Earring I'm Loving and Look of the Day

Today was a lazy day, no kids, no hubby. Going out shopping with my friend and I wanted to wear my go to earring lately. My angel wings I got during my trip to the UK while visiting my beautiful, yummy, funny adorable friend Liz. Hope you are all having a good Sunday.

Thanks for stopping by xxN

Mini Bourgois Blush: A Little Gem!

While I was devouring the aisles in Boots when I was in the UK I came across Bourjois' Mini blushes. I love these things. they come in several shades. I chose 07 and 08. They're tiny, cute and very versatile. The packaging is adorable. I use it as a cream blush and a lipstick. Its a little on the dry side so I would recommend applying it after your cheeks are well moisturized. You can use your fingertips and it blends fairly well or you can use a synthetic foundation brush or a more dense face brush, for example, MAC 109 and you get a more sheer application.

On the lips the color is a touch on the frosty side but your lips get just the right amount of pop for that kissable lip look. In the pics below I'm wearing number 07 on my cheeks and my lips. I've chosen to pair it with a clear gloss to add some dimension and make my lips look a little more full. I skipped the lipliner. What a great little item to carry around in your pocket or add inside a Christmas card. For my fellow Canadians, this little gem is the size of toonie!

Unfortunately, this time my camera and lighting were not the greatest and the pigmentation is not really captured in the pictures.

Thanks for stopping by! xxNadia

I'm Back From My UK Trip!!

Hello!!

I've returned from London and I had a wonderful time. The six days went by at lightening speed but I managed to spent some quality time with my friend Liz (lizzclare) and we did some serious shopping. Liz and I acted as if we'd known each other for ages, what a great gal!! For now, I'm posting one of the items I had to have the moment I laid eyes on them. The weather in Northampton wasn't the greatest, damp, windy with a slight chill, but that's not the reason why I made the trip. When I returned home the weather wasn't any better.

I've included a look of the moment which I've been sporting lately. I'm wearing a double-breasted trench from Zara and a wool beret which I've had for ages. These gorgeous boots are Bronx and were purchased from TK Maxx in Northampton. The brand Bronx is found in Toronto in higher end shoe stores and I've only ever seen them at one of my favourite stores Trove and occassionally at Winners. Even with the currency exchange they were less expensive than if I were to have purchased them in my area.

I will continue with this post very soon. Thank you all for your lovely comments, tweets and emails that Liz and I received during my visit to the UK.

Thanks for stopping by. xxNadia

London Calling!

Just a quick note to say that I'm excited about going to London next week. I'll be gone for a week and when I get back I'll post a blog sharing all the wonderful details and the goodies that I'm hoping to bring back. My first stop is to visit the lovely and oh so clever fellow blogger, motorcross mamma and youtuber Lizzclare!!! I'm going to the english countryside....woohoo! Also, if all is okay with Anna's dog Albi then I'm hoping to visit with the one and only The Style Diet creator, Anna Saccone in London. Oh, and lets not forget her forever faithful and uber charming boyfriend Jonathan Joly, the 3D Animation dude.

Jumping Into Fall: Lise Watier Teint Lift Foundation and Blush Review

Every so many months I start itching to try a new foundation. I don't always give in to that urge but, since I have made good use of my Chanel ProLumiere Foundation I decided to use my Shoppers Optimum Points which are rewards points offered by our large chain of drugstores in Ontario called Shoppers Drug Mart and buy a new foundation.

I've been eyeing the Canadian company Lise Watier for a while and decided to test their Teinte Lift Anti-Rides Spf 20 foundation. I have already repurchased Lise Watier's Portfolio Professional Concealer/Corrector in both color wheels and their eyebrow powder because I use them often in my freelance makeup work. The texture, the shades, the payoff and the buildable coverage are amazing. By the way, the dark corrector wheel has some of the best shades for concealing imperfections on dark skin tones.

I purchased the foundation in 'Neutre' shade and used one and a half pumps of product to apply onto my face and I found it was enough coverage. I also purchased the Lise Watier Blush-On Powder in Natural Glow. The blush is beautiful and it really does give you a natural peachy-pinky glow, not too shimmery and not too oily looking. Plus, its packaging is great and it has an ample fan brush underneath the blush compartment. I already knew that Lise Watier made good makeup, its quality is above average and it has not been given the credit its due. I must say I'm happy with my purchase. As my skin will change over the next few months we'll see if this foundation can keep up with my skin's needs this winter which can become dehydrated and ruddy at times.

Before I mention the other items I used to create this fall daytime smokey eye and neutral lips look I wanted to mention, I LOVE FALL!!!! Its all about the gorgeous, deep colors, the harvest holidays and the never tiring and comforting smell of pumpkin pie, free Wi-Fi and outdoor cafes, farmer's markets and drinking really good, robust red wine, and dinner parties, ooh la la! Also, all the amazing berets, toques and hats that I love to rock out. Its my favorite season. I may be genetically 100% Italian, but I'm Canadian born and bred and with our wacky, humid summers I welcome the bright and chilly days.

OKAY, back to what's on my face and nails:

Eyes: MAC Painterly Paint Pot allover lid and brow bone, Twinks eyeshadow allover lid, Kid e/s in my crease, Vex e/s inner eye corner and Brule e/s on my brow bone. I've lined between my lashes, top and bottom with PowerPoint Eye Pencil in Stubborn Brown and then smudged and used again in the waterline. Eyebrows are more defined in MAC's Lingering Eyebrown Pencil and then set with a bit of Lise Watier's Eyebrow Powder in Dark Brown. Mascara is Maybelline Stylist at the base of my lashes and L'Oreal Telescopic, for the length, both in Black.

Face: Lise Watier Teint Lift Spf 20 in Neutre, Kid eyeshadow as cotour for cheekbones and then Lise Watier Blush-On Powder in Natural Glow on the apples of my cheeks. For highlighter on top of my cheeks I used a hint of MAC's eyeshadow in Claire de Lune (ltd edition).

Lips: Cupids bow topped with Vex Eyeshadow and a touch on my lower lip and I slighty lined the bottom of my lip with Lingering Eyebrow Pencil. Gloss is Revlon Super Lusturous in the shade Nude Lustre, lately this is my to to gloss thanks to Yorkieluvs

Nails: MAC's Nail Lacquer in Vintage Vamp (a must have color)

For those of you who follow my blog and notice every detail on posted pics like I do.....yes, I did chop off a good chunk of my hair. It was getting drab and too long. When I wear it straight its about 2 inches longer, so I get the best of both worlds. I feel sexy again.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Fall!! xxNadia

Cover FX Review

CoverFX has been around for about twenty years. It was first used in the Dermatology department at Sunnybrooke Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. For many burn victims and patients who had issues with vitiligo, rosacea and the like, CoverFx Foundation for the face and body was a godsend.

I was first introduced to CoverFX six years ago when I was having trouble over the winter months with bouts of rosacea on my cheeks. The product that was available was the super, high coverage foundation in a pan. The coverage was extremely dense that it could cover tattoos, scars and hyperpigmentation in a blink of an eye. The downfall for me was that it looked like I had a mask on my face because it was too much coverage. Instead, I used the CoverFx as a concealer and spot coverage rather than a foundation. Later on, I started experimenting with the product and found that if I scooped out the tiniest amount with my spatula and put it on the back of my hand or metal palette I could sheer out the foundation by adding mediums like MAC's Fix+ , Rosewater, or CoverFx's Brightening Foundation Primer SPF50, which by the way, is a brilliant product, or by simply adding my favorite moisturizer and dampening my applicator brush.

CoverFx has now come out with Natural FX Water Based Foundation which allows for a more sheer coverage with only the tiniest amount. Its much easier to apply and once the foundation is warmed between your finger tips it can be applied onto your face with your fingers. With this product a little goes a long way and they're not kidding.

At the moment, I'm in love with the CoverFx Brightening Foundation Primer SPF50, I add this products before I apply my foundation and I add a little product after I apply my foundation at the top of my cheekbones and my temples. The glow is amazing and it has SPF50!! Have a look at the picture with the product on my hand. The range of foundation shades are great, but my only advice is try on the shade before you buy it.

Let me know if you've tried this, how you use it and are you a fan? Thanks for stopping by.....Nadia

Vintage Versace Inspired Look

I recently made the transition from working on an airplane to working with management for one year. I'm excited about this new opportunity because it will provide new challenges in my work environment. My husband invited me for a celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant that had a gorgeous outside patio. We felt like we were in Europe, it was very similar to being at a beer garden in Mainz, Germany. We had a lovely time.

I had a craving for a bold print that evening. This top has a boat neck and big triangular bat sleeves. The print reminds me so much of early 90's Gianni Versace. The necklace is a touch gaudy and it suited the look, it was purchased at a secondhand store. Something about this necklace reminds me of art deco.

I kept my makeup in the brown and beige tones including my lips which are glossed in MAC's Boy Bait Dazzleglass. Since recently returning from our beach vacation I'm about as tanned as I would ever get. I prefer myself pale as I find its sometimes difficult to play with makeup when you are sporting a tan. The hair....well, the hair is puffy and big and lends itself to the overall look. When it comes to summer frizz I've just learned to make do with what I have. I'm glad big hair is coming back in vogue.

Thanks for stopping by, your continued support and comments are always appreciated. xxNadia