How To : Remove Shellac at home

Hello lovelies!

So we all think once in a while it's a great idea to get shellac done on our nails. I mean color that won't chip for weeks? Who wouldn't want that? Except for the fact that it's terrible for your nails, and if you're like me, means you can't switch up the color as often as you'd like. 

There comes a point where I lose my mind and literally try to peel it off (DON'T DO THAT), but with some patience you can safely remove it yourself at home.

What you'll need :

-Acetone

-Cotton pads

-Foil paper

-Scissors

-Cuticle stick

-Nail buffer or nail file

-Cuticle oil

-Hand cream

1. Cut your cotton pads and foil paper into 10 little rectangles, so that you have one piece of each for each finger.

2. Start off by applying cuticle oil generously on each finger. I like my trusty Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil. This will serve as a barrier between your skin and the acetone.

3. Soak each piece of cotton pad in some acetone remover (I just used this one from Quo), wrap it around each finger it tip and secure it with a piece of foil paper. Once you're done you should look like something right out of a sci-fi movie, ladies and gents : The Claw Of Shellac Destruction :

4. Let that soak for about 10 minutes. It will basically break down the polish so you can then scrape it off.

5. With your cuticle stick simply push up on the polish, this is the annoying part, be patient, PLUS you sorta get a work out from it! Ok not really, but it's hard work...

6. With a buffer or nail file, go over each nails to make sure you get every last bit of this polish from hell. YOU WILL WIN! Then go back over with a cotton pad soaked with remover to clean everything off.

7. Wash your hands thoroughly and apply a generous amount of hand cream (I like the Vitamin E Hand & Nail Treatment from The Body Shop). Once it's soaked in, reapply cuticle oil.

8. Try to give your nails a break. Shellac and acetone probably did a number on them, let them breathe a little and moisturize often!

(PS: you could also soak your fingers in a bowl with acetone for 10 minutes and then scrape it off, but I felt it was harsher on the skin and the removal wasn't as easy...)

All I can say, is I'm gonna think twice before getting Shellac again. I'm not a huge fan! What are your guys' thoughts on it?

Hope this was helpful and will save some of you a trip to the salon or unnecessary damage to your nails!

Talk to you soon,

-Val

Beauty 911 : Puffy eyes & Dark circles

Hello lovelies!

Puffy eyes and dark circles got you down?

Fret not, it happens to all of us. Whether it's genetics, or you haven't been getting enough sleep, or ate too much salt...Sometimes a rough reflexion of us appears in the morning. It's harsh, I know, but there are few easy things we can do to help!

Besides the obvious like getting enough sleep, eating right, drink lots of water, yadi yadi yada [Insert Dr.Oz's best tips here]...Sometimes, it just ain't happening!

Depuffing Phase

1. Start off with eye patches. I like these Hydrogel Eye Therapy Patches from Leaders, they're inexpensive and efficient. They are clear gel patches that you leave on for 20 to 40 min (maybe not ideal on those rushed mornings, but you know for events and stuff they're a must).

You could also just use one of these refreshing roller balls (think Garnier). I like this super affordable one from e.l.f. (you can order online or find it at Target for around 4$). You can use this before and/or after moisturizing the area.

Or simply, use a cold spoon! Just leave 2 spoons in the freezer for a few minutes and press them against your puffy eyes. It will be refreshing and just help take down the puffiness a notch.

2. On to moisturizer.  As far as I'm concerned, there's no miracle cream. So many times people just complain "it did nothing, I still have dark circles". Well...You know, the important is : does it moisturize? does it soothe and help depuff at least a bit your eye area? Does it seem to brighten it up a little when you apply it? Those are the kinds of results you might be realistically looking for. Again this is MY opinion, if you did find that miracle cream, well please do share with us! :)

For these kinds of days I really like the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. As per the Sephora description : "caffeine from coffee bean, Panax ginseng, magnolia extract, and natural optic brighteners rapidly wakes up, refreshes, and restores radiance to tired eyes." And yup, I completely agree. I've had this cream years ago and just rediscovered it in the Origins kit I got as a Beauty Insider perk, and man do I love this stuff!

Concealing Phase 

Now that you're all prepped, the concealing part is pretty straight forward. When your dark circles are pretty bad, you'll notice some blue/purple hues. You want to use peachy/orangy tones to counteract those.

My go to neutralizer is Benefit's Erase Paste. It comes in 3 shades, so you can find the right one for you. 

Make sure you ONLY use this on the discoloration as opposed to ALL OVER your under eye area, we are just trying to counteract those hues.

Once you're evened out, you can then go with a flesh toned concealer or an eye brightener, if you feel the need for it. When I still want that extra boost, I reach for the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant.

Last but not least, you want to make sure it all stays in place. A dream product for that is the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder. Not only is the powder super fine, therefore ideal to set the under eye area (bye bye creasing concealer), it gives you extra boost of light! I think this is the ONE product I can't switch out! I can change concealer, eye creams, I don't care, but if I don't have this in the morning, it's probably worse news than having no access to coffee (ok, maybe not...)

Well on that note, I'm gonna go have some more coffee...

Talk to you soon!

-Val

FOTN - Dinner with friends

Hello lovelies!

So I know I have shown no love today but things are a little hectic (I'll be able to share more about that soon), so I'll be doing my best to still share content with you guys in the up coming weeks.

That being said, I figured I could at least squeeze in a quick Face Of The Night with you guys, since I am meeting some friends for dinner.

My friends love me as is, but to quote what I told my girl "I'm not going to get glam or anything, just trying to look less homeless". It is HOT in Montreal today, and I have been a sweaty mess all day.

This is what I went with :

Primer 101

Hello lovelies!

So this a long time coming but today we are talking about primers ; what they do, are they necessary and different options for different skin types.

Much like painting a wall, you want to prime your face before "painting" it. What it does is create a smooth and perfected canvas to work with. It also creates a barrier between your skin and the makeup you will apply.

In theory, it should help your makeup apply more easily and evenly and prevent any creasing, fading, or general meltdowns.

If you have very oily skin, unfortunately there is no miracle product, you will need to blot, but it should help spread out how often you need to do it.

The other tricky part is finding the right primer/foundation combo. They need to work as a team. 

There are also ways to make sure you get the best out of your primer. You can mix it with your foundation instead of applying as a separate layer beforehand, you can mix in some moisturizer, some green concealer if redness is a concern, really there's lots you can do!

Your primer should also be doing more for you than just create the ideal canvas : boost your skin's hydration, mattify your skin, shrink pores, even out your skin tone, help fight acne, help fade dark spots... Really there's products for most skin concerns!

In theory, if your skin is well prepped (cleansed and moisturized) primers are not ESSENTIAL but I quite like to use them, you also need to be careful as some of them can make you break out. I also find if I use primer too often (several days in a row), I will break out anyways, so I keep it for special occasions. They help prevent your makeup clogging your pores, but they don't exactly let your skin breathe, so if you sweat in it or are sensitive to certain ingredients in them, it can cause unwanted skin eruptions. 

All that being said! Here are a few that I like and the skin types I recommend them for (though not exclusively restricted to those) :

Product Review : Sleek i-Divine palette

Hello lovelies!

I am lucky enough to have friends that travel and that know me well. Therefore, I sometimes get to play around with makeup from around the world :)

I have for you here a review on the Sleek's i-Divine Ultra Mattes V2 palette. Sleek is an affordable brand from the UK. The good news is that you can order from their websites. These palettes retail for 11.99$CA and you get can get 4-10 business days shipping for under 2$ (to Montreal, Qc anyways).

Bottom line, it comes out cheaper or just about the same price as the Maybelline The Nudes palette (they do offer palettes with nude shades) and they are AMAZINGLY pigmented. I wasn't too hot on the Maybelline palette in comparison to the Urban Decay products (you can read my review HERE), but these are comparable to high end. Great quality product.

What I like about this palette specifically is that they are all matte shades, which I didn't have in my collection.

So here are the swatches :

From left to right: Orbit, Ink, Highness, Noir, Dune, Pillow Talk

From left to right: Thunder, Maple, Flesh, Paper Bag, Villan, Fern

These are all just a light swatch, like tap a bit on a finger and gently press on the skin, kinda swatch. RIDICULOUSLY pigmented! Probably the most pigmented shadows I've come across. When I used them for the first time, I wish I was warned, I ended up with a much more intense and smokey look than expected, ha. Nonetheless these are like BUTTAH and blend very nicely. 

A little goes a long, long way. Also the shades in this palette are so unique, a very interesting combo, and gives you limitless options for makeup looks : natural, smokey, bold...It's a great palette for travel if you don't want to bring too much makeup with you. Also the packaging is nice and well...Sleek! So it doesn't take much space, double win :P

Bottom line, if you're looking for a great quality and affordable palette, look no further! You can also check the other color selections they offer HERE. 

I can't wait to try more from this brand! Apparently the blushes are fantastic :)

Talk to you soon!

-Val

What's in my purse : Beauty emergency kit

Hello lovelies!

Today I wanted to share with you a few beauty products that I keep with my at ALL TIMES! So this is not my makeup bag that I bring with me on a night out or when I've done a specific makeup, just a few strategic things to make sure I'm always covered ;) Kind of like a little emergency kit.

Blog Takeover : Sophie's nail care basics

Hey hey!

I'm Sophie and I'm obsessed with nail polish. I used to go bare nails until I discovered shellac during a trip to Jamaica a few years ago, and I haven't looked back. I've learned through trial and error and decided to share some basic tips for great nails with you guys.

First, make sure your nails are buffed so the surface is smooth but not so much that your nails get too soft. Also file them in the shape you want. Current trends are going towards short and square, but any shape goes as long as all nails are the same. 

Tip: your nails should be clean and dry before putting anything on, you can use a bit of remover. 

A good base goes a long way. It protects your nails from staining and helps your color last longer. I use OPI Nail Envy as a base which doubles as a treatment on days where I don't have color on. For a less expensive option, I also like Essie Millionails. If you  don't feel you need a treatment, Essie's First Base is a good option as well since it helps the color bind to your nails. I tend to shy away from Base/Top combos mainly because I try to do good for my nails as well and would rather have a treatment as base. Also, the combos have less shine as a top anyway.

Always put at least two coats of color to make sure the color is uniform. 

Tip: use a wooden cuticle stick to clean polish off the side and the cuticles. Do this immediately after applying each coat, I put the tip of the stick in remover for best results.

I use Essie's Quick-e drying drops in between coats to have every coat as dry as possible before the next one, trust me, it makes a big difference if you're in a rush. Tip: the drying drop will dry your cuticles, so make sure to use cuticle oil once you're done.

Lastly, a good top coat makes a huge difference in the overall look of your mani as well as keeping it nicer for longer. My all-time favorite is Essie's Good To Go, no matter how uneven your color coat seems, Good To Go makes it look flawless. Trending right now, is matte top coats which look great with any color (I like this one from Essie). Also, my mani chips less with matte, but might seem cracked a bit after a few days. 

Matte top coat on pastel yellow nail polish after a few days 

Tip: I always hydrate my cuticles after, and a bit of cuticle oil ,like Essie's Apricot Oil, will do wonders against smudging. My fav cuticle butter is Lemony Flutter from Lush, it's super thick and results really last.

 Tip: Acetone-free nail polish remover is always better for your nails, but might take longer to take off. I recently discovered Crabtree & Evelyn's Nail Polish Remover Wipes which are great for on the go removal and also don't feel or smell like traditional remover. You only need one wipe for all your nails and they also hydrate your nails and cuticles. I also tried the Sephora Wipes, and was very disappointed. They are double the price and I couldn't get trough all my nails with one wipe, and truly, they're just wipes with remover.

Hope these tips helped! 

-Soph

Product Review : Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Hello lovelies!

If you remember in my  Morning Routine post, I was using the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing pads, but wasn't too excited about them.  I had also mentioned that I wasn't getting the same "brightening effects" as other products in the line.

Years ago, a good friend suggested I tried  the Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub. I would use it AFTER cleansing, morning AND night. It sounds like a lot but it's actually such a gentle product, I wasn't irritating my skin.

However, over time my skin has become more sensitive, so I'm always very careful when switching up products or introducing new ones to the game, even if they're products I've used in the past.

Unboxing my very FIRST Ipsy bag

Hello lovelies!

After waiting a bagillion years on the waiting list and jumping through social media hoops, I was finaly able to have my first Ipsy glam bag shipped out to me.

Safe to say, I was probably more excited than a kid on Christmas morning when I say that little pink package in the mail!

Ipsy is a service that was started by YouTube superstar Michelle Phan. Every month, you receive deluxe samples of beauty products for 10$ a month (plus 4$ Canadian shipping) and you get them delivered at your door in a cute little makeup bag.

Spray, spritz & mist

Hello lovelies!

We all know about face sprays, mists, spritz whatever the marketing team wants to call them, but what do they actually do and are they necessary?

I'm just gonna go ahead and cheer YES! you need them! But, I'll still give you an overview of some I love then it's really up to you ;)

More often then not, those products are used as toners, setting sprays or refreshers.

Again, I like different products for different things. What I can tell you they all do, which is what I love about them the most, is they help make your makeup look more natural if you spritz it after it's all done. What I mean by that, is that it helps "uncake" in way...Especially if you're like me and tend to have oily skin, you want to use a somewhat matte foundation and some powder. To make sure the finish is not to "powedery" spraying one of these is a great thing to do!

If you want to boost the longevity of your makeup, use a setting spray before AND after you do your makeup. My favorite ones are from Urban Decay. One that's great for all skin types is the All Nighter, if your skin is on the oilier side, you can opt for DeSlick.

If  you're also like me, and although your skin is rather oily but you still get dry patches, you can use a more moisturizing spray to deemphasize (I'm pretty sure that's a word) the look of them. You could even spray a little on a small stippling brush and stipple over those areas, to make sure the little skins lay flat and look less dry (ew I know...). For this I like to use Eau Roma Water from Lush.

The toner type ones I usually use to give my skin a boost and not so much as a toner itself as I feel it doesn't penetrate my skin as well (then again that might just be me, but I'll still use a toner BEFORE). Lately, I've been using The Body Shop's Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz. It's a great way to start off your day, I'll apply it before and after my makeup. I don't know that it actually helps to hold the makeup, nor do I think that's what it's supposed to do, but the scent is truly invigorating (straight up oranges, homegirl!) and my skin loves it! I really feel it wakes and brightens it up. In combination with the Vitamin C Skin Boost (which I use as a primer and will talk about in an upcoming post), I feel like my skin is brighter and it helps with scarring(redness and hyper-pigmentation). Then again that could just be from natural healing as I haven't been breaking out as much, so I won't oversell it, but vitamin C is great for your skin, plus it'll keep you looking young, get on it giiiirrll !!

I also like this one just to refresh throughout the day, as well as the Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray. But the Avene one is especially great for hot days! It really cools you off, and makes you feel less sweaty, which in theory is good for your makeup? It also helps to soothe the skin, it's great for very sensitive skin, if you don't want to use a toner or anything too harsh, also if you have a sun burn or any kind of inflammation... Also, it's not as hydrating as the the Lush spray but it definitely helps to restore and keep moisture in.  If your skin isn't still damp when it's time to apply your moisturizer, spray this on before for better results :)

So that's about it! Whether you're scared your makeup is going to slip off, your skin is looking a little dull, you have a bit of a cake face and/or dry patches that your makeup made more obvious, or it is just TOO DAMN HOT IN HERE!! There's a spray for that! :)

Do you use any face spray thingymajiggys?! If so, which ones and what do you like about them?

Talk to you soon!

-Val

How To : Clean your brushes

Hello lovelies!

If you remember my OCD to clear acne article, this should have been added (amongst other things I didn't mention, but I guess all in due time we will add all the useful tips).

It is SUPER important to keep your makeup brushes clean, because they collect bacteria which then goes on your face...The brushes also trap products which makes future makeup application blotchy or just not how it's supposed to be!

Yes, I know, it sometimes feels like tedious task, and we avoid it for as long as possible (guilty), but you really need to do it once a week (OK I don't even follow my own rules, but I try. TRY to do it once a week).

This also helps protect your investment, I have brushes that I've had since high school that are still in great condition. So it's also HOW you clean them.

First of all, get a no rinse daily makeup brush cleanser like THIS ONE from Sephora. Use it every day in between the "deep cleanse".

Now we all we can buy brush shampoo, or use baby shampoo or whatever store bought crap you want to use. But! What if I told you you can make a cheaper more efficient one at home?

Overview : 60 seconds Rita Ora Nail Polish

Hello lovelies!

Rimmel London paired up with British music star Rita Ora to create an exclusive limited edition line of shades for their 60 seconds nail polish.

In total, there are 6 shades, which you can see HERE. I got my hands on 4 of them, because girlfriend please, I'm crazy and that's already excessive!

With the help, and expert advice of my wonderful friend Sophie, I was able to get nicely painted nails to show you guys the shades and in depth reviews that compare to other brands, and what nail pros are impressed by ;)

Without further ado, here are the shades I got to play around with :

1. 863 Do Not Disturb : A beautiful vibrant teal color

2. 873 Breakfast In Bed : A great pastel turquoise shade

3. 203 Lose Your Lingerie : A lovely subtle baby pink

4. 613 Midnight Rendezvous : A very deep plum color

What Val thought (not so nail savvy, I just like my finger tips to be puurdy) :
- Dries quickly
- Opaque shades (you really only need two coats, and optional at that for the darker shades)
- Beautiful selection of colors
- Big brush means quicker application (also less streaks)
- Overall : Very impressed

What Sophie thought (somewhat of a nail queen) :
- Pastels need less coats than other brands
- Great for fast applications (thick brush)
- Not so much for details and touch-up
- Really fast-drying
- But formula dries in bottle, and thickens, during application
- Overall: Nice for quick, no trouble mani 

Also note that the darker shades do stain the nails (even if you apply a base), so the removal can be a bit messy! But I guess that's somewhat normal?

If you haven't seen them near you yet, they should be coming very shortly. They are around 6$CA and compete nicely with higher end brands.

For reference, 3 of these shades are oddly similar to shades in the Essie 2014 Spring and the resort collections:

Essie's Fashion Playground vs Breakfast in bed

Essie's Under the Twilight vs Midnight Rendezvous

Essie's Romper Room vs Lose Your Lingerie

Over all, if you're looking for a quick and hassle free mani with great color selection, definitely check those out or any of the 60 Seconds nail polishes!

What are some of your favorite shades?

Talk to you soon!

-Val & Sophie :)

Product Review : Tea Tree BB Cream

Hello lovelies!

So if you remember a while ago, I was very excited to see that The Body Shop came out with the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream. I got my hands on it as soon as I could, and have been testing it recently. Let's see the results!

The promise :

As mentioned, there are 3 shades. I am (obviously) in the shade 01 Light, which matches me perfectly. It's creamy but thin, however not runny, it has that distinct scent of tea tree oil (which might be overwhelming for some, but it doesn't bother me), and feels quite cool on application.

I apply it with my hands (about the amount pictured below) and buff it out with my Sigma F82 Round Top Kabuki, for a flawless finish. 

I find this BB cream to be surprisingly moisturizing (or at least doesn't cling to any dry patches) and is not greasy or sticky or anything oily skin types might fear!

You get 40ml for 15$CA (and keep in mind The Body Shop almost always has some kind of promotion), which is a steal in my opinion!

This is exactly what I needed, to be good to my skin all while covering up enough to feel confident :) Again with this BB, there is no SPF, so be careful in the day time!

Let's break it down:

Packaging : 4/5 I always prefer a pump, but it is still easy and hygienic to use, and it's compact, therefore travel friendly!

Coverage : 4/5 It has medium coverage, but can be somewhat buildable. If you have acne or acne scars, you're gonna want to add concealer, but it creates a nice base to make that easy and flawless!

Finish : 5/5 It has a nice natural finish (however more matte than dewy), but I still feel my skin looks like skin, which is nice!

Color match : 5/5 The shade 01 matches me perfectly, blends in seamlessly, no complaints here. Sometimes I do feel a tad washed out but with bronzer and blush honey?!! It's a non issue ;)

Longevity : 4/5 The staying power surprised me! It kept me shine free for about 4h (standard in my world), all was intact after blotting. I even survived a violent rain shower sans umbrella! No streaking, aces!

Efficiency: 4/5 I actually believe this has helped out with blemishes. It's not gonna clear you up on it's own but if you stick to your routine and add this in, you might find your skin getting better, faster. Don't think of it as an acne treatment, but as "better makeup for your skin". This is exactly what I needed.

Price : 5/5 As mentioned, for the size, the quality, and the recurring offers you can get, this is a steal! 

Final score : 4.3/5

Now you know I LOVE my Rimmel Matte, and I mentioned a Missha one in my beach essentials, but I need different products for different things!

When I am breaking out, I now reach for this one and there's nothing I don't like about it. So in that sense, it is a favorite too. I also like it on days where I don't feel I need/want as much coverage (like right now I quite like that my freckles still peak through), it does feel and look more natural on the skin. So really, urgh, I hate getting emotionally attached like this, but, I LOVE IT!

If I don't have any active breakouts, I'll usually still have a lot of scars to conceal, then I reach for my Rimmel, since the coverage is pretty epic. You can read my full review (HERE).

The Missha one I save for days where I know I'll be out in the sun, as it has SPF, but beyond that I'm not usually drawn to that one as much! If you'd like an in depth review than let me know! :)

Basically, it all comes down to what you need and what you're looking for, and hey! it's ok to not be monogamous when it comes to beauty products ;) ALL FOR BEAUTY POLYAMOROUS! (I'm cheering alone aren't I?)

Well, on that note,

Talk to you soon!

-Val

Beach Beauty Essentials

Hello lovelies! 

Hitting the beach or planning a day outdoors this weekend? Here's how I prepare for fun in the sun ;) 

Most important is SPF! 

5 easy steps to get your best lashes!

Hello lovelies!

Mascara can be a very personal thing, in the sense that we don't all like the same things, and not all mascaras work the same on different lashes. But correct me if I'm wrong, we all want bigger bolder lashes right?

The first thing you want to figure out is if you prefer a wet or drier formula, a big brush, a little brush, natural bristles or rubbery? Needless to say it's a bit tricky sometimes.

My favorite one (right now, ha!) is the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (rawr). Also, I prefer to use a different one on my bottom lashes though, and for that I use the Clinique Bottom Lash mascara.

Most importantly, GET AN EYELASH CURLER. I cannot understand how some girls don't bother with this little guy!!

My favorite one is the Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

Here is the before :

 1. The first thing I like to do is warm up my curler. YES. Think about it, makes sense right? A cold curling iron would not give you nice curls now would it? Surely you need to be careful, as it is close to your eyes. You can simply use your breath or use a hair dryer for a few seconds. If you use the hair dryer make sure you touch it with your fingers before putting it near your eye, to make sure it's not too hot! :)

Bonus tip: Make sure your lashes are completely dry and free of moisturizer (careful with the eye cream) before starting your lash routine!

2. Next, you want to make sure you get as close to the eyelash base and gently squeeze your lashes for 10 seconds. Also, I do one eye at a time (curl, mascara, curl, mascara), to make sure they keep their shape.

3. Apply a first coat of mascara. Start at the base in the middle of your eye and then wing it out towards the outer part of your eye. This will give your lashes that nice flared, flirty look. Then go back towards the inner corner to grab all those little lashes (by doing this last, you are going in with less formula, thus avoiding extra clumps). 

Bonus tip : Make sure you wipe off the extra formula on the edge of the tube to avoid clumps!

4. I like to wait until the first coat is kind of dry before applying the second. If you created clumps during your first coat, wait for it to dry and comb through before applying the second coat. Should you create clumps during the second coat as well, wait for it to dry and comb through.

5. Once the lashes are COMPLETELY dry, I like to go back in with my curler. You have to be extra gentle so you don't damage your lashes. Just grab them, and squeeze them (just to say you're squeezing) for like 2 seconds. You could also just go in with a "half curler" (like this MAC one or this Shu Uemura one) and focus only on the outer lashes or any parts of the lash line you wish for the perfect shape ;)

Bonus tip : Line your upper water line with black liner to create the illusion of fuller lashes ;)

And voila! You have just given your lashes and mascara the best chance to perform. Who needs falsies? (Just kidding, there's always room for falsies <3)

Talk to you soon!

- Val