& it's pretty

where i post pictures and such about make up and other girly things.

[anditspretty]

Life Update.

It has been a while. For health and beauty posts. But I have some free time coming up and I can get back at it! (Cliche intended.)

I've been busy. I spent most of 2016 working two jobs, about 70 hours a week. One of them was new and part time. I love working there.

But the other one, my full time gig, was a drain on me. I can pinpoint the start of my mental collapse to January 2016. I was stressed for money and work was slow, with no overtime available. When work got slow, my manager would micro-manage and focus in on me and one of my other coworkers, making it hard for us to do our jobs.

It was a long year of breakdowns and anxiety attacks. It was my first real experience with depression.

Over the summer, I suddenly lost my grandma to explosive breast cancer. It was exactly two weeks from diagnosis to when we lost her. Definitely not enough time. But at least she got to meet and fall in love with my boyfriend.

We have been dating for just under a year now. He has been my rock this entire time. He met me during the worst year of my life and not hesitated once. I'd be truly lost without him.

He moved in with me during the fall and that allowed me to quit my soul draining job. He keeps pushing me to take care of myself and make time for the things I enjoy doing. He keeps pushing me to go to the gym because he knows I feel better when I work out. He's supportive with my desire to eat healthy. But we both have an unwavering love of pizza and being lazy.

I was determined to make 2017 the year I focused on myself and got happy again. I left my awful job and started taking on more responsibilities at my part time job. I'm hoping to make that into a full time position soon. I really love the interactions I get to have with people and that I kind of get to work at my own pace because it's just me in my department.

You have heard me say a thousand times over the years that I can't tell the difference between perfumes and they all smell the same to me. Ironically, I now work in the fragrance department. And I love it. I can get through an 8 hour day and still be able to smell the differences between scents. All without a headache. I have discovered my superpower.

At the end of 2016, I interviewed for a front desk job at a gym and I actually got to start it in February. After a little over a month, I left it. It was too slowed paced for me. I thought it was ironic that I was sitting on my butt all day at a gym. In my short time here, I've seen so much of the worst in people. The blame has been put on me for decisions that are way above my pay grade. Changes that were made way before I started here. I don't want to hate humanity more than I already do. I wish it would have, but oh well. (I'm typing most of this as I am at that job, on my last day.)

On the health front, I'm doing okay. I'm getting in about 5 workouts a week. On my 8 hour work days, I get an hour lunch and I spend half of that walking laps around the mall, getting some steps in. I don't always get a great weight lifting workout in. But I've been trying to at least get my 10k steps in every day. It means I did at least half an hour of solid moving throughout the day. And I had to actively get off my butt and do it. 

My eating is on and off. Like I said, I have a weakness for pizza. I have weeks where I am on point and then weeks where I try but I end up eating take out and feeling bad about my life decisions. I keep saying I will buckle down, And I do for a few days. And then I let my control slip. I'll go out with friends for a few drinks. Normally I'll just have water but sometimes I indulge. And that will turn into going for dinner and giving in to my cravings vs forcing myself to have that salad I don't want. I'm okay with where my body is right now. But I am also so close to my original goal weight that I just want to push that little bit harder.

So, where am I going from here? I'm hoping to do at least one Beauty post a week And one Health post a week? Try to keep myself accountable and on track. Here's hoping. Welcome back. Wish me luck!

[anditspretty]

Holy Grail - Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter

I haven't delved too far into the world of highlights. I have only bought one before and I'm not a huge fan of it. It is very gold toned and I'm not about it. I wanted something that was more silver toned. And then in walked Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in Aura. 

It is a gorgeous iridescent light pink. The pink doesn't really translate on the skin (at least on mine) but the highlight it leaves behind is gorgeous! You can sweep it lightly across your face once for a little bit of a pick-me-up or you can build it up for a bigger glow. Either way, I am obsessed with it! It's so subtle in the best way!

[anditspretty]

First Off - Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Eye shadow primer is probably the most important step in your eye makeup routine. It will keep your colour bright and bold and in place all day. I've only have sampled Too Faced Shadow Insurance but one application doesn't always give you a real idea of how the product works and how you react to it. So I was excited to get to try it properly.

That said... I hate it. It irritates my eyes and then they water and my makeup gets wiped away. I recently applied eyeshadow and it did not retain any of the colour. This might not be the fault of the primer, but it was not something I had noticed with my other primer. When it isn't irritating my eyes, it does keep my shadow in place. It doesn't crease. It just bothers my eyes. Otherwise it's good.

I know that this is one of the biggest seller of eyeshadow primer, and I am going to keep giving it a chance. But I think I would use it when I fill my brows in different colours, instead of on my eyelids.

[anditspretty]

First Off - Urban Decay Beached Bronzer

Bronzer always makes me nervous. I am so pale that everything is way too dark or too orange for my skin tone. At first, this bronzer looks way too dark. But the swatch took more than a single swipe. It is pigmented, but it takes a little bit of building up. And it blends out very easily.

This colour is called Bronzed. And I really like the colour. It's not too brown and it's not too orange. I think it will be perfect once I start getting a little bit more tanned. I don't think it will become my Holy Grail bronzer, but for now, I'm really liking it. 

[anditspretty]

First Off - Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I feel like my journey of dry eyes has been well documented. But, in case you are new here, the skin around my eyes gets super dry and itchy. Especially when I am wearing eyeshadow on a regular basis. 

For years now, my Holy Grail eye cream has been Benefit's It's Potent. When I finished my last jar, I thought it might be time to try something else. My eyes were really dry and watering, and it was messing up my makeup. I was hoping that if the skin was better moisturized, it would stop happening. And so the hunt began.

It was not a long hunt. I wasn't looking for anything that would stop puffiness (my eyes don't get puffy.) If it would reduce dark circles, that would be great. But mostly, I just needed something super hydrating. I had heard wonderful things about the Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and the reviews were pretty good for it. 

The reviews were pretty spot on. A little bit goes a long way. Although, I usually put a heavier layer on at bedtime than in the morning. But it's creamy, fast-absorbing and doesn't leave the skin feeling oily. I put it on first, before moisturizing, and by the time I am ready to start applying eyeshadow, it has absorbed. 

It has definitely kept my eyes moisturized and soft. And it wasn't too expensive either! (I will never understand why eye creams are so expensive.) If you just need an eye cream to keep everything soft, I would really recommend this one.

[anditspretty]

First Off - Urban Decay Naked Skin

This is not so much of a "First Impression" as a "Third Impression".  But I'm calling it First Off anyway.  

I bought this right when it came out and I’ve been holding on to it. I wasn’t a huge fan of it when I first tried it. It’s a pretty sheer foundation and you know I’m not about that life. But my skin has been clearing up (stay tuned for an updated skin care routine) and I’ve been able to give this foundation a fair try.

It’s that awkward season where I am at my palest from staying inside all winter and all of my foundations are way too dark for me. That is one of the reasons I reached for this. It is currently the palest foundation I have. And it’s pretty perfect.

When my only skin concern is dark circles, I found that Naked Skin has just enough coverage to even out my skin tone. It wears really well and sets perfectly with powder. I don’t think that it is meant as a super long wearing foundation, but it lasts all day with no issues.

This is my first step into the sheer foundation pool, but I would really recommend checking this out.  

[anditspretty]

Holy Grail - Bite Beauty Maple Agave Lip Mask

A while back, I got the original Agave Lip Mask. I only got to try it once before my Kitten Terrors got ahold of it and punched holes in the tube. But when Bite launched the maple line, I had get the maple lip mask.

The winters are cold and dry and every year my lips reach a point where none of my lip products are cutting it. Lip mask to the rescue! A little bit goes a long way and it's super hydrating. It completely changes how my lips feel. And, of course, there is the maple flavour that I am obsessed with. 

There are a few different options for this lip mask. There is the original, there is a champagne rose-gold one and a smashed on with a red wine finish. I think the maple is a Canadian release only. But the lip mask is a must have, just for your day to day lip care.

[anditspretty]

First Off - Marc Jacobs Birthday Gift

Every year Sephora gives out a birthday gift to the VIB members. And this year there was a choice. I can't remember what the other choice was. It might have bee some sort of skincare thing? Anyway, I chose the Marc Jacobs set. 

The set contains a mini Le Marc Crème Lipstick in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and a mini Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a cream rose colour. One swipe is super pigmented. It feels creamy and wears pretty well. It's held it's own against my coffee while I was writing this. And the colour is just gorgeous! It is going directly into my purse for adult type situations. 

And the eyeliner is amazing. It wears really well and doesn't smear throughout the day. Mini eyeliners are my favourite because they are small enough to fit in my pocket for touch ups. But with this one, I don't need to touch it up. It comes in an entire rainbow of colours that I will be checking out. 

If you are able to pick a birthday gift from Sephora, I really suggest this one.

[anditspretty]

Holy Grail - Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer

In part two of my 'I Bought Drugstore Makeup On A Time Crunch", I present to you Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer.

There isn't much to say. I am obsessed. I have had people comment on the fact that I don't look exhausted. And that is more than enough for me! It does an amazing job covering the black holes that currently live under my eyes. And it wears well. It has a wand and blends out perfectly.You can build it up, but you don't really need to. And it doesn't crease. After the first time I used it, I was in love. You need this in your life! Unless you are on of those weirdos who doesn't have dark circles. 

[anditspretty]

Holy Grail - Body Shop Body Butter

I live in the freezing cold and it's always very dry. My hands and legs are always super dry and itchy as a result.  I don't like lotion in a pump because I feel like there is so much wasted product. I've had various lotions but I like the Body Shop Body Butter. And, as you can see, I may have a problem.

For the longest time, I was just using the Pink Grapefruit scent. I would walk around citrusy all the time. It was marvellous! There are usually sales so they are never the full $20 price tag. And when the sales come around, I've started getting all the scents. So I can make an informed decision, of course. I enjoy all of them, except the chocolate one they had for a while. And the Vanilla Brûlée one seems to get stronger as the day wears on. 

Right now, I am in love with the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent. And, of course, my default, Pink Grapefruit. And it keeps my skin soft all day.

[anditspretty]

First Off - Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation

A while back, I was waiting for a friend and I was running out of time to do my makeup. So I ran into the drugstore and picked up some essentials so I could do my makeup in the car while I waited. I made my choices based on what was cheapest. And, for the most part, it worked out.

For foundation, I picked out Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation. It's a liquid mousse foundation that blends out easily and has very good coverage. I just blended it out with my fingers, but a Beauty Blender works well too, if you aren't doing your makeup in the car. It lasts all day. I normally set it with a powder.

I've been using it on a regular basis and I'm loving it. I think I would buy this again.

[anditspretty]

This Moment's Obsession - Benefit's Hoola and Hervana

I am really bad for not highlighting and cotouring when I have a full face of makeup on. My cheeks are just naturally pretty bright red. And I have very full, chubby cheeks, and I haven't found a way to contour them where it doesn't look like a streak down my face. 

Ages ago, when I first decided to attempt the contour life, I bought Benefit Hoola. And then, for good measure (or impulse) I bought Benefit Hervana at the recommendation of the girl at Sephora. 

Hervana was recommended to me because you can swirl it together and have it be darker or have it be softer. I usually end up with a softer blush which is how I prefer it. 

I like Hoola as well. I think the color is a little dark for my skin tone. But it blends nicely. 

They come in the cardboard boxes with the magnetic close. They came with little brushes that my cats have had a blast playing with. 

[anditspretty]

This Moment's Obsession - Disney Storylook Jasmine Collection

This is not anything new. I may have posted about this ages ago when it first came out, but I've recently re-discovered it. And I've become re-obsessed.

Ages ago, Disney released three Storylook colletctions. Cinderella was pretty but I didn't buy it. And then I got them email about the Jasmine collection and I freaked out. I may have squealed and ran to the bathroom at work to order it immediately. (Actually, that's exactly what happened.) And they finished up the trilogy with Ariel. (Stay tuned for that.)

I believe each collection had a compact mirror, a lip gloss set, a scent and the eyeshadow palette. Clearly, I bought the eyeshadows, and I also got the perfume. 

The packaging is adorable. The box is about the size of a book, as are Cinderella and Ariel. So you can have a little book collection on your desk. The box features a silhouette of Jasmine being her sassy self. The palette features the tagline "You're only in trouble if you get caught". The box that holds the eyeshadows is a purple satin and has a little tassel to pull it out of the sleeve. And the eyeshadows lift out of the box. So when you have finished the shadows, you can use it as a jewellery box. 

Unlike the other two palettes, which were all eyeshadows, Jasmine came with 15 eyeshadows, a blush and a bronzer. I am as pale as they come, so both of these were far too dark for me. So I have used them as eyeshadows. 

The eyeshadows themselves are gorgeous. The color payoff is phenomenal. There are a lot of neutrals to choose from and mix with a little pop of color. 

I also bought the perfume. The design matches the palette, except this one is more gold. And the tagline is "make your own magic". It smells amazing. But my only dislike is that it is an oil and doesn't come out of the rollerball very well. 

I've been told that there is going to be a Minnie Mouse collection coming out this spring. And with all the live-action remakes, I am hoping these make a comeback. I would really love more of these.

[anditspretty]

Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day, I spent the afternoon with my sister watching Deadpool. And, as it wasn't a work day, I got to wear my makeup as dark as I wanted. 

I used the Kat Von D Beethoven palette. I put Sinner on the lid, and blended Tequila over top as a highlight and Rad Purple in the crease. I used Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Mainline on the lid and on the waterline and Psychedelic Sister on the lower lash line. My lips is sporting one of my new favourite obsessions, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Echo. I swiped Bite Beauty Lip Gloss in Papaya. 

[anditspretty]

This Moment's Obsession - Smaug Phone Case

I recently got a new phone which means I had to start the hunt for a new phone case. This is a gargantuan task, as I am insanely picky about what I put on my phone. I looked around online and found my way on to Etsy. I found this little guy. When it arrived, I fell in love with it even more. Everyone needs a little bit of Smaug in their life.

It is a black rubber case and it fits my phone perfectly. It is easy enough to put on and take off if needed. It protects my phone when I drop it, which happens a lot. I bought it from Snarky Shark off Etsy. I really recommend checking out the shop. There are lots of cool things there. 

[anditspretty]

This Moment's Obsession - Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick

I have had my eye on this for a few months now. I have been trying to resist it. But, lucky for me, My Lover Dearest got it for me for my birthday! It doesn't go great with my hair (which is currently bright purple) but I don't care. I've been rocking it anyway. 

It's a deep shimmery green. It's very Slytherin. It smells like chocolate and is soft and creamy. I have only tried two of the colors from this line but I love them! And the color selections is exactly what you would expect from Kat Von D. I will probably be picking more of these up in the future.

[anditspretty]

Sweet Sixteen

My friend's little sister recently had her Sweet Sixteen and I was enlisted to help supervise. What started as a simple look took a turn and ended up super purple. I used the Kat Von D Chrysalis palette and Studded Kiss Lipstick in Coven .