essie

Blogmas Day 15: The Budget Gift Guide

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Yesterday you saw the pricey stuff, so today I’ll share with you the best gifts with the best value for those shopping on a budget this Christmas! I love receiving gifts like this just as much as the luxe gifts, and they’re so much friendlier on your wallet during the holiday season!

The key to drugstore and budget shopping is knowing which brands have great holiday collections and gift sets, and where to get them! Whether it be Shopper’s Drug Mart, Rexall, Walmart, or online the realm of budget beauty gifts is endless!

Some of my favourite gift sets for the holiday season are brush sets. Being a true lover of Real Techniques brushes I think these make amazing gifts! Real Techniques can be found at Rexall locations in Canada, and for the holiday season keep your eye out for some limited edition sets such as the Deluxe Set for $30 or the well loved and always available Core Collection and Starter Set for $18 each. If you can’t find these set’s at your local Rexall then try online as well!

One brand that’s really killing it lately is Nyx. I’ve loved Nyx for a few years now but it’s relatively new to Canada. For this holiday season check out the new Nyx Butt Naked Eye and Cheek Palettes and gift sets available at Shopper’s Drug Mart for only $27. Or you can visit one of Nyx’s new flagship stores in Canada at either Queen St. West in Toronto or at Square One Mall! Powders, blushers, or the coveted lip creams galore!

For those nail polish addicts keep an eye out for Essie gift sets as well. I’ve seen quite a few different sets at various drug store locations, all at a reasonably low price. It generally works out to getting one of the polishes for free! And if you don’t see any sets that you like, then why not create your own? Places like Sally’s Beauty Supply and Trade Secret’s always have deals on polishes from last season!

And last but not least, take a look at the new products in the makeup aisle! There are some amazing new lippys and mascaras from both Maybelline and L’Oreal as well as so much more! Chuck a few of these in your basket and you’ll be the favourite gifter this holiday season! Beauty gifts don’t have to be expensive!

What are your favourite budget beauty gift sets out there this holiday season?

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Top 5 – July

  

  
I’m not okay with July being over. I always find August to be such a bittersweet month of summer ending, yet beautiful weather. I’m not very accepting of September and I spend the whole month of August dreading it’s arrival. This August brings a lot with it. One of my best friends moving too far for me to handle, weddings up the wazoo, and a few cool things coming up on the blog within the next few weeks. These monthly posts are great for reflecting back on those things I loved for the month, but I’m starting to find they are acting as a pep talk for the month ahead.

So here we go, what 5 products did I love this past month? As I think back on my plans to save some money in the month I failed miserably, so there are a few new ones. I’d have to say that my top pick for the month would have to be the Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in the shade Orchid. We all know my love of these lipsticks and you can read my original review of them here, but this one is much brighter than those I’ve tried in the past and I LOVE the pop of colour for the summer, especially since I still seem to be wearing only black in a heatwave.

I have two eye products in my top 5 this month. These are two products that I have used almost every single day in July and I can’t get enough of. The first is the MAybelline Leather Effect 24H Color Tattoo in the shade Creamy Beige. Not only is this a great base for any look, it’s also perfect on its own. Sometimes I may add a tiny bit of brown to the outer corners to give a slight smokey look, but its so easy and long lasting. The second product is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara which I raved about recently here. I’m in love. Simple as that. Maybelline has really been killing it in the eye dept. lately.

Number 4 and 5 are tricky ones since nothing else in particular stands out above the rest. I’ve been really enjoying quite a few things this month. But to pick something from that group I’d say Essie Millionails has been a real lifesaver lately and some good old-fashioned sun screen. With weddings coming up I’m trying to give my manicurist the best nails to work with. But after growing so long they get floppy and bendy and break so easily. So Essie’s kevlar filled Millionails came to my rescue. See a review here. And for summer sun protection its always the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen. 

What have you been loving this month?

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Office Appropriate Nails

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I’m all for bold colours and decorative nails all day everyday. Even in the office. But sometimes, on the day of a presentation, the day you meet the boss’s boss, or the day of a rather important interview, less is more. Just like you wouldn’t walk into that room with a bold va-va-voom lip colour, you should probably avoid the crazy and outlandish nail colours as well. First impressions are important and as much as it sucks to say it – your clothes say a lot about you before you even open your mouth. But the same is true about all aspects of your appearance. When you go to shake a hand, make sure you have office appropriate nails.

Now everyone can judge variations of this based on their office environment. I for one can’t think of a nail colour or design that would not be appropriate in my laid back office. But for some, the bright greens, floral designs, or even the stiletto shaped talons I envy so much would be highly unprofessional and inappropriate. So for those of you who are in that category – I have some solutions that are still fun! Or at least I think so.

I’m a big fan of neutral nails. I know their not for everyone, but I love the ‘nude’ nail look. And it’s incredibly subtle. I love the fresh and clean look of it and I think it’s highly professional for any office or business situation. I love Orly Dare to Bare for my nude nails. Moving on to a bit more colour, I think that the subtle pinks and dusty rose colours are the perfect shades. As long as you don’t go to barbie or bubblegum, the light dusty pinks are quiet enough to be professional as well. I am a big fan and slight hoarder of the dusty rose shades, but one of my favourites is O.P.I Gouda Gouda Two Shoes. And finally, lets get you a bold nail. If you want to add colour and a little BAM! then go for red. Red nails are the classic femme fatale. The bold and sexy, yet appropriate for every situation type of nail. For summery red I love Essie Fifth Avenue but for Autumn and Winter I tend to take my reds more to the burgundy side of things and go for Sally Hansen Insta-Dri CinnaSnap! 

What are your thoughts on office appropriate nails?

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