Saturday, December 31, 2016

December 2016 Beauty Box Five

December 2016 Beauty Box 5  1

The December 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to help us ring in the New Year with its Just Add Confetti / Party Perfect theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the December items.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Nail Polish Canada Haul: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polishes and Top Coat

Essie Gel Couture Top Coat and Nail Polish in Take Me To Thread Spool Me Over Turn n Pose

If you have been reading my Nail of The Day (NOTD) posts lately, you will know that I have been getting gel manicures done at a salon. I have been so busy cleaning, holiday baking, and attending formal events that I've needed long-lasting, chip-free polish to keep my nails looking great at all times.

Tend Skin Review

Tend Skin Review

Have you ever woken up the day after suffering through a painful bikini wax to discover that your smooth, hair-free skin has been invaded by unattractive, uncomfortable ingrown hairs? This happened to me many times until I gave up on waxing and went back to shaving. Unfortunately, I soon remembered that razor burn is just as irritating as ingrown hairs.

Luckily, Nail Polish Canada now carries Tend Skin*, a product that can help keep our skin in good condition after hair removal. Tend Skin reduces razor bumps, treats ingrown hairs without the need to tweeze, and reduces the appearance of redness caused by shaving. It can also be used after waxing and electrolysis to prevent and reduce ingrown hairs, as well as to treat redness or irritated skin after waxing or facials.


Thursday, December 29, 2016

Panty By Post Review

Panty By Post Review 1

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned before how much I love getting mail. Letters, online orders, and especially subscription boxes really make my day when I find them in my mailbox. So far, I have tried beauty, food, and men’s subscriptions, but today I get to share something a bit different and very exciting—a panty subscription!

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Review: Joa Bath & Body Products

Joa Bath  Body Review 1

As 2016 comes to an end, I’m excited to share my thoughts on a delightful Canadian body care company that I was introduced to this year.

Joa Bath & Body is a line of body care products that are not only luxurious but also good for sensitive skin. It all started when Cindy, the company’s owner set out to create soap that wouldn’t irritate her children’s sensitive skin. Family and friends became interested in her soap and soon a company was born. Now Joa creates a range of natural, quality products with simple ingredients that include soaps, hand and body moisturizers, bath bombs, body scrubs, and lip balms.

As someone who has suffered from the effects of sensitive skin from childhood, I couldn’t wait to try out Cindy’s products to see if they would work for me. Read on for my experiences with a soap, a body scrub, and a bath bomb from Joa.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

NOTD: OPI Bogota Blackberry (gel)

OPI Bogota Blackberry Gel 3

Around the winter holidays, I love wearing deeper shades of polish. This year, I have been so busy with baking and cleaning that I haven’t had much time to take care of my nails, so I went to the salon for a gel manicure.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

November 2016 Beauty Box Five

November 2016 Beauty Box Five 5  1

The November 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to help keep us looking our best when it’s cold outside with its It’s Too Cold For A Naked Face / Cozy theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the November items.

Review: Nova Scotia Fisherman Xtreme Skin Care

Nova Scotia Fisherman Xtreme Skin Care Review 1

Today, I’m very excited to share a review of a wonderful Canadian brand called Nova Scotia Fisherman Xtreme Skin Care. This maritime company, owned by Les and Uncle Perly, produces products that are free of parabens, petrochemicals, synthetics, SLS, and animal testing. The company also includes local organic kelp in all its products to promote anti-aging, soothe dry skin, reduce redness, and remove bacteria. In addition to using quality ingredients, this company also supports local communities and helps protect its beautiful landscape by providing employment in rural Nova Scotia and donating a portion of each sale to the Nature Conservatory of Canada.

Nova Scotia Fisherman’s line of Xtreme Skin Care includes products to nourish the hands, body, and lips. When I opened the lovely package that the company sent me, I couldn’t get enough of the wonderful scent that filled the air—a soothing combination of mint with a hint of lemon that creates the atmosphere of a relaxing day spa.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Save 15% on ZAYA Eco Skincare Until December 11, 2016

Zaya Oils Coupon Code

From now until Sunday, December 11, 2016, use the coupon code ZAYABEAUTY to save 15% on any purchase from www.zayaoils.com.

ZAYA Eco Skincare products are natural, vegan, cruelty free, toxin-free, packaged in eco-friendly bottles, and ideal for fatigued and sensitive skin.

To read my review of the luxurious face and body products in the photo above, click HERE.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Review: ZAYA Eco Skincare Natural Face Cream, Body Oil, and Face Oil

Zaya Skincare Review

With winter less than a month away, it’s time to prepare skin for months of frigid temperatures, dry air and blustery winds. Luckily, ZAYA Eco Skincare has products to make the seasonal transition easier.

Not only do ZAYA’s products work wonders for fatigued and sensitive skin, they’re also purely natural, vegan, cruelty free, toxin-free, and beautifully packaged in eco-friendly bottles. All products are carefully developed by an experienced team of PhD chemists and made in Toronto, Canada.
The combination of sophistication, science, luxury, and natural elements is everything I want in a skincare line, so I was eager to accept the opportunity to try ZAYA products.

Read on for my thoughts on some exciting face and body products.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Review: Sigma Beauty SigMagic Brushampoo

Sigma Sigmagic Brushampoo Review 2

This month, I had the exciting opportunity to try out an innovative product from Sigma Beauty, the SigMagic Brushampoo*.

Before I tell you my thoughts on the product, I want to let you in on a little secret: I don’t deep clean my brushes nearly enough, and by nearly enough I mean almost never. With the brush cleansers that I’ve used in the past, it took quite a while to remove all colour from the brushes, the brushes were slow to dry, and they always felt like they were left with a residue no matter how long I rinsed them. So, I gave up on deep cleansing and resorted to a quick spot-cleaning routine that left me with dull, partially-clean brushes that were not performing to their full potential.

Luckily, I found a solution for my brush-cleaning issues the day that I received my bottle of Brushampoo.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Julep Beauty Giveaway

Julep Beauty Giveaway 2
Julep Beauty Giveaway

Time for another giveaway! This month, I’m giving away products from one of my favourite beauty brands: Julep.

Products include Julep Glow Highlighting Powder in Champagne, Gel Eye Glider in Olive, and Nail Color in London. These are some of my favourite formulas and shades.

You can enter to win by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

October 2016 Beauty Box Five

October 2016 Beauty Box Five 5

The October 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to help us look great while feeling powerful with its Girl Boss theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the October items.

Monday, October 31, 2016

NOTD: China Glaze Fifth Avenue

China Glaze Fifth Avenue Review Swatches

I can’t believe that this is my first official blog post on China Glaze’s Fifth Avenue. I’ve owned it for many years (as you can see from the condition of the lettering on the bottle), and it has appeared in some of my seasonal favourites posts, but I have never written a full review on it.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Healthy Quinoa Lunch Bowl

Healthy Quinoa Lunch Bowl

Back in January, I posted my Healthy Quinoa Breakfast Bowl recipe. Now it’s time to talk about lunch!

September 2016 Beauty Box Five

September 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The September 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products that are well loved by the BB5 team with its It’s So Hard Not To Play Favorites / Staff Picks! theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the September items.

Friday, October 14, 2016

NOTD: OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI (Gel)

OPI Venice I Cannoli Wear OPI Gel

It’s been a while since my last Nail of the Day (NOTD) post. Due to a busy schedule and some special events, I have been getting gel manicures at a local salon for the past few months. They use OPI Gel polishes, which I am really enjoying. I have tried Shellac in the past and the gel is very similar in that it is long lasting, resistant to wear and tear, and is completely dry within a minute or so under a curing lamp. However, I prefer the gel over Shellac since it doesn’t make my nails feel as thick, and the gel is cured with an LED light rather than a UV light. I also like that I can remove the gel at home without any acetone or chemicals even though it is not recommended. I must confess that I have discovered that after a few weeks of wear, I can peel the gel off in one piece without any issues while in a hot shower. I have not been able to do this with Shellac.

Of all the OPI Gel colours that I have tried, my favourites include Let’s Be Friends! from the Hello Kitty line (a perfect pastel pink for brides) and the one that I’m wearing in the photo above which is called I Cannoli Wear OPI from the fall 2015 Venice line.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Fall 2016 Beauty Giveaway

Fall Beauty Giveaway

I’m giving away these bronze, peach, and plum toned beauty products in honour of fall (my favourite season)!

Products include Teeez Tend Cosmetics Head Over Heels Nail Lacquer in Cadmium Rush, Chella Passionate Pink Moisturizing Lip Pencil, Epic Blend Premium Lip Balm in Hemp Blueberry, Hikari Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Haze, So Susan Cosmetics Concealer Quad, Manna Kadar Radiance Bronzer & Highlighter, Cargo Cosmetics Water Resistant Blush in Coronado, Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, and Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen in Plum.  

You can enter to win by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. 

Sunday, September 18, 2016

August 2016 Beauty Box Five

August 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The August 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products for an at home spa experience with its Pampering in Progress / Spa Day theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the August items.

July 2016 Beauty Box Five

July 2016 Beauty Box Five 1
The July 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to help us look beautiful while exploring the summer landscape with its Will Brake for Makeup / Road Trip Ready theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the July items.

June 2016 Beauty Box Five

June 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The June 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to help us get the most out of our summer beauty routine with its Made in the Shade theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the June items.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Eight Wedding Nail Art Designs

8 wedding nail art designs

It’s wedding season!

Whether you’re a bride, bridesmaid, mother of the bride or groom, wedding planner, or wedding guest, these eight wedding nail designs will give you some inspiration. I have a full blog post on each design that explains the products that I used and how I created each look. Click on the mint green text below to learn more.

May 2016 Beauty Box Five

May 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The May 2016 Beauty Box Five* features products to prepare us for the transition from spring to summer with its Bait Some Beauty, Save A Mermaid! / Mer-May-d theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the May items.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Thai Mango Coconut Vegetables with Rice

Thai Mango Coconut Vegetables with Rice 6

Today, I’m sharing one of my favourite spring/summer dishes. It’s light, healthy, easy to make, and includes one of my favourite fruits: mango.

Friday, June 3, 2016

April 2016 Beauty Box Five

April 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The April 2016 Beauty Box Five* keeps skin healthy this spring with its Take a Hydration Vacation theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the April items.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Nail Art Flashback: Chanel Inspired Nails

Chanel Inspired Nail Art 3

Here’s another one of my nail designs from the past. I created this one back in 2012 in collaboration with Born Pretty Store. The company sent me their Chanel Inspired Jewels* in order to create a nail look. The deep purple base colour is China Glaze’s VIII, and the silver polish is Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Black Pearl. I used Konad image plate m79 to create the quilted pattern.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Healthy Chocolate Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Healthy Chocolate Cherry Frozen Yogurt 1

Although summer hasn’t officially started, the weather this May has been hotter than usual. In the past, I've been guilty of visiting ice cream parlours way too many times during spring and summer months, so this year I decided to create my own cold treat that’s delicious yet healthy.

The best part is that this recipe is so easy to create and does not require an ice cream maker. It also involves simple ingredients like frozen fruit, Greek yogurt, and some flavourful spices and toppings.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Review: Sigma Beauty Nightlife by Camila Coelho Powder Blush in Hot Spot

Sigma Beauty Camila Coelho Nightlife Powder Blush in Hot Spot Review 1

I’m going to let you in on a little secret and tell you that some days (ok, most days), the only makeup I leave the house wearing is blush. As a pale-skinned gal, a swipe of blush can magically transform my skin from dull and pasty to energized and glowy. For this reason, I have quite the blush collection and am always excited to try new blushes.

This month, I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to review Sigma Beauty’s Nightlife by Camila Coelho Powder Blush in Hot Spot*. As you can see from the photo above, the outer packaging has a beautiful, textured finish made of silver and blue glitter. This design is unique to the Nightlife Collection and is inspired by the city lights from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

Review: Sigma Beauty Nightlife by Camila Coelho Brush Set - Glitter Handles

Sigma Beauty Night Life by Camila Coelho Brush Set Review 3

This month, I had the wonderful opportunity to review a new product from Sigma Beauty, the Nightlife by Camila Coelho Brush Set with Glitter Handles*. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that Sigma brushes and I go way back. In fact, my first large brush purchase was the Sigma Mr. Bunny Essential Brush Kit (see my post on it HERE). I purchased it back in 2012 and have used it every day since. The brushes are so well crafted that they can last for years if they’re well taken care of.

The Nightlife Brush Set contains five of Sigma’s best-selling brushes (two face brushes and 3 eye brushes) that feature limited edition sparkle handles inspired by the city lights from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

Let’s take a look at this dazzling brush set...

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Maple Holistics Lip Balm Giveaway

Maple Holistics Lip Balm Giveaway

I’m giving away four natural lip balms from Maple Holistics in flavours of Pomegranate, Acai Berry, Peppermint and Vanilla.

You can enter to win by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.

Friday, May 6, 2016

March 2016 Beauty Box Five

March 2016 Beauty Box Five 2

The March 2016 Beauty Box Five* welcomes spring with its Make Room to Bloom / Flower Power theme.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the March items.

Monday, May 2, 2016

April 2016 Julep Maven Customized Box

April 2016 Julep Maven Box 1

Since 2014, I have been subscribed to Julep Maven which is a monthly nail polish subscription service that also incorporates beauty and skincare items. The best part is that you can opt for a curated box, customize your box, or skip your box each month depending on your preference. When you begin with Julep, you take a quiz so that Julep can suggest a box with items you may like. If you don’t like what’s offered in your category, you can choose another. If you are interested, you can sign up for Julep HERE. Even if you’re not interested in the monthly subscription, Julep also sells individual polishes and other products. Shipping is always free!

Since I have quite a few polishes in my collection, I don’t receive boxes every month and will often skip boxes until one is offering a must-have item. In fact, the last box I received before this month was back in February 2015 (click HERE to see my review of that box). This April, I opted in for my box since Julep was including a free white polish with each box. Although I have lots of polishes, I don’t have many that are white and it’s always helpful to have a good white polish on hand for nail designs or french manicures. I also decided to customize my April box to get some products that I had been wanting to try for a while.

Read on to see what I received.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Something Blue Wedding Nail Art

Something Blue Wedding Nail Art

Let your something blue stand out this wedding season by wearing it on your nails. This design incorporates some of my favourite wedding details, including dainty florals, crisp white, and a beautiful pop of blue.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Eight Spring Nail Art Designs

8 spring nail art designs

What will you be wearing on your nails this spring?

For some inspiration, check out the spring nail art designs that I have created over the past few years. I have a full blog post on each design that explains the products that I used and how I created each look. Click on the mint green text below to learn more.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Spring Beauty Giveaway

Spring Beauty Giveaway

I’m giving away these pretty peach and pink beauty products in honour of the start of spring!

Products include Manna Kadar Beauty 3 in 1 in Fantasy, OFRA Lipgloss in Golden Rose, Starlooks Custom Lip Liner in Sultry Sangria, Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer, Doucee Mineral Matt Lipstick, Sparitual Nail Lacquer in Water Lily, and Cargo Cosmetics Water Resistant Blush in Coronado.

You can enter to win by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Colourful Spring Nail Art

Spring 2016 Nail Art 1 Easter Nail Art

Here’s my easter / spring nail art for 2016. It incorporates multiple pastel shades to capture the colours that emerge in nature during spring, as well as the pretty speckles of colour on easter eggs.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Spring 2016 Nail Polish Favourites

Spring 2016 nail polish favourites 1

Happy Spring 2016!

My nail polish favourites for this season feature a combination of pink, peach, purple, and green pastels and shimmers. There are even a few jellies and duochromes in the mix this spring.

Which of these pretty shades is your favourite? To see swatches and more detailed posts on the polishes below, click on any names in mint green text.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Review: ColourPop Puppy Love Super Shock Eyeshadow

ColourPop Puppy Love Eyeshadow Review 1

I don’t purchase eyeshadows very often, but I was drawn to this one from ColourPop due to its beautiful colour and charity connection.

As you may already know from reading my blog, I’m an animal lover. I donate to animal charities often and was so excited to find out that all proceeds from the sale of ColourPop’s Super Shock Eyeshadow in Puppy Love will be donated to Best Friends Animal Society to help make L.A. a no-kill city (NKLA). I think that this is a great initiative and a worthy cause to support.

This was my first ColourPop purchase, and I was very impressed with the transaction process. Since I’m in Canada, I was a bit hesitant to order this $5 eyeshadow since the shipping was $12.73. However, since I was a first time customer, I received a $5 discount code which helped. Shipping was also very quick. I received the shadow in about four business days. It was securely packaged and came with a thank-you card from ColourPop.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Green & Gold St. Patty's Day Nail Art

St Patrick s Patty s Day Nails 1

It’s that time of year when green nail polish is everywhere. My St. Patricks’s Day nail art for this year features two of my favourite green shades: Zoya Shawn and MAC Peppermint Patti. The rich gold polish is Richelle from Zoya.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

February 2016 Teen Yoga Box Review

February Teen Yoga Box Review 2

February Teen Yoga Box Review 3

When I was twelve, I was told that I would experience the best years of my life in high school. While I met some great people and learned more about myself, it was definitely a stressful time filled with unexpected challenges and changes.

I learned along the way that taking a few moments do something relaxing and enjoyable can help make the teen years a bit easier. That’s where TeenYogaBOX comes in. It’s a nice monthly treat for teens that reminds them to take time for and be more thoughtful towards themselves. Boxes include 3-5 carefully selected, hand-made items and activities to help teens find their authentic self by reducing stress, building self-esteem, and encouraging positive self-worth and a sense of control over their lives.

Each TeenYogaBOX has a monthly theme. February’s box* focuses on self-love and believing that you are a valuable and worthy person.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Nail Art Flashback: St. Patrick's Day Nails

St Patrick s Day Nail Art

While looking through the Writing Beauty nail art archives this month, I noticed two things. The first is that I created my first St. Patrick's Day nail art back in 2012. This was back when I was really into using nail art pens.

Monday, March 7, 2016

NOTD: China Glaze Change Your Altitude

China Glaze Change Your Altitude Swatch and Review

Have I mentioned lately that grey is my favourite colour? I can’t seem to get enough of this versatile shade, so I added another grey polish to my collection. This one is Change your Altitude from China Glaze’s Fall 2015 collection, The Great Outdoors.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March EatsieBox Giveaway!!!!

Eatsiebox Giveaway

The wonderful snack experts over at EatsieBox have given me the opportunity to give away a March EatsieBox!

EatsieBox is a customizable snack subscription that sends its members a unique assortment of snacks on a monthly basis. The best part is that you can set your snack preferences so that you always receive something you like. The company has a wide assortment of snacks and selections change often, so you will always receive a different box of snacks. The photos above are examples of the exciting boxes that you can receive with an EatsieBox subscription.

Learn more about EatsieBox by clicking HERE.

To enter to win a full-size Eatsiebox, follow the directions on the widget below. And it gets even more exciting! If you are already an EatsieBox subscriber and win the giveaway, you will win a giant One of Everything Box.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

February 2016 Beauty Box Five

February 2016 Beauty Box Five 1

The February 2016 Beauty Box Five* is extra special since the subscription service turns four this month. The box’s theme is “Birthday Sweets!” and it features five versatile beauty products.

If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. Subscriptions start at $12 per month and shipping is free!

Now let’s talk about the February items.

Monday, February 22, 2016

NOTD: Essie Peak Show

Essie Peak Show Swatch and Review

With winter lingering around for another month or so, I thought it was the perfect time to write a review of one of the polishes released this season.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Mini Cheesecake Bites

Strawberry chocolate chip mini cheesecakes 8

Impress your guests with this mini cheesecake recipe that’s easy to create but makes everyone think that you spent all day baking. I came up with this dessert when I was in the baking mood but didn’t want to have to go shopping for additional ingredients. I always have graham crackers, cream cheese, chocolate, and fruit around the house, so this dessert came together easily.

Now, I like to make these decadent little desserts to give as gifts or to bring to parties. They are always the highlight of the dessert table, so you may want to make a double batch.

While there are a few steps to this recipe, they’re quick and easy. You will be indulging in a mini cheesecake in no time.