Friday, May 10, 2013

Look to Try: The Great Gatsby


Call me obsessed, but who isn't?  The new Great Gatsby film has got my eyeballs drooling!  I am in absolute LOVE with Mulligan's Fitzgerald look in this film.  It is perfect.  All I want to wear right now are drop waist dresses and headbands.

This weekend I have a wedding to go to, and since I am SO feeling the Gatsby bug, I wanted to try out an inspired look.


Back in the 20's, regular women were just starting to wear makeup.  That being said, they obviously did't have as wide a selection of product to choose from like we do today.  This look is simple.  You can do it with what you have --no need to go out and buy anything!

Keep your skin pale and fair --and use a powder.  Stay away from bronzers --this didn't exist back then!  Lips should be kept red or even a darker plum at best.  There were no oranges or bright pinks during this time.  And cheeks were blushed with a simple pink.  Brows can be filled in, but very well groomed and elongated if you're truly committed.  And the eyes should be smokey.  If you're lucky enough to have any beauty marks on your face, feel free to enhance your favourite one with black eyeliner!


I LOVE this look.  And am so loving how simple it is.  I don't want to go TOO literal for the wedding I'm going to this weekend (err...don't want to show up in costume or anything), so I'll be skipping the lipstick, and opting for a sparkly headband for that extra 'Gastby' punch (in the face).


Whaddya'll think?  I think I may wave my hair on the day of.  Pics of the final look will def be on Instagram, so follow if you've got it!  @thelittledandy

Hope you try this look this weekend!  And who's going to see Gatsby tonight??  
#TGIF
<3

Friday, May 3, 2013

What is a Facial Peel?: My Trip to the Miracle 10 Boutique

We all love facials, but have you ever gotten a facial peel?  Back in February I received a Miracle 10 Prive Box from Top Box.  I did an unboxing video that you can watch here if you haven't yet.  The box came with 3 products that I've yet to try, and a complimentary Miracle 10 Facial Peel.  Surprisingly, the Miracle 10 Team contacted me letting me know that they had watched my video and were wondering if I'd gotten my facial yet!  It was a wonderful reminder that this treat was still waiting for me.  Miracle 10 asked if I would be willing to do a documented review of my experience on my blog, and I gladly agreed.  I am always interested in working with local brands and companies, and this seemed like a fun opportunity!

To be honest, I was a bit scared of the idea of a PEEL.  I called before hand to ask what exactly a PEEL entails.  I was informed that it involves a BLADE -- *cue panic!*-- and I was assured that it was very non-invasive.  I was 90% sure that I was worrying over nothing.  Mind you, I hate sharp things.  Needles make me faint.  No joke.
Last week, I took the trip down to the Miracle 10 Boutique in Yorkville, signed some forms, and was ready to get peeled!  To be clear, and to ward off any scary thoughts, a facial peel is simply a skin rejuvenation procedure.  These peels can be done using several different types of chemicals, but this being my first time ever, my Aesthetician used the mildest chemical: lactic acid.  She quickly explained the process to me before we got started: Your face is cleansed, the dead skin is gently sloughed away with a blade, the chemical is applied (in my case, lactic acid), a deep cleansing clay mask is applied, then the pores are closed with cold temperatures, and then the skin is moisturized.  Simple.

My Aesthetician was very informative and let me know exactly what ingredients were in each product she used before she put it on my face.  First, she cleansed my face using the Miracle 10 Cleanser II, she then went ahead and applied a toner, and then another 'toner' that she warned me would smell like nail polish remover (haha!); she told me it was used to make sure every drop of oil was wiped away so that the blade wouldn't slip during the peel.

She was ready to PEEL!  She showed me the blade, and it just looked like a simple scalpel.  She let me know that during this time I should try my best not to move, and I should certainly not talk (don't want any slips now, do we??).  I would guess that the entire 'peeling' (more like scraping?) process took under 10 minutes, and it was not at all painful.  Slightly ticklish at times, and oMIGAAADS it was hard for me not to squirm in a fit of giggles.

FYI she warned me that the 'scraping' with the blade was to slough away all the dead skin, but that it would also remove all of the hair on my face.  Yikes.  This concerned me a bit, because my immediate thought was *bear face*.  She said the reason for this was so that once all of the dead skin and hair was gone, the lactic acid would be able to get absorbed into my skin, rather than by the hairs.  Made sense.  (btw, a week later, my face still hasn't grown into a shaggy bear-face so we'll put that tall tale to rest!)

Face scraped, she applied the lactic acid chemicals.  This consisted of lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicyic acid.  It stung a bit (I was warned), but it was certainly not unbearable.  I've done masks at home that have given me similar sensations.

Post lactic, my aesthetician applied the Miracle 10 mask.  It was a green clay mask that was made up of good stuff like mint and lavender that would calm my skin down from the peel.  After about 15min of lying in the dark with the mask on and listening to Rihanna, the mask was removed with soothing warm clothes.  Next was probably my favourite part of the entire process.  My Aesthetician took a piece of dry ice and hovered it all over my face to close up all of my pores!  Ingenious! Moisturizer and SPF were applied and then I was done!
The state of my affairs post-peel: hair messy, no makeup, but feeling awesome!
My skin felt pretty amazing, and to my surprise I had NO redness at all.  I just looked really...really clean.  And hairless, save for my eyebrows which were fortunately still in tact =).  My face felt like a shiny floor that had just been waxed ;).

I had a wonderful experience at the Miracle 10 boutique, and the staff were wonderful and very helpful and informative.  If you've ever been scared off by the idea of a facial peel, NO NEED!  It really makes your skin feel new again.  I've found that, even a week later, my skin still looks much smoother and more even-surfaced than it did before.  Check out the Miracle 10 boutique in Yorkville, or online if you get the chance!

Anyway...
#TGIF
<3

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Leather: Vrai ou Faux?


It's officially spring here.  Or is it summer?  For the past few days we've had temperatures near 20degrees celsius!  Mayhaps Mother Nature has comme'd des fudge down from her bipolar weather-fit, and we can finally enjoy some warmth and sun here in Toronto.  This means, we can finally put our winter layers away for store without feeling like we're being premature (I hope..).



Jacket: F21 | Top: Club Monaco | Jeans: Korea | Booties: GoJane
I got this faux leather jacket from F21 last Fall, and have been DYING to wear it since, and it's finally THAT time of the year when I can.  Between the freezing cold winter and the burning hot summers here in Toronto, there is a very small and precious window of time where light jackets can be worn.  Bring on the leather -- NOW.



Anyway, what are your thoughts on faux leather?  I don't think I ever realized the cost of true leather until I became a hard-working, money-earning (and, obviously, super-responsible), 'adult'.  I find myself drooling over real leather jackets and bags, and then having to truly consider the investment.  If I think it's just a 'trendy' piece, I opt for a cheap faux leather alternative.


These shades have quickly become my favourite.  Last year I won a blogging project on Heart IFB and my prize was a years' worth of glasses from Lookmatic.  These are among the pairs that I've ordered so far.  I particularly love these because I'm such a sucker for Cateyes and unique details.  The upper half of these sunnies are wrapped in real leather.  Mmmmm..love.
Shades: Loeffler Randall for Lookmatic | Ring & Necklaces: F21 
Pink Mazzie Clutch: Lionel Handbags from Little Black Bag
I posted my obsession with this pink studded beauty a while ago, and that love has not yet faded.  This faux leather clutch is actually my first ever clutch.  She's my first, and I'll love her forever! (or until the next best thing comes along?)


Watchu' know about eyebrows?!
Anyway, tonight I'll be dog sitting my sister's pomeranian and staying up late for Little Black Bag's May new releases!  Pretty sure there was a phone bill I had to pay somewhere...
(...priorities...priorities...).

Happy Tues All!

<3