Going Platinum Blonde. Everything You Need to Know

Welp, I’m officially the most indecisive person on the planet because I changed my hair AGAIN. I chopped it all off and dyed it blonde. One of my life goals is to slowly turn into a Kardashian (just kidding…kinda) and my inspiration for this change was when Kim went blonde. She looked amazing and I’ve really wanted to try it ever since. This is the picture I used for reference.

Let me tell you, it is NOT easy to go from black to blonde. It is a 12 hour + process and costs almost a grand (being pretty ain’t cheap!). It takes at least 3 rounds of bleach to get the black pigment out, and then I did two rounds of toners to get the nice white colour. My hair takes to bleach really easily because I have white genes in me, and caucasian hair is much easier to turn for some reason. For other ethnicities like Asian girls that have truly black hair, it’s much harder and will take more rounds of bleach.

I’ll insert a few pictures of the bleaching process (sorry they are blurry lol). It went from black to orange to an unsightly yellow (purely bleached hair is not cute, you need to tone afterwards). It takes a long time because you need to sit in the bleach for an hour, and then because bleach is so damaging to your hair, I needed to do an intense treatment in between bleaches so my hair wouldn’t fall right off.

After the third round of bleach and treatments, it is time to tone and get rid of all the yellow tints. After the first toner I was a little worried because it was still pretty yellow, but then my hairdresser put something special in the second toner to try to lift all that yellow as much as possible. While it wasn’t perfect (it still had some yellow tints and was not pure ice white like Kim K.) we got pretty darn close! I have to go back in a month for another round of bleach and toner to try and get it as white as we can.

Now, let’s talk about aftercare. In the shower I use the Fanola Purple Shampoo and Mask, and I switch out that mask for the Schwarzkopf Keratin Smooth Perfect Conditioner for unmanageable hair. After the shower I towel try my hair for a bit then apply the Oribe Gold Lust Oil, and then the Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream. I then take a round brush and blow dry my hair straight. This combination of products leaves my hair SO SMOOTH and straight for days on end.

 

I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out, I’m excited to see how it looks after my second round!

That’s it for now!

xoxo,

Sarah

 

My Holiday Party Look – Outfit & Makeup

It’s officially holiday party season! My workplace had their party early this year and it already passed 2 weeks ago. I loved my look and I wanted to share it with y’all just in case you needed any ideas for your party!

My dress was from FashionNova and it’s called the Start The Show Sequin Dress in Rose Gold. Link here —  https://www.fashionnova.com/products/start-the-show-sequin-dress-rose-gold?traffic_source=email_order_confirmation

This is the perfect holiday party dress and will definitely turn heads at whatever function you attend.

I’ll Insert a few pics of me below.

I finished the look with some pink sandals from Steve Madden (unfortunately not photographed…dumb boyfriends :P) and a beige patent leather purse from Stuart Weitzman.

As for my makeup, I did the majority of it myself and then had my friend Anna who is a makeup artist do my eyes.

 

Primer: Too Faced Peach Perfect Primer

Foundation: Nars All Day Luminous Foundation in Shade ‘Punjab’

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Shade ’20’

Powder: Too Faced Peach Perfect Translucent Powder & Maybelline Fit Me Powder in Shade ’20’

Contour: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Blush: The Balm shade ‘Houston’ from ‘Grl Pwdr’ Palette

Highlight: ABH Glow Kit in Sundipped (Mixture of Summer and Moonstone)

Eyes: Morphe James Charles Palette & Too Faced ‘Shake Your Palm Palms’ Palette (unknown shades since my friend did it…SORRY, it was a rose gold cut crease)

Mascara: Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Lashes: Koko Lashes in ‘Queen B’

Brows: ABH Dip Brow Palmade in ‘Dark Brown’

Lips: Too Faced melted liquid lipstick ‘Cool Girl’

Setting Spray: The Body Shop ‘Mandarin Energizing Facial Spray’

I hope this gives you some inspiration on what to wear for your holiday party look!

That’s it for now!

xoxo,

Sarah

 

I Tried Affordable Products Celebrities Swear By – By Marisa Chiorello

Hey beautiful souls!

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with trying different brands and types of makeup. For me, personally, makeup is just one of the many ways I express myself. So, I definitely do not wear makeup for other people, only for myself. If you’ve read my previous posts, you know that my makeup consists of liquid foundation, concealer, loose powder, bronzer, blush, mascara, highlighter, and a pop of colour on the lips. Recently, I ran out of some of my makeup staples, but I decided to do something different. Instead of purchasing my usual brands, I purchased some drugstore makeup and products that celebrities swear by. Yes, some celebrities are just like us! I couldn’t wait to try these affordable goodies.

L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara ($9)

The first product I purchased was L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara. The celebrity who swears by this drugstore mascara is Vanessa Hudgens. I thought it was fitting to begin with this actress and singer because many people say I look like her. According to Vanessa, “you can really layer [this mascara] on for tons of volume and length.” She was right about this! I used three coats of this mascara and loved how long and thick my lashes looked. They almost looked like fake lashes! I also love how affordable this mascara is and the fact that it’s waterproof. Thanks to Vanessa, I’ll be using this mascara everyday and purchasing more once I run out.

L’Oréal Paris Enchanted Paradise Blush, $13

I stayed with L’Oréal for my blush. The celebrity who uses this blush is Camila Cabello. I chose Camila because we have similar skin tones so I knew this product would look great on my skin. It sure did! I loved this blush because it’s easy to apply and really complimented my skin tone.  It wasn’t too pink, or too bright so I didn’t look like a clown, haha. Not to mention, it smells delicious!

 

Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick, $9

Recently, I’ve been using plumping gloss, butter gloss, and Kylie Cosmetics gloss in Cinnamon. However, I miss my lipstick, so I decided to pick one up. I went with Covergirl’s matte lipstick. The celebrity who uses this lipstick is Lorde. I’m not sure what shade Lorde uses, but I opted for Pink Paws. This lipstick is so worth it, especially for the price. It glides on smoothly and easily. I love the colour, the fact that it’s long lasting, and it’s comfortable. It doesn’t dry out your lips or become clumpy after wearing it for hours. The pop of colour was magical, too.

 

Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes, $5

The next product I purchased was makeup-removing wipes. Ariana Grande swears by these wipes and uses them everyday as part of her facial cleansing routine. I was very pleased with these makeup-removing wipes. They took off all of my makeup without making my face feel dry. Also, my face didn’t burn which is what normally happens with makeup-removing wipes. These wipes even smelled delicious.

 

Eco Style Gel Olive Oil, $3

 

I’ve recently been using Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Defining Lotion, but I noticed that this lotion does not fight against my curl’s frizz that well. Actress and activist, Yara Shahidi loves this gel. She said it’s “the most efficient,” gel and what helps her get her amazing curls. Not only is this gel super affordable, but also it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my curls hard and stiff. Instead, it fights frizz, hydrates my hair, and makes my curls soft. I have my best hair days with this gel!

 

Pacifica Super Green Detox Kale & Charcoal Detox Facial Mask, $4

Self-care is super important, and that includes taking care of your skin. When I think about skin care, I don’t think of just washing and moisturizing my face, I think of facemasks, too! I picked up a kale and charcoal detox facial mask. The celebrity who loves this mask is actress and singer, Lea Michele. After trying this mask, my face felt lighter, smooth, and moisturized. I love how affordable this mask is. It’s also cruelty-free and uses a lot of ingredients that are good for your skin, such as Vitamin C and Green tea.

Let me know which celebrity staple you want to try!

Until next time,

Marisa

My Shoot with @que.osha

Another day, another photoshoot! I just have so much fun doing these because A) it’s a way of getting more content for my socials/blogs, and B) it’s also just fun to keep these memories and document my life in this way. It will be so much fun showing my sister’s grandkids these one day (I say my sister because I am NEVER having children of my own LOL). This next one was set in Queen’s Park and I wanted to to have fun fall vibes. Here are 8 of my favourite photos from the shoot.

I hope you liked ❤

xoxo

Sarah

My Shoot with @anabrauerr

Hey friends!

I recently did another photoshoot with one of my favourite photographers that I’ve used in the past, Ana Brauer. She really is amazing and if you’re in the Toronto Area I would highly recommend choosing her if you’re in need of a photographer. I really love the photos that she took and I wanted to share them with all of you! Here are some of my favourites!

I think she’s working on editing a few more for me, so I will add those when they are finished as well!

I hope you enjoyed!

Xoxo,

Sarah

Extra Photos:

5 Breakup Songs You Need to Hear Right Now (Heartbroken or Not) – By Laila Kharouba

5. I Do- Wild Rivers

In their new single “I Do”, Toronto based folk band Wild Rivers muses on a feeling we all know too well— the realization that someone is over you when you aren’t even close. This melancholic song circles around melodically, as the heart does around memories after a breakup. Devan and Khalid’s intertwining harmonies become almost indistinguishable as they repeat the inherently romantic proclamation ‘I Do’, but with a completely different sentiment than one would expect from the song title. I’ve had this gorgeously sad song on repeat since it came out on August 9^th, and you will as well.

“Seems like you’re getting on, I ain’t getting nowhere”. 

4. okay- LANY & Julia Michaels

This song is a simple and earnest retracing of a relationship’s beginning and end. Songwriting queen Julia Michaels sings an octave above Laney (“Thru These Tears”) as the song almost whispers in your ear the question we often ask ourselves and our best friends: “I’m gonna be okay, right?”. The intimacy of the two voices suggests a shared experience of heartbreak while the instrumentation rolls underneath them, pushing them both to move on, and giving the situation some hope despite the defeat made clear in the lyrics.

“Is it wrong to think you’re sadistic? I know you’re sleeping perfect while I’m over here hurting.”

3. Leaving Song- Birds of Bellwood’s

“Leaving Song” is one of the many hauntingly beautiful songs from the popular and undeniably dynamic Birds of Bellwoods. The song reflects on a selfless sending of a loved one on their way, despite a selfish desire for them to stay. Stephen Joffe’s voice has a way of piercing through your headphones and right into your heart, while his bandmate’s voices echo behind him like the words in your head that you wish you had said.

“On the surface it appears that you have always loved it here, but still I know deep inside that you must change the tide.”

2- This Is On You- Maisie Peters

Up and coming British pop-folk powerhouse Maisie Peters has a way of singing complex scenarios into simple and accessible songs. “This Is On You” is sassy (in the sweetest way possible), honest, and tragic. The song is a recognition of what we deserve, and what we don’t, motivated by the anger from years of being loved and needed only at someone else’s convenience. Her vocals begin raw and hesitant as she contemplates a call from her ex, then build into a chorus where her layered vocals chant the words she has finally gained the confidence to say.

“So you wanna be friends of is that on weekends? I was your pick me up, and I would say pick me up, but not anymore”.

1- High On Heartbreak- Nick Babcock

Kingston, Ontario raised pop artist Nick Babcock presents an unquestionably unique perspective on breakups in his debut single “High On Heartbreak”. The song is a moody breakup anthem, tracing the nuances of contemporary relationships where the honeymoon phase turns into boredom in the blink of an eye. Nick doesn’t let this get him down, instead he gets high on the possibility of what’s next—which is often a step closer to where we are meant to be, and who we are meant to be with. The song features soaring romantic harmonies, juxtaposed with a quick, almost rap-like bridge where his lips move as fast as our brains might right before we self-sabotage a relationship. The song captures a sentiment that has not been written before, but has been experienced by many.

“Now I’ve probably passed by another potential wife, bullshit the reasons and regret it every time. But I haven’t missed her in a while like she’s going out of style. I don’t get down, I get high.”

Check out the Spotify playlist featuring all these songs:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2tRCR9tHLHLtKqtXyEQAV2?si=sPQiX_a-Q4mQSC2ydG4CbQ

Follow Laila on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lailakharouba/

For A Whiter, Brighter Smile, Try Keeko Oil Pulling Sachets – By Marisa Chiorello

Hello there, beautiful souls!

Who isn’t on the hunt for a whiter and brighter smile? A healthy, beautiful smile certainly helps with self-confidence! I know when my smile is white and bright, I actually enjoy smiling.  Okay, okay, I totally show it off- guilty as charged! But, sometimes we can’t get a whiter and brighter smile by getting our teeth cleaned every six months. There are so many drinks and food out there that stain our teeth. Unfortunately for me, coffee is one of them. I noticed that because of my caffeine habit, my teeth become slightly stained over time. I searched for teeth whitening products and finally found a super cool, successful one! Here’s why you should try Keeko Oil Pulling Sachets!

                  What Is Oil Pulling And Oil Pulling Sachets?

Keeko and all of its products are Australian made and owned. However, they really care about all of their customers. They are dedicated to your complete satisfaction. If you don’t live in Australia you can still order the products. Are you ready to try oil pulling?

Oil pulling is known for its various benefits such as whitening teeth, getting rid of bad breath, preventing cavities, strengthening teeth and gums, and detoxing your mouth and your body. It’s all natural! So, when I discovered these sachets I knew I had to try them! I was ready to transform my teeth!

Keeko oil pulling sachets are tiny packets filled with organic coconut, lemon, chamomile, myrrh, peppermint, and spearmint oils. These sachets come in different flavours such as Sweet Sensation and Citrus Burst. I tried all of them, but Morning Mint is my absolute favourite!

                  How To Use Oil Pulling Sachets

In order to see successful results, you’ll have to use one packet for fourteen days. First, the packet of oil is pretty hard. You’ll have to massage the packet with your hands, or run it under warm water, in order to activate the oil. Once that’s done, you’re ready to start! Just open the packet, put the oil in your mouth, and swish!

You should swish the oil in your mouth for five to fifteen minutes. I found that the longer I swished the oil in my mouth, the better the result! So, I recommend setting a timer for fifteen minutes.  You must spit the oil into a garbage bin after the fifteen minutes are done, because it can clog your sink! After that, just brush your teeth!

The Benefits Of Keeko Oil Pulling Sachets

You will finally have a whiter, brighter smile after using these sachets! And, it only takes a matter of weeks! Also, these sachets are gentle, dentist recommended, vegan, organic, not tested on animals, gluten free, and non- GMO! They are really good for you, and you don’t have to worry about any negative side effects. I know I didn’t!

After fourteen days, I really saw and felt a difference in my teeth. Now, I can’t stop smiling!

If you decide to try Keeko Oil Pulling Sachets, let me know! You can order them at www.keekooil.com for $38.95AU. They are also available at Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People!

Until next time,

Marisa

My Top Three Moisturizing Lotions for Acne Prone Skin – By Marisa Chiorello

Hello, hello beautiful souls!

If you’re like me, then you’ll agree that acne is such a pain! Although I’ve truly embraced my flaws, which includes my adult acne, it does get frustrating. From the face wash I use, to the prescription acne medication I put on my face at night, my face tends to get very dry.  My dry skin can be extremely painful and embarrassing; especially because I can’t wear makeup. It makes my face and my dry skin look worse!

I used to be afraid to use moisturizer on my skin because it would cause me to breakout even more. But, thankfully, I’ve finally found a cure! If you want to moisturize your skin, while healing your acne, here are the three best moisturizers for acne prone skin. They’re also great if you’re on a budget!

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $11.19

This is the face lotion I am currently using. I love this lotion because it is lightweight, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily or sticky, and it is gentle which is perfect for when my dry skin is painful. This cream is also my go-to because it doesn’t irritate my skin or make my acne worse. There are some moisturizing creams that leave my skin pink, my face feels as if it is on fire, and the next day I have new acne clusters on my face. I don’t have to worry about this with CeraVe! This lotion is available at drugstores.

            Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, $12

I used Cetaphil moisturizing lotion before I came across CeraVe. This lotion is great for acne! It helps heal breakouts while ensuring that your skin stays hydrated and moisturized all day long. I love that it is oil-free so it doesn’t clog your pores!

            Eucerin Sensitive Skin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Lotion, $10

Although this lotion is anti-wrinkle or anti-aging, I’ve used it a handful of times. This lotion is gentle enough for all skin types, especially skin that is very dry and sensitive. When I used this lotion, it didn’t affect my acne in any negative way. I didn’t get more acne, and it didn’t irritate the acne I already had. Instead, it left me with long lasting moisture. I also love that this lotion contains vitamins (like vitamin E) and antioxidants! My skin felt fresh and healed!

Perfect moisture, healed acne, and fresh skin! If this is what you desire, try one of my favourite affordable moisturizing lotions! Let me know which one is your favourite!

Until next time,

Marisa

 

*Featured image borrowed from blogger Safa Sunshine – check her out if you can!*

What’s In Your Closet? – By CarrieJ

Hopefully, no skeletons!

Recently, I have been thinking about my closet and the colours I like to wear.

When I was about 10, my favourite colour was pink. Everything had to be pink. My dress was pink. My shoes and everything I could possibly own HAD to be pink! Then puberty hit and I changed my fun favourite colour to orange – that lasted for 2 years and until the hormonal surge finally subsided. Next, I liked yellow, and that lasted a good number of years. In fact, I still like yellow.

However, this August, I got the late Summer vibe. Have you been feeling the vibe? It has been a long time coming for me, but I finally felt it last week on a boat cruise. The days have been hot, but I also know that it gets pretty windy, and even cold on the lake, so I wore my coral dress sweater. It was then that I realized that I can’t seem to get enough dresses in coral, green and blue. Green reflects nicely on the water and has a calming effect. It was a beautiful day in my coral dress.

With the number of mentally unbalanced people increasing every single day, especially in Cosmopolitan centres like Toronto, maybe wearing green is not a bad idea too.

Nowadays, I find I have more greens, blues, whites, and corals than any other colour in my closet.

What’s in your closet? What colours have you been falling in love with?

 

– CarrieJ

Ladies, How Do You Remove Your Facial Hair?

Normally this website is about giving beauty advice, but ya girl needs some help too! I’ve tried every possible way of removing my facial hair. This includes, shaving (with both a regular 5 blade razor and a single blade razor), waxing, sugar waxing, threading, and laser hair removal, and all roads almost always lead to a breakout or two. To be clear I am removing ALL OVER the face, meaning cheeks, upper lip, chin, and forehead. And the areas where I get the most broken out afterwards are the cheeks and chin, but that’s where most of my breakouts naturally occur anyways, so it makes sense.

Now I’ve noticed some methods are better at keeping breakouts at bay than others. Waxing and sugar waxing are most definitely the worst for breakouts. I always get a very big red inflamed one when I wax. Shaving with a 5 blade razor has the same outcome, however when I shave with a single blade razor/buzzer, the breakouts aren’t as bad, although I still do get a ton of clogged pores. Threading, although you would think it would be the same outcome as waxing because the hairs are being pulled out, surprisingly doesn’t lead to too many breakouts either. I’ve also lasered my face which led to horrible breakouts as well.

It’s like I can’t win! It’s a toss up between having a hairy face or a pimply face. There are things I do afterwards to help. I’m not exactly a skincare expert, but I think the reason people breakout when they remove hair is because the pores are more exposed and it’s easier for gunk and dirt to get into the pores. So after I remove my facial hair I immediately use some sort of aftershave and a salicylic acid treatment for razor bumps. After that I try to be really diligent about washing it twice a day with an exfoliator so that dirt doesn’t get trapped under dead skin cells and form a bump, and I also use a charcoal pore mask once daily for a week after hair removal to really keep all that gunk out of the pores.

While all this helps, I still breakout a little bit each time I remove my hair. So now I want to pass this on to you…what method of hair removal is your favourite and how to you keep your breakouts at bay, or do you even breakout at all? I’m really curious to hear about other girls’ experience with this and hopefully learn a couple tips as well!

I wanna hear from you!!

XOXO

Sarah