Sephora Haul :: Jack Black Lip Balm

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far! 

Anyways, where I live, the weather is absolutely crazy at the moment! Yesterday it was approximately 10°C and today we had 10cm of snow! Talk about two different extremes! Anyways, Canada is especially known for its constantly fluctuating weather and this year is no exception. Since this week has been so crazy, despite my attempts to stay hydrated with lots of water, my lips are painfully dry and chapped.

To remedy this, I have been using Maybelline's Baby Lips, EOS Strawberry Balm, and Burt's Bee's Lip Balm. However, I find that these lip balms aren't very hydrating. Since I still have a $20 gift card to Sephora from Christmas I decided to try out Jack's Black Moisture Therapy Lip Balm in Lemon! It smells so yummy!

Jack Black Moisture Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon - $9

Let's hope this solves my chapped lip problem!

Thank you for reading!

elle xx

New in my Jewel Box :: Chanel 2014 Earrings

Hello Everyone!

When I went to the opening of Chanel at Yorkdale Mall I stumbled across these earrings. Due to the price tag, I decided I should sleep on the decision to purchase them (though I realized I didn't have much time since they were a seasonal pair of earrings). Slept on it and decided that I was going to purchase them.

I absolutely adored the filigree finishing on these earrings and couldn't let them go since they are a part of the seasonal collection which makes them unique and unlikely to reappear in the future. They also had a matching brooch (surprisingly for the same price) and necklace which I really loved but the brooch is impractical for me and the necklace was a little disproportioned by the large pearl in my opinion. All three also came in a nude option opposed to the black.

Anyways, here they are!

Edit: Since purchasing these in December, Chanel has made them part of the permanent collection.

$325+taxes

Thanks for reading! 

elle xx

New in My Closet :: Magenta Madness Sale Haul - Burberry Trench Coat

The Magenta Madness Sale was pretty crazy at Yorkdale's Holt Renfrew last night! I originally wanted to go to see if the Alexander Wang Rockie was 50% off, but it turns out that Marc by Marc Jacobs and Burberry (amongst other things too) were on sale!

I went to line up to get a MbMJ Fran, but by the time I was able to get into the leased store, they were sold out :(

But the shopping trip was also a success! I've told myself when I graduate and can afford a Burberry trench coat, I would get one (since they are $1k+!). But it turns out that the Burberry RTW was surprisingly 50% off (which never happens)!!! So I was able to get my hands on it with the money I saved up for my MbMJ Fran! Hopefully, the burgundy/wine coloured Fran will stick around for awhile as it's still a bag on my wishlist. I was the first ones to apparently recognize the Burberry sale (since the Burberry sale starts for 1 hour at 10pm; I grabbed them and put it on hold / suspended purchase at 9pm)... after people saw me get it they were gone like crazy. I managed to help my mom buy one for herself and my dad too - so the whole family matches! :D Anyways, this probably means I should return my Club Monaco Trench I scored from Black Friday.

Edit: I found out later that Burberry went on sale since Burberry is no longer being sold by Holt Renfrew. Burberry has become a leased brand within the company. This means that Burberry rents out their own store within Holts and is responsible for sales and all things associated with it. Holts no longer has control over their merchandise though leased companies can opt to participate in a company wide sale.

Thanks for reading!

elle xx

Haul :: Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse November 2013

Hello Everyone!

It's that time of year again! Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse Sale has opened its door for the holiday season. This week was the first weekend open and it was packed! I went with my mother at 5pm on Sunday (it closes at 6pm) as we normally run in the last hour to grab what we want and leave. However, this time we had to wait 20 minutes to get in! 

My mother and I wanted to run in for 2 things. I wanted shampoo/conditioner and she wanted her H2O skin care products. We ended up buying a lot more than we both had planned...

Here's my portion of the haul! Pretty crazy. Keep reading for prices!

Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo for Dry Hair ($4.99) and the Evolve Stay Soft Daily Conditioner ($4.99)

This year Lisa's Cosmetics added two new makeup lines to their list: Stila & Anna Sui. I love Anna Sui packaging and picked up the following:

• Anna Sui Lip Rouge V in 460 for $10.99
• Anna Sui Face Color Accent Blush in 400 for $12.99
• Anna Sui Eye Color in 102 for $10.99

Also picked up a Goody Ouchless Brush for $2.99 - Hopefully this is truly ouchless!

Lastly Lisa's expanded their H2O repertoire from the last time I visited them:

• H2O Sea Results Sea Mineral Cleanser (Oil-Free) [169mL] for $8.00 (reg: $23)
• H2O Brightening Toner with Marine Brightening Technology [200mL] for $10.00 (reg: $25)
• H2O Dual-Action Makeup Remover [120mL] for $10.00 (reg: $24)
• H2O Ultra Hydrator [50mL] for $22.00 (reg: $50)
• Note: Hydrating Gel [50mL] is $20 (reg: $48)

Thanks for reading and hope this helps!
elle xx

New in My Vanity :: Sephora VIB + Birthday Haul

Hello Everyone!

So this month is my birthday month so I headed to Sephora to finally claim my birthday gift this year! 

Also, since there was the 20% off discount for VIB members this weekend, I decided to take advantage of that and purchase a new red lipstick - YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine in #4 Rouge in Danger. It's more of a sheer lip balm than a solid lipstick, thus making it excellent for everyday wear. I was tempted to get #43 from Makeup Forever as it was a true red lipstick, however the YSL lipstick was more reminiscent of MACs Cyndi Lipstick from a couple years ago which I used often! Hence based on personal practicality and the allure of the golden designer YSL tube, I got the YSL lipstick. 

I also saw the new NARS x Guy collaboration and I really would like to get the hot pink blush from that collection - but I still haven't finished my NARS hot pink multiple or my MAC Her Blooming Cheeks. 

Anyways, that's all for today!

Thanks for reading!

elle xx

New in My Jewellery Box :: Autumn 2013 Chanel Earrings

Hello Everyone!

So about a month ago, I finally decided to pull the trigger on these Chanel Autumn 2013 Earrings. I absolutely adore Chanel earrings and one day hope to amass a collection of them! In my opinion, Chanel is the most timeless brand on the market today, as such making such their jewellery pieces worth the investment - especially since designer jewellery is most likely not made out of semiprecious metals or stones. Every season Chanel comes out with a collection of earrings that will only be around for that season - so when I see a pair I really like that is under the $300 threshold I start to seriously debate if they are worthy of my investment (they also have a permanent collection they have - but I've noticed the price increase $50 for the same pair of earrings over the last year or two). These particular Chanel earrings cost $260 CAD + tax. These are the first to make the cut for myself as they fulfilled the following requirements (1) silver - as that is my personal preference over gold (2) the iconic Chanel camellia, (3) relatively small, dainty, and timeless, and (4) studs.

My next wishlist are the following pieces:

*daydreaming*

Anyways thanks for reading!

elle xx

Haul :: Mac Warehouse Sale - September 2013

I must say, although my binge warehouse sale shopping has gone down quite a bit (part maturity, part unnecessary; less fast fashion - save up for more worthy fashion investment pieces), the once highly coveted MAC Warehouse Sale is quite a drab. 

My dearest readers, I would not recommend you buying tickets from your sources unless you know that you will be buying and that the savings are worthwhile. Save the $10 to put towards a lipstick from MAC's current collection. The two following reasons are why I recommend you not to go to the sale.

- Not a lot of selection! What used to be multiple tables of eyeshadows are now limited to warehouse sale items that haven't been sold out by the previous warehouse sale. This also applies to blushes, compacts, and lip products. At most there are now 2-3 tables with ~8-10 products on each of them. I also found that the skincare selection has been shrinking as well. Foundations, mascaras, and concealers still have a decent selection. However, if you know that you absolutely need multiple bottles of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Sand - go for it. For $12 a bottle (retail ~$40+) those are savings worthy of the ticket & gas money.

- Lots of "cheap" & "useless" items! What they do have a lot of in the MAC warehouse are those Clinique makeup pouches from the gift with purchases and the holiday gift tins (the tartan collection from 2 years back if anyone knows of it). Note these are just the pouches and tins themselves - sans the makeup. They are pretty cheap ($1-4), but for that price, you can get a much cuter one at Forever 21 or wait for your own gift with purchase makeup bags.

Aside from that, I was able to pick up 2 angled brushes by EYESBYDESIGN. It was a buy one get one free special. One brush was $8; thus an average price of $4.

I am also disappointed to report that the MAC Warehouse no longer gives out gifts! And for those who were wondering - the charity bag is very similar to the last warehouse - the same 2 duo shadows and same price ($5) - but a different eyeliner pencil/lip gloss (i didn't study the box too well but the box was a shiny brown opposed to the traditional MAC black packaging).

Thanks for reading!

elle xx

PS: For those who are wondering, my mother obtains these tickets from work!

New in My Closet :: Aldo Graziana Spiky Sneaker Wedges

Hello everyone! 

If you know me in real life, I basically love and live in my basic black Aldo sneaker wedges (Style : Chism)! However I resisted the urge to purchase more than 1 since they were $80-$110 a pop! 

Anyways, like a Aldo shoes - they finally went on sale! As such I was finally able to purchase the $110 spiky version (Style : Graziana) for almost 50% off ($54.98 to be exact)!

For those who are wondering, these sneaker wedges from Aldo are extremely comfortable and can be worn for multiple hours comfortably for non-heel wearers. Just allow yourself 1 day to break them in (as in no marathon running and walking 50 blocks). After that break in day you should be comfortable enough with them to wear like regular shoes! Considering that I don't wear heels on a daily basis, these are like my gateway heels (essentially they are - since they are wedges!). I get a ton of compliments with both the Graziana and the Chism so if you do decide to purchase these a lot of others share the same opinion! 

Alas, here they are in their spiky glory!

Thanks for reading!

With love,

elle xx

New in My Closet :: Aritzia Sale Haul

So today I went with my friends, Joey & Fontaine, to the local Aritzia to check out their sale pieces!

After trying on an assortment of clothing, I picked up a pair of burgundy skinny jeans ($47.50) & an I love Talula muscle tank in black ($19.99). The burgundy jeans fit nicely which is why I purchased them, as $47.50 made me cringe a bit at the cash register. Since the summer has been getting hotter and hotter where I live, graphic tank tops are becoming a staple in my wardrobe hence why I picked up the black tank. Normally I purchase plain cotton or ribbed cotton tanks for layering but recently I have been wearing more tanks as stand alone shirts. 

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post!

Love,

elle xx

New in My Closet :: Aritzia Pre-Sale Haul

Hello Everyone! 

So the pre-sale for Aritzia's VIP customers started two days ago! However, I didn't receive the email so I thought I wasn't on the list. Since I am normally on the list, I went in store and asked them to check my file! I was indeed on the list but never got the email - so if you are normally on the list and did not receive an email this year ask in store! Unfortunately the system is weird, as my friend Memie bought 2 Mackage jackets and still was not on the list even though she was on the list last year. It's weird. For those who are familiar with the pre-sale, the discount sare the same as always and are stackable on top of previous purchases. This year, scented candles were given as the gift opposed to towels. I picked up the Rose & Spring candles - but I wish I picked up Fig now. Perhaps since I used my gifts in the Artitzia & TNA store, I will redeem my gift at Wilfred for the Fig. Anyways, thus far I only picked up two tops. First one is the skull top in XS/S- I have been eying it since it came out but I know there's always sales at Aritzia and waited. It's normally $25 - plus 20% off. The second top is Talula in XXS which is on sale for $30 plus 20% off. Yay! 

Happy Shopping Aritizia Fans & Thanks for Reading,

elle xx

New In My Closet :: White Asymmetrical Origami Zara Skorts

After seeing Tsangtastic wear this skort in this post, I immediately checked out the skort on the Canadian Zara website. Surprisingly, I never ordered from Zara online before, and I must say my first experience ordering with them was amazing. To qualify for free shipping, you need to spend $50 (which isn't hard as these shorts were $49.90...) - and the shipping was a speedy 2 days. TWO DAYS! As in ordered Sunday late evening, arrive Tuesday at 1:15pm! And tracking was included! That blew my mind. I will most definitely be ordering from Zara.com again as its much, much easier to look at a catalogue and order things you want in your size (does anyone else have a hard time finding your size in pieces you want at Zara?) and if you don't like it you can return it in store for a full refund within a month. Amazing.

With love,
elle xx

Italian Haul :: My Shopping in Italy!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts but I have been living in my own place (where there is no internet) so I didn't get a chance to post my haul from Italy! Anyways, I went pretty crazy in Italy since the VAT refund (and the built in tax in Europe - we should have this in Canada) gave me a 12% discount and that luxury brands in Europe (especially Italian labels) are cheaper in Europe since they don't need to ship and pay customs to bring goods to Canada.

Anyways here it goes!

Carpisa (Italian Suitcase/Travel Items Franchisee) Traveling Jewelry Wrap

Lauro Alessandrini Blue Leather Tote - The closest I can get to a Prada BN1844 Bluette Tote in terms of price

My First Arty Ovale Ring! I'm so sad that YSL is now being rebranded.
I hope they don't remove the Belle du Jour Clutch or the YSL Tributes from future collections!

Tally Weijl Rubber Cobalt Blue Watch - I'm obsessed with this colour!

Alexander McQueen Leopard Skull Scarf in Hot Pink
Purchased at The Mall Outlet for $100!

Prada Wallet - 1M0668 in Cobalto (Current Season!) - Purchased from SPACE
Prada/Miu Miu Official Outlet for $150

Thank you all for reading! :)
elle xx

Haul :: Lisa's Cosmetics Spring 2012 Warehouse Sale + Mini Reviews

Hello Everyone!

So all my Canadian readers who live in proximity to the Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse Sale may be familiar with this sale. However, after not attending this sale for awhile, I decided to peek in quickly with my friend, F, to check out if they had anything new a couple days ago.

The regular stuff hasn't changed at all:
- They still sell full sized perfumes at a discount. Some popular fragrances brands that I saw at the sale included DKNY, YSL, Gucci, CK, Burberry, Escada, Chloe, Nina Ricci, etc
- They still sell designer sunglasses: Ray Bans (all $130), Fendi, Juicy, etc
- They still sell Elizabeth Arden, Smashbox, Marcelle, and Annabelle Cosmetics - I no longer see Red Earth Cosmetics here (probably due to the fact lead was found in their products)

However, something new that I saw at the sale was that they now have ~H2O+ products! Super happy since my mother is a religious user of this product! They had mostly anti-aging products by the time I got there (I went there on the 4th day of sales) but I still saw some of the Face Oasis products.

Anyways, here's my haul :: (And no iPhone 4 Instagram Pictures :O! [Instagram: bambistyle] I was graciously gifted with a Nikon J1 camera and I'm testing it out :P)

My haul from Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse Sale ::
H2O+ Face Oasis Shine Neutralizing Gel & TiVOLi Magnetic Nail Polish

So I picked up the following:
- 2x ~H2O+ Face Oasis Shine-Neutralizing Gel ($20.00)
- 1 TiVOLi Magnetic Nail Polish in Talia (~$2)  [It is a deep navy colour]
- Caramilk Fruits & Nuts Mega Chocolate Bar (~$4) [Not pictured]

I picked up the ~H2O+ Face Oasis Shine-Neutralizing Gel (right) by accident since I was so excited that a $48 product was on sale for $20. I'm not sure what the Face Oasis Shine-Neutralizing Gel is supposed to do but I read online that it is for more oily skin consumers, which does not apply to me. I have extremely dry skin. Note that the packaging is the older packaging, so I don't know how long the product has sitting around.

I actually wanted to purchase the h2O+ Oil-Free Marine Hydration Hydrating Gel (left) which I have used previously. I prefer the texture of this gel for a daily moisturizer since it isn't heavy. I've used it when I was in elementary school briefly and ceased to use it shortly after. I have never indulged myself in skincare, nor would I consider myself a skincare user. However, since graduating from my 3rd year of university, I've noticed that my skin is not longer as robust as it used to be and I decided it was about time for me to take care of my skin again. I do not use any foundation or concealer nor do I use any skincare products (with the exception of Clinique Toner when I have the occasional zit) - I actually just wash my face daily with a washcloth and water. I don't (unfortunately) even use sunscreen on a daily basis *gasp*. However, I'm attempting to change my lifestyle for the better as previously mentioned in my pior post regarding my exercise habits and decided to pick up a moisturizer for myself and my mother. (And I picked up a Shiseido Sunscreen!). Note: I did not get the Hydrating Gel from Lisa's Cosmetics, however, when I visited my local h2O+ store, they allowed me to exchange my Shine-Neutralizing Gel for the Hydrating Gel which is the same price. I now have to return with my mother's tub and exchange it for the Hydrating Gel. I would highly recommend this product as a moisturizer based on my way ancient and current experiences with this product. The packaging on left is the new packaging and logo.

Lastly, I purchased the TiVOLi Magnetic Nail Polish. I was so excited about this product!!! Especially when Sephora and the drugstore sells a similar product for ~$12. I was greatly disappointed! The magnetic feature of the nail polish did not work and just looked like regular dark navy nail polish. In addition, there was a horrible pseudo-toxic (I don't know if it is toxic fumes), metallic smell. I'll try it one more time on a piece of paper, but I would not recommend this product at all. [Edit: I tried the nail polish again on a piece of paper - it works only when you hold the magnet to a wet nail polish for longer than 10 seconds - then you will get a very faint magnetic pattern. The pattern is not very distinct, but visible. ]

I hope this post was informative and as always, thanks for reading!
elle xx

Haul :: First JewelMint Purchases!

Hi Everyone!

So today, I would like to share with you my very first JewelMint purchases! It was a bogo event, so I didn't see why not! Unfortunately, if you live in Canada, you have to pay for shipping (even for free jewelry TT^TT). The customer service when you are able to reach them through their live chat option is extremely helpful. However, if you try to contact them through email, they don't normally reply. I ordered my pieces on Feb 1 and I received them on Feb 8. I don't think I'd order from JewelMint again in the future unless I find something I absolutely adore and can't live without because I don't think its worth it for Canadians to pay $30 for a piece of jewellery and pay another $10 for shipping. However, I do think their quality is quite good - but I've heard its hit or miss (so I might have been lucky). Perhaps if the shipping was free to Canada I'd purchase more.

So here are the beauties :) Unfortunately, my iPhone 4 is broken and my camera is at my parents house so I apologize for the lack of quality from my iPhone 3GS (the macro setting and quality is not as good as the first two).

Mint Green Packaging - Secured by a magnetic closure and elastic ribbon.

The piece that catalyzed my purchase - my favourite "Remember Versailles Earrings". Absolutely gorgeous!

Cute casual earring! Well made and plated with sterling silver - "Forever Audrey Earrings"

There some other pieces I really adore, such as the Web Ring, Golden Goose, Silver Swan, or the Mon Amour Bracelets, but they were not available when I decided to make my first purchase. If they do come in stock, I'd definitely would wait for a coupon code - which is quite often - just subscribe to their email or google for them! I would not purchase these products for full price!

Hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any questions regarding the pieces, feel free to leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading! Lots of love,
elle xx

Media Event :: SHOP MAC Launch Party

Hello Everyone!!!

I hope all has been well for you guys! Anyways, I have an event that some of you guys would be interested in reading about!

Helen was invited to the SHOP MAC Launch Party last night. I attended the event with her and here are some photos I took with my phone at the event! :)

Snapshot of the invitation and promotional items!

The invitation included a free promotional item! Dishwashing gloves, sponges, and bags were available! They were handed out by a model who was styled to look like the campaign models and tons of snacks were cycled out!

Lets not forget the most important part of the party! The products!!!

Product Displays - It was difficult to get a picture of the stands with all the products on it!

I was the most interested in the two lipsticks: Runway Red and Quick Sizzle. Note that those who loved Innocence, Beware! from the Disney Villians line, it's back for a limited time in this collection! Runway Red is a typical satin red and the closest dupe I could find of it from the permanent line is Brave Red, which was in a different finish. Quick Sizzle is a matte fuchsia and the closest dupe I could find of it was Girl About Town, which was also a different finish (Amplified). I also was interested in the Scandalicious lipgloss - which is pretty much a liquid lipstick that was a mix between Runway Red and Quick Sizzle. Below is a comparison swatch of the two lipsticks.

L-R: GBO, Quick Sizzle, Runway Red, Brave Red

Aside from the lipsticks, I was also interested in the Fluidlines and the Tendertones (yes they are Tendertones! :O). I didn't purchase them because technically I put myself on a "makeup-ban/buy less make up"... but that didn't fare well by the end of this event... :p None of the Fluidlines are pure black, but extremely wearable for everyday and the Tendertones I would highly recommend for anyone who's looking for a lipbalm with a little tint of colour :)

My haul from the event! { Runway Red, Scandalicious, Gloves }

I got one lipstick, Runway Red, and one liquid lipstick, Scandalicious! I was on the fence about Quick Sizzle and I was debating if I would prefer Girl About Town or Quick Sizzle so I opted not to purchase it during the pre-launch period. I also got a free blinged up dishwashing gloves that are way too cute to be used :p!

I hope you enjoyed this post and it was helpful in terms of reference for my favourite 2 lipsticks from this collection!

elle xx


PS: I just found out that American Eagle collaborated with Deux Lux and Sam Edelman! You should check out these collections for designers for less ;)
PPS: I also started to revisit my food blog - check it out here!
PPPS: Stay tuned for an upcoming blog sale! I have items from the Versace x H&M line and more!