Express is now in Toronto Eaton Centre!

This post brought to you by Express Canada. All opinions are 100% mine.

Express Canada celebrated it's Grand Opening event in Eaton Centre yesterday.

I decided to visit the store after work on Wednesday. If you live in the east end, it's really easy to get to Eaton Centre by train (If you don't drive).  Everything in the store was 50% off! Yes you heard me! I said 50% off the entire store!  No coupon needed. Due to that amazing deal, the store was packed. If you don't make it in today, don't worry because the deal extends until noon on Friday.  It's the perfect time to great your Christmas presents and shop for holiday parties. Or just shop because you love to shop!

I looked at the Express holiday catalog the night before and went in with a specific game plan. After seeing all the gorgeous options, I got side tracked (In a good way of course).

Let me start off by saying the staff were really nice and helpful. There were times when I couldn't find my size and they helped me go through piles of clothes to find it. One girl even sorted through her fitting room returns to find me the last pair of tights(in my size) in store. It was really nice that she did that because as I told you before the store was packed. I love great customer service.

Since Express caters to the young fashion forward men/woman, my fitting room was packed with clothes! I didn't know what to buy! Everything fit me so well. Which is a rare occurrence because I am curvy.

Here are some items that I picked out and wish I bought.
Since the sale is until Friday at noon, I'm going to have to go back and get these!

Did you guess my theme yet?
It's was sequins!

At the end I came out with some really cute items. I can't wait to showcase them in my upcoming posts.

I can't wait to rock those black short boots that you see above. They have a hidden wedge and they are comfortable. Perfect for a short girl like me!

From what I showed, which item is your favourite?
 

I'm loving L'oreal Colour Caresse- Violet Chiffon

I have been receiving a lot of twitter questions about the lipstick that I was wearing in my Ben Nye Post.

It's L'oreal Colour Caresse by Colour Riche - Violet Chiffon

Colour Caresse by Color Riche is formulated with L'Oreal's revolutionary Lightfeel System to deliver a feather-light finish without being sticky or heavy.

 I can't believe it took me soooo long to share this with you all.
I've been in love with these line since early this year. L'oreal has always made some of my favorite 

lipsticks and the Colour Caresse line is so exception. It was literally LOVE at first swatch.

Violet chiffon is a gorgeous wearable purple. It applies like butter!
Very smooth with a beautiful pigmented finish.
I love lipsticks but sometimes you just need something that is not heavy.
This is definitely what I would look for.

  Doesn't matter what skin tone you are it's a universally flattering shade.

Holiday Wants: Sephora Collection Nail Wand

Are you trying to figure out what to get for Christmas?
Either for yourself or someone else?

For the next four weeks I will be sharing great gift ideas. 

First lets get started with one of my favourites which only costs $15.00 CND! 

A set of four fashionable nail shades that snap into one easy-to-carry wand.

I decided to break this up into categories.

This will help you get fast facts to decide if this product suits your needs.

Why would I want it:

• I like metallic, cremes & glitter polishes.
• I like to stay organized.
• I like to travel.
• It's affordable.

Where can I get it:

• Sephora.ca
• At a Sephora store.

What does it come with:
Four gorgeous colors called:

• Red Berries Smoothie- Fuschia creme
• Silver Glitter- Silver Glitter
• Electroshot- metallic blue/purple
• Mirror Mirror- metallic silver

Swatches:

I think these polishes are great. Every color is pigmented and fast drying. I also like the idea of them being stackable. I can just throw them in my makeup organizer and find them when I'm ready to use them. If you are not a silver girl, this set also comes in gold.

Would you get this set?

IMATS Toronto 2012 Experience + Haul

Another Toronto IMATS has come and gone. As per usual it was a day filled with vloggers, bloggers and beauty lovers! For the second time the venue was at Toronto Congress Centre which is located in Etobicoke. I got there a little bit later in the morning (around 11) and was shocked at the sheer number of people which was there. I came with a direct game plan and didn't stray away from my budget. 

First on my list was bdellium tools!  After hearing several bloggers rave about them, I know I had to get a few brushes from the line. Then off to Beauty So Clean and lastly finish off at Face Atelier to see what's new.

This years exhibitor list was much smaller than the earlier IMATS that I have attended.
That didn't stop groves of people from coming out to enjoy the beauty deals and watch the seminars.

Believe it or not, the ATM's on site ALL ran out of money before 2pm!
I was so happy that I traveled with cash.

Check out some pictures that I took of the show on Saturday:

I finally got to see one of my favourite bloggers/MUA Joy from Makeup Junkie.

bdellium tools booth set up.

I was debating whether I wanted the 957 or 958.
I should have just taken both!

If you're squeamish look away!
I couldn't leave without taking a picture. It's actually a replica of a full-sized man.
It was like 5'10! He even had shoes on!!

End result from the Make-up as Art seminar featuring M.A.C. Pro artist Melissa Gibson.

 OCC Skin on display.
Such vivid colors!

Emmy-winning makeup artist Eve Pearl doing a seminar on
How to Turn your Career into a Thriving Business

Last but not least my Haul! 

• Opi Drop it- drying drops+ free nail polish
• Opi Chipslip
• Beauty So Clean 
• Mascara shield
• bdellium studio line brushes in 957 & 949
• bdellium green bambo series brush set
• FACE atelier lip glaze in Obsession

Such a small haul but honestly at this moment I have everything I want.

Did you go to IMATS this year?

Pop-up Closets for Express Canada

This post brought to you by Express Canada. All opinions are 100% mine.

Retail is now evolving with the addition of Pop-up closets.
Express Canada will be holding a few pop-up closets this November.
You will have the opportunity to check out outfits, view accessories & win prizes.

The pop-up closets are to celebrate the Express Grand Opening event at Eaton Centre on November 21. Just in time for the holidays! I have several events coming up and I know that I will find an outfit or two in Express.

Express is the must-have sexy, sophisticated fashion brand for work, the weekend, or going out. It’s what’s new and what’s now for young fashion-forward women and men.

Location & time for the upcoming Pop-Up Closet:
Location: Eaton Centre (Level 1 across from MAC Cosmetics)
Date: Friday, November 23 – Sunday November 25
Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm

You have the chance to win:

• A 1MX selling men’s dress shirt (my boyfriend is constantly raving about how great they fit).
  
• An Editor and Columnist women’s dress pant (Available in sizes 00 to 14).
  
• A $25 gift card.
• A special offer.

I had the opportunity to visit the very first pop-up closet which was at Toronto Fashion Week.

This may sound odd but my favourite part was the mannequins. I loved seeing the outfits that were put together. It gives you an idea on what will work for you. I’m not the size of the mannequin but I can definitely go in-store and look for alternative that would suit my body type.

It's less than a week until the Grand opening!
Don’t forget to try your luck and enter the $1000 shopping spree.
Here is the contest entry form. Good Luck!

Holiday Shoe Options from Payless

The holidays are coming!

Are you ready for Christmas party or New Years?

I recently visited the Payless show room to see which shoes they thought were popular for the season.
I personally gravitate towards anything with glitter/sparkly, leopard print or studded!

I love heels.. I mean LOVE!
My closets are full of several pairs from low to high BUT I can't walk in them..
My alternative is a full wedge or flats.

I tried to take pictures of every style there was available.
Let me know which style is your favourite!

Get Free Glasses at ClearlyContacts.ca - Offer Ends Nov. 21

I've had the same glasses now for almost four years. My prescription was so low that my Optometrist told me that I really didn't need them. Being that I work on a dual screen computer daily, the glare really bothers me. Plus believe it or not I've always wanted a pair of glasses. Isn't that so nerdy! 

The current pair I own are hot pink. Fun... but I've always wanted a toned down black pair. A girls gotta have choices! With this deal from ClearlyContacts.ca, I can get a new pair for FREE!

Do you wear glasses? 

*This is a sponsored post*

I love Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder

Have you ever bought into a beauty "hype"? It's a product that you see a celebrity endorsing or a popular product blowing up youtube/blogs. I did a few months ago and I'm so happy I did.

Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder is liquid gold. Okay.. Maybe I'm over exaggerating but it's pretty awesome!  There was a time when this product was on back order on every website that it was sold on! Some ladies waited up to four weeks to get their hands on a bottle. How insane is that?!? It's all because Kim Kardashian's makeup artist featured it in one of his videos. I'm happy I purchased my bottle from Camera Ready Cosmetics before the true hype set in.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that Kim K and I are not the same color. We're probably at the opposite ends of the color spectrum. That's the beauty of the Banana powder. It can work for several skin tones. One tip would be not to use a large amount of it if your a deeper skin tone. I found that using a light amount and buffing it in works best(for me).

If you use a large amount, instead of a glow under your eyes you will have a serious white cast in pictures. If you get a good buffing brush, you're set!

I'll leave you all with a picture of me wearing the banana powder:

Under my eyes looks amazing!
Now I'm interested in purchasing other colors from the line.

Have you heard of this product and would you purchase it?

Support Movember with Annabelle Cosmetics

Annabelle cosmetics has come up with a cool way to get you involved in Movember! If you're like me and can't grow a beard, this is a great way to support with a "very feminine twist".

During the course of the month of November,Mo Bros are encouraged to “change the face of men’s health” by growing a moustache. It engages men in the concept of raising awareness of their own health issues and serves as a creative and innovative way to raise funds for research, education and continuing awareness. In their journey, Mo Bros have engaged “Mo Sistas”, women who support the Movember movement by offering their solidarity to the men in their lives who are growing a moustache during the month of November. Whether they are our fathers, our boyfriends, our husbands, our bosses, our colleagues, our fellow students or our brothers,Mo Sistas are surrounded by men. Annabelle is inviting all theirMo Sistas fans and cosmetic users to dress the part: put on a moustache this November for Movember!

How to contribute:

Annabelle smudgeliner in Oh my Goth

Using your favorite Annabelle lipliner, lipstick, lipgloss or even eye pencil, draw a moustache above your upper lip and snap a picture. Upload the picture on your own Pinterest board. 

For your participation to translate into a donation, you must use the hashtag #AnnabelleMovember in the Pin description and tell state which Annabelle product was used to draw your moustache. 

Annabelle will repin your picture onto their own Annabelle Pinterest “#AnnabelleMovember Mo Sistas2012” board and donate one dollar ($1) for every valid picture.

eBeauty Holiday Beauty Bag

Looking for a gift to give someone who has everything?

Try the eBeauty Holiday Beauty Bag

This is the perfect gift to give to one person or give to a few.
There is something for everyone in here!

• Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer
• CARGO Lash Activator Mascara
• Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask Packette
• Marc Anthony Macadamia Oil Treatment
• Lippy Girl Lip Love Conditioning Stick
• Nail Tek Hydration Therapy Colour - Vixen
• Strivectin-TL™ Tightening Eye Serum
• stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm
• Pur Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil - Autumn Glow
• Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Face Moisturizer

It also comes in a cool makeup bag! 

 Can you believe this bag is only $25.00!

You can purchase the bag at ebeauty.ca.

Hair Must Haves from Marc Anthony & Giovanni

There are so many new hair products out there to keep you looking your best. I use these items on my natural hair and extensions. In this post I'm going to highlight two brands which are worth spending on this season.

Both of these products help eliminate frizz! Now that my hair is not chemically processed, frizz is my biggest issue. I try my best to stay away from my flat iron so both of these products prolong my hair staying "straight".

Here are my top four reasons to get the Marc Anthony Repairing Macadamia Oil Treatment:

• Smells amazing
• Very light
• Doesn't make my hair revert back to "curly"
• Controls frizz

How to apply: Apply 1 - 3 drops (depending on hair length and thickness) to damp or dry hair and distribute evenly from roots to ends. Do not rinse out. Style as usual. 

Here are my top three reasons to get the Giovanni 2chic Leave in Conditioning & Styling Elixir:

• Very light
• Controls frizz
• Can be used with heat

How to apply: Distribute evenly through damp hair for sleek, super-soft, shiny hair.

So far I'm loving both of these products!

 Have you tried any of these products before?

 

Roxy inspires girls to dream big

Founded in 1989, Roxy is a brand of Quiksilver, Inc., the world's leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, winter sports equipment, footwear, accessories and related products.

“We have been trailblazers from the very beginning. By marrying fashion and performance we turned our world upside down and inspired a wave of girls to head out into the surf.We were born in the ocean and carved our way to the mountains -- and we're not done yet. This is our heritage and our future -- Ride strong and create the next big wave. This is a look our most inspirational Roxy girls from around the world including Olympic half pipe snowboard Gold Medalist Torah Bright, professional surfers, Kelia Moniz, Kassia Meador, Jen Smith, Monyca Byrne-Wickey, and Bruna Schmitz. We're all on this ride together…" 

Vidéo virale par ebuzzing

Those girls are amazing!
I wish I had the confidence to do that!

*This is a sponsored post*

The Body Shop Holiday Collections 2012

I recently got a sneak peak of the goodies that The Body Shop will be offering for the holidays.

Holiday Goodies

Every year they come out with a new and delicious smelling holiday line that I have to get my hands on. This year there is new special-edition bath and body ranges in Cranberry Joy, Vanilla Bliss and Ginger Sparkle. I can't forget the make-up. Expect a lot of sparkle and shine! Perfect for any holiday party or dinner date. They also have awesome products that can be given as gifts or stocking stuffers.

Look at some of the goodies they have in store for you this season: 

Vanilla Bliss

The Body Shop gift sets!

Ginger Sparkle

The Body Shop Beauty

What's you favourite The Body Shop Scent?