cherry. This formula is always a go to because it applies with ease, feels great on the lips and smells heavenly. 

Finding Sanctuary

This is kind of a random ramble, but I can’t handle my excitement and we are all friends, right? I used the Sanctuary dry oil habitually for 2 years. No lie I loved the moisturizing qualities, the sheen but especially the scent. However it wasn’t until I couldn’t find it anymore that I realized how much I missed it. So on a midnight trip to Shoppers I was surprised and excited to see the gift sets there. Granted my beloved dry oil wasn’t there but I was thrilled nonetheless.

First off the scent of Sanctuary smells like a spicy oriental fragrance but ever so fresh. It’s the kind of scent that compliments any perfume without being over bearing. If you’ve tried it I’m sure you will remember it.

I settled to with the gift set with the hand cream, just because I’m a sucker for hand creams. In theory I should have bought the bigger gift set because it was great value for the money. But nonetheless hand creams are always a good choice.

So while I am still selling myself on this hand cream gift set I just wanted to share my excitement. Now on that continuous hunt to find that dry oil!

Have you tried Sanctuary? Leave me a comment!

By Terry Ombre Blackstar

People claim to be able to sleep in this pencil eye shadow and wake up with perfect smoky eyes. Generally the buzz seems to be that this is the next must have Holy Grail product.  So I thought I would throw in my 2 cents into the conversation.

My first encounter with these was just after I finished college and landed my first ‘real’ job. My story is simple ladies, I swatched, they looked pretty so I bought.  At about $50 a pop I would have been less likely to do so today. So 5 years later I still have these in my collection which one could look at this be a serious hoarding problem or a testament to quality.

First off I would never suggest you sleep in your makeup but if you must this is the thing to use. I have these in two colours Bronze Moon and Misty Rock each shade is truly a breathtaking shimmery metallic.  By Terry really has there formula spot on these yes they are blendable.  However they are the longest wearing eye product I’ve encountered to date and so they should be at $50.00.  

The packaging… is okay. I say okay because while my By Terry Ombre’s have not dried out the packaging is rather busted. On both pencils the glue in the metal container has given out leaving me with two black plastic less fancier looking pencils. I wouldn’t have even said anything but considering this happened to me a month or so after purchasing them I thought I would point that out. Sorry to be a downer.

Should you buy into the hype? Personally these last longer than any other eye product I’ve ever tired. In addition with a single swipe and a quick blend I have an eye shadow look that looks like I’ve put time into. While the packaging might be dodgy the bottom line is 5 years into these they still perform just as beautifully as they day I bought them.The By Terry Blackstar’s are everything a $50 eye makeup product should be, totally worth it.

Easter Essentials

First off I can’t believe Easter is already here. Now into spring the weather is getting warmer so with that being said I welcome it with open arms. Without even knowing it every Easter there is a hand full of things that I gravitate to.

 So here are my Easter must haves.

Cadbury Mini Eggs

Back in the day you could only get these around Easter time, how times have changed. Sure you can now get these all year but I habitually only purchase them around Easter.

There cute pa

stel candy colored shells and delicious chocolate inside… yummy!

Pastel Nail Polish

Last year a rocked multi colored pastel nails. This year I’m going for Illamasqua’s Fragile nail polish. Which looks identical to a robins egg. Itble opinion.

Glowy Skin

Coming out of winter my skin is looking rather blah! To boost up the radiance factor I like to wear a highlight. The one I love to wear on special occasions but hate talking about is the Chanel Poudre Signee. Unfortunately this has since been discontinued but to sum it up it’s a golden pinkish highlight powder. This highlighter is not metallic nor is it overly frosty I must say it looks very 

convincing. 

Pastel Nail Polish

Last year a rocked multi colored pastel nails. This year I’m going for Illamasqua’s Fragile nail polish. Which looks identical to a robins egg. It is the perfect spring time/ Easter nail polish ever, in my humble opinion.

Pop of Color

For just about every other holiday I can get by, by wearing all black. Not so much for Easter! So to look a little festive without looking like a cotton candy machine threw up on me I like to add a pop of color. I plan on wearing my pinky coral bird scarf paired with a beige long sleeve top and some black jeans.

Of course along with the listed things up top, family, good food and good conversation are always obvious essentials too. So ladies what ever you are doing/celebrating this weekend I wish you all a great holiday!

Get Your Dior On

 Dior has some great makeup products. There eye shadows are buttery and there eyebrow pencil is phenomenal. However there are three stars of the show that are amazing no matter where you’re going, what look your try to achieve or what your skin type you have.

Dior Lip Glow

This is a cult product for good reason let me tell you. I have gone through so many of these and it’s the only lip product I repurchase on the regular.

Where to even begin? On one hand this feels like a super comfortable lip balm, not sticky, nor too thin. It’s the kind of lip balm you put on and you feel its working, do you know what I mean?

While the actual lip balm looks like a baby pink it magically transforms to your perfect pink shade.

It feels good, you don’t need a mirror to apply it and looks great with any look. 

Need I say more?

Dior Lip Maximizer

I’m not one to shy away from a little tingle but other brands that have lip plumper’s burn the heck out of your lips. Many of them work by causing a mild irritation to the lips, which give you a plumped look. Dior’s is different; by using hylauronic acid this actually gives your lips volume by adding hydration. Don’t get me wrong this will not give you Angelina’s pout but fine lines will get notably fuller. 

As for the color it has to be one of my all time favorites. The sheer baby pink color looks natural worn alone without that weird milky action. The texture of this gloss is non sticky, on the other hand it doesn’t feel too thin either. If you were looking for a natural gloss, with great hydration qualities and a slight refreshing tingle I would highly recommend this. 

Dior Rosy Glow Blush

How can a blush that is so bright look so natural? Kind of like the Lip Glow this is one of those magical changing products. On myself this turns into a wonderful almost coral pink that looks so natural no one will ever detect its there.

The super finely milled powder blends effortlessly to the skin. While this has no sparkles this does some how magically gives your cheeks a healthy glow. I love blush, but I got to hand it to this one this might be one of my all time favorites.

Klorane Pop Up Counter's

I have always loved Klorane's dry shampoo, but after recently being introduced to more of the brand it's official, I have fallen in love. 

Not only are the ingredient's in the products amazing but they are at a great price point too.

So I just wanted to let all of you Toronto based readers, friends and family know that there will be pop up counters in various malls around the city.

April 16, 17 & 19th at Fairview Mall 

April 22 - 26th & May 7 - 10th at Toronto Eaton Center 

May 1 - 4th at Yorkdale Mall 

 There will be hair specialists advising you on your personal hair concoction, very fancy I know! In addition samples and $3.00 off coupons will be handed out. The best part is If you purchase 2 hair care products at that mall's Shoppers Drug Mart you will receive a 50ml the famous Klorane dry shampoo for free!

Personally I plan on attending with my Mom, doing a little shopping, getting some food and making it a fun Mothers Day out.

You can find more information at https://www.facebook.com/KloraneCanada 

Tanya’s Beauty Rules

I am not a professional, a rule maker or any type of authority on makeup. But no matter which way you slice the cake there are certain beauty rules even a badass beauty blogger like myself follows. I am really not badass and on a side note I need to stop calling myself that.

Buy what works.

If the moisturizer that works best for your skin is $10 stick with it. As long as it works for you that is all that matters. I can't tell you how many times I have looked for dupes and spent more money then how much the actual product costs.

Experiment with all brands at all price points

There is nothing worse then being a Sephora snob because there are great beauty products at every price point. Some of my favorite products come from the drug store brands. Likewise there are excellent high end products too. I think it’s important to be open to all brands.

Skin should look like skin

Foundation shouldn’t look like plaster nor should it look cakey. I am fond of skin that looks very natural and only use a sheer wash of foundation to even out my skin tone. As for spots I conceal them but most times I just leave them alone. After all ladies we are human and yes we get pimples.

Good skincare come from consistency

Good skincare is kind of like dieting you can’t change everything in one week let alone over night. Great looking skin comes with time, patience and consistency. On average it takes 4 weeks to see how your skin reacts to one product alone. If you always switching products up there is no way to tell what’s truly working! If you don’t have a consistent skincare routine you can start off with something as simple as washing your face and adding moisturizer twice a day. 

Less is more

Personally, I don’t do a loud lip, a sultry eye and a dramatic contour all at the same time. Yes, there are people that rock this look and do it well, myself however not so much.

When applying my makeup I try to keep things simple by focusing on only one feature.  I try to capture that Parisian chic philosophy of looking effortlessly pulled together.

Don’t touch your face

When I was in high school I had acne alone my jaw line and chin. Why you ask? Because I use to always touch my face. You have so many dirt and bacteria on your hands that the moment I stopped touching my face I noticed my spots clearing up. Even now I sometimes notice a spot and I can blame myself for resting my chin on my hand at work.

Hopefully some of you found this helpful!

What are some of your beauty rules leave a comment below.

Non-Beauty, But just as Essential

I feel like months after months I have been I have been rambling on about beauty.

Don’t get me wrong this is a beauty blog and that is what I intend to do. But let’s get up close and personal today, these are my non-beauty essentials.


Coffee

I can’t start the day without a coffee. Well I can but trust me you wouldn’t want me to.

After years of drinking my coffee black with four sugars, I have recently put on my adulthood pants and converted to black 2 sugars. 

I love lattes too but I try to avoid getting these too much, Cinnamon Dolce with extra whip isn’t good for the waistline.

Candles

I love candles its true. My favorite has to be Bath and Body Works Leaves followed by Marshmallow Fireside. I also love Voluspa Candles when I feel fancy; there French Vanilla Bourbon is absolutely divine. 

I usually shy away from fruity candles and overly flowery ones. 

Throw

I can’t even communicate how often I use a throw. I keep one on my bed, office, living room, heck I even keep one at my desk at work. Even in the summer I use a throw! There’s something comforting about covering your legs with a soft blanket. I have no idea is this behavior odd? Any other throw/blanket lovers out there?

They always have great throws at Homesense and Chapters just an FYI for you Canadian girls.

Scarves

My closet consists of 4 colors (‘shades’) black, white, grey and sometimes blue. I love to wear scarves because they can add just the right pop of color to my monochromatic look; in addition they bring some pattern into my pattern-less wardrobe.  Plus I get cold so more often than not they have the wonderful bonus of keeping me warm. 

What are you non-beauty essentials? 

Leave a comment below.