EOS To The Rescue | Fighting The Winter Skin Blues

I was thinking to myself the other day how lucky I am to live in this beautiful country called Canada. Having travelled to many places over the years, I've seen with my own eyes the beauty that the world has to offer, but there truly is no place like home. Sometimes it feels like seasons change in the blink of an eye around here, and despite the challenges that come with cold winter weather (asthma, I'm talking about you), it is still one of my favourite seasons. Speaking of struggles, scaly skin and chapped lips are ones on the list this time of the year. It seems like no matter how mindful I am about staying hydrated and moisturizing daily, there are times when I just need to pull out all the stops because my skin is just that dry. So when I received a box full of EOS products when I could benefit from them most, let's just say I was grinning from ear to ear!

New Year's Eve Glam Makeup Tutorial | Soft Peachy Gold Eyes

This time of the year is always exciting when it comes to all things beauty! I really enjoy trying new makeup looks with colours I might not usually reach for, and this time around I thought I would share a simple New Year's Eve Makeup Tutorial that is glowy and bright, featuring peachy gold eyes and a pop of pink on the lips. You can glam it up even more with fake lashes and a smoky eye, it's entirely up to you!

Surya Brasil Natural Hair Care | Review

I've been lucky to have discovered many natural hair care lines that have worked well for my hair - I know from reading various blogs and from personal experience that it can be quite hard to find a natural line that won't leave your hair looking limp and feeling greasy since many of them are oil-based. The last few collections I've tried have been a hit, so I thought I would share my experience with the Surya Brasil vegan hair care line, which has on the other hand left me feeling slightly disappointed. My hair got along with one of the three products, so I'll be going into detail about what worked and what didn't work as well on my mane.

Last Minute Holiday 2016 Beauty Gift Ideas

Christmas is just a few days away, and you're still scrambling to pick out gifts for the ladies in your life? Don't worry, I've got you covered! I shared my Holiday Beauty Gift Guide the other day which is FULL of awesome gift ideas (if I do say so myself!), but I wanted to sneak one last post in and share some last minute gifting ideas in the form of beauty sets which I think are worth the mula.

Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Skin Care | Review

As a teenager, I tried a handful of over the counter and prescription topical treatments to help clear my acne, and although I would occasionally see results after a few weeks, none really worked long term. My acne was so bad that I ended up resorting to Accutane, which did clear up my skin after about a year of intake, but again my breakouts came back not even six months after finishing my treatment round, although I will say they were not nearly as severe or as painful. Over the years, my skin has become drier, which I think has also contributed to my acne becoming milder. While I don't use acne-specific skincare every day, I do reach for products that contain salicylic acid when my skin could use a little extra help. I've been giving the Philosophy Clear Days Ahead* line a try for the last month or so, and thought I would share how this new regimen has been working for me!

Holiday Gift Guide For Your Bestie ft. Yves Rocher + GIVEAWAY!

With Christmas being just a few short weeks away (seriously, where has the time gone?), now comes the time to figure out what to gift the special people in your life. I personally enjoy gifting more than receiving, so this time of the year always gets me super excited to shop for my loved ones. Of course, you can go the good old (and easy) route of asking your friends and family what is on their Christmas wish list, but sometimes you have no other choice than to go the extra mile and come up with ideas yourself (because who doesn't love being surprised?). Well, I'm saving you the trouble this year as I have compiled a bunch of gift ideas for your bestie, but really many of these can be applied to the women in your life, whether for your mom, aunt, sister, grandmother, co-worker, and the list goes on! But wait - it gets better! I have partnered with Yves Rocher* to bring you a Holiday giveaway, so keep reading to find out how you can enter to win a fabulous prize!

NIUCOCO Vegan Friendly Hair Care | Review

I always get super excited when I get contacted by a brand to try out their products, and when their products are natural, vegan and Canadian-made, the excitement is that much greater! I had come across NIUCOCO a few times on social media, with their line being recommended by a few accounts that I follow, so when an email landed in my inbox asking if I would be interested to test a couple of their products, I of course couldn't say no! I did not realize until I received the package that they are actually made here in Quebec - bonus points for being local!

Acure The Magical Wonderfluff and Moroccan Argan Oil Set | Review

I discovered Acure a few years ago when I ordered their Brightening Facial Scrub on iHerb.com. I am a huge fan to this day and was looking forward to try more from the brand. I recently got a few more products, namely their new The Magical Wonderfluff Overnight Hydrating Booster Mask* and Moroccan Argan Oil Set*. Both caught my eye right off the bat, and I've been testing them out these last few weeks. I thought I would share how I've been getting along with them, so here we go!

Glo Minerals Bold Pursuit Collection | Holiday Makeup

Can you believe how quickly the Holiday season has come? I'm in full gifting mode at the moment since I don't like leaving things to the last minute. While I used to make my way downtown to browse various shops, the last few years I've become much more of an online shopper, especially come Christmas time. Having worked in the retail industry for a number of years and having witnessed how chaotic and stressful one's shopping experience can be, the hermit in me is very grateful to be able to shop from home nowadays. I'll be sharing an awesome gift guide very soon (seriously, you won't want to miss it), but I thought I would start by shining a spotlight on a top contender for the beauty lover in your life: the Glo Minerals Bold Pursuit Collection*. I've been a fan of this brand for a few years now, and this set is too good not to share (pun intended)!

Lisap Top Care Hydra Care Repair for Hair | Review

Do any of you deal with dry and damaged hair? Despite not colour treating my hair, there are times when I need a bit of a boost to help restore moisture to my strands, especially after summer and spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun. As we are gearing up for winter, I've been testing out a few different hair care lines, one of which is the Lisap Top Care Hydra Care* collection. I've had the opportunity to try their summer care collection earlier this year as well as their Easy Build Hair Reconstruction System, so I was really looking forward to try out their newest products.

Chit Chat Get Ready With Me | Fall Makeup

Random fact about me: I get winded really easily - and I don't just mean while exercising. If I end up talking for too long (which for me would equate to over a minute, seriously), I become very out of breath. You can just imagine how this translates into public speaking, aka "not my forte". Even just sitting in front of my camera and talking to you guys requires a lot of exertion, but I thought it was about time I chatted and caught you up on some life happenings while doing my makeup, no music or other distractions. Thank goodness for cuts and retakes, because filming a video in one shot is basically impossible for me!

Maison Jacynthe Makeup | Compact Powder, Bronzer and Concealer

There's a lot of things that peak my interest, however natural makeup would have to be at the forefront. I have found many holy grails in the last couple of years since diving into green beauty, and I love coming across new finds. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you might remember me sharing skin care products from Les Soins de Jacynthe (I even filmed a video gushing over their line). Well, they have recently re-branded to Maison Jacynthe since they have expanded and now carry makeup! The brand is 100% cruelty free and made in Italy, but the company is based here in Quebec. I've been lucky enough to receive a few of their makeup items to try out to my great pleasure! Are their cosmetics just as good as their skincare? Read on to find out!

Paula's Choice Skincare For Dull, Acne-Prone Skin

I've been familiar with Paula's Choice for many years, but it wasn't until last year that I finally gave their products a try. Specifically, I got to test a handful of products from their Hydralight, Moisture Boost and Resist lines, as well as their Calm Redness Relief line. Their skincare products are highly coveted by many, and I've come to experience why they are so popular and well-loved. I recently received a handful of new products to try from the brand, and I'm here to report on how I've been getting along with them!

Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion Highlighter in 01 Golden Pink | Review

With the weather being so abnormally gloomy for the past month or so, I've felt quite uninspired to do a lot of things I would normally enjoy, and putting on makeup happens to be one of them. When the new Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion Highlighter* showed up on my doorstep however, I snapped out of my 'no makeup daze' rather quickly and wanted to play with it and see it in all of its glory, and so I did!

EPIC EMPTIES | Summer 2016 Edition

Story time: I've been meaning to film my summer empties ever since I got back from Italy over a month ago, and unfortunately the weather has just not cooperated on days I finally had time to film. This past month has actually been extremely rainy in Montreal (as in three times the normal amount of rain for this time of the year), and since I rely on natural lighting to film my videos it has been quite frustrating to say the least! I finally caught a ray of sunshine this past weekend and started setting up, and then of course the clouds came rolling in just as I was about to hit record... so I resorted to turning my ceiling light on to get me through. Lighting aside, I hope you still enjoy this video as I had lots of things to share (pun intended)!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #145

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Sothys Un Automne À Paris Collection | Review + Makeup Look

With autumn now in full swing, it can only mean one thing: the holidays are near! In the beauty world, that means an influx of holidays collections are stirring up a storm online, so much so that it's been hard to keep up. I'll be sharing a few F/W beauty collections with you in the coming weeks, and I thought I would kick things off with the Sothys Un Automne À Paris Collection*, featuring stunning shades that compliment all skin tones, anywhere from fair to deep. 

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #144

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

Tweet #WakeUpWednesdayLinkyParty144

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Joa Bath and Body Care | Review

It's been a while since I've talked skin care on the blog! Fear not, I have been putting many products to the test behind the scenes these last few months and I will be sharing more of my recent discoveries with you. One of these recent finds is the Joa Bath and Body line. This Canadian-made, natural product line was started by owner Cindy, who had suffered from sensitive skin throughout her childhood. When her children were afflicted with the same skin issues, she decided to venture into making beauty products that would soothe and calm the skin without using unnecessary, toxic ingredients which often come with side effects.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #143

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

Tweet #WakeUpWednesdayLinkyParty143

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

My Vegan Hair Care Routine | Pai-Shau Review

Earlier this year, I was debating whether to chop my hair off or grow it out, and I finally decided to just get a bit of a trim and keep it long. While I went for a more drastic haircut last year, I wanted to experience Rapunzel-like hair again and I am well on my way. I have previously shared my 21 Tips For Growing Long Luscious Hair FAST which I still swear by, and I figured I would take the time today to share what hair products I have been using in my routine by vegan professional hair care line Pai-Shau.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #142

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Backpacking through ITALY | Where To Go and What To See

You know that feeling you get when you're still on a high following a vacation? Well, that would be me right now, even though it's been almost two weeks since I've been back home. After visiting Greece last year and falling in love with Europe all over again (the last time I had been was a decade before when I visited family in Poland and had a school trip to Spain that same year), heading back was most definitely on my radar, although I didn't quite expect to be in the Mediterranean again exactly a year later! When my sister and I were brainstorming our next travel destination, Italy came up and we both sort of looked at each other and just nodded in agreement. We decided to put a twist on this trip and try backpacking for the first time. Since we would be moving around quite a bit and visiting multiple cities we figured it would makes things a lot easier, and we surely do not regret our decision! I also challenged myself to vlog our adventure - I absolutely love watching travel vlogs so I figured why not give it a try? I really hope you enjoy watching my video (this was my first time vlogging so it is quite different from my usual YouTube content, but was still super fun to film and put together nonetheless!)

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #141

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

Tweet #WakeUpWednesdayLinkyParty141

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipsticks | Review + Swatches

I like to think that I've come a pretty long way when it comes to wearing lipsticks - at first I hated their texture and avoided them altogether, but then progressively warmed up to them, only sticking to "my lips but better" shades. In recent years however, I've become much more adventurous and enjoy wearing bolder hues such as bright corals, deep reds and even plums. Make Up For Ever has just come out with their new Artist Rouge Lipstick Collection*, and when MUFE comes out with new lipsticks, you know there are bound to be fun and out of the box colours to choose from. I received a surprise package from the brand containing six lipsticks from their new line, including shades I've never tried before (blue and taupe lips anyone?). They have also collaborated with Swedish electropop singing duo Icona Pop to release two limited-edition lipsticks, which I have to share with you below.

HUGE Vegan Snack Haul | iHerb.com

The snack attack hit me hard again a few weeks ago when I decided to place a haul on iHerb.com to try out some new vegan food. I had so much fun filming my last vegan taste test video that I felt compelled to do it all over again. The funny thing is, if you had asked me a few years back if I thought I would ever film myself eating in front of a camera to share with the world, I probably would have laughed and said "yeah... that's never gonna happen." Anywho, I hauled a bunch of snacks that caught my eye, including some I have been wanting to try for a while and was pleased to find out could be purchased on their website. Without further ado, I present you this epic food haul!

The Compassionate Chick's Guide to DIY Beauty | Book Review

Since transitioning to a plant-based diet over two years ago, I've also become very interested in natural beauty products and now follow many bloggers and vloggers who have inspired me to look for products with good-for-you ingredients as well as vegan and cruelty-free alternatives. One of those bloggers is Sunny Subramanian of veganbeautyreview.com. She has been running her website since 2007 and is actually the original vegan beauty blogger - now that's impressive! When scrolling though my Instagram a few weeks ago, I came across this post in which Sunny announced that she co-wrote a book with her friend Chrystle Fiedler called "The Compassionate Chick's Guide to DIY Beauty: 125 Recipes for Vegan, Gluten-Free, Cruelty-Free Makeup, Skin & Hair Products*." I immediately added it to my reading list, and lo and behold, a few days later I was contacted by her publisher asking if I was interested in receiving a copy pre-release - talk about making my day!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #137

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

***************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this weeks Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Make Up For Ever Water Blend Face and Body Foundation | Review

I used to reach for very high coverage foundations (I even filmed My Acne Coverage Foundation Routine showing you my go-to full coverage foundation in one of my earliest videos), but over the past year or so I've been gravitating toward more sheer base makeup. My skin is still far from flawless, but I've come to terms with my imperfections and don't feel as bothered if a scar or breakout is not perfectly covered. I was really happy to see that Make Up For Ever just came out with their new Water Blend Face and Body Foundation*, said to provide a your-skin-but-better coverage that looks natural and stays put throughout the day. I don't recall ever trying a water-based foundation so I was really excited to give one a go.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #136

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

*******************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

The Sunscreen Edit | 11 Skin Care Products with SPF to Suit Your Needs and Budget

As I was cleaning my office the other day and sorting through my desk drawers (which is also where I happen to store the majority of my skin care products), it came to my attention that I have a LOT of sunscreen. Granted, half of these I received in the last few months from various brands and as crazy as it may sound, I have actually been able to put each one to the test since the weather has been so hot and sunny this summer, so I thought it was about time I sat down and shared my stash with you. Here we go!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #135

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

Tweet #WakeUpWednesdayLinkyParty135

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

The FaceOff Challenge | Removing ALL Of My Makeup Using Only A Cloth!

Makeup removal can be seen as a dreaded daily task - you fall asleep on the couch just to realize you forgot to wash your face off when you wake up hours later (yup that's happened quite a bit I won't lie), or you just find the overall routine takes too much time, effort and well, requires way too many products to get every last trace of impurity off. Lucky for us, there is this new thing that seems to be popping up a bit everywhere that could remedy the situation - I'm talking makeup removal cloths. I know what you're thinking, aren't these nothing new? Well, they aren't just your average disposable towelettes you get at the drugstore, but reusable thin microfibre cloths made to remove every last trace of makeup without requiring any additional product. It almost sounds too good to be true, right? That's why I decided to put The FaceOff Makeup Remover Cloth* to the test and take them up on their all-in-one makeup removal challenge.

Hask Kalahari Melon Oil Hair Collection | Review

Watermelon just so happens to be my favourite fruit, so imagine my excitement when I found out that there is a range of hair products that smells just life the real stuff. I must preface this post by saying that the Hask Kalahari Melon Hair Collection* was developed for colour treated hair, which I do not currently have, but I figured there wouldn't be much harm in giving it a try on my natural hair. I don't style my hair very often (I honestly can't remember that last time I used a hot tool), but when it comes to trying new shampoos and conditioners, I'm always keen!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #134

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Your link will appear on the blogs of

Please take time to visit your hostesses.

Make Up For Ever Excessive Lash Mascara | Review

Oh how I wish I was born with long, dark and fluttery lashes! Having pin straight and blonde eyelashes means that they are basically invisible unless I give them a good curl and a coat (or seven) of mascara. There are thankfully ways to grow your lashes naturally (see here for what I am currently using), however mascara is always a necessary step for me to really make them stand out. I haven't had much luck with volumizing mascaras in the past which is why I prefer lengthening ones, but I'm always game to put either one to the test. Enter the Make Up For Ever Excessive Lash Mascara*, said to bring instant volume and definition thanks to its clump-free formula.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #133

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

SIBU Sea Berry Therapy Skin Care | Review

It's no secret that I have tried many skin care products over the last few years from a variety of brands, but SIBU Sea Berry Therapy will always have a special place in my heart. You see, SIBU Beauty, as it what then called, was the very first company that reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of their skin care products, namely the Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser. I still remember my excitement as if it were yesterday: that a company believed in my blog enough to send me their product - I felt like the luckiest person in the world. Not only that, but all of their products are PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free, which makes me love them even more. When I heard that they recently re-branded and wanted to send me some of their summer essentials, I of course couldn't say no!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #132

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Your link will appear on the blogs of

Please take time to visit your hostesses.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette | Review, Swatches + Makeup Look!

I'm a little late to the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette party, especially considering it isn't currently available for purchase, but the good news is that Too Faced Cosmetics co-founder Jerrod Blandino announced on his Instagram that it will be re-released this coming November due to high demand. And the news keeps getting better, with Blandino spilling the beans just a few days ago that a Sweet Peach GLOW Highlighting Palette is expected to release next spring! Oh my - can we talk about a packaging match made in heaven? I can't wait to see what's inside! I have to credit fellow Canadian beauty blogger Julie at Swatch and Review for making this post (and video) possible - I got lucky and won her fabulous giveaway a couple of months ago. If you don't already follow her, you definitely should!

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #131

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

How to Easily Purify Your Tap Water For Safe Drinking ft. ZeroWater

Did you know that the human body is composed of an average of 60% water? In fact, the brain and heart are made up of 73% water, the lungs contain 83% water, our skin is 64% water, our muscles and kidneys are 79% water and even our bones are 31% water (source). Kind of crazy when you really think about it - we are basically a walking body of fluid! Because our total body water varies by about 1% each day, mostly through water loss via perspiration and urination, it is important to make up for this loss with sufficient daily fluid intake (source). I'm sure you are all aware of the importance of drinking water (I personally aim for 2+ liters per day), but it isn't until recently that I learned about water quality and how you can test your tap water to make sure it is safe for drinking thanks to ZeroWater*.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #130

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Pearl & Daisy Natural Soap Company Skin Care | Review

In the last few years, I have come across many amazing skin care brands that have left me wanting to try more. Pearl & Daisy would be one of them - I was first introduced to this 100% natural line earlier this year and was super impressed. For a little more background on this Canadian brand, I invite you to read my original post. I recently received a surprise delivery with a few more of their skin care products and thought I would fill you in on how I have been enjoying them in the last couple of weeks.

Wake Up Wednesday Linky #129

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

*****************

**************************************************

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this week's Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party. 

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!