Face of the Day (FOTD) attempt

Seems I haven't quite mastered the self-shot. Perhaps I just didn't put enough effort into practice during the MySpace years, and so I haven't yet figured out the most flattering lighting (story of my life!) or "slimming" camera angles. Nevertheless, here we are....

1.) Foundation: NARS SheerGlow in Deauville
2.) Blush: Bourjois Rose Ambré
3.) Bronzer: Benefit Hoola (cheek contour)
4.) Eye base: Painterly Paintpot
5.) Eyeliner: MAC Teddy eye kohl (in hindsight I probably would have gone with black to achieve a little less of a sleepy look)
6.) Mascara: Revlon Grow Luscious
7.) Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam Gaga (the first)


Simple, quick, easy peasy. This is the type of face I'd slap on to go to work. Can't usually be bothered with "blending my crease" or "darkening my outer V" at 6:30 a.m. Painterly Paintpot is my saviour.

In other news... gave the blog a slight facelift so that I'd feel older than 12! :)
I prefer this simple design - and the box is quite fitting for me since I usually have something either beauty or fashion related on its way to me in the post. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading! xo

Major Haulage

Hauls are fun. Truly.
(WARNING: picture-heavy post. With swatches).

 New NARS blushers! Hooray!

Top: NARS "Mata Hari"

Bottom: NARS "Madly"

Top: Annabelle "Rose Fawn"

Bottom: Bourjois "74 Rose Ambré

Pictured above: Bourjois Délice de Poudre "Peaux claires/médianes 51" (smells like chocolate... yum)

 And in case you're curious about the packaging of the three more unfamiliar products:

Swatched, left to right: Bourjois bronzing powder; NARS "Madly"; NARS "Mata Hari"; Annabelle "Rose Fawn"; & Bourjois "Rose Ambré"

An entire video dedicated to this haul will be up in the morning.

Until then....

xoxo

Recent Purchases from my Wishlist

As promised, not long after I wrote my wishlist post I put my VISA giftcard to good use. Here's a little summary of the damage:

The (short version of my) Wishlist

-Dior 5 eyeshadow palette in "Incognito"

-Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in "Dragon"

-Clinique Brush-on Cream Liner in "True Black"

-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 9 "Caress Pink"

-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 13 "Peach Passion"

-YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in No. 27 "Rose Paris"

-NARS eyeshadow duo in "Silk Road"

-Chanel Vitalumière Aqua foundation

-MAC lipstick in "Hue"

-MAC lipstick in "Blankety"

-MAC lipstick in "Crème Cup"

-MAC eyeshadow in "Bamboo"

-MAC eyeshadow in "Cork"

-MAC eyeshadow in "Wedge"

-MAC eyeshadow in "Vapour"

It really is amazing how quickly a wishlist can change, and I don't just mean in terms of products acquired thanks to a VISA giftcard. I'm not only constantly adding new items to my wishlist, but crossing them off as well! For example, the YSL lipstick in No. 27 "Rose Paris" has been taken off the list altogether (not the literal list, but the list in my head) and replaced by the YSL lipstick in No. 1 "Nude Beige." Then there are a few items on my list that I'm not quite as eager to get anymore, such as the NARS duo and the MAC eyeshadow in "Vapour." 

I haven't yet received the items from MAC, but they are on their way to me! I am thoroughly impressed with each and every one of the things I bought from Holt Renfrew, however. In fact, I even added a nice little Chanel lipstick (Rouge Coco in "Cambon") to my wishlist last minute. And I'm so glad I did! But I have a video coming up on my YouTube channel very soon where I'll go more in-depth talking about the products I purchased, as well as some of the new products I've added to my wishlist. :)

Until then........

<3 Laura xo

What's on my Beauty Wishlist?

What did you do today? 

Personally, I spent the better part of today admiring a whole slew of beauty products online. I was given a $100 VISA giftcard for Christmas and have been waiting for the right moment to use it. I think the moment has arrived. Here are some of the lovely products I've been eyeing:

Photo Courtesy

1. Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in "Dragon"

---I currently own only one Chanel lip product and it's a Glossimer that was given to me as a gift. It's just hard for me to justify spending so much on a single beauty product. However, once in awhile I think it can be justifiable, and this is one of those instances. Chanel "Dragon" is the most beautiful shade of red I've ever seen. I originally saw it on Temptalia's pout and have been pining after it ever since. When Temptalia raves about something over and over again, you know it's probably worth having in your collection.

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2. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté lipsticks in #9 (Pink Caress), #13 (Peach Passion), and #27 (Rose Paris)

--- I have one Rouge Volupté lipstick, and it's #7 Lingerie Pink. While the colour is pretty, it isn't the most wearable lipstick I've ever owned. It's this extremely light, milky pink that is almost too pale for my strongly pigmented lips. As for the packaging and formula? To die for. Seriously. The packaging alone would almost be worth the 30-something dollars it costs, even if there was no product in it. In any case, I would like to own just a few more of these luxury lipsticks and the three mentioned above are the ones that have grabbed my attention. They all seem like they would work much better for me colour-wise.

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3. NARS eyeshadow duo in "Silk Road"

--- I own several NARS eyeshadow duos and they never cease to impress me. "Silk Road" is not one that I have heard a whole lot about, but it is one that I am certain I would love to add to my collection. The first colour looks like it may have some similarities to a couple of my favourite eyeshadows, namely: Stila's "Kitten" and MAC's "Naked Lunch." The second colour looks as though it has pure gold woven through it, and I have a feeling that it holds potential of becoming a go-to shade for me.

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4. Chanel Vitalumière Aqua

--- I blame the Pixiwoo sisters for this one. I have never owned a Chanel foundation. I was quite tempted by the Chanel Vitalumière, but always decided to pass for one reason or another (usually as a result of the pricetag). What's more, though, is that while I love the look of dewy, glowy skin, I don't like the look of slippery, slimy skin and I worried that's what I would get with Vitalumière. After watching the Pixiwoo sisters apply this and hearing them say that it gives you dewy skin but not to the extreme of Vitalumière, I decided it was a better option for me. Right now I have several foundations that I need to get through before I can justify purchasing another, but this one is most certainly on the list!

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5. Dior eyeshadow palette in "Incognito"

--- I have been lusting after this palette for such a long time now. Firstly, the packaging is nothing short of incredible. Secondly, those colours are just screaming out my name. Loudly. I don't know how much longer I can handle the screaming.

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6. Clinique brush-on cream liner in "True Black"

--- The reason I haven't purchased this yet is because I still have over half of my MAC "Blacktrack Fluidline" and over three-fourths of my Stila Sumdgepot in "Black." However, the Stila Smudgepot is bordering on ununsable and the Blacktrack Fluidline is not much better. They've both dried out significantly. I'm working Jillian Michaels style to make them go the distance as I hate being wasteful. Rumour has it that the Clinique gel liner lasts much longer and glides across the eyelids very smoothly. As someone who knows just how annoying it is to have so much product dry out on you (care to discuss MUFE Smokey Lash mascara anyone?) I appreciate a product I can actually hit pan on and it is a welcomed addition to my wishlist.

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7. MAC lipsticks in "Hue," "Blankety," and "Crème Cup"

--- I already have what I feel is an extensive MAC lipstick collection (though it probably pales in comparison to a lot of other beauty bloggers), but it should be pretty obvious by this point that my major weakness is lip products in general. These three lipsticks are staples for MAC collectors - cult favourites, if you will. Therefore, it makes good sense that as an avid lipstick collector I feel like I probably need them. Think of it this way: if you collected hockey cards or stamps, you know you'd yearn to add the most sought-after ones to your collection. And in this case, it doesn't hurt that all three colours appear to be extremely flattering.

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8. MAC eyeshadows in "Bamboo," "Cork," "Wedge," and "Vapour"

--- If you view the links to the swatches of these eyeshadows, you'll see that I'm still on a neutral kick. I don't think that will change anytime soon. It's not that I don't love colour - because I do. However, I'd choose bold lips over bold eyes any day of the week. A result of this is that the purples/pinks/blues/greens in my eyeshadow palettes are not the recipients of a whole lot of love from me.  :(

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If you could see my Sephora shopping list or my MAC "favourites" list, you would know that this is certainly not an exhaustive list. Nevertheless - these products have really stopped me dead in my tracks and I am hoping to use my VISA giftcard to make a wonderful (albeit small) dent in this list very soon!

Do you have experiences with any of these products? What is on your beauty wishlist currently?

Love,

Laura xo

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Matchy Matchy

Matchy Matchy by lauraraelynn featuring butterfly jewelry

RED VALENTINO ARCNL236 BLACK VISCOSE/POLYAMIDE/ELASTANE 51673
219 GBP - farfetch.com
Black tops »

MINI SKIRT WITH FOLDS
210 EUR - mytheresa.com
Pockets skirt »

Shoes - Woman - New collection - ZARA Italy
80 EUR - zara.com
Zara boots »

Proenza Schouler / PS1 Medium Bag
$1,595 - lagarconne.com
Zip handbag »

Greenwich Jewelers - Melissa Joy Manning Peach Zircon Ring
$400 - greenwichjewelers.com
Melissa Joy Manning rings »

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Ring
$195 - ice.com
Butterfly jewelry »

dELiAs > Rose Stud Earrings
$9.50 - delias.com
Stud earrings »

Acetate round-framed sunglasses
$103 - theoutnet.com
Retro shades »

Buy NARS Powder Blush Cheek Color, Sex Appeal Online at Beauty.com
$30 - drugstore.com

Amazon.com: NYX Trio Eye Shadow: Beauty
$8.25 - amazon.com

MAC Lipstick -Angel (Frost)
alluringgirl.com

OPI | Black Onyx
news-parfums.com

(Prices in Canadian: $350, $285, $110, $1,595, $400, $195, $9.49, $105, $30, $8.24, $17.50, $9.99).

This look may be a little too "matchy matchy" for some, but I love it. Most of the items I'll likely never be able to afford, but hey - a girl can dream!

To create this look, I began with the skirt. Pantone has recently revealed the 2011 colour of the year as being honeysuckle, and so I thought it would be appropriate for me to at least try and incorporate it into my first style creation of 2011.

I love these clothing pieces, though I can only imagine the terrible time I'd have walking in those shoes. I think the makeup and accessories complement the outfit nicely. It has a nice: "Oh hey, I'm from New York and about to go meet somebody real important" look to it.

So, what do you think? Would you wear it?

-Laura xo

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Bonjour Mes Amis

It's been awhile.

I have completed all of the necessary courses for my Master's degree, and now only have an internship left. Well, that is if you don't count the fact that I also have to carry out a massive research study and write an even more massive thesis on it. But that requires discipline- something that isn't my strongest point. Clearly, I would much rather write on my neglected blog than worry about some silly research project. :)

To those of you who are new here, WELCOME! To those of you who are not, I'm sorry! Please don't hate me!

I put the following look together a couple months ago, so the entire thing may be completely out of style now. BUT, I still quite enjoy it and that's gotta count for something.

I feel like this is a "classy lady" kind of look. Very feminine and chic. If you live in New York, some might call it "office appropriate attire." Personally, I've never seen anybody in an office dress in a way that comes close to paralleling this. I'm not even sure what kind of situation I'd have to be in to wear this, maybe a fancy dinner at a fancier restaurant? It's tough for a girl like me, who prefers practical food over fancy food. Alas.....

Nude Frill Front Shirt - $43 CAD - www.missselfridge.com

Black Satin Look Lantern Skirt - $46 CAD - www.missselfridge.com

Charlotte Olympia Suede Leaf Open Toe Ankle Boots - $1220 CAD - www.luisaviaroma.com

Guiseppe Zanotti IB9111 Clutch - $725 CAD - www.endless.com

Amrita Singh Allie Bangle Set - $105 CAD - www.amritasingh.com (often sells on Hautelook)

Vintage Chanel Gold Tone Drop Drop Logo Round Earrings - $475 CAD - www.asos.com

Gloss Pur, 47: Pure Peach - $31 CAD - www.barneys.com

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks - $23 CAD - www.nordstrom.com

Black False Lashes - $6.23 CAD - www.mydivascloset.com

Satuesque Eyeshadow by Lancome - check local Lancome counter - (MAC's carbon would work just as well)

NARS nail polish in Zizi - $17 CAD - www.barneys.com

So basically, it's pretty, but where on earth would I wear it, realistically? Where would you wear it, or would you at all? I think all of the pieces individually are quite wearable actually - but I just feel like if there's anything worse than being underdressed, it's being overdressed.

I hope to do a blog post in the near future about some of my favourite YT personalities (makeup and fashion-wise, of course). I watch a lot, but there are just a handful whose videos I get excited to see showing up in my subscription box.

Love!

MAC Haul & January Favourites!

Hello beautiful people!

I got a package from MAC a couple days ago! In that package were a bunch of great little treats.

My haul consisted of:

-Brush cleanser

-e/s in Electric Eel, Deep Truth, Print, Mylar, Soft Brown, Texture, and Espresso.

-Blushers in Well Dressed, Pinch 'O' Peach, Pink Swoon, and Dollymix.

-Paintpot in Painterly

-Blacktrack Fluidline

-Lipstick in Viva Glam II (pretty AND proceeds go to a great cause)

-MSF in Soft and Gentle

-MAC wipes

-3 brushes: MAC 109, 195, 231

I am pleased with my purchases so far! Nothing beats getting awesome packages in the mail. The anticipation alone is worth it!

And these are some of my favourite products of January:

O.P.I. n/p in Puerto Vallarta Violeta

Essie n/p in Sole Mate

O.P.I. n/p in Dusk over Cairo

NARS duo e/s in Earth Angel

NARS duo e/s in Paris

NARS duo e/s in Eurydice (anyone know how to pronounce this?)

NARS single e/s in Mekong

Benefit velvet eyeshadow in Buckle Bunny

Stila kajal eye liner in Onyx and Topaz

Stila smudgepot in Black

So yes, basically, a LOT of eye products! But, I hope you like the way I arranged them for the picture. Not contrived at all. haha ;)

I have a new video up that goes into more detail about all these things, and has me looking like a bit of a d-bag when I can't pronounce anything. But in any case, you can view it here.

Have a great night/day!

-Laura Rae-Lynn xoxo

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Romantic Purple

Hello beautiful people!

The other day I filmed a tutorial entitled: Purple Romance.

I have always loved the colour purple. It evokes a sense of mystery, mysticism and romance. It was for those reasons that it was my colour of choice and I thought it would be such a great colour to go with for a Valentine's Day tutorial. I hope to film another Valentine's Day tutorial before Feb. 14th just in case there are any people who weren't so much feeling the purple. :)

I really like the look because it is sexy without being too overdone. And if you've been following my videos on YouTube then you know I'm not a huge fan of overdone, unless I'm going to a costume party or it's Halloween! Natural beauty > fake beauty. Makeup should enhance our features not mask them.

I loved pairing the purple eyes with soft pink cheeks and lips. Very feminine, flirty, and girly. Like I said, perfect for Valentine's Day!

To watch the tutorial you can click here: VALENTINE'S DAY TUTORIAL: Purple Romance. You will find a list of products I used in the sidebar. Also, you can go to my channel: Laura Rae-Lynn's YT channel to watch the rest of my videos and perhaps subscribe so that you'll know when I upload a new one!

I have recently decided that if and when I become blessed with an abundance of subscribers on YouTube or followers on my website, I will have to invest in a better camera. I'm aware that the built-in camera on my MacBook is not really conducive to filming fabulous tutorials because quite frankly it does a terrible job of picking up colour and whatnot! Also, these pictures were taken with that same camera so they too are not really doing the look justice. I still haven't figured out how to take self-shots using the SLR, but in due time, little ones, in due time!

I wish you all a happy Sunday!

Stay beautiful,

Laura Rae-Lynn XOXO

P.S. Follow me on Twitter! laura_raelynn