Beauty: My New Dior Mascara and More

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I’m not usually one to carry on about beauty routines and products, but I have a new mascara, and it amazes me. It has impressed me so much that I want to share it with you. While I could have shown you a photo of the product, I have opted to include it as just one part of this post where I am sharing my full daily beauty routine. Interested? Read on!

I preface this whole post by letting you know that I’m very much a newbie when it comes to skincare, makeup, hair, and everything related to the beauty industry. In highschool, when many of my friends were perfecting their makeup brush strokes, I was living it up with a soap + water face cleanse, Maybelline under eye concealer, and Maybelline mascara. On special occasions, I’d really change things up by adding Nivea moisturizer. Since then, my routine has pretty much stayed the same. Every so often, I’d eyeshadow and eyeliner.

A couple of years ago, a friend recommend I visit the MAC counter and ask for some advice. So I did. The MAC people helped me pick a new under eye concealer. They also suggested an all-over BB cream and blush. I even bought some brushes! I continued to stick with my Maybelline mascara.

In Paris a couple of weeks, I opted for a mini-makeover at the Dior counter. Why not, right? I wasn’t intending to revamp my eye makeup, but I was curious about their concealer options. So one thing led to another, and boom, I have a whole new daily eye makeup routine.

Here’s my morning makeup-less face:

Here’s my makeup routine “before”:

Step 1: Cleanse and moisturize. I have been using Cerave for a couple of years now on the recommendation of my doctor. I’m pleased with both the cleanser and cream. I use this duo every morning. I use the cleanser before bed to remove my makeup.

Step 2: BB Cream. I use MAC’s BB cream when I go out, feel like putting more effort into my makeup routine. I think it evens out your skin tone, but sometimes I can’t even tell what it does.

Step 3: Under eye concealer. As per MAC’s recommendation, I use the concealer under my eyes.

Step 4: Mascara. I have used Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara for decades. Yes, decades. I like it. It’s easy. It’s cheap. I can find it everywhere. For this post, I used the waterproof version because that’s what I had. Normally, I have used the traditional variety (with the green and pink container). I normally curl my eyelashes with a Revlon eyelash curler. I’m due for a replacement, and I’m considering buying the Shiseido lash curler when I’m in Japan.

Step 5: Vaseline. I use Vaseline on my lips in the morning. Throughout the day, I use a variety of lip balms. I generally like Burts Bees, SunBum, and Chapstick. Every so often, I remember to apply my MAC neutral-shade lipstick.

Step 6: Optional items. Every day, I skip the BB cream and stick with under eye concealer and mascara. If I go out or I’m in the mood to make an effort, I add eye shadow, eyeliner, brow liner, and blush. I haven’t perfected the application of any of these items.

Step 7: Evening cleanse and moisturize. I use the Cerave cleanser at night to remove my makeup, but I now moisturize using any variety of Valmont products. Oh, these creams smell so good and they feel lovely on my skin. I have enjoyed using every product that I have been given by my friends at Langdon Hall (the Langdon Hall Spa uses and carries Valmont).

Here’s my face after the application of MAC BB cream, MAC under eye concealer, Maybelline Great Lash mascara, and Vaseline on my lips:

Here’s my routine “after”:

My routine since Paris has stayed just about the same as above, but I have replaced products, and I’ve added another product.

Steps 1 and 2: As above.

Step 3: Under eye concealer. The Dior beauty consultant in Paris applied an under eye concealer in a small triangle area under my eye.

Step 4: Highlighter. After the under eye concealer, the Dior beauty consultant applied the Flash Luminizer highlighter all around my eye. I now do the same. For both the concealer and highlighter, the beauty consultant told me to use (and tap) my finger to apply the makeup. So I’ve put my brush aside for now and I’m trying things out with my finger.

Step 5: Mascara. This is where things get dramatic in terms of my beauty before and after. The Dior Pump ‘N’ Volume mascara is magic. It extends my lashes like you wouldn’t believe. I usually do one coat of mascara, but the Dior beauty consultant said that I can keep applying it if I want to be extra dramatic. She applied it on both sides of my top lashes and a touch on my bottom lashes. My routine is to stick to one layer on the top lashes.

Steps 5, 6, and 7: As above.

Here’s my face after the application of MAC BB cream, Dior concealer, Dior highlighter, Dior mascara, and Vaseline on my lips:

Here’s a close up of the eye makeup evolution:

To be honest, I don’t notice much difference in the concealer/highlighter between the two brands in terms of coverage and colour, but I do find the Dior products to be much lighter and more silky than the MAC products.

I hope you can see the difference in the mascara. This is what I find to be the most noticeable, and I’m pretty happy with my mascara splurge.

The Friday Five: Things on My Mind

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1. Movies. I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and Instant Family on my flight home from Paris. I loved Bohemian Rhapsody. I was pretty much dancing in my seat. And I cried, too. Instant Family was fine. On Netflix, I watched Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan. I really enjoyed the movie and cried throughout. Jeez. I guess I have a few tears to shed these days! I also went to see Shoplifters – a Japanese film nominated for an Oscar. It was sad, interesting, and engaging. I can see why it’s nominated for an Oscar. It’s a story that hasn’t been told in movies, and the acting was very strong.

2. Linen bedding. Does anyone have linen bed linens? I’d love to try them one day. Parachute has quite the selection of linen bedding.

3. Mascara. When I was in Paris, I had my makeup done at the Dior counter at Le Bon MarchĂ©. It was a nice treat. I bought a few things, which was a real change for me as I never buy expensive makeup. But Dior might be on to something! The mascara is especially amazing. My lashes grow like crazy, and it does a great job at separating them. The Dior makeup artist taught me how to layer it on if I want to be even more dramatic. I’m thinking I might do a before and after post to really show you what I’m talking about. Interested in seeing a before and after?

4. Nail polish. I opted for a shellac manicure pre-Paris as I didn’t want my polish to be chipping off while I was away. My nails looked great for over two weeks! I had forgotten how smooth and shiny this type of polish stays for an extended period of time. I don’t think it’s good for my nails, but I think it was a great option for a vacation. How’d I remove it? I dipped my fingers in nail polish remover for 10 minutes or so and then carefully scraped off the polish. It took some effort, but it was fine. I’m giving my nails a break from it as they do seem softer. I’ll likely opt for shellac again pre-Japan.

5. Books. I finished The Witch Elm by Tana French. There are mixed reviews of it online, but I enjoyed it. Now I’m back on another book by Japanese bestseller Haruki Murakimi – Norwegian Wood.

Travel: 10 Places to Eat in Paris

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After a week back in snowy Waterloo, I’m ready to start my Paris-focused posts. Are you? Hold on to your hats! Let’s go!

I’m starting with food because, well, I love food. And on this trip, I ate so many delicious things! I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise! If you’ve been to Paris, and like French food, then you already know there are plenty of great things to eat!

Here are some places that I recommend if you’re planning a trip, and I would eat at every one of these places again. You should note that these restaurants are all on the left bank in the 6th arrondissement (which is my favourite place to stay).

1.Paul. Paul is a great place for a coffee, baked good, or sandwich. It’s a chain restaurant, so there are several around Paris. On a mid-afternoon/lunch break on my first day in Paris, I opted for a pain au chocolat, yogurt, and a coffee.

2. Mamie Gateaux. Oh, I just love this sweet restaurant. When I’m at Mamie Gateaux, I feel like I’m in a French home. The food is so fresh and delicious, and the lunch menu is a good deal. On this visit, for about $20CAD, I got a pumpkin-onion-bacon tart with a side salad and (my favourite kind of) carrots, a glass of wine, a dessert, and a coffee. The place is always busy with French people taking a break from their days, and, for a francophile like me, I just love being surrounded by people speaking French.

3. Chez Dumonet – Josephine. I spotted Chez Dumonet (affectionately known as Josephine) on Mimi Thorisson’s Instagram page. As soon as I saw her photo of the soufflĂ©, I called the restaurant to make a reservation. It’s a good idea to make a reservation as the place gets busy. Chez Dumonet is closed on weekends, so if you’re interested, plan ahead. As per many online reviews, I opted for the boeuf bourguinon for my main course and the Grand Marnier soufflĂ© for dessert. I’d easily go back and order the exact same thing. Many diners ordered the soufflĂ©, so I asked the waiter how many they serve in a night, and he said about 30 or 40. Can you imagine? And each one looks perfect! During my visit, many diners opted for the boeuf bourguinon, but one French group of diners opted for other things on the menu – like the herring, smoked salmon, and steak.

4. Aux Près. This place was recommended to me before I left by a Parisian. I later learned that Gwyneth Paltrow included it on one of her Goop Paris travel guides. When I asked the hotel concierge to make a reservation, he said it was un très bon choix (a very good choice). So with these three recommendations, I was eager to go. I loved the design of Aux Près‘s cozy space. The servers were attentive, and it was probably the fastest meal I have ever been served in France. For my main, I opted for Coquilles Saint Jacques (scallops). My scallops were delicious, and I would definitely order them again. The servers had recommended the sushi, but I wasn’t in the mood for sushi. For dessert, I opted for the pain perdu avec les poires et de la creme glacĂ©e – french toast with pears and ice cream. It was yummy, but I didn’t absolutely love it. I felt like french toast was a bit too basic for a fancy restaurant.

5. Luetita – Bar JosĂ©phine. Bar JosĂ©phine is one of several eateries at the 5-star hotel Luetitia hotel. On the night I went, there was live jazz music which was a bonus. The design and decor was impressive as was the food. I’d go here again for a light dinner. Or I might opt for a quieter meal in the stunning Le Saint Germain (the photo with the bookshelves below).

6. Maison Sauvage. Maison Sauvage stands on a corner on Rue de Buci in the 6th. We opted for this place because the outside was dripping with plants and greenery, and the patio was full. We ate on the outdoor patio which made me very happy as it had been -25 Celsius when I left Canada. Sitting outside under a heat lamp in close proximity to other diners – the French way – made me so happy. My friend and I shared a cheese plate here for a light dinner.

7. LadurĂ©e. LadurĂ©e is a sweet spot for a coffee and macaron break. And if you don’t like macarons, there are plenty of other beautiful confections to nibble on. The second-floor tea room at the St. Germain des Pres location is charming with its low ceilings, wallpapered walls, and crystal chandeliers.

8. Les Deux Magots. Les Deux Magots has been around since 1812. Incredible, right? 1812?! Go at any time of day, and you’re sure to be spoiled by the food and atmosphere.

9. CafĂ© de Flore. Next door to Les Deux Magots, CafĂ© de Flore is another iconic Parisian cafĂ© that is/was the favourite of the artistic Parisian crowd. I opted for an omelette at both cafĂ©s on two mornings. Why are French omelettes so good? I blame the butter. Oh, jeez, it’s just too good!

10. La Crepe Rit du Clown. If you’re keen on savoury or sweet crepes, then you may be interested in La Crepe Rit du Clown at 6 Rue de Cannettes. The menu is crepe menu is extensive, so there’s something for everyone. On this visit, I went vegetarian.

Two for Tuesday: Pearls

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Normally, when you hear the world pearl, you may think of a pearl necklace. Today, though, I’m sharing how pearls are currently being incorporated into clothing.

Blair Eadie is a continuous source of inspiration. She has a special way of piecing clothes together to make memorable outfits. This one is all about the pearls!

Atlantic Pacific

Here’s an affordable sweater with pretty pearl embellishments. If you’re inspired by Blair’s ensemble, you might consider giving this or another version a try.

sweater