Beauty Junkie at the CNE

Normally, when you think of the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) you think about thrilling rides, fun games, yummy food and cool exhibits. 

Photo: BlogTo.com

When I think of the CNE I think about shopping for beauty products and perfume with friends. This year I got to go to the CNE with some close high school friends who, like me, love to find great deals on all things beauty! We went in the early evening because it's much cheaper (adult admission is normally $18 but after 5 pm on weeknights its only $6!) This year I ended up with some nail art pens and nail art strips. I've never actually tried nail art pens or nail strips so I figured picking some up at a great price would be a fun way to end my summer. 

Of course, being at the CNE we had to play some games, ate popcorn and watched the short but sweet firework show. This weekend is the last few days of the CNE so hurry up and spend a day enjoying the summer and maybe take home some beauty goodies too!

Photo: BlogTo.com

How are you spending your last days of summer?

xoxo

Coral

DIY Nail Art

Nail art has become hugely popular and is a great way to add some fun to your everyday look. Nail art can look hard to do at home but here are a few methods to getting the perfect DIY nails!

1. Nail Art Pens
Many nail polish companies have come out with easy to use nail art pens that look like felt tip markers but use nail polish as ink. These are great for creating intricate patterns and fun messages on your nails!

2. Nail Art Brushes
These can be slightly harder to use than pens, but they are also great for painting all different kinds of designs. The brushes come in several different bristle lengths and are great for creating smooth lines.

3. Dotting Tools
Dotting tools are great for creating perfect dots for your mani. They come in many different sizes, so you can make tiny dots for eyes or large dots for heads.

4. Tape
Using tape on dry nails is another effortless way to create stand out nails. Paint your nails a day before you use tape to ensure you don't take off any polish when you peel the tape off. 

5. Matte Polish
Believe it or not a matte top coat is another simple way to create cool nail art. The contrast between normal glossy polish and the matte polish can be used to create a unique look!

6. Glitter Polish
Glitter polish can also be used to create eye catching nail designs! Making a gradient with glitter polish is the perfect touch for any girly outfit.

7. Nail Strips
Probably the easiest way to get the perfect nail art mani without going to the salon is to buy nail art strips. You can pick these up at your local drugstore and they apply like stickers. Simply use the nail file provided to remove any excess and you will have a fabulous mani without the ridiculous price!

Would you be willing to try nail art?

xoxo

Coral 

5 Tips for Shopping at Sephora

Sephora is probably my favourite place to shop for all things beauty and I could spend hours looking at everything. The storers are large and there are so many different products, brands, and colours it's easy to get overwhelmed! Here are 5 ways you can get the most out of your Sephora experience!

1. Look in the sale section
Many of the products at Sephora tend to be on the expensive side and the products that are upfront and most visible are usually the brands that have paid more. With beauty trends constantly changing you can often find some great products in the sale section. The sale section at Sephora may not be huge but it's always worth taking a look and is usually found near the back of the store.

2. Do some research
So many times I have ventured into Sephora with an idea of what type of product I'm looking for like a new lipstick, but end up spending forever looking at all the different options. I have found going online and looking at what Sephora has on their website and reading the reviews of products I might be interested in really helpful when I go into the actual store. Already knowing a couple of products I like and want to swatch saves a lot of time in the store!

3. Utilize the sales reps
Ever find yourself stuck deciding which shade of concealer best matches your skin colour? Whenever I need help finding my perfect shade I ask for assistance. The Sephora employees can be really helpful and point you to the best products for you!

4. Free samples
If you find a product you are interested in trying Sephora employees will let you take a small sample free of charge to take home. You are technically allowed to take as many samples as you would like, so do be afraid to ask! This is a great service few people seem to know about.

5. Worry free returns
Bought a product and find a couple of days later that it's not as amazing as you first thought in the store? Sephora's return policy allows you to return merchandise without a receipt even if the product is slightly used! Knowing I can always return my purchase allows me to feel worry free about my spontaneous purchases. 

xoxo,

Coral

Brow Shaping at MYNC

The other day I finally took the plunge and decided to get my brows done professionally! Prior to having them done professionally, I had just tweezed the random stray away hairs but never really shaped them in fear of it going completely wrong! I know bows are important too but for some reason I never really took the time to take proper care of them... Since I like to do my makeup almost everyday I figured it was about time I gave my brows the treatment they deserved. I searched online to find a good brow bar in my area and came across MYNC.

Photo: courtesy of MYNC

Photo: courtesy of MYNC

Photo: courtesy of MYNC 

MYNC is a super cute, feminine, and chic beauty salon that specializes in lashes and brows. As it was my first time ever getting my brows shaped, I was definitely a bit nervous! The staff were really sweet and offered me water when I walked in and I was seen in a matter of minutes.

Photo: courtesy of MYNC

Photo: courtesy of MYNC

Crystal, my stylist was really helpful in picking a shape and method for shaping my brows. I ended up using wax and going with a more angular shape. After some tweezing and the waxing by brows got a nice tea tree and aloe skin calming treatment to reduce any skin irritation and redness. Finally, Crystal applied some concealer and showed me exactly how to fill in my brows with powder. At the end of the appointment she gave me a spooly brush to take home and use in the future. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at MYNC and love my new brow look!

How often do you get your brows done?

xoxo

Coral

Favourite Looks from the Teen Choice Awards 2014

The Teen Choice Awards are always a fun night where teens have the power to vote for their favourite actors, singers, athletes and more! Of course many of the nominees made appearances at the award ceremony and walked the blue carpet. Here are a couple of looks I loved from the night! 

Photo: eonline.ca

The first look that caught my attention was Janel Parish in Contarian New York. I love the navy maxi skirt and the teal crop top adds a fun and casual feel to the outfit, which was perfect for the surfboard award show!

Photo: eonline.ca

Nina Dobrev was another fashion standout for me, even managing to match the fun blue carpet! The Vampire Diaries star wore a Vionnete crop top and matching shorts. I loved the mix of colours in the outfit and especially loved the hot pink Kurt Geiger pumps! 

Photo: eonline.ca

The next person I thought looked amazing was Demi Lovato. The actress/singer went for a clean cut look in an Elizabetta Franch dress. I loved how she used the gold accessories to pull the whole outfit together. 

Photo: eonline.ca

Of course I also have to give a nod to Jonny Wujek (aka Katy Perry's stylist) for the bright, fun, and colourful floral print dress worn by Bella Thorne. If you don't already know, I am a huge Katy Perry fan, but I find Wujek's outfits can really be hit or miss... This dress is custom Candies Couture designed by Wujek and I think it is so fun and girly, perfect for the sixteen year old! 

Photo: eonline.ca

My final pick of the night was the all black outfit worn by Selena Gomez. The Saint Laurent suit looked amazing on her and gave her a chic and sophisticated look. The sleek ponytail and metallic finish accessories provided the perfect finishing touches!

What were your favourite looks of the night?

xoxo

Coral

Favourite Drugstore Makeup Products

I'm a sucker for expensive makeup with all the pretty packaging and high price tags, but over the years I've learned that you can find great products for significantly less money at drugstores! I'll admit I'm still a frequent shopper at Sephora, but I am trying to test more and more drugstore brands to find amazing products. So, by no means is this a comprehensive list of all of the best drugstore products, but rather a few of my personal favourites!

Photo: stylemethrifty.com

My first favourite product is Covergirl's Lash Blast Fusion mascara.  Covergirl's Last Blast line of mascaras is famous for their huge rubber brushes and good formulas. I love this mascara because it gives my lashes curl and volume without clumping them, plus it doesn't smudge throughout the day! My skin tends to get oily throughout the day and this formula manages to stay on my lashes instead of straying and giving me racoon eyes. Removing the mascara can take a bit of work but I'd rather that than have it smudge. At about $8.50 it's not the cheapest mascara but it certainly beats the $25+ prices of high-end mascara.

Photo: covergirl.ca

The next product that I love to pick up on my (many) trips to Shoppers is Revlon's Colour Stay Foundation. Before trying this foundation, I used to use Makeup Forever's Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation which I also really liked but I find for half the price Revlon's Colour Stay Foundation does just as good a job. The colour selection is great and the product comes in two different formulas: one for combination/oily skin and one for normal/dry skin. This foundation provides a medium to full coverage with a matte finish. The matte finish is great for oily skin like mine and helps it last for the entire day.

Photo: revlon.ca

Almay's liquid liner is another great product that can be found at most drugstores. Liquid liner is my favourite for lining the upper lashes because of the precise line you can create. This liner has a flex-tip applicator and the formula is rich in pigment and lasts for the whole day without any smudging. This product is really easy to apply but also comes off easily with makeup remover if you make a mistake!

Photo: almay.com

My last must-have drugstore product is Burt's Bee's lip balm. This lip balm is great for moisturizing my lips especially in the cold winter months! It is made from natural products and has a minty fresh aroma. This is a staple in my bag in the winter! 

Photo: burtsbees.ca

What are your favourite drugstore beauty products?

xoxo

Coral

OPI Liquid Sand: Jinx

So I know I'm a little late to the party with this one but I finally got the chance to try out OPI's newest nail polish trend! Liquid sand creates a gritty sand-like texture on your nails and dries with a beautiful matte finish. Jinx is a bright coral-orange colour that was part of the OPI Bond Girls collection back in 2013. I originally passed on the colour because I was unsure of the texture, but have since realized I actually like the contrast to my normal smooth and glossy manicures and was so glad I was able to find a bottle in the states. I applied two coats of Jinx overtop of Sally Hansen's diamond shine base and top coat but skipped the top coat. 

One coat of Jinx was almost opaque but a second coat was needed for a complete opaque look. The removal of the liquid sand polish was quick and easy, unlike glitter polish to my delight! I love the look of this polish for summer and I think it would look great on many different skin colours. 

xoxo

Coral

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna 2

As summer comes to an end fall collections are beginning to roll into stores. Recently MAC has just announced two new products to add to the MAC Viva Glam Rihanna collaboration with one new lipstick and lipglass. 

These are both limited edition products that will be available for purchase on September 8th online and in stores September 11th. Just like the other products in the collection, all the proceeds will go towards helping people living and affected by HIV/AIDS. 

The products will be in the same gorgeous red matte packaging as the products previously released. The new lipstick is a warm mauve with a silver frost finish and the lipgalss is more of a cool mauve with a red frost. 

Will you embrace your inner RiRi and purchase something from the collection?

xoxo

Coral

Long Weekend US Haul!

This weekend was a long weekend for us Canadians and I thoroughly enjoyed every second! My extended weekend began with a mini road trip across the border to Rochester, NY. We arrived at the hotel on Friday evening and got settled in for the night. Saturday morning we headed to Seabreeze Amusement Park and had a blast on the rides and splashed around in the water park!

To end off the day we went to Greece Ridge mall to do a bit of shopping! The first store I noticed as we walked through the entrance was Marshalls. I had never been to Marshalls before but I knew it was similar to Winners in Canada and thought I would try my luck and hope to find something for a good price. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to shop so I headed straight to the beauty section and passed on the clothes. The deals at Marshalls were amazing!

I found top quality nail polish, great perfume gift sets, and more. I ended up purchasing two Ciaté nail polish gift sets: a feathered manicure set and a caviar mini bar set. I had seen these products in Sephora in the past but always passed on them because of the price, but with the discount I couldn't resist! Ciaté is known for their new and different manicure sets and I could not be more excited to try out my new products! The feathered manicure looks so chic and fresh and the caviar manicure look is something I have been dying to try since I first saw it at Sephora! Marshalls was full of amazing steals which has got me curious to compare the US stores to the Canadian stores.

On Sunday we continued our shopping in Niagara Falls, NY at Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls. It was a mall full of outlet stores from Nike to Burberry. Shopping at outlet malls is always fun as you never know what you might find! Again, we were cut short for time so I only had time to pop into a few stores. I visited the Michael Kors, Coach, Burberry, and Kate Spade. I found the deals at Michael Kors and Burberry weren't too amazing and the products at Coach a bit disappointing, but I did find something at Kate Spade. 

I love Kate Spade for her bright, fun, and cute products! Everything in the store was 40% off with an additional 15% off! The products were items I remembered from past collections and were not created simply for the outlet store. The store was stocked full of small leather goods, handbags, clothes, and accessories but it was the makeup bags that really caught my eye. I ended up buying a black makeup bag that says "Kiss and Makeup" which I thought was just adorable! As my makeup collection continues to grow I reasoned I could use a new bag :) 

While shopping I also picked up my first Liquid Sand OPI polish in Jinx from the OPI Bonds Girls collection as well as three new lip balms from Lip Smackers (throwback to my childhood!) that are Little Mermaid themed. As you will soon learn The Little Mermaid is my absolute favourite Disney movie so I couldn't help picking up the lip trio! 

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xoxo

Coral

Sephora Beauty Insider Celebration!

Photo: Fashion to GO

Sephora is one my favourite places to shop for all beauty related products. Get your wish lists ready because beginning on Wednesday, August 6th Beauty Insiders will earn double the points, VIB's triple the points, and VIB Rouge members quadruple the points on all their purchases online and in-stores! To launch the celebration Sephora is hosting an exclusive shopping event for VIB Rouge members at all of their Canadian locations. Guests will receive free samples with their purchases in a sleek cosmetic bag plus a exclusive tote bag. Learn new tips and tricks at the Beauty Studio from brand experts plus you can bring a friend! The event will be held on Wednesday, August 6th from 7-9 PM and requires an RSVP. Check your inbox for a invitation and RSVP info. Not a VIB Rouge member or can't attend the event? Sephora has you covered! Shoppers will still receive bonus points from August 6th to August 10th online and in-stores with no promo code needed! What will your Sephora haul include? 

xoxo

Coral