get yer greens

I just thought I'd share some of my favourite salad combos I've been enjoying these days. I don't ever measure, but just eyeball, and combine any of the following to my liking. You can make the dressing (usually I do 1 part oil to 2 parts vinegar/lemon juice etc) or use a store-bought.

For any of these, I'd add a protein (usually chicken, chickpeas, or tempeh). I usually marinate the chicken or tempeh in a bit of the dressing before I cook it (if using flax oil, don't cook with it). My fave "greens" at the moment is a mix of baby spinach and baby kale (I've been using "Organic Girl" or "Cooking with Spinach").

Lemon-Dijon
greens
salad topper (I use "Joes" brand from Wal-Mart, which is cranberry, walnut and pumpkin seeds)
avocado
grape tomatoes
mushrooms
Dressing: lemon juice, flax oil, Dijon mustard, Italian herb seasoning
*In picture above, I've been making this one a lot lately.

Asian
Greens
cashews
peppers
red or green onion
edamame beans
Dressing: apple cider vinegar, soy sauce or Bragg, honey, sesame oil, flax oil, sesame seeds, ginger

Mexican/Taco
greens
shredded iceberg lettuce (or I buy a bag of "Shreds")
salsa
avocado
black beans
olives (black sliced)
Dressing: lime juice, flax oil, and if you like spice add chili pepper flakes
*you can use ground turkey, chicken, beef or Veggie Ground round with Taco seasoning for this one. Another option is to crush some tortilla chips on top for extra crunch. I also add jalapenos for extra spice.

Marinated Italian
tomato
zucchini
peppers
olives (I like sliced green in this)
carrots
onion
celery and/or fennel
chickpeas
Dressing: balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Italian herbs (fresh or a seasoning)
*chop all ingredients, put in a container with dressing, stir and let marinate. I sometimes add a can of tuna for protein. Place on top of a bed of greens.

Berry Almond
greens
avocado
mixed berries (or just strawberries)
almonds (toasted slivered are best)
red onion (optional)
dressing: apple cider vinegar, honey, flax oil

real techniques- brush review

I recently heard that the "Real Techniques" brushes, developed by Pixiwoo's MUA Sam Chapman, would be available in Canada. I went to London Drugs and they'd sold out right away! I kept checking back in until about a month and a half later they were finally re-stocked.

A set of 4 brushes with a cute holder (which converts into a brush stand) was only $19.99 CDN.

I went for the "Core Collection" of face brushes. I usually buy cheaper brushes to keep in a set to use on myself at home, day to day. I must admit that I love these brushes!

The face brush is excellent for buffing and blending foundation for a seamless look. The foundation brush is quite soft and flexible, as well as fairly small compared to some, making it easy to blend in and around the eyes/nose/chin areas. I love the smaller powder brush, it works fabulously for contouring, blush or precision powder application to specific areas. There is also a tiny brush in the set, which I believe is meant for target application of concealer on blemishes, but I actually love it for blending out my eyeliner since the bristles are soft and flexible.

Considering these are not natural bristle brushes, the quality is still very good. They are soft yet durable. I could honestly say I'd like a second set of just these brushes for myself since they are such multi-taskers. I wouldn't actually mind a set for my kit as well!

I still have yet to try any of the sets for eyes etc, so I will be sure to let you know if I do.

skin you-r-in

Here's my current skincare likes & routine:

• Wash- daily, with Dove sensitive skin bar
• Exfoliate- 1-2 times per week- cover my face with "Natures Gate" all-natural lotion, rub some Dove sensitive skin bar on my Clarisonic and get some exfoliating going on. I find that my skin is so sensitive that the lotion helps keep it soft and protected while it's being scrubbed.
• Moisturizers- currently switching between the following. For normal areas, either Embryolisse Lait-Concentrate, Origins Starting Over Age Erasing Cream, Avene Redness Relief SPF 25 and for dry patches Avene Cicalfate or Avene Skin Calming Recovery Cream (in Rich Formula)

I'm really loving the Avene line right now. It's nice and rich (great for my skin which is drier in the Winter months). They do have lines for oily/acne-prone skin as well. The prices are decent too (check for sales at London Drugs and other drugstores). 

I also bought Nivea skin creme after reading that many models use it, and keep it in my car for my hands and face as needed. I thought my skin would be too sensitive for it, but it's actually nice (and only $3.95 for a small tube!).

I also like to do home-made masks from time to time. I usually blend a fruit (such as berries, for the apha-hydroxy acid content), with a fat (such as avocado or coconut, for the moisture) and something to hold it together (oatmeal is good, soothing). Throw it in the blender and apply to your face. 

I also tried a sample of a mask that one of my friends ordered online called "Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay". I will say that it stinks soooo badly (it's made from 100% Bentonite, aka Green Clay), but it did work quite well. She'd heard about it through some friends in the US and found it here on Amazon (it's only $6.79!). It tightens your face, cleans out your pores and doesn't dry your skin out like any other clay mask I've ever tried. I think I will order a jar.

As a side note, for body I find in Winter the easiest thing to do is add some oil to your bath. Try grape-seed, coconut, olive, almond or jojoba oils. It gets all over your entire body, and holds the moisture in your skin when you get out. Add some essential oils if you want to smell great too (I love lavender, rose, bergamot and geranium).

Here are some links to some of the skin products I mentioned:

Origins face moisturizer
48 CAD - beauty.com

Face moisturizer
23 CAD - escentual.com

Embryolisse
53 CAD - shopmrsh.com

Clarisonic Blue Mia
190 CAD - asos.com

makeup @ 2013 Golden Globes

I did a little research and here are the breakdowns of products used for some of my favourite makeup looks from last night:


Jessica Alba
By: Lauren Andersen

Skin: Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Sand, Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Warm,  Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light 

Cheeks: Hourglass Illume Crème-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset 

Eyes: Hourglass Film Noir Kohl Eye Pencil in Espresso, Hourglass Superficial Waterproof Bronzer in the crease of the eyes and the gold shade from Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Dune on the lids. Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara. 

Brows: Hourglass Arch Sculpting Brow Pencil in Soft Brunette.

Lips: Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera

Anne Hathaway
By: Kate Lee

SKIN:  Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum, Chanel Base Lumière Illuminating Makeup Base. Chanel Vitalumière Aqua all over and Chanel Perfection Lumière foundation where little more coverage was needed.

CHEEKS:  Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium, Chanel Poudre Signée De Chanel Illuminating Powder

BROWS: Anastasia Brow Powder & Anastasia Brow Gel."

EYES: Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Fauve in the crease and underneath lower lashes. I left her lids nude, skipped eyeliner, curled her lashes, and coated them with Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara. 

LIPS:  Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Sedusicante (no lipliner)

Jennifer Lopez
By: Mary Phillips

Skin: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur, L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup in Caramel Beige, L’Oréal Paris Super-Blendable True Match Crayon Concealer in Fair/Light Warm, a small amount of L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift Color Lift Blush in Nude Lift on Jennifer’s cheeks

Eye: several L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quads including Cupa Joe as a base and Black Pump around the outer corners, L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow in Eternal Black in the crease, L’Oréal Paris Super Slim Liner by Infallible on the top lids, L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara

Lips: L’Oréal Paris Colour Caresse Shine Stain in Eternally Nude

Rachel Weisz

By: Melanie Inglessis

Skin: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #3 and #4, 

Cheeks:  L’Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Angelic onto her cheeks.

Lips: Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #201 

trend-head

When I'm itching for a change, the first place I look is my hair. You name it, I've tried it... black, blonde, red, pink, oh yeah and my natural brunette locks have crept in here and there.

I've been various degrees of ombre for quite some time now and I must say, it's the best hair trend I've ever experienced! No worrying about root growth and you kind of get the best of both worlds, with both lightness and darkness around your face.

However, I've clung onto this ombre hair long enough. Here are some cut & colour trends I'm currently craving...

Platinum

Bobs

 

Bangs

Pastel

NYE Options

If you are hitting the mall at the last minute for something to wear for tomorrow night, here are some cute (and affordable!) options for ya... all from Zara and Forever 21.

Zara dress
zara.com

Zara dress
zara.com

Forever 21 short cocktail dress
forever21.com

Circle dress
forever21.com

Forever 21 metallic dress
forever21.com

Forever 21 long sleeve bodycon dress
forever21.com

Forever 21 sequin cocktail dress
forever21.com

Forever 21 sweetheart neckline cocktail dress
forever21.com

Forever 21 skirt
forever21.com

Skirt
canada.forever21.com

Forever 21 skirt
forever21.com

Forever 21 skirt
forever21.com

Forever 21 slit skirt
forever21.com

warm-bronze makeup look

Lately I've been into bronzey eyes, but in very rich, almost reddish browns instead of the usual taupes. If you have blue or green eyes, this colour will really make your peepers stand out. It's also so pretty for brown eyes, since it's so neutral (which means you can wear it with pretty much any outfit too).

- Start with my fave look, which is super-fresh skin. Exfolliate, moisturize and apply a tinted moisturizer like this one from Josie Maran. Conceal where needed and powder slightly on forhead, under eyes, around the nose and chin only.
- Use a bronzer on all the high points of your face (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and sides of neck). Try this mosaic bronzer from Physician's formula.
- For eyes, start with a bronze-toned base or paint on the eyelid and blend into your crease until the edges are soft. Try Maybelline Colour Tattoo (or a Paint Pot from MAC).
- Then tap an extra shimmery, bronze across your lid. Try the Shimmer Cubes from The Body Shop (I love the top-right colour) or the Autumn Leaves Quad from Loreal (#3 colour). Add a lighter shimmer tone to the tear duct areas of your eyes and under your eyebrows.
- My favourite eyeliner for this look is Teddy from MAC, applied along the waterline and into the lashline. Blend slightly with a brush or q-tip. For something slightly darker, I would use Coffee from MAC or a similar very dark brown.
- I recently tried the MAC Studiofix Boldblack Lash, and I have to say that I LOVE IT! It lengthens and separates so well, so I highly recommend it (or my other faves, Haute & Naughty from MAC or try Voluminous in Black-Brown).
- For NYE, I would add a few individual or an outer corner lashes for a little drama.
- The great thing about this eye look is that it's also neutral enough to go with any lip colour you want to try. Keep it soft with a nude pinkish-beige, a light shimmery gold tone gloss, or go glam with a red or deep plum lip.

Mac cosmetic
nordstrom.com

Face powder
drugstore.com

Maybelline makeup
drugstore.com

Josie Maran beauty product
sephora.com

Matte lipstick
15 CAD - topshop.com

Mac cosmetic
15 CAD - nordstrom.com