{Valentine's Week} Two-Tone Lipstick...

When I first saw the makeup from Holly Fulton's S/S 13 show, I instantly became obsessed with two-toned lips and filed the idea away in my mind for this very occasion... And by occasion, I of course mean Valentine's Day (don't hate). Seriously though, when else is it permissible to walk around sporting pink and red lipstick in the light of day if not V-Day? Please don't say never...

Happy Wednesday, friends! xx

{Glitter Week} Glitter Half Moon Manicure...

No theme week is complete without a manicure, and since I've been meaning to try a glitter half moon mani after seeing one on Emily last month, I figured there was no time like the present. The verdict? It's pretty much the greatest manicure known to man. The end result is just so chic and fun, and the glitter really takes it up a notch. I think I'll have to try it again with pastel base, perhaps a nice mint... Oh the possibilities.

Happy Thursday, friends! xx

Get the look: Deborah Lippmann 'Boom Pow' glitter polish // OPI 'Chick Flick Cherry' polish

{Nailed It} Metallic Sharpie Mani...

I love painting my nails as much as the next girl, so when I saw this metallic Sharpie mani on The Beauty Department a while back, I couldn't wait to try it myself. It's probably the easiest manicure I've ever done, and so long as you have a decently steady(ish) hand, I'm sure you'll agree. The best part? There's no limit to what you can do! Chevrons? Sure! Polka dots? OK! Hearts? Why not! Just do yourself a favor and don't skimp on the top coat — Believe me, that marker will fade right off. xx

Details: Essie nail polish in Turquoise & Caicos; Sharpie in metallic gold

{Nailed It} Blood-Drop Mani DIY...

Halloween is nearly here, and what better way to spread some ghoulish cheer than with a blood-drop DIY mani a la Prabal Gurung? This was beyond easy to do, and it took no time at all... So basically all you vampire-loving, Dexter-obsessed peeps have no excuse not to try this one. Here's what you need to do!

Step 1: Paint your nails with a nude base coat to give them a clean, polished look. Alternatively, leave nails completely bare— it's up to you!

Step 2: Dip a toothpick or bobby pin into a deep red polish and apply small dots at random to the bottom third of your nail (2 or 3 dots per nail looks best).

Step 3: Drag the nail polish from the dots you just created down to the tip of the nail.

Step 4: Repeat for all nails, finishing with a uneven horizontal line at the tip of each nail.

And that's it! For a mere 10 minutes of work, you've got yourself a creepy, yet surprisingly chic manicure... How's that for doing it yourself? xx

{Beauty} Everyday Makeup

We all have our beauty routines, and when it comes to makeup, I have mine down to a science. I rarely deviate from my 'everyday face' (or whatever you want to call it), which now only takes me about five minutes to do in the morning. The key? Finding products you love and holding on to them for dear life... So with that said, here's a quick rundown of my daily makeup routine:

I've tried many foundations in my day, but my favourite by far is NARS' Sheer Glow Foundation. The formula goes on smooth and covers all my imperfections without looking too intense, and a bottle of the stuff lasts forever (which, at $55 a pop, is definitely a good thing). A recent addition to my cosmetic arsenal is Bare Minerals' Ready SPF 20 Foundation, which is beyond amazing. I don't usually wear powders because I'm not a fan of matte finishes (plus if I'm not careful, I get maaaajor cake-face), but when perfectly applied, this stuff is like a pressed miracle... For serious.

When it comes to mascara, I'm not a fan of shelling out big money for something that will only last me a month or two, so I always opt for CoverGirl's Lashblast Mascara. It works great and is super inexpensive, which is always a plus. The same goes for eyeliner (I switch between Revlon and L'Oreal based on whichever is cheapest at the time), and lipstick I can go either way on. I rarely find a difference between high end lipsticks and drugstore varieties (with certain exceptions of course), and after trying what feels like a million different products, my favourite is definitely CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in a basic red (surprise surprise).

Oh, and let's not forget blush! Blush makes everything better, am I right? I love everything from cream to powder varieties, but the best and most natural-looking blush I've ever tried is hands down Benefit's Benetint. And if you don't believe me, I think it's cult following says it all.

Now it's your turn! Tell me lovelies, what are your makeup must haves? xx

Product details: 1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation; 2. Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation; 3. CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara; 4. CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick; 5. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner; 6. Benefit Benetint

{Nailed It} Leopard Mani

I recently got out of a job that only let me wear red nail polish (how rude!), so after many months of aesthetic oppression, I'm like a kid in a lacquered candy store... Neon nails? Ok! Sparkly glitter? Why not! Leopard print? Holy moly!

But I digress.

My first order of business was to go as brazenly against the [former employer's name here] grain as I could, which I think I accomplished rather nicely with these Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips. Leopard print is totally my jam, so what better way to mark my newfound freedom than with a saucy,  "Kitty, Kitty" entitled mani? Oh self-autonomy, it's good to have you back... xx

Deserted Island Essentials...

If, knock on wood, I should find myself stranded on a lonely deserted island someday, I would pray for an unlimited supply of ice cream, the company of my mister, a magical Internet connection (obvi) and my trusty cosmetics bag... Hey, a girl's got to look her best, right? And if the deserted island Gods would be kind enough to send some toothpaste my way, well, that would be ace. But back to business: we're talking beauty essentials here, people!

For me, nothing beats smooth skin and a defined eye, so you can imagine where my beauty allegiance lies, but a classic red lip and mani are pretty sweet as well... So without further ado, here's what I would hope to have in a Gilligan's Island-type situation:

1. Aveeno Active Naturals sunscreen (gotta practice safe sun!)
2. Sephora Collection Eye Liner
3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder (no shiny t-zone for this island dweller!)
4. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
5. CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara (in this case, I'm thinking waterproof...)
6. MAC lipstick in 'Lady Bug'
7. Butter London nail polish in 'Come to Bed Red' (oh baby!)
8. The almighty Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 (it's magical)

What would you wish for if you were stranded on a deserted island? Spill! xx