The Fall Favourites Tag

It's that time of year again! Yep, fall tag time. This year, I'm going to do Jaclyn Hill's version, which is focused solely on favourites:

1. Favourite candle? I haven't bought candles in a long while, but I would say for this fall, it would be Ladurée's Lucky Charms New York candle. It smells like apple — slightly tart, slightly sweet — with a hint of spice.

Ladurée Lucky Charms New York Candle
2. Favourite lip colour? I couldn't decide between these four (I can't believe I even narrowed it down to four), so I'm listing them all.

Tom Ford Pussycat, NARS Vivien, MAC Viva Glam III, and Urban Decay After Dark

• Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in Pussycat, a matte medium muted dusty mauve rose
• NARS Audacious Lipstick in Vivien, a satin medium-dark muted reddened plum
• MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam III, a matte dark muted brownish plum
• Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in After Dark, a matte medium-dark magenta-berry

3. Favourite drink? I'm quite into the Chai Tea Lattes from Second Cup right now.

4. Favourite blush? I wouldn't be a true blush fiend if I picked just one. Here are my top picks this fall:

Clockwise from bottom left: Surratt Beauty La Vie en Rose, Hourglass Mood Exposure, Becca Sweetpea, and Bobbi Brown Cranberry

• Surratt Beauty Artistique Blush in La Vie en Rose, a medium muted warm plummy pink
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure, a medium muted neutral brownish rose
• Becca Mineral Blush in Sweetpea, a medium muted warm plummy brown
• Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Cranberry, a medium to medium-dark rosy bronze

5. Favourite clothing item? Okay, y'all know I don't usually wear colour (like, 98% of my wardrobe is black), but I just bought this multi-coloured Tapestry Infinity scarf from Aritzia (on sale for 40% off!) and I am kind of in love with it. 

Wilfred Tapestry Infinity Scarf
6. Favourite fall movie? To me, a "fall movie" is a movie that begins or is set in the fall, so my favourite fall movie would be The Perks of Being a Wallflower. For some reason, I associate it with the fall season, maybe because the first time I read the book (15 years ago, in Grade 8, and has been one of my favourite novels since then) and the first time I saw the movie (three years ago) were both in the fall. But the story also starts at the beginning of a school year, which is also fall. (And I think this might be one of the only instances in which I felt the movie did the book justice.)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
7. Favourite Fall TV show? Again, I'm not sure what constitutes as a "fall TV show," and I don't watch a lot of television these days, but if we're going with a show that begins or is set in the fall, I'd have to say Gilmore Girls. Honestly, it was my favourite TV show until it ended in 2007, and I watched it religiously every single week for its entire run. I always associate it with fall because the beginning of a new season of the show always started in the fall (with Rory starting a new school year), but it's also because a third of that show was set in the fall and some of the biggest events on the show happened in the fall.
Gilmore Girls
8. Favourite Thanksgiving food? Okay, if we're talking about traditional Thanksgiving foods (e.g. unlike the sushi dinner I had this year), then it's definitely a tie between stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Bread stuffing
Herb and garlic mashed potatoes
9. Favourite Halloween costume? I don't dress up for Halloween these days (I am anti-social and don't go to parties and I live in a retirement community so there are no children to pass out candy to, thusly negating the need for a costume... also, I am lazy), but if I was gonna put in the time and effort, it would be this:

The Beauty Scenario Tag

I wasn't tagged by anyone, but after seeing it on Liz's and Larie's blogs, I thought it'd be fun to do, too:

1. You have to get rid of all of your foundations and only keep one high-end and one drugstore; which do you keep? Lucky for me, I actually only use one foundation: MAC's Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
2. You go for an interview, and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely? I'd approach the subject. Any interview I'd go for would be for the make-up industry, and all of us appreciate it when someone tells us there's lipstick on our teeth. I don't usually need to say anything; I drag my tongue across my front teeth to signal it, and it gets the point across.

3. You're not feeling yourself and need a pick-me-up lipstick. Which do you go for? The lipstick shade I made at Bite Beauty Lip Lab. Also, MAC's Petals & Peacocks from their Give Me Liberty of London collection in 2010. I didn't get it when it launched because I didn't really wear bright shades back then, but I regretted it so hard like, six months later, so my friend, who's worked for MAC for 18 years, gifted me a brand new tube that she had gotten as gratis for that collection. Just looking at it puts me in a good mood.

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Lipstick in Petals & Peacocks
4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years; how would you do your hair or makeup differently? My hair hasn't really changed since high school (long, straight, layered, side-swept bangs) so I wouldn't really change anything, but I would definitely do my make-up differently. First, I'd get a foundation that actually matched me. (Not three shades lighter and pink-toned because I wanted to look like Brody Dalle. I am not white, nor am I a punk.) Second, I'd do my eyebrows. (They legit looked like dark brown sperms back then.) Third, I'd use blush. (Yes, this present-day blush fiend did not use blush until her early 20s.) Fourth, I'd use liquid eye liner. (Because smudgy brown eye pencil was just not cutting it.)

5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott haircut but they hear wrong and give you a pixie cut - what would you do?

A) Smile, say thank you, call your mum and cry hysterically
B) Cry in the chair and things get awkward
C) Complain to the manager and demand a refund

I just had to Google who the hell Pixie Lott is. Okay, first of all, am I completely unconscious? Because how would I not notice when my hairdresser is about to cut that much hair off if I had requested a style that was significantly longer than that? Like, why wouldn't I stop them the moment I saw them put scissors that close to my scalp? And if my hairdresser really did cut off that length of hair in the first snip, how would I not notice them continuing to cut all of my hair off? I'm sorry, but I would deserve that hair cut because I would be fucking stupid. But I understand that this question is hypothetical, so: I would get pissed and complain, but I wouldn't demand a refund because that's just straight-up bitchy and I’m stuck with the hair cut, anyway. I think I would just style it kinda messy chic, or maybe wear a pretty head scarf and some ultra-glam earrings. If I looked good with short hair, though, I'd be like, “Daaaamn, I look fiiiine.”

6. Your friend surprises you with a four-day city break and you have one hour to pack. Which 'Do it all' palette do you pack in your makeup bag? As I said to Larie, a friend that gives you one hour to pack for a four-day trip is no friend at all. That having been said, I don't actually own any "do it all" palettes; I just don't like them because there's always something in there that I don't like and won't use. I do have products that I use on a daily basis, so I would pack all of those, plus a neutral eyeshadow palette (actually been really loving MAC’s Eyeshadow x15 Warm Neutral Palette recently), a few neutral blushes (likely MAC Warm Soul, Becca’s Songbird, and Hourglass’ Mood Exposure), plus a few nude and MLBB lipsticks (my favourites right now are YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture in 10 Beige Tribute, Too Faced’s La Crème in Naughty Nude, and Bite Beauty's Honey Berry). When in doubt, do neutral.

MAC Eyeshadow x15 Warm Neutral Palette
7. Your house has been robbed. Don't worry, everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe? This question always makes me laugh because why the fuck would any robber bypass a flat-screen TV, laptop, camera, and jewelry and go straight for used make-up? Like, why wouldn't you shoplift at Sephora instead? But, I digress... so let's say that stupid robber really did go into my beauty stash (and I really do have a massive one); I'd be most pissed about limited edition products, especially ones in special edition packaging. Anything else is replaceable.

8. Your friend borrows makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you:

A) Pretend you haven't noticed
B) Ask them to re-purchase it
C) Secretly do it back to their makeup

Is this the same douche bag friend who gave me an hour to pack for a four-day trip? Time to break up! It's not that I wouldn't lend something to a friend (I do have a lot of spare items in my kit), it's more the fact that they have the audacity to return it in bad condition. If any of my friends ruined anything of mine, they would have enough respect for me to replace it without me having to ask. I wouldn't be friends with someone who can't respect me, my time, and my possessions. Realistically, though, I don't think I'd ever really lend make-up out to a friend (unless they're a fellow make-up artist working on a photoshoot or a wedding or something); I'd just do their make-up.


Feel free to do this on your blog if you feel so inclined!

Addicted to Blush Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Liz to do this tag, because she knows that I am a blush fiend. So, here goes:
1. What colour blush suits you the most? Peach, and anything peach-toned.
MAC Blushes (from top, left to right): Ripe for Love (2013's Temperature Rising), Cream Soda (2013's Archie's Girls), Flatter Me (2013's Archie's Girls), Ripe Peach (2015's Toledo), Warm Soul, Seduced at Sea (2014's Alluring Aquatic), Sideshow You (2014's The Simpsons), Mighty Aphrodite (2011's Wonder Woman), Hipness (2010's To the Beach), and Ocean City (2014's Proenza Schouler)
Clockwise from left: Becca Wild Honey, Songbird, and Damselfly; Tarte Blissful and Glisten; Hourglass Diffused Heat; NARS Super Orgasm, Deep Throat, and Luster; Marc Jacobs Irresistible; Clinique Peach Pop and Ginger Pop
2. Pressed/cream/loose blush? Pressed, always. I might get into cream blush at some point (perhaps when I stop using powder foundation), but I really doubt I'd ever get into loose.


3. Favourite shimmery blush? Becca's Mineral Blush and MAC's Mineralize Blush.

Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild, Songbird, and Damselfly
MAC Mineralize Blush in New Romance, Love Joy, Gentle, Petal Power, and Warm Soul
4. Favourite matte blush? I think MAC does some great matte blushes, and so does TheBalm.

MAC Matte Blush in Prism, Melba, Eternal Sun, Peaches, Pinch Me, Whole Lotta Love, and Desert Rose
TheBalm InStain Blush in Lace, Swiss Dot, and Argyle
5. Favourite drugstore blush? Admittedly, I own a lot more high-end blushes than drugstore, but I do think Joe Fresh, Milani, Hard Candy, and NYX make great formulas and shades.

Joe Fresh Powder Blush in Melon, Rose, and Pink; Milani Baked Powder Blush in Dolce Pink, Rose D'Oro, and Corallina; Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush in Bombshell, Living Doll, and Honeymoon
NYX Powder Blushes
6. Favourite high-end blush? Right now, it's gotta be Becca's Mineral Blush.
Becca Mineral Blush in Songbird, Damselfly, Wild Honey, Sweetpea, and Flowerchild
7. Favourite bright blush? Oooh, you know I love my clown cheeks...

Sleek Pumpkin Blush by 3, TheBalm Toile and Lace, NARS Coeur Battant and Exhibit A, and Tarte Flush and Natural Beauty
MAC Salsarose, Frankly Scarlet, Full Fuchsia, Azalea, and Rhubarb
MAC Hot Nights (2013's Temperature Rising), Prom Princess (2013's Archie's Girls), Bite of an Apple (2010's Venomous Villains), and Tippy (2009's Hello Kitty)
8. Biggest blush disappointment/regret? Lancôme's La Roseraie from their 2012 Roseraie des Delice collection. 
9. Best blush packaging? While there are a lot of brands that do really nice, sleek regular packaging, I think MAC has done some of the prettiest, most memorable packaging for their LE collections. My all-time favourite would probably be last year's Alluring Aquatic packaging, but I also love last year's Proenza Schouler and 2010's To The Beach packaging.
MAC Sea Me, Hear Me Extra Dimension Blush (2014's Alluring Aquatics), Hipness Blush (2010's To The Beach), and Sunset Beach Blush Ombre (2014's Proenza Schouler)
10. What's on your blush wishlist? Tom Ford, Burberry, and Giorgio Armani.
11. Number 1 holy grail blush? MAC's Warm Soul Mineralize Blush. It's my most-used, looks-good-with-everything, ride-or-die blush.
MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
Feel free to do this tag if you're a fellow blush fiend!

The Me-Time Tag

I wasn't technically tagged to do this, but I wanted in on the fun after watching it on YouTube (originated from Essiebutton), and seeing it on both Liz's and Larie's blog. So, here we go!

1. What do you watch or read during me-time? I don't watch a lot of television these days, but I read a lot. My most recent book haul:


2. What do you wear during me-time? A TNA Ponoma shirt, an old Cornell hoodie (my brother bought it for me years ago when he was still a student there), Aerie Boyfriend sweatpants, and Bath & Body Works shea-infused lounge socks.

3. What are your me-time beauty products? I always have lip balm and hand cream, and I usually rotate between a few of them, but I don't like anything too greasy (I save the super-hydrating, repairing options for bedtime) because I'm usually doing something else, like reading or using my laptop. And I'm getting into face masks, which I try to do once a week.

Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream, Lollia Calm Hyacinth & Honey Shea Butter Handcreme, EOS Blueberry Acai Lip Balm, and Soap & Paper Factory Limoncello Lip Butter
Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask and The Face Shop Real Nature Sheet Masks
4. Current favourite nail polish? I've been loving Cirque this season. When I can't decide what else to wear, I go back to these ones.

Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Lichen, Planet Caravan, Baptisia, and Tibetan Nights
5. What do you eat/drink during me-time? Whatever's in the fridge or pantry that isn't time-consuming to make or prepare (because me-time is about being lazy), like grilled cheese (with old cheddar and harvati), eggs or an omelette, Pizza Pockets, toasted bagel with dill cream cheese... I also love snacks like Party Mix or Munchies, and Orville Redenbacher's Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn. In general, I prefer savoury foods to sweet. To drink, it depends on my mood, but I usually switch between orange juice, Diet Coke, and Simply Limeade. And there's usually a cup of coffee somewhere in there.

6. Current favourite candle? Voluspa's Baltic Amber. Just finished this little one, and now I want the full size.

Voluspa Baltic Amber Candle
7. Do you ever have outdoor me-time? Er, I go outside to smoke... does that count?

8. Would you ever go see a movie alone? Yeah, sure. I used to do it occasionally when I was in high school and university; I took the subway to and from school, so I'd sometimes catch an afternoon movie at a theatre by a station before going home if there was something good out (usually on Tuesdays, 'cause it's half-price admission). But I rarely go out to watch movies now, so I'm usually with someone if I deign to go to the movie theatre.

9. Favourite online shop?Sephora, Indigo, Nail Polish Canada. At least, those are the ones I order the most from.

10. Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time? I usually blog during me-time nowadays, since I spend so much time at work. And I've recently gotten back into playing The Sims 3, which is terrible because I can play for like, 12 hours at a time. And on the rare occasion where I'm not too lazy to clean my bath tub, then I will take a bath with a Lush bath bomb and a bubble bar ('cause if I'm gonna take a bath, I'm gonna make it count).

Feel free to do this if you haven't already!

The Makeup Addict Tag

Because I was tagged by the ever-lovely Larie. As if I needed a tag to tell you I had a makeup hoarding problem...

1. Which product do you still keep buying more of despite having plenty in your collection? Er, everything? Is that too vague an answer? If I have to pick one single type of product, then lipstick. Though blush and eyeshadow are really close seconds...


2. What's the one product you can't live without? Again, if I have to pick one, it'd probably be mascara. But I have four types of products that I deem essential for everyday: black liquid eyeliner (my favourites are Lancôme's Artliner in Noir and MAC's Boot Black Liquid Eye Liner), eyebrow pencil (my staple is MAC's Eyebrows in Lingering), mascara (my holy grail one right now is Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara), and powder foundation (my staple is MAC's Studio Fix Powder in NC35).

Lancôme's Artliner in Noir, MAC Boot Black Liquid Eye Liner, MAC Eyebrows in Lingering, Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, and Studio Fix Powder Foundation
3. Favourite makeup brand? Can anyone pick just one? I'd probably find it easier to pick a favourite child (you know, if I had children). I shall break it down by favourite brands for types of makeup. For foundation and concealer, I would say MAC just for variety and versatility. For blushes, I would say MAC (for their Powder Blush, Mineralize Blush, and Extra Dimension Blush formulas; they just make the most variety of colours and finishes), Becca (for their Mineral Blush), Makeup Geek, and NARS. For eyeshadows, I would say MAC (again, for their variety), Makeup Geek, and Urban Decay. For lipsticks, MAC (again, for the variety), NARS (the Audacious formula), Urban Decay, and Tom Ford. And for gloss, MAC (for the Cremesheen Glass formula).

MAC eyeshadow palettes
Makeup Geek eyeshadow palettes
Urban Decay Electric Pigment Palette, Vice 2 Palette, and custom palettes
MAC Lipsticks
NARS Audacious Lipsticks, Tom Ford Lip Colors, and Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks
4. How big is your makeup collection? Erm... fairly big... Let's not get into exact numbers (because I am too lazy to count them all).


5. And how do you store it? The Hopen 8-drawer dresser (in my bedroom) and the Lillången high cabinet (in my bathroom) from Ikea. I use smaller trays and boxes within them to organize.

Ikea Hopen 8-drawer dresser
6. How many items of makeup have you got in your handbag at the moment? Surprisingly, not a lot! I've been using a smaller handbag, so I've cut out a lot of beauty products. I usually only have a pack of Boscia Blotting Linens (not really makeup, but a beauty item) and the lip product(s) I've decided to wear for the day (right now, I have two lipsticks: Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 89 Satisfaction and MAC Viva Glam II).

MAC Viva Glam II Lipstick, Chanel 89 Satisfaction Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick, and Boscia Black Charcoal Blotting Linens
7. If you could raid another blogger's stash, who would it be? Probably Christine of Temptalia. Her storage system is insanity.

8. How long does your usual makeup routine take and how many products do you use? If we're talking the most basic of my makeup routines, then about 15 minutes. If I'm doing more complicated looks, then maybe 30 to 40 minutes. But no matter what look I'm doing, I use at least 11 products (primer, foundation, concealer, blot powder, eye primer, liquid eye liner, mascara, eyebrow pencil, bronzer, blush, highlighter, lipstick). I'm high-maintenance like that.

9. Have you ever bought makeup knowing you wouldn't use it? Not intentionally.

10. Tag a few other makeup addicts to do this tag! I don't usually like tagging individuals, but... Liz of Beauty Reductionista.

An Autumn Tag

Haven't done a tag in a while, so when I saw this one on Larie's blog, I decided it'd be a fun one to do because fall is my favourite season and even though it's not technically fall yet, it certainly feels like it here in Toronto. So, here we go!

1. OK, we're talking coffee — what's your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks or another coffee shop? Not gonna lie, this is where I follow the masses: Pumpkin Spice Latte. I don't often go to Starbucks to order coffee anymore because I buy their coffee ground and make it myself at home, but I just can't resist a PSL. I actually prefer the one from Second Cup, along with their Cinnamon Swirl Latte. When it comes down to it, I think Second Cup makes tastier lattes.

2. Accessories — what do you opt for: scarf, boots, or gloves? I do love myself a good scarf and rarely go without one in the fall, but I think the accessory I get most excited for is boots. There's just nothing like a good pair of boots to complete an outfit. They're also my favourite kind of footwear.

Nine West Vintage America Collection Sabady Suede Booties

3. Music — what's your favourite music to listen to during autumn? I don't necessarily change the music I listen to seasonally, but I've found that I go for moodier or more "haunting" songs when fall rolls around, whereas I listen to a lot more peppy, upbeat tunes in the summer. I've been really into Half Moon Run recently and just downloaded their album, Dark Eyes. They're kind of Radiohead meets The Black Keys meets Kings of Leon. I've had this song on repeat for the last week:



4. Perfume — what's your favourite scent for this time of year? Okay, so y'all know my all-time favourite scent is Fresh's Sugar Lychee, which is unabashedly fresh and citrusy (and therefore quite "summery"), but I do switch it up with somewhat heavier scents when fall comes around. I tend to go for more rose-based scents like Stella McCartney's Stella, Dolce & Gabbana's Rose The One, and YSL's Parisienne. But I'm on the lookout for a new scent this year. Any suggestions?

Stella McCartney Stella, YSL Parisienne, and Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One

5. Candles — what scents will you be burning this season? I'm supposed to be on a candle ban (as usual), but I cannot resist Bath & Body Works' fall scents. I'm like a moth to flame. I don't really like the scents they bring out for the other seasons, but fall is my weakness. I bought the Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding scent last month and have been burning it non-stop (it actually smells more nutty than banana once it's burning, so it really does smell exactly like bread pudding), though I did just buy a couple new scents (Bourbon Butterscotch and Wasabi Apple) as well... And I've been burning the Honey Cinnamon Crumb Cake candle I bought last winter and promptly forgot about...

Bath & Body Works Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding Candle

6. What do you love most about autumn? What don't I love about autumn? The weather is perfect (cool and crisp but not freezing yet), the fashion is amazing (coats and boots and scarves and blazers!), the make-up is more refined and polished and more dramatic, we can use candles without seeming crazy...

7. Favourite makeup look? Nudes and deeper red hues like maroon and burgundy for lips. I mean, vampy lips have always been in for fall, but I'm leaning more towards warmer shades rather than plums or berries this year. I like to pair them with warm-toned smoky eyes using golds and orangey browns and coppers and reddened bronzes, plus winged liquid eyeliner (as usual) and tons of mascara (as usual). I've also been digging a thicker, more defined brow.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lovemarc Lip Gel in 110 Role Play and 146 Cabaret; NARS Audacious Lipstick in Vanessa, Vivien, and Audrey; Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Minx, Naked, and Starkers; MAC Lipstick in Cherish, Viva Glam II, Viva Glam III, and Media

8. What are you looking forward to most in autumn? Everything, but mostly make-up collections. As we all know, I have a hoarding problem. And also, new outerwear! I've got my eye on like, five coats right now. Oh, and fall also means my birthday which means IMATS is coming up!

As you know, I don't like tagging specific people because I don't want them to feel obligated to do this, but if you end up doing this tag on your blog, let me know in the comments so I can read your answers!