Rachel Roy Animal Rings

I love Rachel Roy fashions and jewelry! It is so unique and yet affordable!

Rachel Roy approaches the design of her eponymous collection with a feminine and modern point of view. Her goal is to create clothing for women who embrace fashion and dress with an effortless elegance and confidence. The results encapsulate a fresh version of glamour that evades the standard protocol for dressing today. - via rachelroy.com

Her work can be purchased at the Bay in Canada, and selected locations Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales.

Here is my small collection:

Review: Love & Beauty Natural and Smokey palettes by Forever 21

I have bought both the Natural Palette and the Smokey palette only a few months ago as an impulse buy. It was so hard to resist since it's only $6.90 USD per palette. Plus, I've been a loyal Forever 21 customer for over 5 years. It's definitely one of my favorite stores.

The palette consists of 10 eye shadow wells - tints and tones of brown/black - including shimmery brown/black, taupe, a variation of ochre, and golden brown.

Forever 21 mini haul!

Oh yes I did! Total $35. Individual reviews to come. :)

Joe Fresh Style Nail Polishes: my stash + review

Joe Fresh Style nail polishes are cute and trendy! Available across Canada, they come in a variety of colours: fabulous seasonal or tasteful classics. I believe there is over 50 colours available right now. As a designer, I adore and admire the branding and packaging of Joe Fresh beauty and makeup line. Bravo Canada!

The majority of colours I own don't need a 2nd coat, but last only a few days without chipping. If you're looking for a high-quality, long lasting nail polish, then this may not be the one. But if you're trend-aware, budget-conscious individual, then get your hands on these lovely polishes!

The pricing is $4 for one, or three for $10. Sounds cheap, right? Actually, the product is a bit too pricey for its size. Here is an in-depth pros and cons list:

Pros:

• cute and trendy
• great colour selection
• fast drying

Cons:

• may require more than one coat
• lasts only for a few days without chipping
• the brush/handle is too short
• runny/thick consistency
• somewhat overpriced for the amount you get

Latest Etsy purchase - La Coquette Cosmetics

I've been addicted to etsy.com and all of the natural beauty products available from small indie brands or home businesses. Most items are very affordable and are of highest quality. Recently, I was looking for 28mm eyeshadow pans, similar to the ones sold by MAC and Coastal Scents, and found this from La Coquette Cosmetics. I ended up ordering 4 pans and baggies of samples.

I've had no problem with the order or the seller. The shipping from Florida to Vancouver, Canada (West-coast!) didn't take all that long. And the items came in a typical mailing envelope, which I prefer instead of boxes. Overall, great service! A+

The packaging was satisfactory. I liked the fact that the eyeshadows are both numbered and named - the list of samples provided was printed out by the seller - numbered, named, and accompanied with a list of ingredients. This information is also available online.

The quality is great and works very well with eyeshadow primer. The eyeshadow pans are hand-pressed and natural, therefore not perfect. But the texture is velvety and smooth, perhaps similar to high end brands like the Balm and Urban Decay. I was satisfied!

From left to right: #9, #12, #1, #4

Quality & Value: 5/5
Pigmentation: 4/5, has to be used with primer
Packaging: clean and simple
Lasting Power: 4/5
Price: $

Overall: 4.5/5

Would I buy it again? Yes!

THE BAY shoe haul - Extra 65% off clearanced shoes!

For the past few weeks I've been receiving emails and coupons from The Bay (department store that is something in between Macy's and Nordstrom). I've been going in and out the store, picking up all kinds of shoes, all under $50 dollars, and some as low as $11. All I can say is WOW! What a deal. :)

The Bay had some amazing deals this summer - 50% off, plus extra 15% off an item that is already on clearance! They've done an amazing job ever since being bought out by Americans. :) Yay to that!

You can also shop online but the deals are not as impressive. Plus, I enjoy the hunt for bargains!

Here is a breakdown of what I got (before tax):

Keds sneakers - $11.24
Jessica Simpson black pumps - $13.21
Anne Klein slingback shoes - $38.24
Libby Edelman booties - $24.99
Pegabo pumps - $21.65
Expression (The Bay brand) oxfords - $12

Everyday Minerals Arrived!

On July 26th, I have ordered two big containers of Sparkle Beige Lucent Powder by Everyday Minerals. I love their lucent powders and had to get it - Sparkle Beige is now discontinued!

The price was $4.50 per 5.5 grams of product. One container lasts me about 6 months to a year!

Shipping to Vancouver, Canada was $4.02...which is reasonable. Many etsy.com and other small businesses charge the same amount for shipping.

Reviews to come!

Forever 21 Jewelry Review

I love shopping at Forever 21. The store has been my go to place for jewelry and accessories for over five years. They have a wonderful selection of trendy necklaces, rings, bracelets, and more - often under ten dollars. My absolute favorite is anything cute like owls, hearts, and robots!

The best part is the most vast selection - they get new items almost everyday - and as a result I have never seen another person wearing my things.

Pros:

• comfortable
• in style, trendy 
• affordable
• good quality
• lots to choose from

The prices are unreal, often under five dollars for a ring. May I also add that I've never had anything broken! I am,  however, very careful with my stuff and if you're careful it will last a long time.

Affordable yet trendy - the reason why so many women and girls flock to Forever 21.

Cons:

• final sale, thus no money back

And here is some of the items I own:

Victoria's Secret Body Lotions and Creams

I've been using Victoria's Secret body lotions and creams for over 6 months after purchasing during the semi-annual sale in Winter. My initial impression was that the scent is too strong for everyday use, and it definitely is not for the office! I use it before bed, and by morning the scent is nowhere near as strong.

Other than that, the ingredients are not the healthiest kind (with parabens and all), but they do the job.

Overall, Victoria's Secret body lotions are hydrating, nourishing, comforting, and have a strong scent that will last much longer than many 'natural' lotions that I've tried.

If you love glamor and sweet perfume, then Victoria's Secret lotions are right for you!