Birthday/Halloween FOTD + OOTD | Surprise surprise, you're much better looking when you're in disguise

This year, my friends and I decided to celebrate my birthday as well as Halloween last Friday, the actual day of my birthday - even though I was allowed to open my birthday gift two days before my birthday (post to come)! We made vegetarian sushis and drank all night, it was fun!

Nauticall Doll costume - Costume Discounters | nail polish - Illamasqua Nail Duo Throb & Spartan

You may remember that last year I dressed up as Pikachu for Halloween, but this year I went for something less original - and complicated - my Nautical Doll costume that I received from Costume Discounters this summer.

I don't have a close-up of my makeup because, as always, I did not have the time to take proper pictures, but I just did a heavy dark blue smokey eye with red lips.

Benefit The POREfessional | NYC Loose Translucent Face Powder - Translucent* | Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer - Medium to Dark | It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye - Neutral Medium |  Annabelle Mineral Powder Blush - Au Naturel | Annabelle Studio Mono Eyeshadow - B-Ray and Graffiti | MAC Eye Pencil - Ebony* | Marcelle Xtension Plus Mascara | Wet n Wild Color Icon Liner Brow & Eye Pencil | GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick - Tutti Frutti

Steph as a thug, Yanick as a monk and Ariane as an alien

my boyfriend the DJ was supposed to be a ventripotent but he was not able to properly inflate his costume!

*These products are NOT cruelty-free

Lyrics are from Surprise Surprise by Billy Talent

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD VIP Event

Last Thursday, I was extremely fortunate to be invited by the very lovely Josianne from Être Radieuse to the MAKE UP FOR EVER HD VIP Event in their Pro Loft in Montreal! As a total newbie to MUFE, I didn't even know they had an office in Montreal!

Let's start with my FOTN:

Face

CoverGirl CG Smoothers All Day Hydrating Make-Up - Classic Ivory*

theBalm Time Balm Concealer - Light

Marcelle Concealer Palette in Universal Beige

NYC Translucent Loose Face Powder*

100% Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer - Brown Sugar

Annabelle Mineral Powder Blush - Au Naturel

Eyes

Marcelle Power Volume Mascara

Wet n Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe
Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx (upper lashline, waterline and smudged on lower lashline)* 

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad - Natural Smokes*

Lips

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick - Creme Cup

Hair

Clairol Nice 'N Easy 123 Natural Soft Black*
TS-2 Conical Barrel Style Stick Clipless Curling Iron
Alberto Weather Resistant Hairspray Mega Hold Finish

*These products are NOT cruelty-free

I had a hard time choosing what to wear but because it was relatively warm outside for the month of February, I finally went for a dress and jacket, just because I love this combo so much - and OK, because that dress is a little too revealing!

Dress - LoveMode | Cropped jacket - H&M | Purse - MAC Tartan Tale | Dove necklace - gift from my godmother | Nails - OPI Rainbow Connection

I arrived at the Pro Loft half an hour late (of course!) because 1. I totally forgot to print the VIP invitation, 2. my desktop computer (connected to the printer) would not start, 3. the printer would not let me print the invitation from my netbook, 4. I lost the internet connection (thank you, sh*tty Videotron!) when I wanted to double check the itinary one last time (at least, I had wrote it down already) and write down Josianne's cell number in case I got lost (of course, I forgot to do this sooner!) buuuuuut, despite all of this and thanks to the gods of makeup, the HD seminar had not started yet and at least, I was not the only one who was late! Phiew!

Despite having heard about HD makeup on the blogosphere, I did not really know what it was, so I appreciated the seminar and the demo the lovely Joëlle showed on the pretty model Stéphanie. I learned quite a few tips and trick indeed - did you know their HD Blush could be applied not only on the cheeks but also on the lips, as eyeshadow and even as tinted mascara? Also, for a more natural application, you can mix it with foundation.

We were served champagne and hors d'oeuvres all night long and there was even a candy bar - Josy and I did not go crazy... what, who said doggy bags?

(images: Être Radieuse)
It was great seeing Josy again, I already miss her!

The guests also enjoyed 40% off on all MAKE UP FOR EVER products, a special price that is normally reserved for the professionals! I did not purchase anything but yes, I was really tempted by this HD Blush that was around $10 after the discount...

(images: Être Radieuse)
I also met two of Josy's lovely friends, Laurie and Isanielle

Of course, we were not sent home empty-handed! Each guests received a super pretty little gift package including very generous sample size samples of three HD products: the very popular Microfinish Powder, Elixir Instant Radiance and Hydration Serum and Cream Blush in the shade #4 Fresh Pink. I will be sure to write a complete post about these products!

A huge thank you to Josianne for bringing me to such a nice event and to the MAKE UP FOR EVER team from Montreal!

FOTD + OOTD: Girl my body don't lie, I'm outta my mind, let it rain over me

My first day of Uni was on September 1st so this post is a little late but it's better late than never, don't you think? Oh and I'm not that pale in person, I blame the flash and the stupid cloudy weather we've had lately! Maybe it's time to fake tan?

Face

OLAY  Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream *

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer *

Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation SPF 15 - Bisque *

Annabelle Rippled Sand Bronzer - Bali Bronze

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Tint - Cranberry Glow

NYC Loose Translucent Face Powder - Translucent *

Eyes

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black *

Annabelle Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette - Shooting Star (gold all over lid and dark brown in outer corner)

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx (corner of upper and lower lashline) *
Marcelle Multi-Colour Face Powder - Luminous Veil (browbone and corner of the eye)

Wet N Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe (brow)

Lips

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick - Shy Girl

Shirt - Pentagone | Denim shorts - old jeans from Stitches turned into shorts

* Product tested on animals. You may (or may not) be aware that Gaby's Beauty Blog recently went cruelty-free. However, I hope it's understandable that I can't simply throw away the products I have previously purchased that have unfortunately been tested on animals - believe me, I wouldn't hesitate if I were rich! My goal is to use up those products but not repurchase them in the future. Also, Gaby's Beauty Blog will no longer accept for review purposes products that have been tested on animals.

Lyrics are from Rain Over Me, from Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony

Shopping: Wal-Mart, Dollarama & a warehouse sale

NYC Translucent Loose Face Powder $1.50 & Green Cover Stick $1.25 As soon as I spotted these in a "sale bin", I had to grab them! I don't have a translucent loose face powder and as I'm not a big fan of foundation, I thought I should give it a try. Also, I have never used a green cover stick and it got me really curious, and the price was perfect to experiment with it. I don't know if they were on sale because they are going to be discontinued? I've heard the face powder has a new packaging now...

Göt2b rockin' it encore fresh Dry Shampoo This was a gift from my boyfriend, even though he absolutely don't seem to get the point of dry shampoos. In the store, he was like "But I always see you washing your hair in the shower, you never use that! What's the point?" Ah, boys, boys, boys...  Anyway, I rushed to Wal-Mart as soon as I saw this dry shampoo and the Powder'ful Volumizing Styling Powder in the flyer, but of course, it wasn't there. I didn't even see an empty space where the product should be )=

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in White On I decided I needed a white nail polish after seeing this one on a blog (can't remember which one). This was marked as $1.97 but it scanned at $2.94 so I got it for free, yey!

Mainstays 5-piece Jar Candle Set in Pear $7.50 and Fern Apricot Tea Votices $2.80 You know I can't resist scented candles, especially when they are on sale! They both smell yummy, but I don't think I have ever smelled something similar to Apricot Tea. Yum!

Jenere Peppermint 99.9% Natural Lip Balm $1.00 and Lavoris Mouthwash Whitening Rinse $1.00 I love to browse the beauty alley in Dollarama as I always find amazing deals! I know I have plenty of lip balms already but I use them so much so I like to stock up when I find a great deal, and how could I say no to almost all natural lipbalms for only $1? I've also been a little obsessed with whitening mouthwash lately and while I'm sceptical this one is actually good, I figured out that for $1, I wouldn't complain.

Lendan Look Forms Solution-11 Rinse-Free Styling Mask with UV Protection 2 for $5.00 There was a warehouse sale near where I live this week-end and it was filled with professional hair products, so my mother and went went to have a nosey. Most of the products were overpriced for my student budget and I didn't really need something anyway, but when my mother spotted this leave-in conditioner (which was on sale for $3.50 or 2 for $5.00) we decided to grab one each. I swear by leave-in conditioners, and I hope this one will lives to its claims.

Lendan offers solutions for hair conditioning and easier styling with products that act progressively to achieve shiny, silky, healthier hair. Solution-11 combines the renewing effect of treatment with eleven natural extracts, including avocado oil and quaternised honey. It also helps achieve free moving, lively hair with great body, thanks to the Provitamin B-5 it contains, Do Not Rinse Solution-11's sun filter protects and screens hair from ultraviolet rays.