Category: REVIEWS

IPSY’S JANUARY GLAM BAG

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“Keep your eyes on the prize! From must-have products, to prettify your peepers, to on-the-go beauty essentials, January is all about a seriously standout look.”

This month’s “All Eyes On You” ipsy Glam Bag is all about accenting your pretty peepers, and with these products, it’s easier than ever!

Below you will find all of this month’s products along with my reviews. Did you receive a glam bag this month? Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what your favourite product was!

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theBalm Cosmetics Mr. Write (Now) Eyeliner Pencil
I was thrilled to see another item by theBalm Cosmetics in my bag. A few months ago, I received one of their matte lip colours, and they quickly became one of my favourite cosmetic companies. This time around, I received their eyeliner pencil in Jac – a shimmering copper liner. It goes on smoothly and lasts all night, making it another slam dunk from theBalm!

City Color Eyeshadow Trio
This trio is the perfect combination of colours for an effortless, neutral day look. The shadow lasted all day, and had just the perfect hint of shimmer. And I loved that this colour trio was exclusively offered to Ipsy bag subscribers.

Beau Gachis Paris Smudge Brush
Makeup brushes are always a welcome addition to my collection! This handcrafted beauty is super soft and blends my eye shadow with ease.

Skyn Glacier Cleansing Cloths
After rocking your favourite makeup all day, don’t forget to cleanse your skin so it stays fresh and has time to breathe! These cleansing cloths not only smell great and do an amazing job at removing your makeup, but they don’t require any water so they’re easy and fast to use. My skin feels smooth and refreshed after using these babies!

Mitchell And Peach Body Cream
I’ll be honest – when I saw another body cream in my bag, I was a little bit disappointed. I have received so many creams from ipsy that I simply cannot use them fast enough. But then I tried this softly scented version, and rejoiced! Finally, a body cream that didn’t leave a greasy residue on my skin (nothing makes me squirm more that greasy creams). Absolutely loving this one!

For more information on these products, or where to buy, visit the links above.
To start receiving a monthly ipsy glam bag of your own, click here.

FROM THE KITCHEN: CHICKEN KIEV BY CHEF’S PLATE

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While catching up with one of my friends over tea a few weeks ago, we found ourselves chatting about Chef’s Plate. I had only seen it pop up on my social feeds, while she had just received her first meals and began raving about what she had cooked up. So I had to find out more!

What was Chef’s Plate? As my friend explained, Chef’s Plate is a service in which you choose from a preset week of meals, then choose a delivery date, and voila – food delivered straight to your door! But here’s where my friend sold me – every item required to make the dish you choose is pre-measured, so even a novice chef, like myself, can prepare gourmet meals with ease.

Each meal serves 2 people (or 2 plates) and the referral code allowed me to choose 2 meals for FREE, so I went for the Chicken Kiev and Gluten-Free Pasta with Fresh Ricotta (more on that one later). The refrigerated box arrived at my door 6 days after placing my order, and I was ready to get cooking!

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Along with the recipe contents comes a handy instruction card that gives you each step required to prepare your dish, along with some helpful little pictures that show you what each step should look like.

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Aside from making my evening meals a breeze to whip up, having everything pre-portioned really cuts down on unwanted food waste. Everything you purchase will be used up! And as an added surprise when I opened up my package, I discovered that the chicken was locally sourced. In my efforts to eat smarter and be more conscious of my eating habit’s effects on the planet, this made me very happy to see.

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My masterpiece not only looked fabulous (if I do say so myself), but tasted fabulous, too! My fella and I both gobbled up every last bite and enjoyed having the extra time together that would normally be taken up by tedious meal prep.

If you want to try Chefs Plate for FREE, click here and redeem 2 FREE MEALS for yourself!

GOLDEN GLOBE STYLE: RED CARPET BEAUTY

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With the post-Golden Globe week coming to an end, it’s time to share the last installment in my red carpet inspired looks, and this is one is a bit of a change from my previous fashion looks.

I’ve invited Toronto based makeup artist, Alyssa Antonio (owner of Makeup By Aye) to share her favourite beauty look, along with the products you’ll need to recreate the look yourself!
“I loved Jenna’s look! Her soft pink lip colour and smokey blue eyes are right on trend with Pantone’s Colours Of The Year. This is a great look for someone who wants their makeup to make an impact without overdoing it – perfect for a night out on the town!”

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73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals

For the face: You’ll want to go with products that leave you with a dewy, sheer finish. I recommend NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, along with Chanel’s Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Fluid Makeup, and Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit as the base. For effortless golden contours, I love Benefit’s Sun Beam and Benefit’s Hoola Matte Bronzer. Finish off the face with naturally flushed cheeks by using Makeup For Ever’s HD Blush in Nip Slip.

For the lips: NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm will give you a perfectly pink pout.

For the eyes: For a night where you’ll want your makeup to last, I always start with an eyelid primer like Laura Mercier’s Eye Basics. To create this smokey look, I would use MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle for the crease, Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Ebony for the outer corners, MAC Eyeshadow in Mystical Mist to blend from the lids to the outer corners of the eye, and MAC Eyeshadow in Shroom for the inner corners of the eye. To finish your dramatic look, false eyelashes and a few swipes of mascara are a must! I love Benefit’s They’re Real mascara.

For the brows: With the smokiness and drama of your eyes, you’ll want to keep your brows looking clean and natural. To add definition, I  recommend Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in Dark Brown. To keep your brows in check, Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel will do the trick!

Have you tried any of the above products listed? If so, which ones do you love? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks to Alyssa for sharing her favourite Golden Globe beauty look with us. I hope you’ve enjoyed all the looks this week, and can’t wait to see how you incorporate them into your daily style.