Collective Sephora HAUL!

Hey, I'm back with a haul!
It's pretty safe to say that I've totally splurged in the past month, and frankly I don't feel too guilty about it. With all the stress school have brought upon me, a little retail theraphy is a necessity. With that said, let's go forth with le haul...

The first thing I got is the Sephora Favourites Superstars! I've been eyeing this since it first came out and after a few weeks of contemplating I finally got it! This deal is totally worth it, with staple products like the Stila Eye Liner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and NARS Orgasm, not to mention you get more bang for you buck! Sephora is still currently selling this, so if you can get your hands on this, definitely do!

I also purchased the GLAMGLOW Gift Sexy and BrightMud Eye Treatment because I've heard many good things about these masks and it's true what they say, these masks are absolutely wonderful and does wonderous things to my ever so needy skin. Nuff said.

 

Next, are the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in the shades Vampira and Lovecraft. I don't have any particular excuse on these purchases other than I wanted a dark lippy and a nude lippy, hehe.

Yet another item I've been eyeing... surprise surprise... I've recently learned that there are such things as a contour powder and a bronzing powder (whaaaaaat..) so I went on a mission to seek the greatest contour powder there is! Just kidding.. ain't nobody got time/money foh dat. I simply googled the difference between the two and went ahead and educate myself on the topic, long story short, I came across this product. The Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit! This product have many great reviews and the video of the tutorials (brought to you by Smashbox) totally sold me! The make up artist is just so spunky and lively! If you have no clue of what I am speaking of, click here.

Now comes the guiltiest purchase of them all, the DiorSkin Star Foundation and Concealer. This was definitely an impulse buy, I thought about it, forced myself to forget about it, and the cyle went on and on. I just knew if I didn't take advantage of the 20% VIB sale to purchase these products I would be upset for the rest of the year (I have a problem, I know..) nonetheless, I went ahead and grabbed it, no regrets (yet..) I am in the shade 021 Linen (Foundation) and 001 Ivory (Concealer)

I just love this lip balm too much to skip it during the 20% VIB sale. I really do like this product, it smells great and it moisturizes my lips extensively. I'm not going to exaggerate on the pros of this product because I think it's personal preference and it is a luxury buy. You can definitely find a lipbalm at a fraction of the price that functions the same way.

Last(s) but not least, the freebies! November is my birthday month so naturally, I went and redeemed my birthday perk, tee hee! I also traded up my points for some BB Cream and picked up another daily moisturizer by FAB!

Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any question about the products!

Love,
Sylvia ♥ 

Sephora Haul!

I was one of the people who took advantage of the 20% VIB Rouge discount sale that was going on a few weeks ago. And as predicted, I went a bit crazy – respectively at least.

Here are some of the products I decided to spend my money on, separated into several different categories:



THE SPLURGE

Marc Jacobs "Bronzer" Brush

Oh yes, this brush cost me $100. No, it wasn't an impulse buy because I actually had been keeping my eye on it for some time and doing my research. There were such rave reviews of this brush, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to snag it with the 20% discount promo in place. I have not tried it out just yet, mostly because I'd hate to make it dirty. But fear not, for I will put it to good use one of these days.... someday. Do I regret spending the $100? I'll let you know.



THE "TRY SOMETHING NEW"

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream

I'm running out of my current eye cream from The Face Shop and I decided to try something new, so I went with this eye cream by Origins. The only product I have ever tried from Origins so far is their Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, by which I was very impressed. I haven't started using this eye cream yet, but I'll let you know how well it works.



THE PAMPER PRODUCT

Glamglow Tinglexfoliate Treatment

Ah.. this teeny tiny mask cost me $75 (without the applied discount, of course). I made use of my privilege of being a VIB Rouge to try this miniature, highly-raved mask with questionable potency. In other words, I bought it for the sake of eradicating a curiosity that was amplified by other people's positive reviews on this product.



THE OTHER "TRY SOMETHING NEW"

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

If you've read my current skincare routine post, you'd already know that I'm presently using a moisturizer by Ole Henriksen. AND you would know that I don't currently have a serum in my routine. When I saw this serum at Sephora, I thought I'd give it a try, since it claims to be an anti-aging product (hello, I'm getting there!) and it supposedly contains Vitamin C properties, which play a big role in brightening skin. I've been using it in my morning routine for about a week, and I can say that I'm quite hopeful about this product.



THE "I'VE GOT TO HAVE IT"

Ralph Lauren "Romance" Perfume

There is a very fine line between this and an impulse purchase. I wouldn't categorize this into the latter because there was some contemplation.... for one day. When I was getting my mum her Midnight Romance perfume, also by RL, I spritzed this on me and the scent lingered – for the next 24 hours or so. I couldn't stop smelling and thinking about it. I successfully convinced myself that this perfume produced a quite harmonious blend with my natural scent. Thus, the next day I went back to Sephora, I then proceeded to entertain my conscience by making this so-called "impulse purchase". With zero regrets I can tell you, I'm so glad I did.



THE NECESSITY
We've reached the boring part of most hauls: products-you-already-have-and-need-to-stock-up-on.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown

Despite switching to other brands of eyebrow pencils, I always find myself coming right back to this. This is my third Anastasia Brow Wiz stick in the three years I have been venturing about in scoring the right eyebrow filler for me. It gives me just the right amount of pigment with so much control and none of that excessive waxy feeling. I love it, I'm crazy about it, and I think it is the best eyebrow pencil out there for me. This pencil is THE ONE.



THE OBLIGATORY SAMPLES

Chloé Perfume (mini sample size)

I bought some of these products online and usually Sephora offers up to 3 samples for online purchases. The Chloé perfume was actually not an obligatory sample – I got this in store and had to spend 250 Beauty Insider points on it. If you have never tried this perfume, I suggest you save up and buy it because it is THE best (or at least sample-spray it when you see it somewhere). I finished my 30ml bottle within only 3 months because that's how much I loved it. It's one of those scents that you can never get bored of, no matter how long you've been using it. I just wish my experience lasted longer.


Let me know which product(s) you'd like me to do a review on and I'll try my best to fulfill your request(s). Until then, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

xox Hazel

Winter Outfit Ideas with Basic Pieces

Lately I have been inspired me to do a blog post on winter outfit ideas as we are approaching December and snow has started to fall. Yes, the stylish, colourful months of spring and summer have gone by, but that does not mean we should dread fall and winter just because we cannot seem to find the right outfits to wear. Believe me when I tell you that you can still look glam and gorgeous without showing as much skin as you would in warmer seasons.

For me, Simplicity is key. What a handful of people often forget is that simple is sometimes more and that is all you need. In this post, I'm going to show you how to incorporate the most basic pieces you own in your wardrobe into glam ready-to-wear winter outfits.




Outfit #1 - Keep it Classic

Keep it Classic by hazelette featuring a patterned mini skirt

Basic pieces: Black turtleneck shirt and black tights
I cannot stress to you how crucial it is to own these two items in your closet if you live in an area where the climate undergoes drastic changes at least TWICE a year; e.g. Canada, USA, China, Australia. This outfit is very simple, effortless, but super chic and never goes out of date. From Ms. Hepburn/Jackie O, to present day Kim Kardashian, everybody loves a good black turtleneck. To tell you the truth, this outfit comes straight out of my wardrobe. I actually wore this ensemble to work the other day and received so many compliments on a very similar houndstooth skirt I found at good ol' H&M.

Featured Item: Pearl necklace
The stacked pearl necklace adds an elegant touch to the look, as does the Chanel flap bag, but you can always find a much less expensive dupe on the latter (here or here).

How to rock it: Wear your hair down, with the ends blow-dried inward





Outfit #2 - Reddaze

Reddaze by hazelette featuring a zipper pouch

Basic piece: Nude pumps
Nude pumps are a must-have to soften any daring looks, such as this one with the ruffled red blouse. The red blouse itself already screams FESTIVE, and with the addition of that gorgeous metallic grey pencil skirt, it's perfect. HoliDAZE, indeed! If you'd like, you can always add nude colour tights. If you can, avoid black tights.

Accessories: Gold accents
In this outfit, the Gold accents complement the red colour, emphasizing the festive theme. When it gets a little chilly, simply throw on this neutral-toned cardigan; that way, it does not mix up the main colour palette of the outfit.

How to rock it: Tuck in the red blouse into the skirt; put your hair up in a half-ponytail mode or bobby pin your hair to one side





Outfit #3 - Nightinglam

Nightinglam by hazelette featuring benefit makeup

Basic Piece: Nude heels (again!)
This outfit is perfect to wear to a corporate holiday cocktail party or even to go out for drinks in the evening. I chose nude heels to go with this ensemble because I didn't want to discredit that gorgeous deep blue, textured/patterned skirt. Absolutely beautiful.

Featured Items: Statement pencil skirt, neutral colour flowy halter top with bejeweled collar
The key to statement pieces is that you don't want to let basic pieces overpower them, whether it be by colour, shape, texture, etc. This blue statement pencil skirt from H&M is enough to catch one's attention. However, when paired with the flowy white halter, the look is complete.

How to rock it: You can either tuck in the top or let it flow freely. Hair – loose curls add to the glam





Outfit #4 - Navy'n Textures

Navy'n Textures by hazelette featuring a black belt

Basic Pieces: Black pumps, black bag, black belt
It's a well-known and proven establishment that black goes with anything and everything. Put those basic black pieces to work with some textures and patterns!

Featured Items: Nautical-inspired cardigan and complementary textured skirt
If you haven't already noticed, I'm all about high-waisted skirts. That's mainly because I'm relatively short (5'2) and apparently in fashion mathematics, high-waisted skirts and short people produce an ideal equation. In this outfit, I decided to pair the blue-toned textured skirt with the navy nautical cardigan, particularly because I like the idea of mixing up the different textures together, while maintaining a monochromatic palette. I love that little bow detail on the neckline as well! For a more formal alternative, you can add a white dress shirt underneath the cardigan.

How to rock it: This look is versatile enough to wear your hair any way you'd like





Outfit #5 - Upper East Sider

Upper East Sider by hazelette featuring black gloves

Basic Pieces: Tailored, figure-fitted coat & black boots
A nice, shapely, tailored coat is a must-have in my opinion. It is feminine and ladylike, but at the same time exerts a powerful sense of authority, due to the structured design. Check out more economical alternatives here, here, and here. Tip: to add more dimension to the silhouette effect, add a simple skinny belt to cinch the waist area. Black boots – it goes without saying that these should be a staple in your winter wardrobe. Heel or no heel, it's no big deal, as long as you know how to make people kneel ;).

Featured Item: Faux fur Cossack hat
I don't know what it is about this Russian-inspired hat that makes it seem so elegant. Maybe it's the faux fur? The unusual round shape? I really don't know...

How to rock it: Wear your hair down, blow-dried straight





Last but not least.......


Outfit #6 - The Casual Friday

Casual Friday by hazelette featuring hudson skinny jeans

Basic Pieces: Nice white T-shirt, fitted black blazer, a pair of blue dark-washed skinny jeans
Because this outfit is for one of those casual Fridays, you can go a bit crazy with your basics. I mean, you can't go any more BASIC with these pieces, right? No need to elaborate...

Featured Items: Red bag and knee-high leather boots
London, here I come! The red pop-of-colour on the Longchamp bag spices up this very simple, casual look. If you'd rather opt out on Longchamp, you can check out this bag from the US Target website and find something similar if you don't live in the US.

How to rock it: Ponytail. Totally equestrian ;)




If you would like to create your own outfit collages, you can sign up at Polyvore. I'm very much interested to see what you have come up with, so link me your Polyvore accounts in the comments section below!

Until next time,
Hazel xoxox