Tag: torontofashion

HAUL IT Pt. 1 Feat. NYX Cosmetics

I have always been curious about NYX Cosmetics. I remember spending many hours watching beauty videos on YouTube, seeing makeup gurus swatch all the different eye shadow colours and liners from their hauls. There was something I found satisfying about watching other people show me all the stuff they bought… but then I’d get major jelly because we didn’t have such stores in Canada.

And so it wasn’t too long ago that NYX finally made it’s way to Shoppers Drug Mart and now, more recently they started opening up stores around Toronto. I could finally try all the products I had been watching others use for years!

Though when I made it to a couple of locations in the GTA, the products I wanted to try were out of stock every time I visited – I guess there were other makeup lovers just as excited as I was. So it wasn’t until I found myself in NYX at the Oshawa Centre that I was able to snag some items!

It was a bit of a hassle because I had purchased a few items, but when I got home, I received an email for their Family & Friends event they were having 2 days later. Oh the troubles of not having a data plan on my cell phone. It was 20% off the entire store! So 2 days, 4 receipts and 5 transactions later*… tah-dah!
It’s haul time!

(L): Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pacific, (R): Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Pewter Note: The website lists Crystal Pewter to be a purple, but I find it more of a blue tone. That’s why I paired it with Pacific.

(Bottom): Pacific, (Middle): Crystal Pewter, (Top): combined

Vivid Brights Liquid Liner

Vivid Brights in Vivid Fire

(Bottom): Eye/Eyebrow Pencil, (Top): Lip Liner

(Top): Lavender Shimmer, (Bottom): Pale Pink

(L): Color Correcting Concealer, (R): Pro Dual Brow Brush no. 18

And my purchase came with eye shadow samples!

(Top): Morocco, (Middle): Rome, (Bottom): Copenhagen

I didn’t go crazy as it was my first time using NYX products. I wanted to test their products and see if I liked them before buying more. In total I spent just over $62 for 7 items – with a savings of about $15. Not the best of sales I’ve been to, but in general their prices are very affordable so I’m lucky to have had an added discount!

I’ve used almost all the items I bought for about a week now, with the exception of the Lavender Shimmer eye liner and the Rome and Copenhagen eye shadows. The colours are very pigmented, last all day and I find to be good quality.
I’ve been on the hunt for the Color Correcting Concealer for a while, but that was one of the items that was always sold out. I’m happy I finally got my hands on one because I’ve been looking for a portable palette to throw in my makeup bag that I can use under my foundation – especially for my dark circles.

Overall I’m very satisfied with my purchase. I do enjoy the Jumbo Pencil very much and will definitely be getting more colours… when I save some money. Because if you’ve been following my Insta stories you’ll know I went to three makeup sales in one week! My poor wallet.

I’d love to know if you went to the NYX sale and what you got in the comments below! And stay tuned for Haul It pt. 2 & 3 where I review what I got from the Mac/Estée Lauder and L’Oreal sales.

xo
Stephanie

*Note: It took that many transactions because I had to return and buy back all my items a bunch of times because the totals were off since the computer wasn’t putting in the discounts for all the items I’d bought. So kudos to NYX Oshawa for being so patient!

April 5, 2017
Current Mood: Rollerballs

There’s something about a nice bottle of perfume that makes me feel luxurious. It can also switch my mood from drab to fab. And even though the scent isn’t visible to the eye, that tiny spritz before I walk out the door adds the perfect final touch to my outfit.

Now, I could spend hours in the perfume section of Sephora, but it can be very overwhelming when I’m trying to find a new scent. Especially, when I’m going to be spending over $100 for a bottle.

Which is why I thank the beauty industry for inventing the rollerball. It allows me to be promiscuous with my perfume. Meaning, I can own a variety of different scents and it wouldn’t hurt my wallet so much. Plus, I can organize them neatly, saving tons of space, and I’m able to carry them in my purse without weighing it down.

While I wish I could go spending $100+ for every bottle of perfume I fall in love with, I would be spending a ton. And if I actually bought the full size of all the perfumes I wanted, it would take me decades to finish them all. Brands are coming out with so many new scents nowadays, I couldn’t keep up! So this really is the best of both worlds. I don’t break the bank and I can treat myself every now and then to a new perfume.

Perfumes are obviously a personal preference, but sometimes it’s also about knowing what sits well on your skin. I’m still testing out what I like and what I can wear. So at the moment, these are the four rollerballs I have that are currently in rotation.

Dolce & Gabbana, Light Blue
Light Blue is, hands down, my signature scent. I’ve been wearing it since my senior year of high school and until now, I’m still in love with it. Which is why it was an obvious choice for my rollerball collection.
It was given to me as a gift from a friend, and in the beginning I wasn’t sure I wanted it because I already had a full size bottle. Only later did I realize it only makes sense that I own the rollerball too because it’s my go to perfume. I want to be able to carry it around with me for touch ups or refreshment. And there’s something about the citrus scent, that can calm me down, put me in a good mood or give me that extra confidence boost.

Burberry, Brit Rhythm for Her Floral
After I discovered rollerballs, Brit Rhythm was something I was heavily considering. I wanted something totally different than my go to perfumes. Something floral since I was used to citrus scents. It was a hard decision between this, the Brit Sheer and the original Brit, so I let bae decide. After all, he’d be the only one that would be close enough to really smell it on me.
I do enjoy this one a lot. It’s more sweet and flirty and has a dewy feel to it. As well, very feminine and gives off hints of fruit. And it’s not over powering, so I like that I can wear it any season, day or night.

Giorgio Armani, Si
Si was something that I randomly stumbled upon. I worked in the mall and Sephora was just a few stores down from me, so I’d spend many break times in there. I would play around wearing various scents on different days, but I kept going back to Si for some reason. I was totally drawn to it. And when one of my coworkers complimented me on what I was wearing one day, that definitely solidified my decision.
This one I think is more timeless. It feels more mature than my other perfumes. It’s more wood base and kind of musky – not in a dirty ‘I haven’t showered’ sort of way. I get this hint of amber and cinnamon which gives it a strong GIRLBOSS essence. So I wear this when I want to exude my sexy and confident, ‘I’m gonna kick today’s ass’ side.

Kenzo, Flower by Kenzo
Flower I actually got as a Sephora sample. I had never heard of it before, but the second I applied it to my wrist I was intrigued. Though it’s called Flower, all I think is baby powder. And who doesn’t want that fresh scent?
This is the only spray bottle vs rollerball, but it’s still travel size. The powdery scent makes it very youthful and light. And it’s softer than the rest of my collection, so I thought it would be a great addition because it adds variation. Since it’s more playful, it’s definitely a day time scent, or I’d use it after a nice shower to continue that fresh feeling. It for sure belongs to a sunny, Spring day. So now is the perfect time for me to use it.

I do plan on adding more to my rollerball collection. At first, I wanted to see if these were the thing for me, but overall I really do enjoy them.

They’re inexpensive and they’re convenient for travel – whether I’m throwing them in my purse, putting them in an overnight bag, or packing them in my luggage for overseas. It doesn’t break the bank which it allows for many options. So, just as I like to switch up my handbags and jewellery, this is another accessory that I definitely enjoy having choices.

I’m already thinking of what’s next.
Perhaps Marc Jacobs, Daisy? Or Gucci, Flora?

Most likely both!

xo
Stephanie

March 23, 2017
STYLE STEALS Feat. Dynamite

Working in a mall has its perks if you love to shop, but working in a mall can also be the death of your wallet if you love to shop.

When I have time to spare on my lunch or after work, I’m aimlessly walking the mall. I’m always checking out what’s new in store fronts and seeing if I can find those items I’ve recently seen on my Insta feed, in store.
Though, for some reason I notice when I’m on the hunt for a specific item, I can never find exactly what I’m looking for. Or, what happens is I’ll go into a store on the hunt for a particular item, but leave with another. Especially if there’s a sale. I generally have good will power, but sometimes you just come across a really good buy that you can’t pass up!

Most recently, I stumbled into Dynamite because I was looking for this sweater I saw on @jessicajuliien‘s Instagram. Because obviously Instagram is where I do my online window shopping now. It was this black sweatshirt that read, in white print, ‘MY LITTLE BLACK SWEATSHIRT.’ I know, Captain Obvious, right? I just thought it was cute!

Photo by: @jessicajuliien

So I make my way around, scoping the racks of clothing and folded displays. Eventually finding it hanging in the back of the store and it’s as cute as it looks in the photo. At this point I’m basically taking out my wallet, but as I’m reaching to find a size, I’m surprised by the material. I was expecting your basic cotton blend because you cannot go wrong with a cotton sweatshirt. Instead, I’m feeling some shiny scuba knit, which I’m okay with on a skirt or dress, but not what I’m looking for in a cozy casual sweatshirt. How am I supposed to stay cozy, yet fashionable on my lazy days in scuba? It still looks really cute though… And the more I’m staring at this photo, the more I’m wishing it bought it. Dammit.

Anywho… Disappointed, I turn to leave, but of course have to stop by the sale rack to satisfy my internal bargain hunter. You just never know what you’re going to find.
Unexpectedly, I come across a navy blue, velour cami with straps that criss cross in the back. Only one left and a price tag of $5 – I am sold. I mean, duh. It’s $5! The cut for me is too low in the front because the straps are a tad too long, but that’s nothing a little needle and thread can’t fix.

Besides the price, I love how this velour cami can be dressed up or down. The blue is so rich, yet subtle that it can be your pop of colour or stay neutral. I can dress it up by tucking it into black trousers/pencil skirt and throw a blazer/cardigan on top. Or, pair it with denim/ripped jean shorts if I’m going casual. It’s also a stretch material, which I like because I won’t feel constricted if I’m wearing it all day.

Most I love though, is that it was on sale.
Sales are my best friend. Regular price for this shirt I believe was $29.99 – from what I could read of the original tag under all the markdown stickers. Either way, for $5 this was definitely a steal.
Totally happy.

xo
Stephanie

March 2, 2017