Nudie fragrance's for your man

Sometime I feel like I live in a cave. I subscribe to 5 magazines and pick up more off the newstands each month, but apparently it's not enough to keep me informed. I just found out about Marc Jacobs new men's fragrance, Bang.

I recall Diana telling me about a contest on MJ's facebook page and how one of her friends won a Marc Jacobs Stam bag. Diana neglected to tell me about his new fragrance. Knowing Diana's bag envy, she was probably more focused on her friend having won an MJ bag.

::: Nathalie


PS - I should comment how Geoff always laughs at men's fragrance ads. He wants to know who exactly they're targeted towards, seeing as your typical straight male probably doesn't respond to these ads (teehee).

The Cosmetic Gods Have Forsaken Me

Like a lot of Asian girls, I have stick straight eyelashes that require a lot of effort to curl. The slightest hint of humidity or rain makes them droop. It's really difficult to find products that ensure that my lashes stay curled looking all day long - so when I find something that works, I really stick to it.

For almost 9 years I've used L'Oreal's Le Grand Curl. I had the same tube for 4 months (I know, bad girl) and earlier this month I went to buy a new one. To my surprise my local drugstore didn't have it. I went to several others and they didn't have it either. One of the cosmeticians at Shopper's Drug Mart told me it was discontinued and I almost lost my marbles. Not only was it cheap but it was effective in helping me look like I actually have decent eyelashes. I've tried every brand from Dior to Maybelline and nothing holds a candle to this stuff. I recently purchased MAC's Opulash ($16 CAD) and while it's sufficient, it takes a lot of manipulation with my eyelash curler to achieve what was extremely easy with Le Grand Curl.

So yeah, I'm pretty bummed out. If you've got any tips on a good mascara that holds curl to stick straight lashes, please let me know.

With droopy lashes,

Diana

The Impromptu Picnic

Paint splattered chambray shirt; Current/ Elliot. Linen Skirt; See By Chloe.

Bracelet; The Lime Shop. Gold Watch; Michael Kors. Suede Zippered Bag; Alexander

Wang. Crosses Shopper; The Lime Shop. Yellow Sandals; Steve Madden.

Hanging out at Kensington Market with Diana last Friday downing Coke's and beef patties in coco buns. Sitting on my Lime shopper to keep my SBC skirt clean. There's yet another use for your tote bags.

-Nathalie

We Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming

We're going to pretend that Nathalie and I haven't been absent from this blog. Hi!

What's New?
- The Lime Shop website is up and running! If you're looking for eco-friendly goods for you, your home or your friends, this is your one stop shop.
- I got a LV Damier Speedy 30. Obviously it's a classic bag that I'll love forever, but I find that it's an abyss that makes it impossible to find anything.
- In a moment of weakness, I purchased YSL Baby Doll Perfume without testing it. I sprayed it on my wrists and nape and am now trying my best not to vom.
- Guess I've been living under a rock, because I went to my first Zumba class this morning. Um, amazing much? They say you can burn between 500-1000 (yes, a thousand) calories per session. I'm planning to go again tomorrow.

Back with a vengance,

Diana

Net-A-Porter Sale

Net-A-Porter is having an awesome sale with further reductions and new reductions and reductions on reductions! (Can you tell I'm salivating?)

I got the Rebecca Taylor Dotted Denim Jacket for 50% off. I wanted some other stuff but my size seems to be selling fast. Probably for the best.

::: Nathalie

Review: Pantene Pro-V Aerosol Hairspray for Medium/Thick Hairstyles

I really wanted to like this hairspray from Pantene Pro-V's new line, which is just under $5 on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart. It promises to lock out humidity, give you all day hold and add shine. Sadly, the only thing I really liked about it was the smell.

I curl my hair every morning and hairspray is essential to my every day routine. I styled my hair as I always do and applied this hairspray throughout my 'do. What I found is that it made strands of my hair HARD. When I first started using hairspray in high school, I thought having clumps of stiff hair was normal when using these kinds of products. After using so many kinds of hairspray from different brands, I find it's only inferior products that does that to your hair.

After an 11 hour work day Nathalie and I went to see Sex and the City 2, which was as disappointing as this hairspray. Lindy West's review is probably the most hilarious review I've ever read.

Back to the hairspray.

While observing myself in the theatre washroom, I noticed that my locks were looking lackluster. The curl has begun to droop and though it wasn't raining nor very humid, my hair looked a little frizzy. I asked Nathalie what she thought and she said that my hair looked mediocre at best.
Sorry Pantene, I really like your Shampoos and Conditioners, but your new hairspray is really a flop.

Turns out that if you're not satisfied with any of their new products, Pantene will refund the cost of your purchase and double it. That's pretty cool, so props to Pantene for good customer service.

Back to Ojon,
Diana

Beachy Waves

This one's for Steph. A picture of my 'beachy waves'.

Promise I'll post a video eventually, but in the meantime here are my suggestions on how to achieve a similar hairstyle.

• Get a really good curling iron. I've bought DOZENS of curling irons and if they're cheap, they won't hold the curl and you've just wasted more money. My suggestion is to save for a hardcore one. Mine's a Babyliss Pro Curling Iron. Honestly, I've had it for over a year and I feel stupid for not buying one sooner. It holds the curl so well.
• Use the curling iron upside down and wrap your hair around the iron instead of wrapping the iron around you hair.
• Hairspray is essential. The better is it, the longer your curls will last. I've mentioned Ojon's Tunu Hairspray on more than one occasion. I've tried a lot of hairsprays and a lot just don't cut it. This one does.
• Run your fingers through your style after applying the hairspray to make it look more natural.

That's it for now. Promise I'll post a vid soon.

Doing my part for better hair everywhere,

Diana

Review: Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray

People are constantly asking me how I do my hair. I really should take a picture to show you and I know this sounds like I'm bragging, but I've honestly mastered the look of 'beachy waves'. Promise I'll post a 'how to' vid on YouTube one of these days when I'm not so busy.

In the meantime, I gotta talk to you about Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray. I can't seem to find it on their website, which leads me to believe it's discontinued (WTF is up with my luck, seriously?!)

A few months ago, Nathalie got a few samples from the Jonathan line at Holts and she went on and on about how incredible their conditioner was. For almost a year I've been using Ojon Tunu Finishing Hairspray. Though I'm a huge fan of the product itself, I'm really upset that the last three bottles I've purchased have crapped out on me halfway through due to a faulty spray nozzle. I looked it up and apparently a lot of people have a similar problem. When I saw Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray for $5.99 at StyleSense, I couldn't pass it up (along with a pair of Juicy Couture aviators, but that's another story all together). First thing I noticed is that the product is vegan, which I know is a big deal to a lot of you and of course I give props to companies that take our animal buddies into consideration.

What I noticed immediately when I started to use it is that it doesn't have a super strong smell like most 'firm hold' hairsprays (Elnett, I'm looking at you). The scent is actually quite pleasant. Also, it gives off incredible shine. I like the fact that the amount of hold is buildable and doesn't make your hair rock hard immediately. It hasn't been humid recently, but I think this stuff will hold up to the humidity. Overall, a solid product. Now I've gotta go to all the StyleSense locations in the area to make sure that I have a few bottles on hand. At just under $6 a pop, you can't really go wrong. Now I kinda wish I didn't write this cause I want 'em all to myself.

Too tired for a witty sign-off,
Diana

Lady Gaga, Alejandro

Man, isn't Lady Gaga just intriguing?

Fragrance Follies

Damn Marc Jacobs and his limited edition splash fragrances. I've been wearing his summer scent Rain for just over a year now. It's so good that I've been stopped in stores and cornered in hallways asking what perfume I wear.

But no, Marc can't keep making it. He had to release it two years in a row to tease us and now he's moved onto apple, biscotti and pomegranate splashes. Nice try, they're just not as good. Never will be.

In effort to look for a new scent that I love as much, I picked up this Vacation in a Bottle set from Michael Kors. Get this, these 7ml rollerballs were on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart for $20! Each of the fragrances was inspired by a tropical locale: Fiji, Capri, Hawaii and Bermuda. So far, Bermuda's my fav! It's light, feminine yet kind of exotic. Thing is, they all smell good and I'm sure they'd be great layered as well. And guess what, they're limited edition too. WTF. I guess it's just me. It sucks, because they really do smell amazing. Don't hesitate to pick 'em up if you see them around.

Destined to smell mediocre,
Diana