Should You Get Eyelash Extensions Before Going on Holidays?

I remember first hearing about eyelash extensions a few years ago and thinking, “So they’re like fake lashes but semi-permanent and I don’t have to wear mascara? I want them.”

I’ve always had eyelash envy. In university I used to wear fake lashes occasionally and have always loved the look of longer and thicker eyelashes. A few years ago in Korea I tested out some eyelash extensions before travelling to southern Taiwan. Since I was planning to spend a few days at the beach, I didn’t want to be thinking about makeup but I didn’t want to go completely bare either. Eyelash extensions are quite popular in Asia and they seemed like the perfect solution. 

At the time I paid $40 for a full set (they were very common in Korea) but in Canada these would cost about $100. 

PROS:

1. So pretty! It’s a look that’s enhanced yet natural.

2. Eyelash extensions add a bit of glam without having to put on (and take off! ugh) daily makeup. There’s no need for mascara at all.

3. They’re safe in saltwater and chlorine, even for contact wearers like me!

CONS:

1. It’s an awkward growing out period depending on the length of your natural lash cycle (how long it takes for your eyelashes to naturally fall out). Some salons say extensions will remain for up to 8 weeks, but in my experience, 3-4 weeks before needing a touch up/removal is a lot more realistic.

2. So about those touch ups… Lash extensions can be expensive to maintain if you keep getting them refilled regularly. We’re talking $75 every month!

3. What are the potential negative effects of regular use? I don’t think eyelash extensions have been on the market long enough for us to know. 

So, should you get eyelash extensions before going on a trip?

If it’s a short trip (four weeks or less) and you’d like to enjoy a low-maintenance beauty routine while you’re away, I say sure! Go get those eyelash extensions done if they’re something you’re interested in. Just be aware of how you wipe your eyes when you get out of the ocean, pool, etc. because rubbing your lashes can damage them and break the bond of the glue.

I had my eyelash extensions for two lash cycles and they were cool, but it’s not a service I’d do regularly. Extensions are a lot of maintenance and sometimes it just feels freaking amazing to rub your eyes after a long day. Since I don’t have an abundance of lashes to begin with, I’m also wary of damaging what little I do have. For everyday life, lash extensions aren’t for me, but they sure were pretty while they lasted.

Have you ever thought about getting eyelash extensions before going on a trip (or do you wear them in everyday life)? 

PS: Interested in more makeup posts? Check out Battle of the Mascaras and My Travel Makeup Essentials.

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My Travel Makeup Essentials

For a low maintenance makeup routine in a hot and humid environment, only my tried and true makeup favourites would make it into my backpack for my trip to Central America. I slipped back into a low key routine quite easily, especially during the days as I sweat easily. I knew I wanted a natural look with a dewy finish, so what made the cut?

In order of application...

• Smashbox illuminating primer >> great for variable skin tones and mattifying my skin; I love the glow I get from this primer!
• Smashbox concealer in medium >> solid coverage from only a little bit of product. Fortunately my skin miraculously got better while I was on the road so primer and a little concealer under my eyes was all I needed cover-up-wise
• Benefit tinted stain in cha cha tint >> buildable coverage for my cheeks and lips
• Laura Mercier translucent powder >> sets my face makeup without adding coverage; leaves my skin breathable
• Smashbox brow powder >> long lasting formula that stays put! Much better than Anastastia brow powder in my opinion
• MAC black liquid liner >> a little goes a long way with this liquid eyeliner
• Cover Girl last blast mascara >> the winner in my battle of the mascaras holds up great in the heat! The curl I get from this mascara is incredible
• The Body Shop bronzer in apricot >> for nights when I want that extra special radiant glow that leaves people asking, "Hmm, you look all dewy, what did you just finish doing?" ;)

These makeup items give me a great range of products to work with if I have an extra 10-15 minutes to get ready. If it's too hot or too early, I skip makeup altogether and go au naturel.

What makeup do I regret bringing?

• Revlon BB cream >> I naively brought my winter shade which was pretty much useless within a week (I tan very easily)
• Red lipstick >> I brought it just in case I wanted to spice up my look, but I didn't reach for it once. My coral shade of Revlon lipstick was much better suited to the rest of my palette
• MAC mascara >> I justified bringing an extra mascara because it was in a small sample container and it wasn't waterproof like my Cover Girl, but the formula didn't hold up in the humid weather

Have you tried any of these items? What's on your go-to list for travel makeup essentials?

Linking up with Style Elixir.

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The Last Mani Monday: Classic Red

Today is my very last Mani Monday so I chose to wear my tested and true favourite shade of red, OPI's I'm Not Really a Waitress. The deeper tone and pearlescent finish make this such a high quality polish that is perfect for the holiday season. This morning I'm moving out of my little apartment (which doesn't feel so little when it's time to box everything up!) so my nails probably won't be looking this pretty by this afternoon, but that's okay because at the end of the day I'll be toasting with some red wine and all will be good. 

My husband has officially finished his undergraduate degree as of yesterday morning. He wrote his final exam then came home to paint, clean, and pack up a moving truck along with my sweet dad who drove seven hours in a freezing rain storm to help us this weekend! (I was "supervising" the move much to everyone's dismay.) We'll be spending the holidays with family and friends in Toronto before beginning our adventure in the new year. 

Isn't that just the cutest graduation poem? The wine tag was made by Love in Writing, a wonderful etsy shop that also made our wedding invitations. I thoroughly recommend checking them out! 

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December Links I Love

Pinch me -- it's happened again! This week I was featured in Independent Fashion Bloggers' Links à la Mode for my post about how to take a flattering passport photo. I'm proud to be in such great company. Why don't you take some time on this beautiful Saturday morning to get lost in link love and browse these interesting articles. Happy reading!

Wearing the Pants in the Family

Do you know what? Every time you think you got the pants down, something new comes up! Transparent pants, sequin pants for any occasion, no-pants... heck even changing your sweaters into pants. It's crazy what we'll do to cover our legs! Anyway, while the whole roundup isn't necessarily about PANTS, they certainly come up every now and then. What I like about the idea of "pants" is the idea of taking control of your wardrobe. Maybe everyone in your family wears pants, but in your life who or what is wearing the metaphorical pants? And what can you do to reinvent them? Let's find out in this week's Links a La Mode!

Links à la Mode: December 19th

• A la Modest: My Previous Jobs Side by Side
• Attire Club: Tips on Being a Good Host
• Kiri Yanchenko: Crop It Like It's Hot
• Late Night Minutes: DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater
• Love, Kate Smith: Primp & Pamper
• Lucy's Pearls: How To: The New French Roll
• Miss Monet: Fashion News: Rihanna is Balmain's It Girl
• Nothing to Wear Novello: Trending SWANTS
• Quirky Britches: Borrowing from the Men's Department
• Stye Bizarre: Rock Your New Year's Eve Look
• Rising Colors: How to Dress Like a French Woman in 7 Steps
• Risticulous: What I Made: Long Cardigan
• Style Context: How To Wear Sequin Pants
• Style Wire: The Awkward Gift Guide: Over Achieving Sibling
• The Curatorial: 20 Great Gifts Under $100
• The Lifestyle Project: How to Take a Good Passport Photo
• The Stylish Butterfly: How to Avoid Buying The Wrong Quilted Puffer Coat
• The Stylist: What's the Lifespan of a Trend?
• What2WearWhere: Elaine Turner Opens Boutique
• Wild Beauty World: The Yoga Body

SPONSOR: East Dane, Ca & Lou, Oscar de la Renta, RVN, Inis Meain, Havaianas, Parke Ronen, Lenny Niemeyer, Jill Stuart, Koolaburra, Christopher Raeburn

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Product Review: Battle of the Mascaras

The Contenders:

In the red corner, Benefit's They're Real Mascara.
In the blue corner, Dior's Diorshow Mascara.

These mascaras have been talked about so often in the beauty world, but at close to $30 a pop, is the tantalizing promise of long lashes worth it? Benefit's They're Real particularly seems to get the Holy Grail of Mascara Award and yes, I admit, I got suckered into checking it out for myself to see if it lived up to the hype. 

Unlike my husband who has such long and pretty eyelashes with a natural curl (so envious), my eyelashes are left wanting for lots of extra oomph. Lashes a plenty I sadly do not have. After feeling a little guilty I succumbed to dishing out the mula to test if either of these luxury mascaras could possibly satisfy my mega eyelash envy. (Seriously though, do you know jealous I feel living with a boy whose eyelashes touch his eyebrows and he doesn't even care! Gah!)

How To Take a Good Passport Photo

With the holidays right around the corner, lots of us are getting ready to travel so we can spend quality time with our family and friends. If, like mine, your family is spread out over a country or two, that usually means pulling out your passport and getting ready to hop on a plane.

Especially when you're flying to another country, it's important not to let your passport get within six months of its expiry date (some countries refuse to allow entry after this point). If you're coming up on that date, time to queue up at your local passport office and get that sucker renewed! Before you tackle your to-do list, though, let's take a minute to talk about one of the most important parts of your passport, aside from those prized visa stamps -- the photo! 

How many times have you cringed when handing over your passport because the photo is less than flattering? I remember my first "adult" passport, from 16 - 21 years old, my photo was awful. Just terrible. Hair in a slicked back ponytail. Unflattering makeup. The angry look of death which is apparently my natural resting face. With my second photo (pictured below), I overcompensated with too much lipstick and blush. Now that I'm on my third passport I've learned how to pick up my game and today I'm spilling my secrets! 



Here are my top three tips for how to take a good passport photo:

Mani Monday: The Perfect Plum

I don't have much to say about this month's manicure except that I am absolutely in love with it. I'm wearing OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ and trust me when I tell you I have found the perfect plum. With deep burgundy undertones and a rich formula that applies so smoothly, this is a polish that I'll be wearing again and again, especially throughout the fall and winter months. I love it love it love it!

Have you found that perfect polish that you know you'll be wearing on repeat? Sharing is caring ;)

On a completely different note, do you know the song "Cups" by Anna Kendricks (from Pitch Perfect)? I found this video of tap dancers doing their thang and it's aca-awesome (sorry couldn't resist). I can't help but smile as I watch it so I thought it'd be nice to share and brighten up your Monday morning. Kelly Sheehan is my fave dancer out of the bunch. If you make it to the end I'm sure you'll understand why ;) Enjoy!



Linking up with my fellow nail polish lovers Jennie Shaw / Glitter and Gloss / Glossy Blonde

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Product Review: Best Drugstore Dry Shampoos

For those of us who have neither the time nor patience to wash and style our hair every day, dry shampoo is a small miracle in our getting ready routine. It helps to absorb oil from your roots, adds volume for a bit of oomph, and can even help to texturize your hair if it’s too clean to hold teasing or curls. Especially since I chopped off my locks, dry shampoo does wonders for me with freshening up my day old hair.  

Brunettes often have a harder time finding a good dry shampoo because it has a tendency to make darker hair look a bit greyish if you spray it on too close to the roots or if the shampoo formula is mixed with powder. For those of us who can’t afford salon-priced products on the regular, naturally we turn to the more budget-friendly drugstore brands, and I’ve found two dry shampoos in particular that hold up quite well! Most days  Every day I wish I could just do a hair flip like Beyonce and have my hair fall perfectly into place, but sadly after several neck sprains I’ve learned this is, in fact, impossible.

Mani Monday: Going Nude

I sadly relapsed to my nail- and cuticle-biting ways at the beginning of the month so now I’m trying to let them grow out without drawing too much attention to my hands. Whenever I wear polish I am so much better about not picking my nails so the next few weeks will be a bit of a recovery period for me. As bright and fun as nail art can be, this month I’ve been drawn towards clean and neutral polishes that are the perfect “completer piece” for my nails. I’m on the hunt for the perfect nude, one that isn’t too pink, applies easily, and offers full coverage with two coats. 

Here’s the thing - I am trying to find that perfect neutral with peach undertones, instead of the common white base, as it is much more flattering with my skin tone. Essie’s Marshmellow and Mademoiselle have been recommended over and over again, but they are definitely too "milky" for my taste. I’m also not the biggest fan of that brand as I find the polishes too thin and prone to chipping. 

Right now I’m wearing OPI’s Dulce de Leche and I’m pleased but not in love. The peachiness is on point and coverage is pretty good (three coats would have been better though as it is a little streaky). Not my favourite but a solid 8/10 for a nude polish. What do you think?

I find that nude polishes are fresh and always add a dose of sophistication that show that you care about the little details, even when they’re not in your face. This type of manicure is also a great way to elongate your fingers if you’re self-conscious about having little stubbies, plus it is considerably easier to maintain. 

For me, the hunt continues for the perfect nude polish as this one by OPI falls just short. Any suggestions?

Linking up with Well Shut The Front Door and At the Pink of Perfection.

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Emmys 2013 Best and Worst Dressed

Starting off with Allison Williams in a simple and rather boring Ralph Lauren dress.  Pretty, yes, but thumbs down for being too middle-of-the-road.

Carrie Underwood (why was she there?) in a purple Romona Keveza ball gown. I love the shape of this dress, in fact it's very similar to what I chose for my bridesmaids. But it's just that... bridal... therefore naturally more conservative and a bit more "poof" than it needed to be for the Emmys. I would have liked if Carrie had chosen something more streamlined and fashion-forward for once. And something not in taffeta. Never in taffeta.

Julie Bowen in pale pink Zac Posen and lots of ruffles. I like the detailing on the bodice but those little sleeves have got to go!

A unique choice by Connie Britton wearing a gold embroidered Naeem Khan blue strapless dress. I think this went very nicely with her complexion and showed off her long lines.

Elisabeth Moss wearing a pretty black and white embellished dress from Andrew Gn, but nothing that knocks it out of the ballpark.

Links à la Mode

It is such an honour to announce that I've been chosen for Independent Fashion Bloggers Links à la Mode roundup! I have a huge smile on my face right now. Missed my post from the other week, An Ode to Quitting? You can check it out below (it's the last link) as well as some other great reads from fabulous bloggers.

Falling for Fall

Fashion Week, September Issues, Back to School (or just back to work) Shopping... Nothing is hotter than September for fashion. Even though fashion week's clothes don't hit the stores until next year, seeing the trends on both the runways and on the fashion elite gives us inspiration for what to wear now. Luckily we have amazing links to the fall finds we'll be falling for.

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

• Beauty Tidbits: 7 Easy Ways to Fix Sun Damaged Skin & Hair
• Breakfast at Cindi's: Cute Kids Take Over The NYFW Front Row
• Confessions of a Style Cookie: London Fashion Week : Mulberry VS Topshop Unique
• Corals and Cognacs: Target Does It Again: 8 Affordable Faux-Leather Finds
• Hey Mischka: A Q&A With NYC's Freshest E-Boutique
• Highland Fashionista: Shop Like A Teenager
• Hot Beauty Health: Fall Fashion Survival Guide
• Inspirations and Celebrations: Fall Fashion Trend Dark Florals
• Kiri Yanchenko: We Heart Burberry
• Le Style Connoisseur: The September Issues
• Mules and Manolos: Testing the Best Sites to Consign or Sell Clothes
• Nothing to Wear Novello: The Big Hair Cut: Why Women Fear Cutting Their Hair
• Runway to Style: An Approach to Minimal Femininity at Spring 2014 Shows
• See Lark: Phillip Lim for Target: The Aftermath
• Stilettos and Tequilla: 23 Quotes By Stephen King To Help You Become A Better Writer
• Style Through Her Eyes; 3 Ways To Be A Better Customer
• Style With Friends: Bow Bun Hair Tutorial
• Stylish Butterfly: Tips for picking tops that are trend-proof
• The Curvy Elle: Pop-Up Shop Observations
• The Lifestyle Project: An Ode to Quitting

SPONSOR: Eastdane United Nude, Prism Bags, M Nii, Levi's Vintage, Evleo, JW Hulme, Gareth Pugh, Diemme, IIIbeca, Stone Island, & Men's Brands

Thank you IFB! I'm off to explore some other great blogs!

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Mani Monday: Bright and Shiny

Avon nail polish in bronze metallic

I received this mini metallic nail polish in a trio gift set, and must say I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of these Avon polishes. It's a textured look but smooth to the touch and two coats weren't even necessary (though as I mentioned last month, I always do two plus a top coat). I thought this was a fun, bright, and shiny manicure to finish off the last week of summer. It seems like so many of us are already transitioning to fall with a deeper and darker colour palette, but I'm not ready just yet and want to embrace the last bit of summer. Hope you had a great Monday and if you've got a manicure to show off, share it with me on Twitter, I'd love to check it out!

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Linking up with At the Pink of Perfection and Well Shut the Front Door.

That Time I Put Coconut Oil In My Hair

Over the past few months it seems like I've been stumbling upon article after article raving about the beauty-related benefits of coconut oil, most popularly discussing its use as a conditioner. So on a lazy Saturday when I had nothing better to do when I was a super motivated blogger on a quest to help my readers, I decided to give it a try. 

First of all, for anyone interested in using coconut oil, you should be able to pick it up at your typical grocery store. I went searching at Superstore (a Canadian chain) and eventually found Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in the health food section. It took me a while to find it, seeing as how I am the furthest thing for a "health nut" and rarely wander into this area of the store, but there it was, my extra virgin preservative-free coconut oil, waiting for me next to Larabars and gluten-free pasta. (Clearly I grabbed the coconut oil and ran.)

After I shampooed my hair in the shower, I reached for the tub and thought, "Errr... what do I do now?" You think it'd be self-explanatory, right? Not quite. Depending on the temperature, coconut oil will either be in solid or liquid form. If it's solid, scrape off a little bit with your fingers and rub it around in the palm of your hands to heat up the product. If you're like me, loving surviving through the heat of summer without air conditioning, your tub of coconut oil turned liquid as soon as you left the grocery store and won't solidify until October. In that case, mix it around a bit then pour the tiniest amount of oil in the palm of your hand.

This is how much I *should* use with my medium-long hair

Life Lately

Lately,
I’ve been thinking like a blogger. This weekend I instagrammed my food – twice! – before eating it. I use instagram as a verb. I use hashtags when I write (see below). I get blog post ideas and must. write. them. down. immediately. Even if that means breaking traffic rules or jolting from my sleep to scribble them down in the middle of the night. 

I’ve been making small strides as a blogger but I’m still pretty happy with my progress. I hit 70 followers on Twitter this weekend and no I’m not being facetious when I say that I’m proud of that. (But yes I did shamelessly just plug my Instagram and Twitter accounts.) Exactly five of those followers are people that I know in real life. That means I made 65 online connections in the past four months of blogging part-time. Remember when I talked about recognizing small accomplishments? 65 followers in four months of blogging averages out to four new connections a week. Small but measurable steps! Chiara from The Indie Chicks personally invited me to guest post on their site and let’s just say that’s kind of a big deal for a newbie like me! I’ll be submitting some guest post ideas this month and am very excited.

Lately,
I’ve been reading a lot of books. Getting sucked into non-fiction travel memoires – particularly Love with a Chance of Drowning and The Lost Girls. Love with a Chance of Drowning was my favourite out of the two. A solid 9/10 as far as memoires are concerned, it tells the true tale of Torre DeRoche as she decided to follow her lover of nine months on a year-long voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a 32 foot long sail boat. Light-hearted, funny, and engaging, I devoured this book in less than 24 hours.

Mani Monday: Perfectly Peach

Nail Polish: Cover Girl Outlast in coral silk

Nail polish lovers, I have a confession to make: I'm not a fan of Essie nail polishes (gasp). While they have a fabulous range of colours, I find the polishes to be thin, streaky, prone to chipping, and at $10 a bottle seriously overpriced. I was craving a new polish though and love this colour for summertime. Normally I'm a bit hesitant about drug-store brands, but at $5.49 a bottle I couldn't resist giving this Cover Girl nail polish a shot as I'd been searching for this perfect peachy / coral shade for a while. 

I was very pleased about the quality of this polish and especially how chip-resistant it is! I used a base and top coat plus two coats of colour, then on day three I added another layer of top coat. For those of you who work with your hands a lot, you know how rare it is to stay chip free for so long and my nails are still going strong. These pictures were taken on day four after my manicure and not one chip - absolutely fantastic and such a better value compared to Essie! I'm a happy gal and will definitely be buying this line of nail polish from Cover Girl again. 

Linking up with Glitter and Gloss and Well Shut The Front Door. 

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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post, ie: I did not receive any compensation for this article. I just wanted to share my review of this product. All opinions are my own.

Tutorial: 6 Easy Steps for Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Ok, I’ll admit it, I used to be really bad about cleaning my makeup brushes. I used to go months and months (and months... alright, you get the picture) without cleaning them. It was just one of those things that always got pushed to the bottom of my to-do list. In the past few years though I have been much better about cleaning my makeup brushes, especially when I realized how easy it was! And bonus - I’ve definitely noticed a reduction in my skin breaking out.

 

Think about how often you use your brushes, where you store them, and all the gunk that eventually piles up on them. Considering how expensive brushes can be (I pay between $12 – 40 for mine), maximizing the length of the brush life is important.

 

Today I’m sharing a quick and easy tutorial for cleaning your makeup brushes. I follow should follow this every week but let’s be honest #aintnobodygottimeforthat. Every other week is more like it :P

 

Step 1: Gather your dirty brushes (duh).

 

Step 2: Gather your tools – 1 or 2 hand towels, a small bowl, and makeup shampoo. I use Sephora and I’m happy with it, but you could also use water and baby shampoo or water and unscented soap too.