Just Launched: MAC It's a Strike Collection

It's been ages since a MAC Collection has appealed to me as being as day-to-day wearable as the It's a Strike Collection. As you might have guessed, this time round its a bowling theme, with super fun names like 'Babes and Balls' 'King Pin' and 'Perfect Score'. The 26 piece collection is online now (with a few online exclusives!) and has some gorgeous plums and dusty pinks I can see it being a huge hit for fall (or as the brand claims, "Right up anyones alley" - how punny).

The Must Try: Too Faced Brow Quickie

If there are few things I take super seriously on my face, its brows and lashes. When it comes to filling in my next to no eyebrows, I've tried everything under the sun over the years, and I thought I had finally found the perfect combination of products that gave me strong, well defined, full looking brows - that is until I discovered my new favourite brow product: Too Faced Brow Quickie.

Mascara Monday: MAC Instacurl Lash Mascara

When it comes to unique, innovative and downright gimmicky mascaras as of late, MAC has it in the bag. With innovative concepts like the Beyond Pro Twisted Lash {review here} it totally excites a beauty lover like myself! So naturally when I saw the Instacurl Lash Mascara with its yellow-tipped, animal-claw like tube, I knew I had to put it to the test for you all! With a twistable, adjustable brush that transforms from straight to curved with a flick of the wrist, I was beyond curious to see if it was all for looks or if it performed as MAC promises it will. Keep reading to see my before and afters, and my thoughts on possibly one of the most bizarrely packaged mascaras I've tried to date!

The Jaclyn Hill Ride or Die Makeup Tag

Jaclyn Hill has pretty much been taking Youtube and the beauty world by storm, and recently she did a video devoted to her "ride or die" makeup products that she always falls back to, or never wants to be without. My lovely blogger friend Kate {KateLovesMakeup} posted hers, and tagged me to do mine, so here are the products that I reach for when all else fails!

The Revamp: Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation vs Face and Body

You know that moment when you find out one of your favourite products of all time gets discontinued and you immediately panic and plot out how many is considered reasonable to stock pile? I felt this way when I found out that the Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation was the replacement for my beloved Face and Body Foundation. The panic subsided slightly when the brand announced that the iconic formula was 'back and better than ever' - but I still knew I needed to put it to the test myself. So, does Water Blend hold up to my high expectations set by the original?

Healthy Hair Journey: The Hair Brush You NEED in Your Life

Hair has been a sensitive subject for me in recent years. Right up to the end of my twenties I had gorgeously soft, fine yet dense, straight chestnut hair that easily and enviously grew to the middle of my back. Then I hit 30 and the hormonal shift that seems to happen in many of us wrecked havoc on my locks transforming it from not just fine to also thin, brittle and tangled, frizzy rats nest nightmare. I was gutted (and still am) and have been struggling ever since to find products that might give me even a glimpse of my former hair glory. This brings me to my latest series: The Healthy Hair Journey. It's only fitting that I kick this series off with one of the few that I have noticed a significant difference with, The Wet Brush. If you have hair past your chin, this one is for you! 

Dark Circles Beware: Kat Von D's Lock It Concealer Creme

Le't make this clear right from the get-go - I look half asleep  (*cough* dead) without undereye concealer. I also find it one of the toughest products to shop for because everything is either too dry, too creasy, doesn't come in the right shade for me or doesn't last worth a damn. The struggle is real, folks. 

When I heard about the newly launched Kat Von D Concealer Creme, and that it was a completely new formula, I just had a good feeling. Turns out, I should always listen to my gut, because this stuff kicks ass. 

Good Grease: 5 Cleansing Oils I Love and How to Use Them

Ages ago I did a post called 'Good Grease' which had my 5 favourite Balm Cleansers in it. I have been meaning to do a 5 Favourite Oil Cleansers ever since. Over the years I have fallen in love with oil cleansing as a super effective way to get off my makeup that is also gentle and balancing on the skin. Here are 5 I have been rotating through, from drugstore to luxury, and why I love each one. 

Currently Lusting After: August 2016 Beauty Wish List

It's been a while since I did my last wish list post (June in fact!) so I thought it was about time we all had a collective sigh over all the new beauty products that are launching! A few of these items are limited edition, and I imagine will be hot sellers - so best move on them fast if they tickle your fancy!

Mascara Monday: Lancome Grandiose Extreme Mascara

I recently attended an event here in Vancouver hosted by L'Oreal featuring their luxury lines. The Lancome table was featuring their brand new mascara Grandiose Extreme, which you just know I was itching to try! They claim it is blacker and more voluminous than the original Grandiose {review here} with maximum lift that can last 24 hours. So did it deliver on such incredible claims?

Autumn 2016: Chanel Le Rouge Collection Illusion D'Ombre Shadows

I'll admit it, when I caught wind that the Fall 2016 Chanel collection, Le Rouge, was going to be red themed, I wasn't super intrigued. You see, red lipstick and I do not have a chummy relationship; I find the shade incredible hard to wear on my golden undertone skin and dark hair. When I saw that there were two Illusion D'Ombres being released with the collection however, my curiosity was piqued having never tried the formula of shadow before. The Le Rouge Illusion D'Ombre in Rouge Brule and Illusion D'ombre Velvet in Rouge Contraste might just have me changing my opinion on red!

Mara Hoffman for Sephora Kaleidescape Charcoal Brush Set

It's rare that I look at brushes in sets; I too often find there are only one or two brushes I really want, and the rest are redundant. It's like back in the day when you had to buy the whole CD just to get the one song that was a hit on the radio (please tell me you all are not too young that you don't remember that??) When the Mara Hoffman for Sephora Kaleidescape Brush Set showed up recently, first I had to take a moment to just swoon over the packaging, and secondly I wondered if it would be the case where I might only like one or two in the set...

This Just In: YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stains + Giveaway!

If you're new to Girl Loves Gloss, you may not know that the Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in #27 is one of my all time holy grail lip products. I fell in love with the long-wearing glossy formula the minute they launched, and since then the brand has had a few versions but none have really 'got me' like the original has, until they launched the Vinyl Cream Lip Stains... Keep reading to see swatches and my review as well as enter to win the giveaway at the end!

Mara Hoffman for Sephora Kaleidescape Lipgloss Set

When the Mara Hoffman Collection for Sephora arrived on my doorstep not long ago I was immediately smitten with the patterns! Her whimsical and wanderlust inspired prints are so much fun, and I was thrilled to see how cohesive the collection ways. I'll be reviewing a few pieces from the collection over the next little while, but today it's all about gloss! Besides being a total bargain, the Mara Hoffman for Sephora Kaleidescape Lip Gloss set is totally adorable. So how is the colour payoff and wearability? Keep reading to find out!

My Morning Skincare Routine

When I was younger I would literally slather Lubriderm lotion on my face and call it a day (the horror, I know!). I was blessed with incredible skin; Something that doesn't seem to have been continued into my 30s. After countless products and combinations, there are 5 that I've been using every morning and my skin has been loving. Stay tuned for my updated evening skincare routine, but in the meantime, here's how I start my days!

For the Sparkle Lovers: Urban Decay Moondust Palette

With a name like 'Moondust', Urban Decay's latest palette sounds out of this world right out of the box. Apparently, the brands most requested palette ever, Urban Decay's Moondust Palette* features eight uber sparkly, multi-tonal glittering new shadows. Right out of the box, I doubted I would like this palette given the nature of glitter in cosmetics (and my aversion to wearing glitter) but I'm actually pleasantly surprised by the quality of these shadows!