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Monday, August 29, 2011

Mark. Juice Gems Lip Gloss

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Lancome's Juicy Tubes, then mark. may have what you are looking for!

I own five of the mark. juice gems and absolutely love them. They smell amazing (each one has its own unique scent) and apply very smoothly without being too sticky. Some of the colors in the tube are very vibrant, however when applied, they are actually a little more sheer. Personally, I rather have a more sheer lip gloss, especially if I am putting it on top of lip stick, because I would want my lip stick color to show through. 

Otherwise, If I am just applying a little lip gloss to my lips without lip stick I am usually just looking to give them a little shine, with a tad tint of color, so I find these lip glosses to do the trick.

Here are the five mark. juice gems I own:
 
mark juice gems lip gloss

mark juice gems juicy honeydew
 mark. juice gems- Juicy Honey Dew 
*milky nude gloss with pink shimmer

mark juice gems juicy mango tango
 mark. juice gems- Juicy Mango Tango
*orange coral with golden shimmer

mark juice gems juicy papaya
 mark. juice gems- Juicy Papaya
*pink with silver shimmer

mark juice gems juicy pomegranate
  mark. juice gems- Juicy Pomegranate
*looks like neon pink in the tube, applies more sheer
(no shimmer) 
mark juice gems juicy snow peach
 mark. juice gems- Juicy Snow Peach
*peachy pink
(no shimmer)

Friday, August 26, 2011

Shop the Look- Feat. Jessica Simpson Fall/Winter 2011 Collection Ads

I came across 2 of the new advertisements for Jessica Simpson's new Fall/Winter 2011 Collection and fell in love with what she was wearing in both pictures. 

In the first ad (below) she looks gorgeous yet comfortable in her cozy outfit (even with those killer heels!). I've decided to try and recreate this look using pieces that I have found from different stores.

I'll begin with Jessica's signature piece- her heels. I managed to find the exact pair on her site and think that these babies deserve to be the main feature in this Shop The Look blog post.
Jessica Simpson PRINNCE heels

Next, Jessica is wearing a simple grey v-neck sweater. Simple sweaters like these are perfect to have because you can style them anyway you want. They also come in a variety of beautiful colors. 
Anita's Pick: American Eagle Soft V-Neck Sweater
 American Eagle Soft V-Neck Sweater

Jessica's dark skinny pants make her look put together even though, the look is more casual. 
Anita's Pick: Black jeggings from Dynamite are perfect to achieve a similar look while continuing the feel of comfortness.
Dynamite Black Jeggings

One of my favorite pieces in Jessica's outfit has to be her gorgeous scarf/vest. Orginally I thought it was just a really long knit scarf, but looking closer it looks like a vest. I love how cozy it looks!
Anita's Pick: Arden B. Scarf Front Vest
Scarf Front Vest

Accessories are very minimal but still give Jessica's outfit the finishing touch. 
Anita's Pick: A pop of turquoise in this ALDO HENN bangle will give your outfit that edge. 
ALDO HENN bangle

There you have it!
 Below is the other advertisement I saw in the magazine. Her over-sized sweater looks beautiful!! I am definitely going to keep on the lookout for it on her website!

Jessica Simpson Fall/Winter Collection 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Body Shop Brilliance Powder- Shimmer Bronze

I always enjoy going out on the town because I love the process of putting together an outfit and make-up look. 
 
I am a girl who likes her shimmer. Even in the daytime I do not mind wearing it, but at night I see it as an excuse to really step it up !

The Body Shop has a product called Brilliance Powder that gives you an instant application of shimmer all over your body. 
The Body Shop Brilliance Powder Shimmer Bronze

The product is a brush that dispenses shimmer powder by pressing the button at the end of the container. 
The Body Shop Brilliance Powder Shimmer Bronze

The Body Shop Brilliance Powder Shimmer Bronze

I own the Brilliance Powder in the color Shimmer Bronze .  
The Body Shop Brilliance Powder Shimmer Bronze
I like to apply the Brilliance Powder on the upper part of my body, including my arms,( but not my face as that would be a little extreme!), to instantly get a gorgeous glow.

I’ve had the Brilliance Powder for many years and still have a lot of product left. A little definitely goes a long way as when you are applying this shimmer you can even see the particles in the air. 

If you are looking for shimmery glow for the night, I think this would be the product for you. However, once again, if you are not a big fan of a ton of shimmer, stay away!
Retails for $22 at The Body Shop.  

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Back-To-School Must Haves

Other than the basics- paper, binders, dividers, laptop, etc… , I have come up with a list of other essentials that may be over-looked, but are still good to have for back to school.

Going to school in the big city it is important for me to feel comfortable away from home. That is why I like to make sure that I pack things that can come in handy after a long day at school.

My top 10 essentials are:

*Hand Sanitizer*- I cannot stress how important this is to me. Especially in the winter time, when many people are sick, I like to use hand sanitizer to keep my hands clean from germs that could be on door handles and other things that I am likely to touch at school.
Anita’s Pick- I love the convenience of Bath & Body Works pocket hand sanitizers. They come in great scents too!

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer
 
*Tissues*-  Another great thing to have in your bag, Tissues come in handy quite often. Whether you need to wipe your hands or blow your nose tissues are definitely good to have.
Anita’s Pick- Puffs to go comes in very portable packaging. Forever 21 also has some cute options!
Puffs to Go and Forever 21 Hello Kitty Tissues
 
*Pens*- If I am not using my laptop to type my notes, I love to use colorful pens to write my notes. Not only does using colorful pens make your notes look nice, but it can also help you organize your thoughts.
Anita’s Pick- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner pens write so smoothly! I love how the packaging can be used to store the pens and also be folded to display the pens for easy access.
Staedtler triplus fineliner pens 
*Shine Blotters*- Being at school for such a long time, I do not usually touch up my make-up. However, I do tend to get oily, so having blotting papers is an important item to have.
Anita’s Pick- Mark Cheat Sheets work really well for me. Sephora also carries their own brand blotting papers, as well as some blotting linens from Boscia, which I am planning on trying next :)
 Mark Cheat Sheets and Boscia Blotting linens
*Hand Lotion*- When your hands need that extra kick, it’s nice to apply some hand lotion to soften them up and make them smell good.
Anita’s Pick- Once again Bath and Body Works has some great choices when it comes to hand lotions. The packaging is convenient, and the smell is divine!
Bath and Body Works Hand Lotion
 
*Chap Stick*- This should probably be at the top of my list. I always have chap stick on me. In my bag let alone I usually carry up to five different lip products. I don’t have dry lips, most likely because I keep them moisturized so much lol, but I love to keep my lips hydrated with a moisturizing lip balm.
Anita’s Pick- I’ve mentioned before that Softlips is one of my favorites. I like how it also has SPF 20.
Softlips lip balm
*Perfume*- It’s always nice to have your signature scent in your bag to touch up after walking around all day.
Anita’s Pick- I love the Travalo Refillable Perfume atomizer. This thing comes in so handy. I do not like bringing full size perfume bottles in my bag. Even though you can buy travel sizes for some brands of perfumes, I think the Travalo is more convenient. You can take your favorite perfume and fill up this pocket size atomizer and easily transport your signature scent wherever you go without worrying about your glass bottle breaking. In Canada you can purchase the Travalo at Shoppers Drug Mart.
 Travalo perfume atomizer



*Medical things*- It’s always good to have bandaids, tylonel or aspirin and a pair of foldable scissors.
Anita’s Pick- You never know when you may get a paper cut, headache or need to cut some loose string from your shirt.

*Snack*- I always like to keep a little snack in my bag ‘just in case’. Even though you can literally buy food anywhere in downtown Toronto, there are times where you may get a little hungry or even dizzy to the point where you just need some sugar to keep you going.
Anita’s Pick- I love these bars by fruitsource! Not only are they made of 100% fruits and vegetables, but they are delicious! Great option for those who want a nice healthy snack :)
Fruitsource 100% fruits bars
*Gum*- I always have gum on me. Sometimes you aren’t really craving food, but you want something to chew on. Gum is the perfect solution.
Anita’s Pick- To go with my vanilla theme, I love my Dentyne Ice Vanilla Chill gum.
Dentyne Ice Vanilla Chill gum

There you have it! I hope I have you some useful ideas. Let me know what your top essentials are!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Physicians Formula Mail-In-Rebates

I love shopping and finding great deals! Physicians Formula is offerings $6 Mail-In-Rebates for the following cosmetics!
Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trios
Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trios

Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Face Powder

Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Face Powder
Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Bronzer

Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Bronzer
Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Blush

Happy Booster™ Happy Glow Multi-Colored Blush

Eye Booster™ Lash Boosting Eyeliner
Eye Booster™ Lash Boosting Eyeliner
Powder Palette® Mineral Glow Pearls Blush
 Powder Palette® Mineral Glow Pearls Blush
Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder
Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder,
Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Pebbles
 Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Pebbles
Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Loose Powder
Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Loose Powder
Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara

Organic Wear® 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara

Visit http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-ca/rebates/mail-in-rebate.html to print your mail-in-rebate forms!

Friday, August 19, 2011

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Dupes

I love the highlighting effect that MAC’s MSF powders give to your face. They give you a natural glow and dewy look that instantly help brighten up your face.

For those who are turned off by the price ($33.50 CAD) however, I am happy to suggest some cheaper alternatives to give you that similar effect :)

Milani has some baked bronzers that have a marbleized finish just like MAC’s MSFs. Here are the shades available: (Suggested Retail Price $8.99)
Milani 
Milani also has another bronzer (TANtastic) that has more gold reflects in it to help you achieve that highlighted glow. (Shades available in Fantastic in Gold [shown below], Fantastic in Bronze, and Fantastic Glow).
 Milani
Another alternative is Hard Candy’s So Baked Bronzers. They do not look as marbleized in the pan, but they still give you that glow. Here are the four shades to choose from:

Hardcandy
 I hope this helped!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fall Style: Laidback Chic

Fall is my favorite season when it comes to fashion. I love the look of a cozy scarf, loose fitted top, leggings and to top it off, a cute pair of boots!

I have put together an outfit that I like to call Laidback Chic with some of my favorite pieces for this season. I hope you enjoy!

Dynamite Belted Tunic Blouse 
I love this long buttoned tunic from Dynamite! 
It even comes with a thin belt to synch your waist. 


These dark jeggings from American Eagle are perfect for that laidback look. 
They make you look put together while you feel extremely comfortable!


ALDO Horkey boots
These flat boots from ALDO called Horkey are perfect 
for when the weather starts to get chilly.
They look amazing paired with a pair of skinny jeans or in this case, jeggings!

ALDO Giandelone bracelet 
The perfect accessory to complete this chic look is this gorgeous bracelet! 
The colors works perfectly with the tunic blouse. This piece also makes your outfit a bit more classy as well!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Smashbox Afterglow Lipgloss

I received a travel size sample of Smashbox's Lip Enhancing Gloss in Afterglow in my August Glymm Box and have been loving it ever since!
Smashbox Afterglow

The color looks like a coral, apricot shade in the tube, but as it says on the packaging it is a "sheer color" which tones down the color after application. I love these kinds of glosses because they are perfect for everyday wear!

I would describe the color as a peachy-nude color when applied since it gives some tint to your lips. There is also little shimmer in this gloss that gives your lips some more definition!

I noticed that Smashbox's Afterglow gloss is not too sticky, which is a big plus, and that it lasts quite a long time without having to reapply.

Smashbox Afterglow

Overall, I would give this Smashbox's Afterglow lip gloss a 4/5!

Join Glymm Box today https://www.glymm.com to receive monthly beauty samples just like this gloss! It's a great way to try new products before you spend money on full size products!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

August Glymm Box

SPOLIER ALERT! If you have not recieved your August Glymm Box yet then do not read on!

I awoke this morning to the ring of my door bell. Looking out the window I realized it was the Canada Post delivery truck so I rushed downstairs knowing what had arrived…my August Glymm Box! :]
August Glymm Box
For those of you who do not know Glymm Box is a monthly subscription unlike any other. You can subscribe monthly for only $10 a month, yearly for $110, or an incremental period (e.g. 3, 6, 9, 12 months) and receive a luxurious box each month with 4-5 beauty samples from prestigious brands!

Glymm Box Subscription
 
The unique thing about Glymm Box is that you earn points by purchasing your Glymm Box that can be used to save $10 off products from the online Glymm Beauty Boutique (that is opening soon) for every 100 Glymm Points accumulated. You can also gain points by referring your friends!

At this time, Glymm only ships within Canada. However, Glymm is working on shipping Glymm Boxes to the US so be sure to sign-up at https://www.glymm.com/ so you will be notified of this exciting news!

Now on to the lovely goodies in the August Glymm Box :)
August Glymm Box

August Glymm Box
The packaging for the Glymm Box is pink and sleek! Perfect for using as storage on your vanity!
August Glymm Box
Take off the top and voila! 
Everything is so neatly packed. The ribbon adds the perfect touch!
August Glymm Box
 On top you will see a little postcard that has a little story about what you can do with the products for that particular month- so thoughtful!
Glymm Box
The back of the card explains what each product is and conveniently lists the price of the full size product! 
Glymm Box Jelly Belly
Glymm
As a little bonus treat, Glymm includes a cute little jar full of Jelly Bellys! 
Glymm Box Smashbox Afterglow lipgloss

Glymm Box Smashbox Afterglow lipgloss
 The first beauty sample in the Glymm Box is this gorgeous peachy-pink lip gloss by Smashbox in the color Afterglow. It’s a shimmery, sheer gloss that smells AMAZING and is not too sticky.

Glymm Box Benefit 'that gal' brightening face primer
 Next we got Benefit’s ‘that gal’ brightening face primer! It’s a pink primer that turns transparent when blended into your skin and makes your makeup application smoother and last longer.
Glymm Box OPI nail polish
 Another item in the August Glymm Box is this nice pale pink nail polish by O.P.I.! I wish it listed the name! (It reminds me of O.P.I.'s Mod About You and Sweetheart)

Glymm Box My Face Works facemask
Lastly, a Green Tea facemask by My Face Works. I’m really excited to try this one!


If you are a makeup fanatic this will be the perfect subscription for you as Glymm focuses on sending products that are hot so you can try them first hand before you spend your money on a full size product! You can tell all the time and effort Glymm puts into their Glymm Box! Each month you will feel like it is your birthday as you get this lovely box full of goodies! Order your Glymm Box today https://www.glymm.com