Choose your pump

Choose your pump by kenzi-alex featuring a pleated top

Minimalism, feminine, business chic. Add a splash of coco Chanel mademoiselle and walk with your head up! Confidence is the best accessory. Confidence is always a work in progress but a good way to make yourself feel good, is to look good. Put some effort into your makeup/outfit.. Heck even have yourself a luxurious at home spa night! Good vibes start at the foundation of your day! For me looking good goes hand in hand with feeling good.

Until next time,
Kenzi

NARS Silver Factory Illuminator

I have officially found the perfect holiday/winter illuminator from my editorial dreams!! I love editorial makeup, I find it's way more creative and there's so much you can do to create a story/look. A few years ago I did the makeup for a calendar shoot that was benefitting a student documentary project. For their December girl they wanted a really frosty 'snow' inspired look. Looking back, I wish I owned this product then! The consistency is really wet, so when you apply it it seems like it will be sheer but it DOES pack a punch. The micro glitter is all silver creating an extreme illumination effect. I can totally see this product being perfect for a 1970's disco themed makeup as well.
Products like this get me excited because of all the ideas they get stirring for me!

I also happen to be wearing Nars' nail polish in 'space odyssey' Which when coupled with the Nars silver factory makes a serious chrome-space-disco-babe vibe. That I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone who's into ~~ feelin' them self~~. (*insert cool guy emoji*)

What do you think? will you be trying any silver accents this winter?

Until next time SPACE BABES,

Kenzi :-)

January so far

Hello Everybody!
With the new year upon us, I have already noticed so many ~~new~~ things enter my life. I wanted to make a quick overview of things that have happened to get everyone up to date; So I can start blogging without feeling like there is a giant hole missing in my timeline.

1. Before Christmas I GOT A NEW PUPPY. I've named her 'Luna', which is clearly my favorite name ever. She's a rescue from Peru that my mom brought back from her trip. She's doing really well and getting used to the cold Canadian weather here. She's already like my little shadow, following me everywhere and sleeping with me at night. I deal with anxiety and she is very comforting to me, especially at night.

2. In 2015 (and really in my whole life) I have struggled with keeping my room clean & organized. A few weeks ago my friend Gaby came and helped me get rid of 3 garbage bags of donation goods and 3 bags of garbage from my room. I've been keeping up with tidying up every night before bed and having less stuff really helps keeping everything in their places. Coming into my room at night and waking up in the morning is no longer met with immediate stress and I find I am becoming inspired by my surroundings. For example, I have some framed pictures, art and little figurines that i've made displays of one my counters. Every time I look over I feel relaxed and that my room is finally starting to match my personality.

3. I got a planner. Yes, this may seem like not a big deal.. but It's been instrumental in changing the way I operate. At the end of my day I use to feel like I had not done enough or that I had "wasted" another day. Now I can see what i've accomplished and even feel good when I check things off my list. I also have a terrible memory and at times I've forgotten i've made plans with someone, but now that's no longer an issue. I actually bought my planner as a reward for having completed getting my room in order. When I first got it I was really unsure about how it would help but I have been so thankful for it already and 2016 just started!

4. I started pottery class! This has been something i've wanted to do for a loooong time. I use to take classes when I was a kid and recently I've wanted to branch out and try a bunch of new creative outlets. I really want to stay creative this year and maybe I can find one medium ( or ALL the mediums!) to be passionate about. I've had one class so far and it's going well. I've made some simple things- a bowl and a pinch pot. But it's been fun and I am looking forward to creating all the things.

5. Shadowhunters has started airing! So far the first episode is on Netflix worldwide and ( I think ) The US has gotten the 2nd episode as well! Go watch!

6. I've started studying again. Yeaaaaaah, Not really into discussing this any further than I am in school again. But It's good that my days are now filling up with things that will take me somewhere in my future.

7. I've actually come up with a news years resolution. Usually I don't bother but this year I really wanted to focus on learning on how to accept and live with my anxiety. I've been reading a lot about the disorders and that the real demon is avoidance. That's what takes anxiety and turns it into a huge life shattering illness. Avoidance is something I deal with everyday. To try and not HAVE anxiety at all, I'll avoid anything I think will cause me it. I've learned that by doing that I am not only not living the life I want but causing my anxiety to get bigger and more controlling. The only way to exist with it is to integrate things into my day that I usually avoid. A big thing I want to accomplish with this is being able to travel. Traveling use to be one of m favorite things in the world, but since my anxiety, the idea of being far away from my "safe" home is unbearable. I am working towards going on a road trip this summer. And eventually going overseas which I would really love to be able to do. I really want to be able to look back on my life and know I lived. I don't want my anxiety to control me.

8. In keeping with my resolution to eventually go on this road trip, I also need to save money. I cancelled my Ipsy and Glossybox subscriptions. I had my last box/bag this month. I think i'll miss it but I have a lot of products already and I would rather save the extra money for experiences rather than things. 

There are a bunch of upcoming things- like my 23rd birthday in March (which I haven't decided if I want to celebrate this year.) But that's everything that's happened in 2016 so far for me, so i'll leave it at that.

until next time,
Kenzie.  (No longer Luna... lil weird signing off with my dogs name (!!! I have a dog!!!).

Christmas morning 2015

Christmas morning 2015 by kenzi-alex featuring maybelline makeup

Hello everybody!
Sorry for my loafting on posting this month. I've been very busy!! I also managed to completely break my phone- which is how I take photo's for my blog. So i've had some draft posts that are ready to go up once I can take photo's of the products! Well, Ad christmas is TOMORROW (!!) I decided to create a little inspiration board for tomorrow morning. Christmas is a great excuse to stay in your pajama's all day and that's why I think wearing your cutest set to bed is KEY. That way when you're immortalized in family photo's you can avoid the "I just rolled out of bed and i'm only wearing underwear/haven't brushed my hair in a week" look that's all too memorable from your childhood christmas albums. (Wait, was that only me??) If you're an adult and you can take the extra 5 minutes before coming down in the morning, maybe conceal the dark circles (because let's face it, who can sleep before christmas). Add some cute tinted lip balm, it's super natural but also moisturizes and adds a little bit of a 'flushed' look that's very "I just rolled out of bed but I look so gooooood and you have no proof this isn't natural, Ha!" I personally LOVE the fresh Sugar lip balms. They're actually my favourite lip balms at the moment and they come in a variety of tinted colours, as well as clear if you're not feeling any colour vibes. (Also, Sidenote: they're selling a red cased Fresh Sugar lip balm that's clear that's says "Suga(RED)" and the proceeds go to help aids!!- sold at Sephora.)
Beyond that, throw your hair up in a messy ponytail or bun add a comfortable sweater and long socks if it's cold where you live. Normally at this time of year it's FREEZING in Toronto, but it's super warm with zero snow, so socks are optional this year! Anyways MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And If I don't talk to you guys this before the new year-- Happy New Year!!  I hope everyone has had a lovely 2015 with big strides towards goals/self improvement and that they will continue on into 2016 with tenacity and the inspiration to do well!

Until next time,
Luna.

Stila eyeshadow haul/first impressions

Hello everybody!
Today I picked up 2 new Stila eyeshadows (at Marshall's for a fraction of the price.) And thought it was a perfect time to make a haul/first impressions for you!

Stila 'Black Diamond'

So I've owned the first Stila eyeshadow in 'Black Diamond' for a few years. But when I got it (as a christmas present) it was already smashed. I think their eyeshadows are really soft so them getting smashed it really easy. It's a black shadow with silver sparkles that I have barely used (sorry!). Whenever I open it, product just gets everywhere and I have other black shadows I reach for more often. With that being said it's a really beautiful shadow that swatches easily and is opaque after one swipe.

Stila 'Dahlia'

Yesterday I picked up 2 new single eyeshadows. One shadow in 'Dahlia' that's a dark matte purple. The formula (as I said) really soft but chalky. I had to pack on product a few times to get an opaque swatch. The colour is a really dark purple that could read as a dark brown/black from far away. That makes it easier to use as it's not such a bright obvious colour.

Stila 'Pigalle'

The next colour I picked up was 'Pigalle' a rusty oxblood colour with a sheen. This was the colour I was most excited about. I wish it was matte though! I've been seeing a lot of colour washes/smokey eyes using just an oxblood shadow and I LOVE the look. I think I could still try it with this even though it has the sheen finish. Even still this will be a really great colour for many different looks and i'm excited to add it to my collection. This shadow seems more pigmented than 'Dahlia', having less needed to be packed on for the swatch. Even though I always lean towards matte eyeshadows, i'm more excited for 'Pigalle'. I like the consistency of it, it seems less chalky and applies more smoothly and opaque.

What do you think? Have you tried Stila eyeshadows? Which swatch do you like the most?

Until next time,
Luna.

Lime Crime liquid liner in Lunar Sea ~ review

Hello everybody!
So in 2014 while I was in beauty school at George Brown College for Makeup I finally got the courage to place a Lime Crime order! I have never been much for purchasing things online (I always doubt everything and they end up "in my cart" but never bought...online shopping purgatory, shall we say.) I had been hearing about this brand for a few years and loved all the unusual colours and the packaging---oh the packaging!
I ended up getting a lipstick in "chinchilla" and a liquid liner in "Lunar Sea". For this review I want to focus on the liquid liner, but if anyone is interested in reading a review on lime crime lipstick, let me know!
So I have truly put this liner to the test. I have used it in various settings (personal & professional), for different things (eyeliner & festival face paint details) and really got a feel for how this product performs.
First off, the colour is vibrant white. I was really into liquid liner at the time and this was the first white one I had seen. I was so excited to get creative with it. Using it can be a little tricky at first because it's REALLY liquid-y and the tip is a soft/small brush and I had been used to pen-like tips. With that being said I ended up figuring out how to use the brush and it was okay. As I said before, the formula is really watery so when I put it on it somehow travels down onto the roots of my lashes and makes it really difficult when I want to cover it with mascara. It just seemed like it made the process of doing makeup more difficult because now I had to spend extra time going over and over my lashes trying to get the black mascara to cover the white lashes, without getting any mascara on my lid. On top of that, if it 'skips' (meaning the product seemed to 'skip' over your skin and isn't opaque in one area), which does happen sometimes, going over your liner twice with this product is not the best idea. It seems like it gets cakey and not only doesn't feel very nice but also makes the next issue more prevalent. The last and worst part of me trying this product out was the FLAKING. I can't stress this enough, this product seemed to flake off within 20 minutes. First the wings would go, and then the rest in random patchy areas on the lid. And if you have oily skin ~ it looks flaky within 10/15 minutes, like it didn't adhere to the skin at all and you could just peel it or scratch it off with a light touch.
I had used this at a festival in BC to do other peoples makeup as well. Mostly people wanted face paint-esque things like dotting on the face or full out pictures drawn. This seemed like a good product to use for this because in my mind maybe the less your skin was moving the more likely it was to stay put. (foreheads seem to move less than eyelids.. or at least.. mine does??).
Applying this on the skin was no problem and made detailing easier. With that said it also flaked off and ended up looking awful. I'm sorry to say it, but the formula leaves some SERIOUS things to be desired. I was so sad that this product didn't pan out because I had such high expectations. I have since learned that Stila makes a white liquid liner, so next time i'm on the market for one, that's where i'll be heading.

 The soft brush, ( Also how cute is the squirrel in the background of these photo's?!)

(Also my nail polish is the Dermelect peptide infused polish I got in my Ipsy bag for November (this month). I used a matte topcoat with it. I have noticed chipping, i've been wearing it for 3 days. I really like the colour. It's a lot more brown than I originally thought. But I really appreciate the mauve undertone. Reminds me of a Kiley Jenner lip colour. Very on trend!)

 Unicorn logo detail on the top of the packaging. So cute!

Since yesterday was Black Friday, Lime Crime was having a big sale (their biggest sale yet!). The liquid liner's were only 5$! (Regularly priced 14$). I wasn't interested in trying the liner again, but I really wanted to try their liquid lipstick. I tried to place an order but wasn't being allowed to check out. I've emailed the company twice and sent instagram comments seeking help for the issue, but so far no help. I ended up placing a large order on the Morphe Brushes website, and if I make it for the Lime Crime sale (it's still going on) I will still place my order. If not, then I guess it's not meant to be.

Have you tried Lime Crime's liquid liner? Did yours work as well as it claimed?

Until next time,
Luna.

PS. here's a weird snapchat video I took last year while wearing the liner. This was the best I had ever gotten this product to look. But as always, it did end up flaking off later :(. ( Also, Die Antwoord playing, anyone else a fan? haha.)

MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus

Hello Everybody!
As a massive Miley Cyrus fan I was so excited when they announced Miley was going to be the new face of Viva Glam 2015. She has always been a huge supporter of charities and recently with her Happy Hippy Foundation she has been helping LGBTQ youth & youth homelessness.Giving back has always been important to Miley. Her recent crusade to break down gender stereotypes as well as educate people about current issues makes Miley the perfect candidate to be the face of Viva Glam! Let's get into the reviews,shall we?

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus

Her first lipstick & lipgloss duo was HOT. And by that I mean, hot pink. The bright pink amplified lipstick has a slight blue undertone and a satin sheen finish. Personally I would have loved this lipstick more if it was matte, but in an interview Miley mentioned it was really important how the lipstick felt. As we all know, Mac matte lipsticks can be really drying. Because of the satin finish the lipstick is really smooth and comfortable to wear.

The lipglass that came out with the first lipstick was a hot pink with pink and blue sparkles/shimmer. This lipglass is PACKED with sparkle. Miley said she wanted it to be like a disco ball. Because of all the sparkle, this lipglass is something i've never seen before. Wearing this on it's own is really pretty. Miley said in an interview that she wanted something her younger fans could wear. Apparently when she was a kid she wasn't allowed to wear makeup, but her Mom would let her wear lipgloss. I love that she was thinking about them as separate products but that they go together so well. Wear them together for a big impact, bright, hot pink, sparkley lips. The lipglass was my favourite part of this first collection.

Swatch (lipstick on left, lipglass on right):

Mac Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2

The 2nd lipglass and lipstick duo that came out was an orange duo. The lipstick is a bright orange with a semi matte finish. It reads as matte but has a creamy feeling and isn't drying which I love! The lipglass is also bright orange with shimmer. The hot pink lipglass has WAY more glitter than this one. Wear them together or wear them on their own, you're sure to make a bright, bold statement.

Swatches, ( lipglass on left, lipstick on right.) :

Final Thoughts:
My favourite lipglass was the first that came out, the pink glittery one. And my favourite lipstick was the second Viva Glam Miley2 (The orange one.)
Regardless, It's worth picking up this collection while it lasts-It's limited edition and 100% of the funds go towards the MAC Aids Fund.
Get glam while giving back! what could be better?!
Thanks Miley! Thanks Mac Aids Fund!

Swatches next to each other, (Viva Glam Miley Cyrus2 on left , and Viva Glam Miley on right.) :

Until next time,
Luna.