Review - E.L.F Nail polish with some dupes!

A couple of weeks ago E.L.F had a promotion on their website where shipping was only a $1.98.  Since they are a US based company and their shipping is usually more than their product, I decided to go on a little nail polish spree!

I got 9 nail polishes for $1 each!
Above, from L to R and top to bottom, the colours I got were:
Chocolate
Hot Pink
Nude
Plum
Fire Coral
Champagne
Fuchsia
Mod Mauve
Smoky Brown

I tried a few of the colours and overall I really like the colours! Most were true to the colour in their bottle and almost all of them gave full coverage with just two coats. My two disappointments were Maude Mauve (which took 3-4 coats) and Nude (which really was "nude" as in no colour. At All).

L to R: Mod Mauve, Chocolate, Plum & Fuchsia

Thumb: Smoky Brown

Hey - for $1 each, I can afford a couple colours I'm not crazy about. And not only did I get some fun new colours, I found three great product dupes of other pricier nail polishes too!

As with all E.L.F products, you really have to try them for yourself. They have a great variety of affordable (aka dirt cheap!) cosmetics and as long as you are OK with a few duds now and then, they really are an awesome every day alternative to some of the pricier brands.

xoxo,

dg

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Sneak Peak - Upcoming Posts

Hi All!

The last couple of weeks have been a little hectic and I have not given my blog the love and attention it deserves. That doesnt mean I havent still been trying and testing makeup to review for you. Here is a preview of some of the products I've got coming up on the blog:

Annabelle Zebra Bronzer vs. Annabelle Mineral Bronzer - I've tried both, now which is my favourite?

Revlon Fire & Ice and Kiss Me Coral Lipstick - Two summer must haves!

Arbonne Face Primer - Have you heard of Arbonne? I have!

Maybelline New Falsies Mascara - I've tried, I've tested, now do I like it more than Colossal?

E.L.F Nail Polish Haul - Lots 'O colours to try!











So keep checking in! I havent forgotten my blog, I've just been a little busy with some exciting new work that I hope to share with you shortly.

xoxo,

dg

Hip & Urban Girls Take Note!

 

There is a new kind of cool on the block. Founders Lisa Ng and Wendy Kammarcy have launched a new lifestyle website entitled The Hip & Urban Girls Guide, or HUG for short. Based in Toronto, but with content worldwide, the Hip & Urban Girls site is a “lifestyle blog dedicated to urban eats, hip getaways, cool events and networking”. And they aren’t kidding about the networking part! I have now attended two of their networking events and these ladies can schmooze. Lisa is like a matchmaker of entrepreneurs! She is constantly introducing like-minded ladies to each other and setting up meetings with some of the city’s best go-getters.

I recently met with Lisa and Wendy to talk to them about HUG and how it all got started:

Wendy (@BossLadyWendy on Twitter)

 How did you come up with the idea for Hip and Urban Girls?

WK: We had our own individual blogs at the start of the year.  I had tons of photos and stories I wanted to share with the world and Lisa decided to start blogging as a hobby (she runs her own DJ company www.helloDJ.ca  and it was off-season for weddings).  We're both foodies and love to travel so the topics we were blogging about were very similar - so we just decided to merge everything and team up under Lisa's original blog to create The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide!

So Lisa has her DJ'ing company, Wendy what were you doing before HUG? Did you have your own business as well? 
WK: I was running in the rat race! Working in Online Marketing for a large global corporation. I LOVED what I was doing so naturally I was eating, sleeping, breathing my job which didn't really leave much time for me to enjoy other things. I burnt out and realized I needed more "balance" so I left all that behind to start my own consulting business (I specialize in online marketing and advertising -- sem, seo, social media, etc.). It's worked out great because I can now travel whenever I want, take an afternoon off to go shopping, lunch with friends or yoga class! 

Lisa (@HipUrbanGirl on Twitter)

 How did you two meet and what made you want to go into business together?
WK: I knew I wanted to go into business with Lisa because she was already running a successful business of her own and I knew there was a lot I could learn from her. She has skills that compliment mine - for example, Lisa is definitely more outspoken then me so she manages the PR whereas, I am more of the "Geek Girl" so I'm good with project management and optimizing our website.  
 

LN: I was the Meetup organizer for Toronto Work at Home Women. Through that group I met some amazing female entrepreneurs and Wendy was one of them! It is so important to surround yourself with ambitious, supportive and positive people.

What is your goal for HUG?
WK & LN: We want to become the #1 portal/website for women ages 25-35 in Toronto. I know people think we are 'just a blog' - but we are so much more than that. We host a unique networking event once a month for women to connect offline and encourage each other's projects and businesses. They have become so popular that we had to open up the occasional Co-Ed Edition so hip + urban guys could join in the fun too. There is so much young ambition in this city and we want to be in the centre of it all!

 

What is one trait that every Hip Urban Girl must have?

WK: A positive outlook on life.  It's all in the attitude baby!

LN: To make sure they are living the life they want and to the absolute fullest.  There are no do-overs!

What is one "Hip Tip"?
WK: Be true to yourself. It is one of the hardest things to do but the best thing you can do for yourself.

LN: Drink lots of water, you'll feel ten times better and have more energy.

Lisa & Wendy at the HUG launch at SpiceSafar

Where do you see the HUG brand going in the next 5 years?
In the short term we'll continue hosting events, developing our Blog with valuable content and forming partnerships with corporate sponsors who would like to co-host with us. In the longer term we definitely see the HUG brand expanding across Canada and the US. 

It is always inspiring to see other women take life by the horns and follow their dreams and these women are truly motivation for me to get going! The official HipUrbanGirl.com website launched last Wednesday and I had the privilege of attending their party held at SpiceSafar on King St. The event was packed with young, talented, entrepreneurs - both male and female and even featured a routine by Fever, the new cabaret style burlesque show on now at Second City.

 

Me with Hip & Urban Girl Kimberley of Arbonne Cosmetics

Their regular networking events are held once a month in chic downtown locales and if you havent attended an event yet, I highly recommended meeting up with the Hip & Urban Girls. All their contact information can be found on their site here if you want to join their Facebook page and stay on top of upcoming events and giveaways.

*Note: All images courtesy HipUrbanGirl.com

xoxo,

dg

Review - Annabelle Mineral Cosmetics

I recently received a package from Annabelle of their new mineral line of cosmetics. Over the last two weeks I have been wearing their foundation and bronzer and have had the chance to play with their pigment as well. As someone that is not too familiar with Annabelle, I was very impressed. To be honest, unless I’m looking for a quick liner or gloss I have tended to skip over the Annabelle section of the beauty department. Not any more!

I really like the concept of mineral powders and makeup because it is gentler on sensitive skin (which I have!), free of unnecessary additives and doesnt contain talc. These minerals went on very light and smooth. The texture was silky and the foundation provided a nice light coverage. I used a denser brush with the foundation to give more concentrated coverage on areas that needed it (blemishes, under the eyes) and the Annabelle powder brush over the rest of my face.

I dont usually wear mineral foundations personally because I dont like the mess. Loose powders can go everywhere and arent very portable. What I liked about the Annabelle minerals was that they didnt come through the top of the dispenser in large amounts; I could shake the container once and get enough on the lide to cover my face and not end up with a poof of powder everywhere whenever I opened the container. I think I still prefer a pressed powder for convenience, but these worked well for what they were.

Photo credit: Annabelle Cosmetics

I also really liked the bronzer. If you are looking for a natural glow this works great! It is not sparkly or pearlized in any way so you can dust over your entire face and not end up a glittery mess. I used over my face and neck and then went back over my cheeks for some added colour.

Photo Credit: Annabelle Cosmetics

The pigment I tried was their purple (on FOTD below) in Violet Vibe. The intensity of the colour was alright. Not the most concentrated pigment I’ve used (like MAC back in the old days), but it blended well and held up throughout the day. I found the container (there is only one small hole at the top of the jar) a little wonky to use, but not enough to deter me from purchasing the product in future.

Photo Credit: Annabelle Cosmetics

Again, as someone that doesnt normally use a lot of Annabelle products, I was happily surprised and impressed. I look forward to trying and reviewing their lip plumping gloss!

Below is a look I did using the mineral products as well as their newest bronzer - the Zebra Bronzing Pressed Powder (love it!) which was also sent to me by Annabelle. Enjoy!

Products Used:
Annabelle Barely Beige Minerals Foundation
Annabelle Minerals Powder Bronzer in Terra over entire face
Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Pressed Powder on cheeks
Annabelle Minerals Pigment Dust in Violet Vibe as eye liner
Annabelle Smudgeliner in Ohmygoth! on lower inner rim only
Marcelle Volume Precision Mascara

Full Face

Violet Vibe pigment around eyes & black Smudgeliner on lower rim

Marcelle Mascara and Annabelle Zebra Bronzer

xoxo,

dg

Note: All the products in this review were provided to me by Marcelle Group. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and not effected in any way.