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I was just starting to enjoy Fall... and then I found out that there are 10 cm of snow at my cottage and that I could see my breath in the cold air this morning. And so with winter creeping up around the corner, cold sore season is also approaching! Today I am here with some products to help fight cold sores, and a little giveaway! Illness, stress, poor nutrition and a lack of sunlight can all lead to an active cold sore breakout, and for some reason, cold sores just love to pop up when the weather gets chilly. The Lip Clear Lysine lip treatment & protection balm is really nice. It has a vaguely medicinal, herby-sagey-minty scent to it and leaves behind a bit of a cool tingle. With SPF 21 this is perfect to protect your lips from the reflection on the coming snow, or to toss in your bag for your beachy winter vacay. I find this balm to be really hydrating and perfect to protect my lips from cold and windy Canadian winters. (Side note, I can't believe I am even thinking about wi...

Usually I pick up my favourite drugstore shampoo and conditioner when they are on sale at Shoppers, toss them in my basket and move on with my life. However I was in for a special surprise when Kérastase sent me their Nutritive line to help my hair transition into the fall. From start to finish using this collection is a treat, and has made me rethink my current shampoo routine. After a few weeks of using this stuff, I am in love. Once my current drug store supply is finished up I don't know if I can resist purchasing this shampoo... Let’s start with their shampoo (Bain Magistral – Fundamental nutrition shampoo for severely dried out hair, $42). With this product a little really does go a long way. It Is rich and creamy (truly), foaming up to a rich lather. It makes my hair feel hydrated and smooth, but not weighed down in the slightest. It leaves my hair feeling clean but not stripped. Almost smooth enough to forgo conditioning, almost. With hair as long as mine, shampooing can be...

I have something to share with you... yesterday on my way home from work I was listening to Christmas music on my phone. Once Thanksgiving in Canada hits I am ready for the the holiday shopping, the gift buying, the music, you name it! Today I am here with my first holiday post, featuring MAC's 2016 Holiday Collection: The Nutcracker Sweet Collection. I have a few pieces to share with you and then some info about the rest of the collection. Nutcracker Sweet Smoky Eye Bag ($51 CAD/$42.50 USD) This beautiful set comes in a nice sized box, making it perfect to gift wrap! The plastic burgundy make-up bag has pink polka dots and golden rope details along the side and in the middle. It is slim, just the perfect size to hold make-up brushes while travelling, in my opinion!  This kit contains a Paint Pot in Dream Scene (frosted cool grey), an Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Fathoms Deep (deep slate grey-blue), A Technakohl Liner Eye-Liner Kajal in Graphblack (rich graphic black), and the Fal...

In October 2013 I was a student at U of T, very involved in my industry, and working towards all of my goals. I was also a bit burnt out. I felt like I was always doing something for future Alanna -- getting my papers done so future Alanna could get her degree, volunteering so future Alanna could have a job one day. I didn't feel like I was doing anything for 2013 Alanna. I ended up starting a blog. I didn't have any grand ideas (though getting a PR sample one day would be pretty cool!), I just wanted a space here 2013 Alanna could talk about her totally non serious hobby (makeup), take some nice pictures, and relax. Maybe learn some stuff about website management, mostly just write about makeup that I liked. Fast forward to 2016. Little did 2013 Alanna know, but starting a blog then, really helped 2016 Alanna. I've got the job I was working towards, the degree that I wrote countless essays for, and a blog that after a few years has taken off. This year alone my traffic has...

Stila was my first liquid lipstick love, and they always put together a beautiful holiday collection. This year's collection is no exception, with some of their popular liquid lipstick minis, and a stunning new highlight palette. Today I am here with their Naturally Nude lipstick trio, and the Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette. Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette ($51 CAD/$39 USD) Wearing "Kitten" on my cheek bones This highlighting palette is really something. At first, I expected it to be a cream highlight palette, but when I went to swatch it with my fingers, it was a dry powder. A bouncy dry powder that blends like a dream. Let's just say I wouldn't leave this open over night. Keep this guy sealed when not in use. When just swatched with your fingers the powders look bold, however they are not nearly as pigmented when applied with a brush. In fact, to get that level of pigmentation you really have to build it up. Applied with a brush, these...

There are some brands that just exude luxury, and Burberry without a doubt is one of them. I own a few of their lipsticks (hello Military Red!) and have always been impressed with their quality! That is why I was so delighted to find Burberry's newest mascara in my gift bag at a David Lackie event ! Keep reading for my first impressions, review, and pictures! This mascara is described as "An eye opening, volume mascara that creates a cat eye effect and leaves lashes volumized, stretched and defined, and beautifully fanned-out from corner to corner." The best way I can describe this mascara is the perfect medium between Benefit They're Real and Benefit Roller Lash. It gives you the falsies effect of They're Real, but the lift and softness of Roller Lash. This mascara is incredibly bold, to the point that I don't feel I need an eyeliner when I am in a pinch and running a bit late for work. This brush is hourglass shaped with both short and long bristles. The sho...

2016 really has been the year of the highlighter, and I can't wait to see what next year has in store. A few weeks ago I was going through my highlight collection and while I noticed lots of soft golden hues I couldn't find a pink one in sight. Actually that's a bit of a lie. I have one pink highlighter. It came broken to bits in my Anastasia Beverly Glow Kit ( review here ). I don't have a functional pink highlight. A few days later this rose coloured beauty arrived on Sephora's website and some how magically arrived at my door a few days later with a spend $25 GWP, 3 free samples, and 4x the points.  Weird :) I am a big fan of Becca's highlighters (and fun fact: seems you guys are too! This post is actually my most popular post of all time ). They are buttery, pigmented, and so so flattering. Currently in my collection I have Champagne Pop (pressed & poured), Moonstone (pressed), Rose Gold (pressed) and Opal (pressed). Becca's Rose Quartz Shimmering Sk...