FOTD & OOTD | Yeah you've crossed the line, I've got a knife behind my back (just sayin')

Hi ladies! I recently attended a party and of course, I did not get to take proper pictures even though, for once, I was free all day and I took plenty of time to pamper myself... oh well, I was browsing through the pictures in my camera yesterday and I realized I did have a few pictures, although they might not be the best ones, but I figured out I had not posted a FOTD or OOTD in some times so I thought, why not?

Benefit The POREfessional | Marcelle BB Cream 'Light to Medium' | Clarins Poudre Multi-Eclat Mineral Loose Powder '01 Light'| theBalm Time Balm Concealer 'Light' | PUPA 4SUN Bronzing Powder SPF 15 | Annabelle Blossom Blush 'Peachy'

I was delighted when PUPA 4SUN Bronzing Powder landed on my doorsteps since I am a huge lover of bronzers, especially when they are as big as this one! This bronzer includes four shades to suit every skintone, but I prefer to simply swirl my brush on all of them at once and dust lightly in a '3' shape on my face (temples, cheekbones and jawline). Full review to come!

Dior Diorshow Extase Mascara 'Black' | Marcelle Velvety Eye Shadow + Primer 'Primer Rose' | theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette ('Matt Gallangher' and 'Matt McDonald') | MAC Eye Pencil - Ebony* | Wet n Wild Color Icon Liner Brow & Eye Pencil - Taupe | Revlon ColorBurts Lip Butter 'Cupcake'

Reviews of theBalm Mett Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette kept popping on my blog reading list recently and they made me want to dig mine out of my stash and use it more. Since I kept the rest of my face neutral, I decided  would do a dark green smokey eye, and 'Matt McDonald' turned out to be perfect for this since it is the darkest green in my collection - it is almost black! Let me know if you are not sick of reviews of this palette, and I will add mine to the bunch.

leopard print tank - Ross | cardigan - San Francisco | Sqin jeans - H&M | oversize glasses shape metal ring and multi-spike charm layered necklace - ROMWE | nail polish - Barry M Nail Paint 'Peach Melba'

I really did not have a specific outfit in mind but I knew I wanted to show off my leopard print tank, so I decided to keep the rest of my outfit pretty basic - I wore my favorite distressed jeans and a comfy cardi. I originally planned to wear my spike necklace from ROMWE but I decided it was too much with the animal prints, so I slipped on my current favorite ring and I was good to go!

Lyrics are from Call It What You Want, by Foster The People

*These products are NOT cruelty-free

Project Burgundy Hair | Revlon Professional Nutri Color Crème in 200 Burgundy

It is no secret that burgundy, red or purple hair requires excruciating - but oh so worth it! - maintenance - even with tedious use of all of the proper hair care products designed especially for colored hair, your gorgeous color will most likely run down the drain in no time. This is why I decided to explore in-between dye sessions alternatives, and when I discovered Revlon Nutri Color Crème on Kristelle's blog, I did not hesitate a second! I ordered the shade 200 Burgundy for around $24 from BeautyBay (free worlwide delivery!) since this professional product is sold exclusively in salons. I placed my order on July 29, it was dispatched on July 30, and I received it on August 6, which is not bad considering it was shipped from the UK.

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Crème 200 Burgundy is not a hair dye - it is a moisturising hair colour cream treatment especially designed to maintain the vibrancy and life of dark purple or deep red toned hair colour. It has a nourishing and detangling action and is full of AHA fruit acids and a high concentration of ionic pigments, enriched with cosmetic agents to smooth the hair cuticle, revive colour and improve shine, all in 3 minutes.

This product is really easy to use - simply apply to washed and towel dried hair (be sure to wear gloves and properly detangle your hair first or you will struggle, trust me!), leave for 3 minutes and rinse until water runs clear. I was sceptical at first because I had never used hair color on wet hair before and I could not bring myself to understand how this would work, but it did!

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Crème has a nice consistency since it is a cream instead of a runny mess like most hair dye, and it is really easy to control where you want to apply it. Be careful not to get it on your skin, clothes, sink or shower though because it stains really, really bad - I had to use bleach to remove it from the sink and shower!

L - R: before and after

There is no need to use conditioner after this treatment since it really does restores and maintains moisture while nourishing, softening and detangling without weighing hair down. My hair is left a deep, dark, vibrant and shiny purple instantly!

This color treatment is said to last around three or four shampoos, and depending on your hair length, the bottle should contain 10 to 15 applications. I have found this to be quite true, depending on which shampoo I used. Since I usually wash my hair every two or three days, I only need to re-apply Nutri Color Crème every two or even three weeks. I also like to mix it with conditioner or hair mask, that way, I need a smaller quantity of products, while pampering my hair!

My results

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Crème is available in 15 colors for around $24 depending on where you buy it. What products would you recommend to maintain red hair?

FOTD & OOTD | Looking for some trouble tonight, take my hand, I'll show you the wild, side

tunic w/ belt - San Francisco | blazer - Suzy Shier | leggings - eBay | tan - St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse 'Dark' | hair color - Revlon ColorSilk - 'Burgundy 48'

When you are wearing a uniform five days a week for work as I do, you don't really have the opportunity to take pictures for an interesting OOTD post, but recently, I had to dress up and jumped at the chance to show you my outfit! I can't say I love fall but I guess it's still better than winter because it's not too cold yet for leggings, which happens to be one of my favorite thing to wear. I like to pair leggings with tops and even with shorts - they are just so versatile and so much more comfy than jeans!

  nail polish - Julep 'Alyson' | ankle bracelet - Anji | flats - Walmart

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye - 'Neutral Medium' | Marcelle Extension Plus Mascara | e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color - 'Butternut' | MAC Eye Pencil* - 'Ebony' | Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Pressed Powder - 'Haute Gold' | Hard Candy Fox in a Box - Spicy & Sweet'| MAC Glaze Lipstick* - 'Hue'

Lyrics are from Die Young, by Kesha

*These products are NOT cruelty-free

Tag | I ♥ Drugstore Makeup

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I have never been a huge fan of tag for some reasons, but I am actually really getting into them and now, I just can't get enough! Let's be honest here; they are pretty easy posts to write, but most importantly, they are fun to do, and to read! I found this tag on Evelyn's blog (which is one of my favorite, by the way!) and since I happen to prefer drugstore makeup to high end products, I thought it wouls be super interesting to do it!

1. What is your favourite drugstore make-up brand?

I would probably say Revlon since it's one of the only cruelty-free drugstore makeup brands that is of high quality at an affordable price, even though I have not tried a lot of their products besides their lipsticks, lipglosses, lip butters and nail polishes.

2. What are your favourite face, cheek and lip products?

Face - I never wore foundation on a daily basis but I am a big fan of Marcelle BB Cream which buffs imperfections without feeling like a mask. I am also still in love with 

Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Pressed Powder which is the perfect bronzer for a natural healthy glow on fair skin!

Cheeks - My favorites are Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy & Sweet and Annabelle Mineral Powder Blush in Au Naturel since they are both greatly pigmented and of high quality for the price. NYX and Milani also makes great drugstore blushes.

Lips - Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Primrose which is a close dupe to the limited-edition MAC Lazy Day Lipstick*, and also a gorgeous wearable pale pink. I have also been impress by NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in La La - amazingly pigmented, great smell and genius applicator!

3. Least favourite product?

Probably Maybelline Great Lash Mascara* - did absolutely nothing for my lashes.

4. What is the best make-up bargain?

Does nail polish count as makeup? If yes, Barry M Nail Paints, definitely - amazing selection of opaque shades that take so long to chip at such a cheap price!

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5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)

I would say store brands in general - most products are exact dupe at a fraction of the price, it's crazy and absolutely worth a look!

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?

L'Oréal and Physicians Formula makeup products in general, for my personal budget.

7. What is the best drugstore dupe?

For me, it is probably Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Primrose for MAC Lazy Day Lipstick*, as mentioned earlier.

8. Drugstore product that is not worth the hype?

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters, definitely! I am a bit ashamed to admit that the only reason why I finally caved in and bought Cupcake is because this product was getting so much rave on the blogosphere, but I quickly realized that it really has nothing special! It is not moisturizing enough for my dry lips to allow me to skip lipbalm, and it is not as opaque as a lipstick - I just can't justify the price!

*Please note that these products are NOT cruelty-free

Project Burgundy Hair | Revlon ColorSilk in Burgundy 48

Going burgundy brings on a totally new challenge - finding a proper hair dye that won't completely ruin my color, and by this I mean, a hair color that won't turn my hair bright red, orange, or even worse, that horrible red-brown/rust shade that is not exactly flattering. Problem is that there is not currently a lot of cruelty-free hair dye options on the market, and not all of them offer a burgundy shade.

To make matter worse, the cheapest cruelty-free hair dye I have found is not available in Canada - nothing new here - so when I was in the US earlier this summer, I made sure to stop by Walmart to grab a bunch of Revlon ColorSilk in the shade Burgundy, but there was only two boxes left. I was a bit angry because I have had great results with this hair dye in the shade Brown Black 20 for less than $3 but oh well, what could I do?

I always hate when the conditioner included in the box is a single-use packet but at least, it does leave my hair really soft and shiny.

L - R: before and after, with flash

L - R: before and after, without flash

I struggled quite a bit to take pictures that would properly show you my results because this kind of shade always look different in various lighting. Can you see how my hair does not even appear to have been dyed in the last picture, on the right? Natural lighting does not do it justice!

I must say I'm quite a bit disappointed because my hair came out a bit redder and less bright than what is pictured on the box - I was expecting a vibrant purplish shade! I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures but after dying it, my hair appears only slightly darker and the biggest difference to me is the roots.

I also noticed that their packaging has changed from the last time I dyed my hair with Revlon brown Black 20 and the formula must to have been improved because it now features UV Defense, but I have high doubts that this will prevent my hair color from fading. 

Next step in 'Project Burgundy Hair' is another trip to the hairdresser thanks to an amazing Groupon offer, so stay tuned!

FOTD & OOTD | So shine bright, tonight you and I, we’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

I recently had a meetup that called for something a bit more formal and I'm always a bit clueless in these situations because I don't have a lot of formal clothes in my wardrobe, so I always end up borrowing something from my mother such a classic black pants and a blazer. This time, I took the time to analyze my wardrobe and came up with an outfit that I think is still wearable for everyday but it's a bit more classic than a t-shirt and jeans, for example.

tunic w/ belt - Giant Tiger | white tank - Forever 21 | leggings - eBay | tan - St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse 'Dark'

Marcelle Extension Plus Mascara | Annabelle Single Eyeshadow - Goddess | Anastasia She Wears It Well Eye Shadow Palette ('Onyx' on crease, outer corner, upper and lower lashline) | Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick - Primrose

ankle bracelet - Anji

I was very kindly sent this super lovely sterling silver ankle bracelet from Anji Jewelry some times ago - I have not worn an ankle bracelet since I was in high school I think, so I was super thrilled to be given this opportunity! The bracelet came in a cute and luxurious little black velvet pouch and as soon as I took it out, I was amazed at how it sparkled in the sun!

It looks very delicate but unlike my previous ankle bracelets which broke within a week or so, I have worn this one every day since I received it about two months ago. It has not lost its shine and there is not even one scratch on it - I even wear it in the shower! The 925 Sterling Silver Ankle Bracelet 25 cm retails at $25 but it has sadly been sold out. Anji offers jewelry for women, men and children and you are sure to find something to suit your taste among all their unique creations.

Lyrics are from Diamonds by Rihanna

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Wildwood Shopping | Ross and Walmart

I enjoyed a much needed holiday in Wildwood, NJ, last week with my mother and my boyfriend and even though our hobby of choice is to relax on the beach and "play" in the ocean - my boyfriend and I almost drowned, but that's another story - we do like to wander around at night, especially in shops that we don't have here in Canada.

I did not really need something in particular when I stepped foot in Ross - which is the US equivalent of Winners, if I'm right? - but of course, some pieces of clothing catched my attention and at these prices, I simply could not pass them up! I did not go crazy though and I only left with two items, which go amazingly well together!

If you know me, you are surely well aware of my love for animal prints, so when I spotted this $5.99 leopard print tank, I did not even hesitate because, yes, it's a very basic tank, but still I don't have any with animal prints! Plus, it just goes so well with everything and it can easily dress up any outift.

Then, I fell in love with this $19.99 red faux-leather (of course!) cropped jacket - I have a thing for motorcycle jacket, and it's even better if it's cropped and if it has zippers. I bought it in Small and even though it does run small and it's not very stretchy, I love it and I can't wear for the weather to get a bit colder to wear it out!

Of course, we had to stop by Walmart! Honestly, the only reason why I really wanted to go there is because I remembered they sold Revlon ColorSilk hair color for less than $3, which is not even readily available in Canada for some stupid reasons, and having already tried this hair dye in Brown Black 20, I could not wait to try it in Burgundy, so I picked up the last two boxes. I also noticed that their packaging has changed and the formula seems to have been improved because it now features UV Defense. I even already used one box - you can see the results in the picture of me modelling my purchases - but of course, I will write a complete post about it.

FOTD + OOTD | I am a wild one tame me now, running with wolves & I'm on the prowl

I'm incredibly relieved to finally be done with school - in fact, I actually find it hard to believe! Not to mention the strike and all - we voted to end the strike at the university where I'm going just in time because a few days after, the government announced that the students who were still on strike would finish their winter classes... in September! WTF?

Anyway, the purpose of this post is not to set a debate regarding this but to show you my first FOTD and OOTD in ages! The reason for this is that since I have been on strike, I have been working full time and my uniform is not exactly interesting, so I jumped at the opportunity to take pictures of some proper makeup and outfit that I wore to class - I even had a special guest...

cropped jacket - H&M | white tank - Stitches | dress - Sirens | belt - San Francisco | flats - Walmart 

hoop earrings - Swarovski | stud earrings - eBay 

Benefit The POREfessional | Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder - Haute Gold | Milani Baked Powder Blush - Luminoso

Marcelle Power Volume Mascara | NYX Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit | theBalm Time Balm Concealer - Light | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss - Peach Petal

Lyrics are from Wild Ones, by Flo Rida ft. Sia

Introducing Project Back 2 Blonde - Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit for Medium to Dark Brown Hair

Ladies, you may remember my hair history post that I wrote back in December 2009? I mentioned quite a few times on the blog that my natural hair color is a weird and ugly dark blonde that I absolutely hate, that's why I have been experimenting with hair colors so much. I have been playing it safe with a low maintenance dark brown for the last few years, but lately, I have been getting a bit bored with it, and what do I do when I'm bored? I look at YouTube videos!

I recently discovered MakeupbyMel's YouTube channel - which is funny because I remember she was one of the first blog I started following when I got into blogging - and after seeing her amazing results with Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit, I knew I had to try it. I was contemplating to go lighter for some times and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to go back somewhere near my natural hair color, but somewhat... enhanced - enter Project Back 2 Blonde!

Of course, before buying it, I was determined to conduct more indepth researches in order to prevent a potential hair disaster, and I was surprised to find mostly positive reviews on it. I had finally set my mind and I could not wait to get my hands on what seemed to be a miraculous product, but... I could not find it anywhere!

After scouring the local drugstores and coming home empty handed, I had an illumination - Well.ca! Well.ca is Canada's largest online health and beauty store with free shipping in Canada - what more can I ask for? For some reasons, I added Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit for Medium to Dark Brown Hair in my cart but then forgot about it - until a totally unexpected $10 gift card from Well.ca showed up in my email! They said it was to give me the chance to experience their website - can you say awesome customer service?

Of course, I did not hesitate one second and put the gift card to use imediately. I was also surprised to receive my order in around three days - wow! I could not wait to try the product and I went at it in the following days. 

Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit includes everything you need and I was actually surprised at how easy the whole process was. I managed to put on the cap, poke all of the visible holes and pull the hair through by myself, but I asked the boyfriend for help for the back of my head because I got tired. Pulling my hair through all of the holes took about two hours and a half, which I was not expecting at all! I guess the next times, it will be easier because I will get used to it.

L - R: with the cap on, all the hair pulled through, and bleach applied

It is recommended not to leave the bleach on more than 60 minutes, and to keep checking how the color evolve often. I checked the color every five minutes and even though I knew my hair would not come out as blonde as I would expect it, I waited until after one hour to wash off the bleach.

I found it quite hard to remove the cap in the shower - I was told it would come off by itself, but it didn't, and I don't understand how it could have anyway because my hair was all tangled from the bleach! I did finally manage to remove it but not without losing a few strand of hair in the process... 

The conditioner was not moisturizing enough for my taste and even though I did find the bleach quite harsh on my hair, it's nothing that can't be fixed with leave-in conditioners and hair masks. Maybe try to use this product on second day hair and be sure to have a back up of hair treatments.

Of course, the results was nothing like the hair of the model on the box - I had bright yellowish-honey streaks on the top part of my hair, but the lengths were more orange, without being a super neon orange like I experienced in the past. It's not too bad I guess, considering that the bleach had 936476548267 layers of hair dye to go through! I must say it's a nice change for me and I realized that a lighter hair color compliments my skin and eyes - surprisingly - a bit more than my usual dark brown shade.

L - R: before and after

I already purchased another Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit for Medium to Dark Brown Hair that I found on sale for $9.48 at Giant Tiger yesterday, and I hope it will be able to make my hair blonder and also tone down the slight orange tones. Maybe next time I will start by applying the bleach on my lengths instead of at the roots.

Revlon Frost&Glow Highlighting Kit is available in three different shades at Well.ca for $14.99 with free shipping in Canada. Also, don't forget to use promo code GABYSBEAUTYBLOG to get $10 off any $40 order!