NARS x Pierre Hardy | Boys Don't Cry

Good Morning Dolls!
It's that time of the year again, when new and beautiful summer collections grace the counters at our favourite beauty stores. One of the collections that had caught my eye from the start was the new collaboration between NARS & Pierre Hardy, featuring 6 nail polish duos and two blushes. Being the blush addict that I am, I fell in love with the photos of the collection and made it my mission to get my hands on the Boys Don't Cry blush.

Pierre Hardy is a French designer known best for his gorgeous shoe designs. His latest shoe collection for Summer 2013 featuring bright colours & geometric designs inspired the mini-collection for NARS.

"Limited edition high voltage blush palette with a shimmering pressing of Pierre Hardy’s iconic avant-garde print.

• Natural, healthy-looking finish that immediately enlivens the complexion
• Silky texture
• Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable applications"

The Pierre Hardy blushes are slightly more expensive than the usual NARS blush pan, at $41 compared to $29, however they are also considerably larger. Therefore the compact is slightly larger than the typical NARS blush, more comparable to the bronzer compacts, but is still contained in the matter black rubberized packaging.

Boys Don't Cry is described as a bright "pink grapefruit" shade that is embossed with a golden geometric over spray that Pierre Hardy is known for. The over spray begins to fade after the initial swatch and will completely disappear after a few uses, leaving a matte bold coral-red.

The blush is extremely pigmented and therefore you need to have a very light hand when applying it, meaning I will not be hitting pan on this blush anytime soon. Luckily this blush was super easy to blend and therefore left a lovely bright pop to my cheeks without leaving me looking like a drag queen.  I found that it really brightened my complexion and would look gorgeous against all skin tones, especially those with darker skin tones.

Swatched in Natural Light

Swatched in Sunshine

I am so in love with this blush and cannot recommend it enough. It is definitely more suited for those who are addicted to blush like myself. Have you checked out the NARS x Pierre Hardy mini-collection? What collection are you most excited for this season?

Amy,   xo

NOTD & Dupe | Essie Tart Deco

One of the most popular Essie Nail Polishes has to be Tart Deco, a gorgeous cantelope coral creme that is consistently sold out at my local drug stores! This shade is an absolute must have for spring/summer since it is bright, cheerful and looks amazing against tanned skin. Since it can be quite hard to come across at your local drugstore I decided to share with you a nearly identical dupe, as well as a cute NOTD for those of you who already own this perfect shade. Hope that you enjoy & have an incredible long weekend planned <3

The NOTD using Essie's Tart Deco is so simple to recreate but has a little touch of colour blocking, which is so popular right now! To create this look all you need to do is:

• Paint your nails with 2 coats of Essie's Tart Deco
• Create a triangle shape on your ring finger using two pieces of Scotch tape
• Fill in the triangle using a complimentary colour. I used Essie's Come Here

As for the dupe, the closest shade that I have come across has to be Color Club's Theory, a gorgeous creme coral that is just a hair darker than Tart Deco. I acquired Theory through Nail Polsh Canada's Anti-Glymm Box, which was a free gift to those who were "screwed over" by Glymm. I honestly could not get over how similar Theory was to Tart Deco when I received it and had to immediately do a comparison! The two are quite similar in price, formulation and application and as I mentioned before only vary slightly in colour. Therefore if you are on the hunt for a shade similar to Tart Deco than this is the polish for you!

Theory & Tart Deco

Theory & Tart Deco

Tart Deco is one of my most reached for polishes during this time of year and I feel as though I would be lost without it. It is so versatile and looks great and either and nail or toe nail polish colour. What is your go to shade for the spring/summer season?

Amy,   xo

Urban Decay | Moondust Eyeshadow in MoonSpoon

Urban Decay recently released a brand new eyeshadow collection called Moondust Eyeshadows, which feature intense hues, microfine sparkle and lush, 3-D metallics. I was lucky enough to be considered one of Ipsy's influencers so I received a full sized  Moondust Shadow in the shade Moonspoon in my May Glam Bag!

Urban Decay describes the new collection through this statement:
"These dazzling eyeshadows have a super-refined and incredibly sophisticated feel. Instead of chunky glitter, there are microfine bits of iridescent sparkles paired with intense hues and lush 3-D metallics. Moondust has a luxe, upscale vibe and a gorgeous, diamond-like effect that can’t be beat. We recommend you apply these eyeshadows with your fingers. For extra intense payout, try them wet."

Urban Decay | Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspoon ($20) - is described as a "medium gray w/bright silver sparkle." It is absolutely gorgeous in the pan and somehow even more spectacular when swatched on your hand. I found that it applied smoothly on my arm when I swatched it and was rather pigmented, however the base colour was not completely opaque. I noticed that there was quite a bit of fall out, so it would be best to apply this shadow prior to the rest of your makeup regime and use it alongside a sticky primer.

This shadow is unlike anything else currently in my collection and is something I will definitely reach for whenever I have a special occasion to attend! 

Have you caught a glimpse of the brand new Moondust Eyeshadows from Urban Decay? Will you be purchasing any of the shadows from this collection?

Amy,   xo

IPSY Glam Bag | May 2013 Edition

Good Morning Dolls!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I received not one but two beauty boxes this past Friday! I already posted the contents of my Topbox, which can be seen here and today I will be sharing my May Glam Bag by Ipsy!

Glam Bag has easily become my favourite beauty box, but I unfortunately missed last months bag because my credit card expired and I didn't change the information on my account! AGHHH! So I was beyond excited to receive the May Glam Bag and it definitely did not disappoint! I also received one extra product, which I will share on the blog tomorrow, that was given to those considered to be influencers by Ipsy! This product is a brand new item from Urban Decay! Can anyone guess what it is?

Zoya | Nail Polish in Blu - Full Size $8
"Zoya Nail Polish in Blu can be best described as a full-coverage, soft and delicate pale baby blue with a glossy creme finish. A dreamy, calming blue that's both fun and flattering on the nails." 
I absolutely love this polish.. but it is a shame that I already own it! I have sported this polish on many occasions since it came out earlier this year and cannot wait to share this extra with one of my friends. Even though I already own it I can definitely admire how amazing of an item this is to receive in a beauty box.

NuMe | Finishing Serum (10ml) - Full Size (59ml) $29

"Light as a feather, NuMe’s Finishing Serum jives with your unique hair type to produce that polished shine and healthy glow that your hair craves."
I absolutely love trying out new hair serums since I always find that my hair looks dry and lackluster. This finishing serum claims to be light, grease-less and humidity resistant while protecting your hair from environmental and physical stress, treating split ends and sealing hair with added, brilliant shine. I did notice that it appear to be thicker than my current hair oils, such as this Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and it had a pleasant scent. I also love the fact that this sample comes with an eye dropper applicator, which I find always makes application easy.

Mirabella | Colour Sheers Lip Colour in Posy - Full Size $22
"Beautifully sheer lip color to wear all day and night. Mango butter base nourishes lips. Available in a wide range of fashionable shades. Lead-free; Paraben-free."  
I was a little skeptical upon looking at this item because, let's face it, the packaging is incredibly boring, but I guess that's why they say don't judge a book by its cover. This lipstick is just pigmented enough to give you that somewhat sheer, wearable, and moisturizing just bitten look. I love that it contains Mango butter to hydrate the lips and is lead and paraben free. Definite win!

Pacifica | Roll On Perfume in Island Vanilla - Full Size $12
"Inspired by the unique of Tahitian vanilla, this sensual blend sets sweet and sultry vanilla absolute, with honey-jasmine notes and a touch of frutiness, against a deep and beautiful base of tea."
 I have had my eye on this perfume for quite some time now! Any time I see a vanilla scented perfume, candle, moisturizer, basically anything, I need to take the second to sniff it. This perfume is the perfect combination of sultry and sweet and will definitely become a staple in my collection. This is my personal front runner of this months Glam Bag!

Yaby | Concealer Refill in Honey - Full Size $4.85
"Creamy, pigmented concealers with a super smooth texture that blends effortlessly."
 This was the only down fall of this months Glam Bag,  but I am definitely willing to look past it. This concealer is way way way too yellow for me and unfortunately I just have no use for it. The good news is that similar to the other Yaby Cosmetic items I have used in the past it is pigmented, creamy and has a buttery smooth texture. 

Overall I am beyond happy with the contents of this months Glam Bag including the bag itself and I cannot wait to share my bonus item with all of you tomorrow! What is your favourite beauty box? How does Glam Bag compare?

Amy,   xo

Topbox | May 2013 Edition

Good Morning Cuties!
It's that time of the month when my beauty boxes begin rolling in! I always get so excited when I come home from work to see one waiting at the door for me and this past Friday I had 2 waiting for me! The first one that I want to share with you all is my May 2013 Topbox. Even though I found the products and the colour combination very pleasing, it certainly is not my favourite Topbox. I may even choose to receive a Prive box next month since I haven't made the jump to the Prive boxes yet.

Lise Watier | Haute Couleur High Coverage Lip Lacquer in Stylista (1.5ml) - Full Size (6ml) $23
"Intense colour, extreme shine, long lasting."
This lip gloss was definitely the star of this months Topbox. Stylista is a gorgeous and pigmented pink/purple lip gloss that is to die for. The gloss is hydrating and did not feel sticky in the slightest. I also love that the full sized version of this product comes with an LED light and a mirror to make application at night a breeze. Swatch below. 


Cuccio Colour | Nail Lacquer in Longing For London - Full Size (14ml) $10
"Triple pigmented colour, DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free, high shine professional nail colours."
Longing For London is an opaque pale violet nail polish with gray undertones. It is a shade that I have a hundred times over but will never get sick of it. It is that perfect combination of grunge & pretty, which is something I think I look for in fashion & beauty. I will definitely get a lot of use out of this polish.
 
Yaby | Eyeshadow Refill in The Hottest Pink - Full Size $3.15
"Highly pigmented eyeshadow wit super smooth texture that blends effortlessly."
Yaby is a company that many of you will recognize if you are a subscription to IPSY Glam Bag, since we have received eyeshadow refills from them in a previous bag. The Hottest Pink is a cool toned bright fuchsia eyeshadow with blue undertones. As gorgeous as the swatch is I just cannot see myself using this shade on my lids! Not ballsy enough yet!

Yaby | Lip Color Refill in Hot Date - Full Size $4.35
"Creamy pigmented lip colours that virtually eliminates the need for lip liners."
This is the first lip colour refill that I have recieved from Yaby and I am actually quite impressed with its pigmentation and formulation. Hot Date is a berry pink lipstick that applies smoothly and actually had some decent staying power, even as I tried to wash the swatch off. I also love the fact that it is a vegan product that is made in Canada.

Hot Date & The Hottest Pink

Stylista, Hot Date & The Hottest Pink

Stylista, Hot Date & The Hottest Pink

Overall, I didn't hate this months Topbox but I also didn't love it. I would absolutely love to see what other people received this month, whether it be the regular Topbox or a Prive Box, so please share your posts in the comment section below!

Amy,    xo