Clean & Clear - Daily Pore Cleanser

Why is it that we always run out of products just days before payday?

As I ran out of my very pricey Estee Lauder Foaming cleanser at the most inconvenient time I headed to my local drug store searching for a cheaper alternative.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser ($8.99 CAD). Now, Clean & Clear is a brand that is targeted towards oilier skin types however it was the cheapest cleanser I could find and it said on the back that it wasn't drying. As long as you have a good moisturizer you should be fine no matter what you use. 

I do have dry skin as I've mentioned time and time again on this blog.

In terms of removing makeup this worked extremely well! I wear heavy eye makeup daily and even though I use an eye makeup remover on top of this, you don't really need to with this.

There are micro - exfoliating beads suspended in this but they are so tiny that you don't even feel them making it perfect for daily use.

It was drying which I expected but my moisturizer solved that problem.

It left my face feeling soft by exfoliating away the dead skin cells but overall I wouldn't say it was a miracle worker. My skin doesn't look noticeably different but it worked well to remove the makeup and clean the face. I did notice last night a small blemish on my chin. I don't generally have break outs and this has been the only new product in my routine but this blemish could also be attributed to it being that time of the month, its hard to say. I'll continue my hunt for that perfect cleanser.

What cleanser do you use/recommend?

♥

Bri

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Confessions of a Lip Balm Addict

I have a serious problem when it comes to lip balms. You will never catch me without one. More specifically you will never catch me without the Blistex Lip Medex. I've been using it for ten years and always have a backup. Obsession much?

I digress though as this post is not solely focused on Blistex.

I'm constantly finding lip balms around my house. These are just a handful. Not pictured I also have the Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm in Pink Me Up which is a medicated one and the Blistex Blissful Butter Lip Balm. I used to have a ton of EOS ones lying around but my wonderful dog would always chew them when she got the chance so I no longer buy them.

Blistex Lip Medex as I mentioned above is by far my holy grail. Annoyingly though I'm constantly losing it. It's not the most sanitary packaging as you are constantly dipping your fingers in it to reapply throughout the day. This does come in a tube as well but it's not even similar to the tub version. I find the tube does little to moisturize my lips.

Maybelline Baby Lips - Why are these so hyped up? They didn't moisturize my lips at all and they smelled strongly of chemicals. I like that they're tinted but that's about all I liked about them. I will not be purchasing any of these again as I really just didn't get on with them.

Nivea Lip Butter Another okay lip balm. Nothing special. Again not sanitary in the packaging sense. I keep this in my bag in case I lose my lip medex because lip balm has basically become an extra limb for me.

Blistex Blissful Butter Lip Balm - The smell of this one is gorgeous, I like applying it for that factor alone. This is packaged in a tube like a normal lip chap making it more sanitary than the tub balm I prefer to use. Creates a good layer of moisture, I didn't find myself having to reapply this as often as others I've tried.

EOS Lip Balms Yes, I stopped buying these because my dog used them as chew toys but also after the whole fiasco where people were getting sores on their mouths from using these I don't think I'll repurchase another one. A product meant for use on the mouth shouldn't be causing sores, that to me is a giant red flag and big no no. Not a big loss though as I didn't find these to be moisturizing at all, they were cute though.

♥

Bri

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Benefit's Dandelion

I'd like to say that spring is right around the corner but as I sit and write this the snow falls outside my window. It is still February though but we just had such a lovely weekend and to see it snowing is disheartening to say the least. 

On a happier note I rediscovered Benefit's Dandelion blush in attempt to use up my stash.

A lovely neutral pink that can be worn year round. {I discovered that I bought the full size before even finishing the sample I had in the Feelin' Dandy set, oops}

It's not as pigmented as other blushes on the market but it's easily buildable so I don't mind. Truth be told I'd rather build my blush up as sometimes too much pigment can be a hassle to work with and can end up making you look rather clownish.

For my pale skin this creates a lovely natural flush of pink. The consistency of this is quite powdery but the same can be said for my NARS blushes. The brush included with all the Benefit powders I tend to just toss in the trash. I don't like the way it feels or how it's shaped. I have a million other blush brushes I'd rather use.

As it's so light it wouldn't work for darker skin tones but I think it's a great staple blush to have in your collection if you're fair skinned. It would work wonderfully with a myriad of makeup looks!

What's your favorite Benefit powder?

♥

Bri

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The Fairy Tale Tag

{from my trip to Florida a few years back}

I found this tag over on Jessie's Blog {All Things Beautiful} I'll be honest and say it was quite a way back in the archives but I personally love browsing older posts and seeing how their blogs have grown, call it creepy if you wish. 

Snow White - Do you consider yourself beautiful?

Most of the time yes. I do wear makeup daily but not because I think I'm ugly by any means it's mostly just to look more put together for work and I look quite young so it helps me to not get mistaken for a child as often. We have all times though where we are down on ourselves and I've had days where I do think I could look better but you need to learn to appreciate your inner beauty.

Sleeping Beauty - How many hours do you sleep at night?

If I don't get at least eight I'm a complete monster in the mornings. No one wants to be around me if I haven't got enough sleep as I am the grouchiest person you will ever meet. I'm not a morning person at all. I love sleep so much I would literally sleep my life away if I could.

Cinderella - Do you have a curfew?

That's the great thing about being an adult is that you don't have such a thing. My mom was never strict with me as a child so long as she knew where I was and who I was with it was okay for me to stay out.

Rapunzel - Do you love being outside?

I was always a home body but in the summer and even recently in these warmer winter days you will catch me outside soaking up some of that sweet Vitamin D, so yes.

Red Riding Hood - Do you trust strangers easily?

No. I have though trusted some people early on in a relationship to find out they weren't as trustworthy as I thought. Even good friends can lie to you unfortunately.

The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids - Are You Easily Fooled?

No, I definitely have a good head on my shoulders when it comes to being fooled or lied to. If it's a silly little joke or something then yes I can be fooled but if you are doing something to wrong me, I will see right through it.

Beauty & The Beast - What Makes Someone Beautiful In Your Eyes?

Personality. If you are kind and honest and an all around good person I'll be more drawn to you. Making me laugh is a bonus. 

The Little Mermaid - What Would You Sacrifice For Love?

If it was for family I would sacrifice anything but as far as a romantic relationship is concerned it would truly depend on how long I'd been with the person. I've been in my current relationship for four and a half years and I've already sacrificed relocating for him and I don't regret that decision as I've come back to the town where my family lives as well.

The Frog Prince - What do you find Disgusting?

Feet. That is all.

Jack & the Beanstalk - Do You Have Any Plants?

Oh god no. I can't keep plants alive to save my life. I killed my bosses tree that he's had for over forty years. Oops.

Puss In Boots - Do you have Pets, if no do you want them?

I have a Bull Mastiff named Luna and I LOVE her more than anything. She really is the best friend a girl could ask for. If you're interested in learning more about here, see my Furry Friend Tag

Bluebeard - What is your weak point?

I suffer with extreme anxiety and stress issues. I will stress about stress before there is even anything to stress about and I get anxious about the littlest things. It's quite harmful to the body and mind and I'm working towards managing it better.

Pinocchio - What is your biggest Wish?

I would kill to get a job in the fashion or beauty industry. That for me would be a dream come true. I work really hard on my blog and the rest of my social media {mostly I focus on my blog and Instagram as I don't want to spread myself too thin} and to see something come out of this would be an incredible opportunity. I also aspire to own some land so I can rescue dogs.

Peter Pan - What is your mental age?

Emotionally, I'm probably still a teenager. I have very poor emotional stability and struggle constantly with stress and anxiety. Overall though I would say I'm within a couple years of my age {23} as I've always worked and I put bills before anything else so I do have my priorities in order in that sense.

The Star Money - What is your most valuable possession?

Does my dog count as a possession? If the answer is no then it would probably be my Macbook Pro, only because it was the first ever extremely expensive item I bought myself whilst working part time in a grocery store during high school.

The Snow Queen - Who is your best friend and what would you do for them?

My best friend is named Caitlin and we've known each other since I was two years old. I would do anything for her or her family. Although I've moved away from her when we do still get the chance to see each other it's nothing but love and laughs.

The Princess and the Pea - Are You Sensitive?

Very much so like I stated above. I'm an emotional wreck if something bad happens.

Godfather Death - What Qualities make a good parent?

The ability to love because I think without it, your child has a much lesser chance of being a kind person.

The Worn - Out Dancing Shoes - Do you like parties?

Now, no. I get way too exhausted by like eight o clock to be out dancing. At the age of 18 though, yes. Loved it and went out almost three times a week!

The Emperor's New Clothes - Do You Care A lot About Your Clothing?

Yes, yes and yes. Fashion is my biggest passion and the thing that feeds my ambition. My closet is about to break due to all the clothing in there. I hold such sentimental value to my clothes I find it hard to get rid of things if I have a fond memory attached to them,

The Brave Little Tailor - Do you consider yourself brave?

No, not at all. I cry when I see a spider and am petrified of public speaking. Social Media has helped on that front but I still wonder what people think of me and if they like me. I wish I didn't care but I do.

If you do this tag, leave me a link in the comments. I'd love to see everyone elses answers!

♥

Bri

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How To: Crown Braid

Hello loves!

Quick little post today on how to achieve a Crown Braid. I love this hair style, it's simple and effortless but looks more done up then a pony tail or bun. I apologize for the messy hair, it wouldn't cooperate with me this morning!

Step 1: Create a middle part

Step 2: Braid each side into a regular three strand braid {Be sure to leave some hair loose in the front}

Step 3: Flip the braids over your head and pin into place {My hair is thin & fine so it was quite hard for me to hide the bobby pins but if possible try to hide them under the hair as it looks better}

Step 4: Curl the loose hairs in the front to frame your face {You don't have to do this it just creates a nicer look overall}

There you have it, an effortless hair style that looks fancy but in reality is quite simple!

What is your go to hairstyle?

♥

Bri

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Shoe Wishlist

Hello loves!

I am not a huge shoe fanatic, why?
Mostly because I find shoes to expensive, even cheap ones.
I've bought $200 boots from a well known brand that have still fallen apart within a year and I've had a pair of $40 heels from H&M that lasted in good condition for four years.
Due to me rarely buying shoes the ones I currently have in my collection are close to the end of their lives. That led us to today's blog post, my shoe wishlist. A lot of these aren't necessarily in my price range but you can always find cheaper dupes else where.

Saint Laurent Babies 90 Ankle Boots - I've never owned a pair of patent leather boots but I've seen these every where and would love finally have a pair.

Vans Sneakers - Again, believe it or not I've never owned a white pair of sneakers. Mostly due to the fact that I never saw the purpose. I mean they're not going to stay pristine white for long. Despite that I've seen them styled in such cute ways I wouldn't mind owning a pair.

Hudson London Geneve Suede Ankle Boot - I love boots. They are my favorite form of foot wear and I don't think you can ever have enough of them. The cut out detailing on these make them more of a statement boot without being over the top.

Karl Lagerfield Paris Larose Suede Lace Up Flats - Love the lace up detailing on these. These would be perfect for the office as they are flats so they won't hurt your feet but are still cute with the lace ups.

Gianvito Rossi Suede Pumps - I don't own a nice pair of pumps that I could wear for a night out. These are simple, classic and elegant and because they're black they can be easily styled for a night on the town.

N 21 Nude Calf Leather Bow Pumps - I just think these are some of the most gorgeous shoes I've ever laid my eyes on and I love the pale pink coloring.

Madden Girl Direct Caged Sandals  - I don't own any shoes like this and I love how interesting they look. These will definitely spice up any outfit.

Jimmy Choo Vixen 130  - What woman doesn't wish to have a pair of Jimmy Choos?
I love how high the heel is {although I may not be able to walk in them} and the bow at the back is so cute!

What shoes are you lusting after?

♥
Bri

Don't forget to follow on Bloglovin for a giveaway (at 25 followers)

NYX Wishlist

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share my NYX wishlist. Believe it or not I've yet to try one single NYX product,
Why?
Well, I live in a fairly small town where it's not easily accessible and I've been trying to limit the online shopping I do. I've heard such wonderful things about the brand from various bloggers/Youtubers and would love to get my hands on some of the products above to see if the brand truly lives up to it's hype.

Sweet Cheeks Blush Palette: Retailing at $27 CAD for eight blushes! That's a wicked deal. This was featured in many Youtubers favorites within the past couple of months which has me itching to pick it up. I love that the palette has a range from oranges to pinks, this would work year round and give you enough blush for years to come!

Highlight & Contour Pro Palette - I currently use the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette to contour and when I first wrote a review on it I did quite like using it but after more use my opinion has changed and for the price I truly think it could have been better. I've used other Kat Von D products and I feel like the Shade & Light wasn't up to par in terms of the quality I've come to expect from her brand. Again this retails for $27 CAD but for the amount of product it has, the price is fairly reasonable.

Dream Catcher Palette: Looking online, none of the dream catcher colours match this. So, I'm thinking maybe this one is no longer carried but I would still be open to grabbing one of the others as they all look beautiful! This retails for $18 CAD.

Liquid Suede Liquid Lipsticks - In the shades Stone Fox {a very unique color} & Cherry Skies {you all know I love my reds} $10 CAD, which for a liquid lipstick is quite cheap! It's not Colourpop cheap but it's cheap.

Ombre Blush - I've never seen an ombre blush and I'm quite curious as how it would look applied!
$13 CAD

Lip Lingerie: All of these are in the nude range and as much as I love my bold colors I definitely need to start expanding into the nudes as I work daily in an office so the shades I always want to wear aren't always necessarily appropriate. ($9 CAD)

Makeup Setting Spray in Dewy - Another product I've never tried. (supposedly I'm a beauty blogger)
I've never found a primer that is my holy grail so I wonder if maybe a setting spray would work better to lock in my makeup. I chose dewy as I have very dry skin so anything matte just looks horrendous on me. ($10 CAD)

There you have it, some of the products I'd like to try from NYX to give myself an introduction to the brand.

What do you think of NYX?

♥
Bri

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OOTD - Just Give Me A Reason

Hello again loves!

This morning, I stepped out to take some snaps of my outfit and even though it's still -10 degrees outside it felt like spring. Of course, I'm comparing this to the last two days where it was -37 so it's not spring yet but it sure has warmed up a lot. I can't wait until the sun pokes out once again!

Fun fact: My tights never dried fully last night, so I was quite chilled to the bone while taking these.

I know my last OOTD featured this exact skirt but I've been loving it! It's a fun and easy print to pair and is perfect for the office.

Details;
Sweater: H&M
Shirt: Aritzia (could not find on website)
Skirt and Triangle Necklace: Thrifted
Boots: Forever 21
Slinky Neckalce; H&M


I hope you guys like it.

What's your favorite print to work with?

♥
Bri

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Shoe Dazzle - DIY

Hello everyone!

I'm going to share a fun D.I.Y. I found while perusing Pinterest the other day.

Source

Who doesn't love glitter? 

My last DIY post was ages ago and also included...GLITTER!

What you will need:

1. Mod Podge (I made my own) - How To
2.  Heels (I used an old pair that I don't wear too much anymore, as I didn't want to chance wrecking a new pair)
3. Glitter
4. Paint Brush
5. Newspaper (any paper will work, just makes it easier to clean up)

{The beginning}

Mix some Mod Podge with the loose glitter in a small jar of sorts using a paint brush.

Lightly paint on a layer of the mixture on to the soles of the shoes using the same paintbrush you used to mix it with.

Then using a dry paint brush pat an even layer on using ONLY the loose glitter. I just sprinkled some on the soles and lightly patted it in creating a nice even layer.

Let them dry, then apply the final layer of Mod Podge.

There you have it! 

A old pair of shoes, spiced up with some glittery soles.

This was an extremely easy DIY and jazzed up an otherwise normal pair of shoes.

What do you guys think, have you tried a DIY like this?

♥

Bri

Don't forget to follow on Bloglovin, giveaway at 25 followers!

*Beauty w/Bite

Hello loves!

Bite Beauty recently launched their brand new line of lip pencils! 

Courtesy of Bite & Influenster, I received two of the newly launched lip pencils along with corresponding colors in mini Amuse Bouche lipsticks & as an added bonus, a new Sephora pencil sharpener (which I was in dire need of).

The shades I received in the pencils were 020 (lipstick in Honeycomb) & 044 (Lipstick in Whiskey)

By far, these are the creamiest lip liners I've ever tried. They're so creamy that when I first went to try the lighter one I ended up pressing too hard and breaking the tip off so take my advice from learning the hard way and use a light hand. The only other gripe I have with these is that you cannot put the lid on the bottom of them like you would when using a marker. You can see the bottom colored tip missing on the lighter pencil...well that's why. I tried to stick the lid on the bottom and it ended up getting caught in the lid rendering it useless. 

Aside from those two issues, these are fantastic. They glide across the lips with ease and give fabulous pigmentation prepping your lips for your lipstick of choice.

These are miracle workers when it comes to bleeding outside the lines. Not easily noticeable if you're using Honeycomb, but when using Whiskey I didn't notice it going astray at all which any dark lip lovers know can be a serious issue with a lot of products currently on the market.

I much prefer the darker color but that comes down to personal preference. These lip pencils are fantastic additions to my collection and I would happily purchase more.

♥

Bri

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*Although these products were sent to me for review purposes all opinions are my own

Trends that Need to Die in 2017 - Thigh Makeup

So, yesterday we looked at the "Nail Piercing" trend. I still can't decide if I'm for or against it as I think it does look cool. I'd be scared though of the hoops getting caught on clothing etc. 

Now here's a trend that I feel needs to die. This new trend is aptly named "Thigh Makeup"

Why?

I truly don't understand why you would waste your time with this. I recall seeing hand makeup show up a few times throughout my feed which I still don't understand honestly. The only logical reason I could think of for doing hand or thigh makeup is if you had a look in your head that you wanted to create but weren't sure how it would look so for a first draft say you do it on your thigh to see how it turns out. Maybe even if you were just starting out in makeup and wanted to practice but even then, would it not be better to practice on your actual face?

I really just don't understand it and I think it's a complete waste of makeup especially when some things are so expensive. 

This is a trend that I think needs to stay in 2017.

What are your thoughts?

♥

Bri

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TREND ALERT - Nail Piercings?

Hey there again.

I know, two posts in one day? What is happening?

Well, I was perusing the internet and came across a new fad, "Nail Piercings"

Apparently this has been an on going trend since 2016, was I living under a rock? I can't say I ever saw this pop up on my feed in 2016, not even once. Am I the only one?

Either way, I digress. I wanted to know everyone's thoughts. Yay or Nay?

I'll be honest, I went and searched nail piercings and most of them just didn't seem to go together. The above photo was about the only one out of many that I sort of took a liking to. 

I'm not the type of woman who goes to get my nails done professionally as it's not something I can justify spending money on when I'm content with doing them myself but now I kind of want to try it out, you know just to see.

From the pictures I've seen the majority of the piercings are done on coffin nails and in my opinion these are what they look best on.

What do you think, yes or no?

♥

Bri

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Top 5 - Lipsticks {Drugstore Edition}

Hey loves!

It's been a few days since my last post, I was having some serious bloggers block for a while and thought why not do a Top 5 post as I love to read them and figured you might as well.

We're going to chat about my top 5 favorite drug store lipsticks.

They're almost all reds & the same brand, oops. 

I can't even fathom how many times I've mentioned that red is by far my all time favorite lip color on my blog but if this doesn't prove it, I don't know what will.

{Note: The swatches follow left to right as they are laid in the above photos}

Covergirl {Hot Passion} & Rimmel London Kate Moss in {111, 42, 01 & 107}

Do you see a running theme here?

I think Covergirl renamed this shade "Hot" When I was searching for the link I was unable to find "Hot Passion" This is one of the reds Taylor Swift is known to rock, there's a fun fact for you! I love this because it's matte which is my favorite finish and it lasts on the lips forever. After swatching these I went to remove them with a Burts Bee Makeup Remover cloth and this was the only one which didn't come off fully. This does leave a stain on the lips once it wears down and for a matte lipstick it's very comfortable on the lips, no negatives about this bad boy!

The Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipsticks by Rimmel. I love these. 

I own a lot of lip products, both drug store and high end. Out of all the drug store lip products I've tried these are the best. They are only $6.99 and are extremely pigmented and I'd say are more of a satin finish as they're not a flat matte nor are they shimmers. I own almost every shade these come in including the nude collection but I narrowed it down to the 111, 42, 01 and 107.

107 is a beauty blogger cult favorite including beauty gurus like Zoella so I won't go into much detail about it.

I didn't realize until they were swatched but 111 and 01 are identical so I guess you don't really need both.

42 is from the nude collection and I love it because it's not so pale that I turn into a corpse when wearing it and I like pink toned nudes as I find they suit my pale skin better than ones with brown undertones.

So, there you have it my top 5 favorite drug store lippies.

What are your top 5?

♥

Bri

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