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Holidays 2017: Best Gifts From Our Favourite Stores

If you still haven’t started your holiday gift shopping, don’t panic. Black Friday is the best time to get deals on everything from hostess gifts to treat-yo-self goodies. And since one of the biggest sale days of the year is quickly approaching, I wanted to share my fave gift ideas from my most-frequented shops. My number one Black Friday (and Boxing Day) strategy includes a bit of pre-planning, favouriting all of my must-haves in my internet browser, and then buying it all online once sales are in effect. So go ahead, check out the fun gift ideas below, save your faves for later, and don’t forget to get something awesome for yourself!

1. Shopbop

Shopbop Sale is already in effect, and you can get up to an additional 30% off sale and regular-priced items until Nov 26th with promo code MORE17. My fave things to buy from Shopbop are usually the things that never go on sale, like Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots, and vintage CHANEL bags, but it’s also a great time to stock up on essentials like pretty undies and luxurious pajamas.
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2. Sephora

Sephora is obviously a great place to shop for beauty, but what sets it apart is its selection of fab limited-edition gift sets. If you have a true beauty obsessive on your shopping list, treat them to a chic Armani Palette or the dreamy Naked Vault Volume IV…there are so many cool gift sets to choose from! My personal fave thing to order from Sephora (for myself) are the Caudalie sets – such a good deal compared to buying each thing separately!
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3. Hudson’s Bay

I am still kicking myself for missing out on one of the recent Bay Days sales on Dyson vacuums, but thankfully, more hot sales will keep coming in the next few weeks. This year, I’m picking up some beautiful L’Occitane gifts from Hudson’s Bay, HBC PJs, and holding out hope for deals on anything from SMEG!
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4. Indigo

Indigo is literally my happy place – any time I need a pick-me-up, I head on over to a store near my house to find my next fave book. This year, I highly recommend Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman (the movie is a masterpiece but so is the book). There are also a ton of gifts for anyone and everyone on your shopping list – from Fuji Instax Smartphone Printer to glam Jenny Bird earrings.
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5. Holt Renfrew

1. Diptyque Constellation Candles ($145) 2. Charlotte Tilbury Naughty & Nice Magic Box ($250) 3. Twilly d’Hermès Eau de Parfum ($147) 4. Tiffany & Co. Piggy Bank ($170) 5. Me To We Choker ($50) 6. CHANEL Brush Collection ($234) 7. Holt Renfrew 2017 Holiday Bear ($55) 8. Bastide Bath Oil ($65)

If you haven’t been to Holt Renfrew on Bloor St lately, I highly recommend a visit – there are so many special activations and pop-up shops to discover, you’ll have a blast while getting things checked off your shopping list. There’s the CHANEL Gifting Studio with awesome freebies and exclusive items; a Tiffany & Co. pop-up shop with the chicest gifts around; there’s the Bandier pop-up where you can find sporty gifts for your loved ones or a perfect workout outfit for yourself. Either way, you are guaranteed to find a luxurious prezzie or five for your nearest and dearest.

Happy Shopping, everyone!

More after the jump!
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Holidays 2016: Best Beauty Gift Sets to Buy Now

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Despite what the weather outside would have you believe, we’re only a month and a bit away from Christmas, and if like me, you’ve been too distracted by the US election and this beautiful weather to even think about Christmas shopping, then this post is for you. I’ll be doing a usual gift guide a bit later in the month, but today’s post is dedicated to those beauty-obsessed people in your life.

Holiday time is the best time to buy beauty goodies for several reasons – not only are sales in full effect (Black Friday is coming, y’all!), but the stores are full of beautifully-packaged gift sets that offer amazing value as well. Just yesterday, I stopped by Sephora to grab a Caudalie gift set for $52 ($78 value), which contains a full-size serum that I use every day, and which normally costs $57! Even without the 2 additional products, this gift set is an amazing deal. Of course, not all gift sets offer this kind of value, some are just super-duper limited-edition, like this beautiful Pat McGrath Labs Metalmorphosis kit ($195). I don’t know any beauty junkie who wouldn’t be ecstatic to unwrap a gift like this on Christmas morning.

And then there’s another type of a beauty gift set – one that offers more than just beauty. At a recent holiday preview for The Body Shop, I learned that the company will restore 1 square meter of rainforest with every specially selected gift set purchased. How wonderful is that? And the best part is that there are so many fantastic gift sets to choose from!

Exclusive gift sets and value sets are all over the place right now, and whether you’re shopping to treat yourself or for a loved one, there’s no better time to pick one up. Below are a few of my favourites. Share your faves in the comments!

Makeup
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SEPHORA at Yonge and Eglinton is Now Open!

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After months of walking by the store and wondering when it’ll finally open, SEPHORA at Yonge and Eglinton (2300 Yonge St to be precise) has finally opened its doors with a little help from The Estée Edit ambassador Irene Kim. Finally, uptown dwellers have a SEPHORA store to call our own. And let me tell you, this one’s a beauty!

The new uptown location is any beautyholic’s dream come true and is the largest SEPHORA store in North America. With a bright and spacious layout, a wealth of makeup, skincare, and fragrances, a 12-seat beauty studio, and complimentary drop-in services (polished brows, blush & bronze, essential eyeliner, flawless foundation + COLOR IQ, and so many more!), this is one awesome SEPHORA location to visit…and it’s literally less than 10 minutes away from my house. So good, yet so bad!

So tell me, are you excited about the new SEPHORA store? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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More after the jump!
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Shopping: Sephora Summer 2016 New Arrivals

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Last month, I got a chance to stop by the Sephora Spring/Summer 2016 preview to check out the upcoming new arrivals. With Sephora being the ultimate destination for all things beauty, the preview was chock full of cute makeup bags, delicious perfumes, innovative skincare, covetable palettes and so much more! Knowing how overwhelming sorting through a ton of new arrivals can be, I chose my top 10 fave new products that will be hitting the shelves this spring.

There’s the diverse fragrance collection from Derek Lam, the ingenious Formula X nail polish remover (insert all 5 fingers, and remove them polish-free – works like magic!), the super-versatile Sephora + PANTONE UNIVERSE concealer palette, and the magical Bliss Climate Control wand that will help reduce redness and puffiness when used cold and boost absorption of products when hot. The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea collection is full of must-haves, but the lip colours were my personal fave! I was also lucky enough to preview the Minnie Mouse x Sephora collection, and let me tell you – it’s adorable! From uber-cute packaging (once you use up the eyeshadow palette, you can use the case as a clutch!), to the most perfect red lipstick, this is one lovely collaboration! Check out my top 10 Sephora new arrivals below.
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1. Derek Lam 10 Crosby Fragrance Collection Gift Set ($115)
2. Formula X Delete All 5 Finger Nail Polish Remover ($18)
3. Sephora + PANTONE UNIVERSE Correct + Conceal Palette ($61)
4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Cover(t) Stick Color Corrector ($52)
5. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea™ Drench Lip Splash Lipstick in Wet Suit ($26)
6. The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Mattified Lipstick ($26)
7. Sephora Collection Breakups to Makeup Bag ($33)
8. Bliss Climate Control ($169)
9. Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer ($27)
10. Minnie Mouse x Sephora Collection

Holidays 2014: Last-Minute Gifts That Don’t Suck

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Christmas is just a week away, but if you still haven’t finished (or start) your gift shopping, don’t panic. You can still come out of this alive and victorious without having to resort to those impersonal gift cards, I promise you. All you need to do is pick up a few of these last-minute gifts that don’t suck, and you’re all set. Extra points for personalizing your gifts with special monograms, but if you’re reading this and it’s Christmas eve, then don’t worry, even sans personalization, these are the gifts that anyone would be happy to open come Christmas morning. Here we go!

1. Touchscreen Gloves

With the prevalence of smartphones and other smart touchscreen devices, regular gloves just don’t cut it anymore. If your giftee lives in a climate with cold (and long) winters and is never seen without his/her phone, then touchscreen gloves are a perfect gift for them. Pick up a luxurious pair that goes with everything, and you’re all set!

2. Pajamas

I know, I know…pajamas sound kind of boring, but come on…who doesn’t love a new pair of PJs come Christmas morning?! Anything that’s a little fancier than your usual sleepwear will do – Gap and J.Crew do awesome sleep sets, and LaineyGossip just released a super cute line over at eLUXE. Bonus points for luxurious fabrics like silk, personalized monograms, and a pair of cozy slippers to go with those PJs. If you know your giftee’s taste and size to a tee, then a little something special from Agent Provocateur or La Perla would certainly be a hit. And I’m not talking lingerie either, a fancy robe or a silky slip are little luxuries that anyone would appreciate.

3. Booze

This one’s a no-brainer. Everyone loves alcohol, and fancy alcohol is even better. Grab a bottle of deluxe bubbly, designer liqueur, revered scotch, or better yet, a bottle of sparkling icewine, wrap it nicely, and you just picked up an awesome Christmas present.

4. Beauty Sets

This one’s obviously for beauty junkies in your life. On my last visit to Sephora, I spotted a ton of eye-catching, value-packed gift sets. Advent calendars stuffed with beauty must-haves, superstar product packs, sets for skin, hair, eyes, nails, lips…you name it! Kiehl’s skincare essentials are always a hit, and those gift sets are usually packed with extras to make it worth your while.  The Body Shop does wonderfully festive seasonal gift sets, and for every specially selected gift you buy, The Body Shop will make a contribution of approximately 6 cents to War Child to fund a class for a child. Get great gifts, and do some good while you’re at it.

5. Cashmere

Last but certainly not least, cashmere is a perfect last-minute gift that people on your list would absolutely adore. We don’t always get the little luxuries for ourselves, so it’s extra nice to receive such a treat for Christmas (or whenever, really). Whether it’s a luxurious sweater, a soft scarf, a pair of cashmere-lined gloves, or a cozy throw – one can never have too much cashmere in their life.

And there you have it, last-minute holiday gifts that don’t suck. Do you agree? Would you be happy to be on the receiving end of these? Share your last-minute gift ideas in the comments!

Mother’s Day: Gift Guide 2014

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Though it certainly doesn’t feel like it, May is here, and with it – Mother’s Day! If you still haven’t figured out what to buy for your mom, as usual, we have some ideas to help you in your search. From a personalized leather tote, to a fancy perfume, to a bottle of delicious bubbly, to a pair of comfy pajamas, there’s something for every mom (and every budget) on our list.

What will you be picking up for your mom this year? Share in the comments!

1. Monogram Travel Mug – Indigo
2. Atlas Bangle – Tiffany and Co
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Gear – Best Buy
4. DOLCE & GABBANA Dolce Eau de Parfum – The Bay
5. Nespresso VertuoLine – The Bay
6. Personalized Leather Tote – Cuyana
7. Les 4 Ombres – CHANEL
8. Listen to the Squawking Chicken by Elaine Lui – Indigo
9. Pajamas – Joe Fresh
10. Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne – LCBO
11. D/N Bag – ela handbags
12. Orchid Statement Necklace – Banana Republic
13. Embroidered Floral Topper – Ann Taylor
14. Canapile Heels – ALDO
15. YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Lip Balm – Sephora

More after the jump!

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Beauty: Wedding Makeup 101

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When my Clinique-loving girlfriend and ex-bridesmaid told me that she wouldn’t be able to make it to my destination wedding after all, I was disappointed. Mostly because I really wanted her to celebrate with us, but also, because she was supposed to be my wedding makeup artist. I probably don’t need to explain to you why it’s important to have a trustworthy makeup artist on your big day, and obviously, I wasn’t just going to let some stranger do my makeup for me…So, what’s a bride-to-be to do? Learn how to DIY, of course!

To get myself started on the road to wedding makeup know-it-all-ness, I stopped by Sephora, and booked an application appointment with the lovely Flavia. The goal was to pick up some products that I would need on my wedding day, and learn a trick or two (or a dozen) to help me do my own makeup…ahem…better. Sephora makeup applications are free, but you do need to buy a $50 giftcard, that can be used to buy anything in the store.

Wedding Day Make up For ever

After years of using Clinique products (almost exclusively), I had to fess up to Flavia (and myself), that my makeup routine no longer worked for my skin. My foundation wore off after a couple of hours, making me look exhausted by 5pm. And considering how long an average wedding day is, that just wouldn’t do. So out with the old it was…and in with the new and improved.

1. To get me started, Flavia recommended a couple of good primers: Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Usually, I skip primers all-together, but in this case, more is actually more. A primer smoothed and enhanced my skin’s texture, while helping my foundation stay on longer. For my trial run at home, I used the Make Up For Ever primer…and I can’t express how much I loved it. Lightweight, and oil-free, it did wonders for my face.

Wedding Day Make Up For Ever

2. After all the priming and moisturizing, we got to the truly interesting part – concealers, foundations, and powders. In my early 20s, I got away with using tinted moisturizers…mostly because I’ve never been a fan of the cakey/overdone look, and my skin was youthful and free of imperfections. Now that I am nearing 30, I’ve realized that I need something more…substantial.

After the rave reviews from close friends, I told Flavia that I’d like to try Make Up For Ever concealer and foundation, and she agreed that their long-lasting HD line was one of the best, if I wanted staying power, and medium coverage.

Now that I’ve been using Make Up For Ever HD concealer and foundation for over a week, I cannot help but kick myself for not trying these products sooner. My friend has been raving about the company for years, so why was I the last to make the leap? The coverage is great, and it literally will not budge from your face until you’re ready to take it off, leaving your with a flawless-looking face. I could really get used to that. To set my makeup, I now use the brand’s HD Microfinish Powder – translucent and barely there.

More beauty tips after the jump!

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VISA Everyday Shopper Program: Day 5 Giveaway!

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Wow…five days flew by so quickly, and this is my final post for the VISA Everyday Shopper Program. Here’s what I bought with $50 each day.

Day 2: Pizza Lunch ($4.15), H&M Dress ($45.14)
Day 3: Jimmy The Greek Lunch ($10.56), Twix ($1.68), Salad King Dinner ($28.45) 
Day 4: Tamarind Indian Lunch ($12.06), Cadbury Creme Egg Minis and Gum ($7.10), Longo’s Groceries ($26.47)
Day 5: Make-up Session at Sephora ($50)

From Day 1 to Day 5, I’ve spent a total of $234.16 on everyday items, and earned a total of 234 points, getting me a bit closer to that coveted new laptop! And all I had to do was buy the things I would purchase anyway, using my good old VISA. Obviously, this is only worth it, if you pay off your balance at the end of each month – I would never encourage you to go on wild shopping sprees using your credit card, if you couldn’t afford the things you’d purchased! So please, exercise caution.

With that said, since you’ve been so awesome, joining me on my spending/collecting adventure, I want to share the goodies…aka a $50 Prepaid VISA Card that you can use to buy your very own everyday items!

Rules of the giveaway after the jump!

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