12.30.2017

Day to Night | AUrate New York

Taking an outfit from day to night is no easy task. I mean, let's face it, how many of us have stopped at home after work to change before going out on a date or out with the girls? But a complete outfit change isn't always necessary. All you need are the right accessories.

Enter AUrate New York.

AUrate New York is a jewelry company that is constantly doing their best to give back to the community that surrounds them. Not only are their products ethically sourced and produced, they are supporting the improvement of literacy in schoolchildren. In partnership with Mastery Charter, they use a portion of every single purchase made in their stores and on their website to donate books to the schoolchildren of New York. This cause, A Book for a Look, is this company's way of working towards raising the literacy rate in their community. You can read more about this cause here and here.

I'm so excited to be participating in AUrate New York's Day to Night Challenge. Currently, they are working with bloggers on an empowerment project, creating day-to-night transition looks. For my transition look, I went with an office-appropriate ensemble, featuring this Chicwish sweater.

For the day look, I paired the sweater with a pair of wide-legged trousers and nude pumps, both from Topshop, for a clean look. I accented the outfit with these small, diamond hoops and this pendant necklace.


Trousers: Topshop (similar) | Pumps: Topshop

For the night look, I switched out the trousers for dark-wash, flared jeans from Current Elliot and red pumps from Topshop for a pop of colour, creating a more laidback yet fun look. I accented the outfit with this pair of jacket earrings, this choker, and this necklace.

Jeans: Current/Elliott | Pumps: Topshop


What I love most about the jewelry from AUrate New York is how simple, clean, and timeless their designs are. Their pieces are versatile, standing well on their own and pairing well with other items as well. But the fact that this company uses ethically sourced materials and gives back to their community with every purchase makes their jewelry even more desirable.

You can check out the rest of AUrate New York's jewelry here.

Happy New Year Xx.
SaveSaveSaveSave

8.31.2017

August Favourites





1. SHOES: I have been wearing this pair of white sneakers from Payless Shoes almost every day this month. I think they are the perfect summer shoe! Light, comfortable, versatile...yes, white shoes do show dirt quite quickly, but the beauty of a canvas pair is that they are so easy to wash!
2. CLOTHING: I have been wearing so many light, breezy tops this month. BC has been experiencing the most ridiculous heat wave this summer, and light chiffon tops have been a great way to beat the heat. H&M is my go-to store for these kinds of shirts. I love the fit of colour options of this blouse, and the cut of this blouse would be very cute tucked into cut off denim shorts.
3. ACCESSORIES: Of course, my go-to summer accessories are sunnies. Usually, I reach for my aviators, but this month I have been donning my wayfarers much more often.
4. MUSIC: My husband and I are huge country music fans. And lately, both of us have been listening to a lot of Kelsea Ballerini. Her music is upbeat, and is so easy to listen to. Her next album, 'Unapologetically', is coming out on November 3 and I am so excited to hear how she is progressing as an artist.
5. BEAUTY: I like keeping my day-to-day skincare as simple as possible, without sacrificing a deep clean. The Penetrating Charcoal Bar from Bioré is just that: simple and deep-cleaning. My skin feels so clean, supple, and tingly after every use. I have also been loving the Amazing Grace perfume from philosophy (read my review here) and the Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara from L'Oreal Paris (read my review here).

What have you been loving this month? What were your go-to pieces? What track did you have on repeat? Let me know in the comments Xx.

8.17.2017

Philosophy | Review

I am a girl of simple taste; always have been.

I tend to describe my style as minimalistic, timeless, and classic. I don't like to venture outside of my comfort zone. That is why I love this scent from philosophy.


This scent is so beautiful! It is light, floral, not overly sweet, and has an almost musky undertone to it. I would describe it as feminine and empowering, yet mild and simple.


The packaging perfectly suits the scent as well. It is simple and understated. Feminine and graceful without appearing overly delicate. 


This is my current favourite perfume, and I wear it almost every day.
I got this as a free sample with a Sephora purchase, and I will be returning to buy a larger bottle. This perfume is the embodiment of grace and modern feminity. 

8.14.2017

The Denim Mini | Trending

The denim mini has had a facelift this season. Embroidery, studs, distressing to the extreme...designers everywhere have revamped the denim mini skirt into something fresh and new, yet classic in its origins. The denim mini has been my favourite addition to any casual summer outfit this year. Here are some of my favourite ways to style the new-and-improved denim mini skirt.
Enjoy! Xx.




Shop the trend here:




8.09.2017

Mikasa Beauty | Review

Mikasa Beauty recently reached out to me with the opportunity to try out some brushes of my choosing. I will tell you about my brushes in a bit, but first let me tell you about Mikasa Beauty and why I was so drawn to this opportunity.

Image courtesy of Mikasa Beauty

Mikasa Beauty is a Vancouver-based makeup brush company. Since they are quite a new company, they are setting themselves apart from other more established brush companies by focusing on their current designs, as opposed to expanding product lines. This immense attention has created a line of beautiful and affordable quality brushes.


Image courtesy of Mikasa Beauty

I ordered the 4 Piece Essential Eye Set and they are a dream!
My favourite brush from this set has to be the blending brush. The brush hairs are soft and gentle on the skin, but them have enough rigidity and stiffness to actually do their job well. The eye shader brush looks like your generic eye shadow brush, but the brush hairs are quite stiff, allowing for a richer, brighter application of shadow.


Until now, I had never owned an eyeliner brush or a pencil brush, and I thought that these two brushes would just end up gong unused. as it turns out, these two little brushes are the best tools for achieving the perfect smokey eye look! The liner brush is small enough and precise enough for bringing eyeshadow along the bottom lashes. The pencil brush works perfectly for smudging out harsh eyeliner and dark shadow.


Along with my brushes, I was gifted the Lemon Drop Sponge. I don't usually use sponges in my makeup application, but this sponge is wonderful! It is small enough to reach every crease and corner, and provides buildable coverage. What I really love about this sponge is that I find that I use way less foundation when using it.

Overall, these brushes are beautifully made, easy to use, and so affordable.
I love supporting local companies, and I can definitely see myself purchasing my makeup brushes from Mikasa Beauty from now on.

Check out their brushes here.


Want your own brush set? Looking to expand your brush collection?
Get 25% off your order from Mikasa Beauty using this code:
BRUBCBABE25




8.03.2017

A Trip to Paradise | Review

I am a mascara addict.

Mascara was the first beauty product I ever wore and it is the one piece of makeup that I am always wearing. I can live without highlighter. I can live without eyeshadow. I can even live without concealer. But you can never take away my mascara!

Over the years, I have tried so many different mascaras. Covergirl, Rimmel, Revlon...you name it, I've probably tried it. But none of these products ever really gave me that "Wow!" factor. A couple have come close, but there has always been something that I was let down by.

And then, a last minute wedding beauty purchase changed everything.
Enter: L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise.

This is the perfect mascara! 
It curls...it volumizes...it lengthens...it darkens. The formula is long-lasting, does not flake and remains soft to the touch all day. 
Again I say: this mascara is perfect.


The packaging is so feminine and tasteful, with a metallic rose gold body and gold accents. The wand is easy to handle and doesn't feel bulky in your hand. The brush has a slight hourglass shape to it that grabs every lash and coats it with mascara, without applying too much.


I absolutely love this mascara! It's a quality product that is reasonably priced and delivers absolutely beautiful results that will not disappoint. The name says it all: lash paradise.


Cheers Xx.

7.29.2017

7.18.2017

A Summer Staple: Black and White Dress

This post is sponsored by Rosegal. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.


Summer is a time for breezy fabrics, dynamic prints, and fabulous accessories. Keeping reading for a simple, chic way to style a black and white dress, layered with a criss cross crop top

I love a black and white dress for summer because it is a perfect base. You can easily go from a bohemian day look to a more glamorous night look simply by switching out your accessories. I especially love this printed black and white dress for summer because of its bell sleeves and the intricate print.

Lace crop tops and bralettes are perfect for summer layering. They are light and comfortable, and the lace adds a cute, feminine touch to your outfit.

These earrings are perfect for summer! Glitzy enough for a night out on the town, but not too fancy for a shopping trip downtown or a walk on the beach.

Obviously sandals in summer are a must, but this year's summer shoe trend - the chunky heel - is an essential! These sandals are perfect for summer, thanks to the mixed textures of the suede toe strap and the faux leather ankle strap. Show off your summer pedicure in these cute sandals!

It is common knowledge that summer is a great time to wear bright colors. And while this is not wrong, summer is also the perfect time of year to wear earthier, more natural colors as well. That's why this handbag is fantastic for summer. It's also the perfect size and the suede accents on the flap soften the overall look of the bag itself.

You want some new clothes? Why not take a look over here?
Summer sales are going on, all from 33% off. Use code RGEN for another 10% off!
Time for a new outfit!

Surprise code: RGEN



6.06.2017

Summer Sun Skincare

Summer's here! Finally!


And with summer comes to usual array of activities: beach days, picnics in the park and, if you are a fellow Vancouverite, many bike rides around the Stanley Park Seawall.
Another expected Summer activity? Nursing that sunburn you got after being out in the sun all day.


I have had my fair share of sunburns and, to be quite honest, I am done with it. The pain, the dryness, and the peeling. Oh, the peeling! NO MORE.


As I was (ironically) nursing a pretty nasty sunburn a little while back, I got an email from the people at Reviews.com, asking me to write a post on a review they did recently...on the best sunscreens of 2017! It's like they knew.


In my opinion, the most important point that is made in the article is that any sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30 is basically useless. While the SPF (sun protection factor) of any sunscreen means that you will be protected from the damaging effects of the sun for that many times more than if you had no sunscreen. However. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 to 3 hours because the first application will be sweat off or washed off as you swim. So even  though, mathematically, wearing SPF 50 has you protected for 500 minutes, you will need to reapply after 120 to 180 minutes.


Another important point that the article made is that you should be applying a water-resistant sunscreen. I know that this is a pretty simple point to make note of, but it is so easily overlooked. The same goes for powder and spray-on sunscreen. The ease of the application completely overshadows all of the lost and misdirected sunscreen.


The article ends with a list of the best sunscreens in four categories: coverage, sensitive skin,  face, and physical activity. Read the article for yourself to see what information stands out to you.
Read the article here.


Cheers, babes Xx.

6.01.2017

Bridal Fever

Hey guys!


I know it's been a long time since I've posted here. But, you see, I've had a lot going on.
I'm getting married in only 2 short weeks, and there is still a lot to do. Confirm head count, wedding favours, programs, wine selection, tips and gratuity calculations...


But let's focus on today.


When you first get engaged, the first thing that a new bride tends to want to check off her to do list is find her wedding dress.
I should know. Finding my dress was the first thing I did, too.


The issue with planning a wedding while being fully employed is that you tend to work during the business hours of most bridal shops. And sometimes you can't take time off of work to go dress shopping because, let's face it, wedding dresses take quite a while to get in and out of.


This is where online bridal stores come into play. These online stores are fully stocked with a wide selection of wedding dresses in many different styles, colours, and materials.
Milly's Bridal in the UK is one such store.


Just by reading through their return policy, it is clear that they have their customer's happiness and satisfaction in mind at all times. They also have three super helpful guides on their homepage that cover choosing the best silhouette for your body, a suitable neckline, and the right train length for your big day.


Here are some of my favourite dresses from Milly's Bridal. The links will be below.
Just remember that when it comes time for you to choose your own wedding dress, stick to who you are and don't let anyone pressure you into getting a dress that you do not love entirely.
Cheers babes Xx.




 
 
 



2.27.2017

Winter Care From ELF

Another big snow fall for Vancouver. Awesome.
Don't get me wrong, I think the fresh snow is absolutely beautiful. But I can do without the dry, damaged hair and the chapped, cracking lips.
In the past, lip balm would tend to be quite effective. But this year was different.
This year was frigid, with over 5 feet of snow accumulation. This year, lip balm just didn't cut it.

Meet the savior of my lips.
This lip exfoliator from e.l.f. is amazing! Easy to use, effective but not too harsh, and it smells delicious. I have only been using this product for a week, and I already see improvement. My lips are softer,  they are not cracking anymore, and they are not anywhere near as chapped as they had been.
What is your Winter care routine?
Xx.

2.16.2017

Face Time

I have never been a huge skin care nut. I was always perfectly content with my Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash and Aveeno moisturizer. That worked well enough for me.
Fast-forward 7 years.
I have burnt my face too many times to count, I wear more makeup than just concealer, and I am living with more stress and much less sleep. All of this has taken a huge toll on my skin. My dynamic duo simply doesn't cut it anymore. So after some extensive research, I decided to try out some clay masks from The Body Shop.
These masks are amazing! I use each of them on a weekly basis. I use this mask on Sunday or Monday, and this mask Friday evening. The Tea Tree mask is perfect for a skin refresh/reset. The smell is relaxing, and it leaves behind a tingly, clean sensation. The Seaweed clay mask is a perfect way to close out your week. It really gets into your pores and cleans them out. I must caution you, however: this mask burns a little bit the first time you use it.




Since I started using this masks regularly, I've notice that my skin has gotten much softer and more hydrated. I still get the occasional breakout, but they are easier to deal with and my spots go away faster and with less effort.
What are you favourite Body Shop products?
Let me know in the comments below! Xx.

2.08.2017

Winter Colour

Shop My Look:
Sweater: Le Chateau | Coat: Forever 21 (similar, similar) | Boots: Modcloth (also love these and these)

Winter is such a confusing time for me. I love Winter fashion and think snow is absolutely beautiful! However, I hate the cold. So when I find Winter pieces that actually keep me warm (without being so thick that I look like a marshmallow), I wear them as much as I possibly can. This knit tunic from Le Chateau is one of those pieces. The length is perfect, it is a thick enough knit to keep me warm but not bulky, and I love the cowl neck! And when paired with this gorgeous coat from Forever 21, I am actually able to leave my house during this Winter storm that Vancouver is stuck in.
Stay warm out there Xx.


1.26.2017

Birthday Wishlist

With my birthday coming up next week, it seems like a good time to put together a list to inspire and point my loved ones in the right direction.
1. Clothes: ever since seeing Danielle Bernstein's custom leather jacket, I have been dreaming of having my own Namesake leather jacket.  I just love how customizable they are!

2. Beauty: I have been loving Too Faced products lately. The colors are rich, yet still subtle. I especially love this eye shadow palette, this contour kit, and the shimmer in this blush is to die for!

3. Accessories: I have a recently developed love for Pandora. My fiancé gave me my charm bracelet for my birthday when we first started dating, and he has been adding charms to it ever since. But these two silver entwined rings have caught my eye this year.

4. Tech: I have never been one for taking pictures and carrying around a camera. The whole going out to get them developed and printed always turned me off. But these mini instant cameras are so portable that they might just turn me into a budding wannabe photographer.

Xx.

1.20.2017

Summer Dreaming

Though I may look better in cool winter tones, I am totally a summer person!
I long for hot sunny days, shorts, breezy tanks, and sun-kissed skin. 
So let's celebrate winter thawing!
Below you will find a compilation of my favourite (and, hopefully, future) summer pieces from Lulus'. I love the bold prints, flowing silhouettes, and the relax aesthetic that Lulu's pieces all seems to have.  
What part of summer are you most excited for?
Xx.    
Shop here: lulus.com