NOTW : vintage roses

I ordered some dotting tools from Amazon a couple weeks ago and they finally came in last Friday. I couldn't wait to try them out and decided to beat the winter blahs with a manicure that made me think of spring. One of the main places I find inspiration is from Pinterest so I went searching for a photo that struck my fancy. The look that I decided on used a Tiffany blue colour for the base and coral accent nails. Using 4 different size dots, I easily created this take on vintage roses. They kind of remind me of Laura Ashley wallpaper and M. loves them - obsessed!!

| Don't mind the gnarly cuticles and pre-cleanup mess. |

NOTD: Revlon Midnight Affair

As well as getting more into makeup, I've also fallen back in love with nail polish. I love how easy it is to change things up depending on the season or my mood. I've also fallen down the rabbit hole that is indie polishes and recently purchased my first A Englands. This could be dangerous... Check out these beauties.

| Left to right, top photo: St. George, Dragon, Princess Tears |

Here are a few of my most recent manicures.

| Essie Mademoiselle & Set in Stones |

| China Glaze Pelican Grey and Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie |

| Julep Lynn and Sienna |

And my current manicure...

| Revlon Midnight Affair and Nicole by OPI Make a Comet-Ment |

What is your favourite nail polish brand or colour?

Favourite products of 2012

2012 marked the year that I started getting back in to make-up. It's not that I was going out bare-faced before - quite the opposite - but I had been using the same MAC eyeshadow colours and Maybelline mascara for years. I also only ever wore Burt's Bees lip balm, occasionally lip gloss, and was positive that I hated lipstick.

I started drifting away from design blogs and became more interested in beauty blogs and You Tube channels; after all, I can't afford an Eames chair but I can afford Nars blush! On that note, here are some of my favourite products from 2012.

- Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray - It keeps my hair in place without being sticky, flaky, or stiff. Plus, it smells nice!
- bumble and bumble tonic lotion - I spray this on damp hair after a shower and I've really noticed a difference. It especially helps with keeping static to a minimum.
- Curel Hand & Cuticle Therapy - I received both this and the foot therapy in past Glossyboxes and I love them both! They are moisturizing and non-greasy and they both smell nice. Plus, they are super affordable at approx. $3.99!

 - The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover - I've tried different eye make-up removers but always come back to this one. It's non-greasy and doesn't sting my eyes which even a lot of the other "gentle" removers do. Plus, it takes off most stubborn mascaras. At $15.00 CDN it's a little pricier than drugstore products, but worth it in my mind.
- Farmhouse Fresh Splendid Dirt Nutrient Mud Mask with Organic Pumpkin - My sister's best-friend manages a spa in Calgary and I discovered this product there. This stuff is seriously amazing! It smells good enough to eat and makes my skin feel so soft and clean.
- Rocky Mountain Soap Company Aloe Hydrating Toner - I am obsessed with Rocky Mountain Soap Company! In our house we use their bar soaps and liquid hand soaps every day and all other products I've tried have been fantastic. I love that they are a local company (Canmore, AB) and their products are all natural. This toner does a great job of hydrating my skin without making it oily.

 

- Benefit They're Real mascara - This stuff is incredible! I've reviewed it previously, here.

- Buxom Stay-There eyeshadow in Mutt - I love the feel of these eyeshadows. They are super soft and silky and glide on easily. They are also easy to build up and the shimmer is gorgeous!

- Wet & Wild eyeshadow trio in Sweet As Candy - I must say, Wet & Wild has come a long way from the company I knew as a teenager and, seeing how popular they are with the beauty blogger community, I'm obviously not the only one. These shadows are smooth and silky and the colour payoff is great. Amazing value!

- NYX jumbo eye pencil in cottage cheese - Honestly, the name kind of grosses me out but this eye pencil is amazing! Glides on smoothly and is perfectly for the inner corner of the eye.

- Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - I received this eyeliner in the Fall Luxe Box and it got me over my fear of liquid liner. It has a marker-type tip so you don't have to worry about it drying out and once it sets, it doesn't smudge.

- Stila Smudge Crayon in pink violet - I first saw this and the Buxom eyeshadow mentioned in a tutorial video from NikkiRothBeauty. The combination of the taupe/bronze and the violet is beautiful! It glides on easily and blends well.

Top to bottom: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, NYX jumbo eye pencil in cottage cheese, Stila Smudge Crayon in pink violet, Buxom Stay-There eyeshadow in Mutt.

- Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek blush in Feather - I'm so sad that I only discovered this brand towards the end of the year and now it's discontinued at Sephora. This blush is seriously amazing - it feels like silk and the colour is beautiful.
- Benefit Cha Cha Tint - Benefit is famous for their cheek and lip tints, specifically Benetint, but Cha Cha Tint is the first one I've tried. It looks scary when first applying it - it's a really bright orange/coral colour - but once it's either blended or blotted, the colour is truly beautiful. I mainly wear it as a lip tint, because I haven't gotten the hang of blending it on my cheeks, and I love it.

Top to bottom: Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek blush in Feather, Benefit Cha Cha Tint and Cha Cha Tint blended

 - Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks in 381B Violette Coquette and 379N Rose Sulfureuse - I fell in love with lipstick this year, specifically these two from Lancome. The colours look amazing on the lip and the formula is incredible. So pigmented and smooth to apply.

 Top: 379N Rose Sulfureuse Bottom: 381B Violette Coquette

 - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten and Adore - This is another product that I think deserves the hype it received. These balm stains are amazing - smooth to apply, easy to build colour from sheer to deep and are decently hydrating. They have a nice peppermint tingle when applied.

Top: Smitten Bottom: Adore (excuse the messy swatches - it was tough for this lefty to do these with my right hand.)

What were your favourite products this year? Did you discover anything new?