Vlogmas Day 1: December 1st - Part 2

Helloooo everyone! So here is Vlogmas Day 1 Part 2 where we decorate the tree!

Click here to Watch!

Stay tuned for more vlogs and don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

Hope you're all having a great day and don't forget to Put A Bow On....Vlogmas!

Vlogmas Day 1: December 1st 2014

Helloooo everyone! So if you missed it - I am doing Vlogmas this year! I'm super excited to do it, but I do work in retail so some of my days will be a complete write off (damn you 11am-8pm shifts!). For those days I will have pre-filmed Christmas related videos, so keep your eye peeled for that. Vlogmas Day 1 is up and live, so be sure to check it out!

Check it Out here

If you have any video suggestions or questions then you can tweet me directly @PutABowOn and hashtag #PutABowOnVlogmas as well :)

In other news - Ivy and Remi now have their very own instagram account! Go follow them right now so you can be overloaded with yorkie cuteness! 

Don't forget to subscribe to my channel so you don't miss a day of vlogmas!

Hope you all have a great day and don't forget to Put A Bow On....Vlogmas!

Hill

Tarte Best in Faux Vs. Too Faced Better Than False Lashes

Hey everyone!

So I'm sure you've heard of fiber lash extensions, and if you haven't, let me give you the low down.

Fiber lash extensions consist of a 3 step system where you adhere fibers to your lashes. This is not a permanent thing like legit lash extensions - just think of it as a mascara on steroids.

So I tried out Too Faced Better Than False Lashes a year ago. If you want to check out my video review - then knock yourself out by clicking here. But brace yourself - it was at the beginning of my channel and I'm super shy and awkward.

But if you want to dodge that awkward video then I'll give you the lowdown here:

You get extremely long lashes however, the product is really sticky and a huge pain in the butt to get off.

Now onto the Best In Faux. I'll save you the reading and you can go check out my video by clicking here.

You can also click on the thumbnail below.

I hope you're all having a fab day and don't forget to put a bow on!

Hill

Best in Faux Demo & Review

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - Is it worth the hype?

Hello everyone! I did a quick review & first impression of the Urban Decay Perversion mascara. You can check it out below and don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

Hope you all have a lovely day, and don't forget to put a bow on!

Hillary

Dry Shampoo Showdown

Hello everyone!

So I recently did a video on my YouTube Channel comparing 7 dry shampoos (ranging from drugstore to high end).

Click here to see what I had to say

I recently purchased 3 more drugstore dry shampoos so I could add a little bit more variety to my selections giving you -that's right - 10 dry shampoos! (Scroll to the bottom for the TL;DR lowdown if you're in a rush).

Now before I get into my reviews I want to give a bit of background so you understand why my dry shampoo expertise and opinion matters.

My hair is quite possibly the biggest pain EVER! Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but it certainly isn't a walk in the park. When it comes down to it, I have a lot of hair, but the follicle itself is very thin so I'm left with a bunch of limp hair that has zero volume. As you can imagine, my hair gets knotted SO easily and it is the queen at getting really oily around the root, and incredibly dry at my ends.

So you're probably thinking that's the end of my woes, but nope! I decided to dye my hair red to add into this insane pickle. I now had to: maintain my red hair, give my hair volume, thicken my hair, control oil, and keep it hydrated. I mean, really?

So here's what my solution was:

1. Wash my hair as least often as possible
2. Use volume/thickening/colour safe shampoo/conditioner and styling products (but we'll get to that in a different post/video)
3. Use dry shampoo to keep my hair looking fresh!

So this might come as a shock to you, but dry shampoos aren't all the same. I've tried some that have made my hair look like I just got a blowout, and others that created such a disgusting mess that I had to wash my hair (and clarify it a few times with cider vinegar).

If you want to check my video where I review 7 dry shampoos you can click here. (Bumble & Bumble, TreSemme, Cake, & Batiste - to name a few).

But now onto the 3 new additions!

Herbal Essences Colour Me Happy Instant Clean & Colour Protection Dry Shampoo

So this dry shampoo has a 'luscious rose scent'. Kind of smells like hairspray at first (to be honest) but it definitely dies down. It claims to give a '1st day clean feel'. Don't let the name fool you, it literally has zero special ingredients in it to give you colour protection (i.e, UVA & UVB filters). The idea is that your colour will last longer if you wash your hair less by replacing shampoos with a dry shampoo. 

This product uses tapioca starch to soak up the oils and sprays on a bit wet. I found that you need to let the dry shampoo dry (haha - but seriously) and then you can brush it out. It does have a bit of a residue so you do need to work it into your roots. I found tossing my hair upside down helped a lot. 

The smell is fine - it matches the shampoo and conditioner from the collection, but it's kind of annoying that they say 'colour protection' when it's honestly a load of crap. I mean, yes, it's sulfate-free, and I might not be a scientist or anything, but are sulfates necessary in a dry shampoo? Don't sulfates give you that foaming effect in cleansers and soaps? I've studied & worked in advertising for 5 years now, so I'm onto you Herbal Essences! It's like advertising that sour patch kids are fat-free - really? But I digress. This dry shampoo is good if you are on a budget, but definitely not the best.

Pantene Pro-V Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo

I'm going to come out and just say it right here, right now. I DO NOT like Pantene as a collection/brand. Most, if not all of their products are packed with dimethicone. For those that aren't sure what dimethicone is - it's a filler (like silicone). You know how some face primers have that kind of greasy/easy glide feeling? Well that's what you're putting in your hair. Some people like how it feels, but it's not doing any good, it's just a filler that is not penetrating or repairing the follicle. So it will 'prime' or block good things such as argan oil from penetrating the follicle and repairing it.

So now that I went on a ridiculous rant, let's get into this dry shampoo.

I was hesitant to try it due to my opinion of their shampoos, conditioners, and treatments, but I decided 'why not' after Elle Fowler (Allthatglitters21 on YouTube) suggested it. Keep in mind, Elle openly discusses that she is sponsored by Pantene, so I was weary of whether she liked the dry shampoo due to it being gifted to her/her being paid to use it, or if she sincerely actually liked it. I've always found Elle to be extremely upfront, honest, and transparent (in regards to her beauty opinions) so I decided to go for it.

Well, I love it! If there's one thing I do like about Pantene it's the fragrance in their products, and this dry shampoo did not disappoint. It also gave me volume, soaked up all the oil, and made my hair easy to style. My hair didn't feel dry or brittle (side note: there is NO dimethicone in this product, but there is silica). However, it did dry out my scalp and make it flake.

They use tapioca starch as the drying agent and I found that this definitely stood up to it's promise. Maybe this is a step in the right direction towards me trying Pantene products (that are not packed with dimethicone of course).

Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo

I was actually shocked that Aveeno came out with a dry shampoo, I don't know why but it just seemed strange to me. I know packaging really doesn't matter, but this is my personal favourite (I'm a total sucker for green
though).

I love the smell, it's fresh and light- not too overpowering, but enough to trick you into thinking your hair is squeaky clean. They use corn starch as the drying agent, which definitely does a great job.

The product has seaweed extract, which claims to 'renew hair for a clean, fresh look'. Seaweed is known for repairing the hair follicle and soothing the scalp - but I'm a little skeptical about how much 'extract' is in this product (but that's just me).

That being said, I do find that this dry shampoo does not make my scalp flake or feel dry. This has been an ongoing issue with dry shampoos where it gives me some faux dandruff due to the excess of the product sitting on my scalp (and probably a hint of irritation too with all of the drying).

It doesn't give me the full amount of volume that I need so I do have to tease my hair a bit to give it that extra oomph, but it also isn't flattening my hair and making it feel like I dipped it in canola oil like SOME dry shampoos (you'll have to watch my YouTube video to get the full low down on that one).

Anyways, that's all for now! I hope you all have a lovely day, and don't forget to Put A Bow On!

Hillary

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TL;DR:
Go for the Aveeno dry shampoo if you aren't concerned about volume, go for Pantene if you aren't concerned about overpowering fragrance & drying scalp.

Amazing new products! Nars dupes featuring Vasanti!

Hello my lovely subscribers!

So it's a lovely Saturday afternoon and I was in the shopping mood. I recently ran out of my BareMinerals concealer and my Tarte amazonian clay concealer is a tad bit dark. I've been on a serious hunt for a new concealer (I love the BareMinerals one, great coverage but holy do I ever blow through that guy fast). I know this may come as a shock to you, but I've NEVER been in a Rexall drug store before. I know, I know, there's plenty of brands there such as The Balm, I mean, what am I doing with my life, right?

Anyway, so I decided to pop in. I went in determined to purchase Mary-Lou Manizer. I walk in expecting it to be a carbon copy of Target/Shoppers, but nope! I was overwhelmed with all of these brands that I've honestly never heard of.

So I quickly grab my Mary-Lou Manizer, but then I see this brand next to The Balm that I've never heard of called Vasanti. I died, not literally, obviously, or else I wouldn't be here. The first thing that caught my eye was the Face Base Powder Foundation. It looked really silky so I swatched it on the back of my hand.

the box that the Face Base comes in

Now I need to warn you that this is not an exaggeration whatsoever, so brace yourself. This face base, I kid you not, is a perfect dupe of Nars' powder foundation. It has the same creamy texture and great coverage. It literally covers seamlessly.

quick swatch of the powder 

So Nar's Powder Foundation runs at $65 CAD with 0.4 oz of product. Vasanti's Face Base Powder Foundation runs at $28 CAD with 0.38 oz of product. Pretty damn fancy, eh?

Now onto the packaging: it is in a sleek silver plastic compact with a large crisp mirror and a sponge for application. I personally like using my BareMinerals precision face powder brush, but to each his own.

packaging

I grabbed the shade V4. This shade has a yellow base (as I believe the majority if not all of the line has, so my apologies in advance if you have a beige or pink undertone). It is a perfect colour match, and I honestly couldn't be happier.

So the next Vasanti product that caught my eye was the Liquid Cover Up. It can be used as a foundation, under eye concealer, or complexion concealer. It is brightening, light weight, and oil-free.

packaging that the Liquid cover up comes in

It is in a tube, which is kind of strange, and there is a brush tip. I fell in love with this concealer because, much like the powder, it blends in seamlessly with your skin but gives great coverage.

Packaging of the product

brush tip of concealer

This concealer covered up my hyper-pigmentation with very little product. It was easy to blend and didn't cake up. Ugh, I'm just in heaven.

So I'm glad I took a chance on this Vasanti line. It's Canadian and run by women so WOOH for supporting a Canadian brand! I honestly bought these products based on how they looked in store, I didn't even look up on sites like Make Up Alley to see what others said. And I'm glad I did this because these are two really great products. I definitely will be trying more products from this line. If you're looking for an awesome powder foundation or liquid concealer then I highly encourage you to check out Vasanti!

Anyways, that's all for now! I hope you all have a lovely day and don't forget to put a bow on!

Hillary

Naked 3 Palette & The Return of My Face!

Helllooo everyone!

Okay so real talk: I finally got a hold of my camera again which means you get to see this lovely gem twice a week again (yayyyy!)

OH EM GEE! Look! It's my face

But seriously, it's good to be back. And I hit the ground running with a little update AND a brief review of the Naked 3 (yupp, I bought it, but seriously, this is me we're talking about so yaaa...).

I also scored the Glinda palette that was released last January (ish) for the movie the Great and Powerful Oz (by Urban Decay of course). Do any of you remember it? I do because I was in love and it was bloody expensive - but nope, scored that bad boy for $24 - no joke. Go jump on urbandecay.com, it might still be there in the sales section!

Anyways, I have a few super exciting product reviews coming for products that - wait for it - haven't even been released yet! So if you want to be 'in the know' then I highly suggest that you keep your eyes peeled and subscribe to my lovely YouTube Channel by clicking anywhere here - oh look at me being hyperlink craz-ay. 

Other funzies are coming too - Naked 3 Tutorial? Yupp! Other surprises? Heck yes! Soo that is all for today! Hope you all are having a lovely Christmas break (and if you aren't on break yet then uh, ya, sorry...)

Don't forget to put a bow on!

Hillary

Lorde Royals Make Up Tutorial

So I'm usually a big fan of the 'no make up' look but I am completely and utterly obsessed with Lorde's liner in her Royals music video. I've worn it out a few times and I love how it reshapes the eye. It really lifts the eye up and opens it. I know it looks super intimidating but it's really easy to master once you get the hang of it. The best part? It's super easy to fix if you make a mistake.

Check Out My Tutorial Here

I personally like creating the look with a gel liner then going over it once I'm done with black eye shadow (then smoking it out a bit). I haven't tried it with liquid, a pencil or powder but I honestly just think gel is easiest when you want to create this shape.

Check out my tutorial here

I already decided to go as a deer (and minnie on another night) for halloween BUT I wish I was going as Lorde. All you need is this fancy eye look, some serious hairspray, a great curling iron, a white t-shirt, a gold statement necklace, and black leggings (or black jeans). BOOM! I just gave you the easiest costume ever, you're welcome.

Anyway, I'd love it if you would check out my eye tutorial. I'm thinking about doing some fun halloween tutorials (such as dr.jekyll/mr.hyde, 1920s flapper, minnie or deer). So let me know if you'd like me to do more make up tutorials!

& don't forget to put a bow on,

Hill

Important Update!

Hello my lovely readers!

So I haven't uploaded a video in 2 weeks and you might be wondering why. As a lot of you know, I'm a stinking poor university student (uhhh let's be serious, what else is new?) so I'm currently waiting on my smelly OSAP to be able to get a new camera (long story short - I had to give my old one back to my mom when I moved away). Well OSAP is being silly so it won't be in for another week which puts off the whole using the money that should be paying my tuition with to also pay for other things. Let's call it the Ontario Student Assist-me-in-buying-stuff-for-my-youtube-channel Plan. So yah, that is in the works. I was going to just do some lesser quality videos on my webcam on my new laptop that optimistically claims to be an "HD" webcam buuuut let's just say that HP overshot that promise. Soo I'm going to see how my point and shoot camera will do in regards to quality but I'd rather hold off and give you guys the quality you deserve rather than do a hack job.

That being said, I have a bunch of really fun ideas coming up. I have a few new make up techniques that I'm going to share with you guys in a couple tutorials that I'm sure you'll love. I also have a few DIYs (wow, I totally wrote DUI at first, I definitely do not have any DUIs, drinking and driving isn't cool), and a September favourites video (I was way too busy to do an August favourites so this will be exciting!).

Soooo hang in there! I will have a video up this weekend and then my next video should be back to Canon Rebel t3i quality.

Hope you're all doing well, and don't forget to put a bow on!

Hill

Blog posts and Youtube Videos coming up!

Hello lovely readers! So I'm finally moved out for my post grad! wooh! Unfortunate news? I won't have Internet until this Saturday. I'm actually at a Starbucks right now sipping away at a vanilla bean frapp as I write this. I've been filming tons of awesome videos this week so I'm so excited to get them up and available to you guys! We'll be kicking off the second video of my 'dangerous chemicals in make up' series and I also have a fun and different series that I'll also be kicking off!

I'm also really proud of myself. I would certainly define myself as a make up snob. I know, it's terrible, but at least I can admit it. I tend to stray away from drugstore make up because I had really bad experiences with it back in high school. However, I went shopping with my awesome friend/sorority sister Taylor the other day and she inspired me to be brave and pick up the Covergirl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation. You can check out her review of this foundation by clicking here.

I was pleasantly surprised by this foundation. I was actually getting frustrated with my Cover FX foundation and my Stila stay all day foundation is WAY too dark now. This Covergirl foundation certainly brightened up my day. It covers everything - even my acne scars! But it doesn't look cakey, it melts right in with my skin leaving a natural finish. But it also keeps my face matte. I was at a club the other night with my friends for several hours (this club was super sweaty) and my make up still looked flawless by the time I got home. I wouldn't suggest it for overly oily skin - I think it would work best with combination skin as it does have hydrating properties. But this foundation is certainly a win - I will definitely be buying it again. The only thing that breaks my heart is that there's PEG and parabens in it (but so many high end brands have PEG and parabens in it too).

I will get into what PEG and parabens etc do to you skin in a later post, but for now, I hope you have a great day, and don't forget to put a bow on :)

xo Hillary

Naked 2 Tutorial & How I cover my acne scars

Hello my lovely readers/subscribers!

So I recently did a Get Ready with Me video where I used the Naked 2 Palette and also showed how to get a natural but full coverage over acne/acne scars (and any hyperpigmentation really).

I like having a nice natural look so I powered through a natural smokey eye with the Naked 2. I honestly get it, it's a product with a cult following/a lot of hype but I reach for this palette quite frequently. I would reach for it daily but I make a conscious effort to switch it up.

Check it out here :)

Acne - and even acne scars can be a complete pain! Even the 'fullest' coverage foundation sometimes can't get the job done (that or you look like a cake face - let's be serious here) - so I highly suggest investing in a good concealer. I personally use the BareMinerals Correcting Concealer in Medium 1. It has an SPF (so it will protect hyperpigmentation - especially if you're using a dark spot corrector) and it looks really natural on your skin. I paired this beauty with a Sephora Pro Airbrush #57 brush and it's smooth sailing.

I know a lot of people rave about sonia kashuk brushes, bobbie brown, mac, and everything in between, but I really feel that the sephora pro brushes deserve more credit. A lot of people look at them and think $41 for a foundation brush, that's ridiculous. But! Here's the point of difference - the brushes are hand made by brush artisans! And that doesn't mean children in a sweat shop that they affectionately called 'brush artisans' it means real professionals that go through the bristles to ensure only the best are used then hand glue & sew them. I have bobbie brown brushes that I've had for a couple years falling apart and my sephora brushes are still holding strong. I honestly feel with these brushes that you're paying for quality - not for some designer name to be plastered on it.

If you want to check out the video in full then click right here  and if you like what you see then I highly encourage you to subscribe! 

Also, I kind of felt like a sales person in this blog post (just my passion for brushes/products that need more credit I guess). But I'd like to point out that this post was not/is not sponsored and I do not represent any of the brands. I just really wanted to power through some small details that not a lot of people may know about these bad ass brushes. 

Have a lovely day guys, and don't forget to put a bow on :)

xo Hill

My Channel Trailer

So I put together a quick Channel Trailer that is 50 seconds long. I wanted to demonstrate who I am, what I do, and what you can expect by watching my channel and reading my blog.

Click here to view Trailer

My Channel Trailer

I'd love it if you guys could check it out, pass it on, etc. And as always, all constructive feedback is always welcome :)

Don't forget to put a bow on (because you're a prize)

xo Hill

My Yorkies

So I was recently tagged to do the Furry Friends Tag on YouTube. I decided to accompany the video with a blog post so I can introduce you to my two puppy babies, Ivy and Remi.

It was just over a year ago and I was graduating from my bachelors of arts. I knew I was moving home and was getting puppy fever. I've wanted a yorkie since I could remember. I would constantly creep petfinder.com or breeder's websites, but I never seriously inquired. I somehow convinced my parents that it was a good idea to get a puppy. At the time I had my 15 year old Bichon Frise (Basil). He was a Christmas present when I was 8. He unfortunately passed away this past January and I miss him everyday, RIP Basil :(.

Basil lounging in his chair

I also had my 3 year old cockapoo, Sawyer. I adopted him from a rescue when he was 8 weeks old. He was initially from a puppy mill. The puppy mill sold him to a pet store where he was bought by a family. The family returned him after they discovered that he dislocated his knee at his first vet appointment, and off he went back to the puppy mill. The puppy mill usually puts puppies down if they're unwanted (because they can't make money off them) but this puppy mill luckily had a deal with a local rescue where they'd give the unwanted puppies to them. 

I initially planned an appointment with the rescue that day to see a female westie-poo (and she was adorable, she actually looks like a golden retriever puppy full grown) but I fell in love when I saw Sawyer.

He was so chubby and adorable. He was extremely hyper too. I just couldn't leave the rescue without him. So off i went with my little ginger fluff. He is my first baby and I will always love him.

Sawyer with his ice cream cone

So back to where I was, Ivy. I had already done so much research on a bunch of breeders and decided to go with a breeder that had yorkie/silky cross puppies. She had a male yorkie, a male silky, and then a few silky females. Majority of these dogs were rescues too - so power to her! 

I emailed her just in time, she was taking deposits for a new litter. I let her know that I wanted a female and Ivy was the last female to get claimed (she initially was going to keep Ivy but decided not to at the last second). I obviously fell in love with Ivy, she was the sweetest little thing ever.

Baby Ivy the day I took her home

Flash forward to a year later. My mom wanted to get a yorkie because I'm moving away for school this September and taking Ivy with me. So we went back to the same breeder. While we were there I fell in love with one of the puppies and quickly decided that I was going to adopt another one so that Ivy would have a buddy. 

Baby Remi!

So this is my little happy puppy family now. I wish I could take Sawyer with me to school but he gets really bad separation anxiety so I don't think he'd handle me being away in class or at work very well. So he is happiest at home with my parents for now. He has also grown attached to my mom's puppy, Mati, so maybe it is for the best.

with my furry minions!

Ivy and Remi absolutely adore each other. She protects him like a little brother and she likes that he's not overly dominant or hyper. 

If you want to see a video of the day I picked out Remi (and my Mom picked out Mati) Then Click here (the formatting is kind of off for the video)

so sweet

You can also check out more details about Remi & Ivy by checking out my YouTube channel here

Nail Polish Haul (...I have a problem...)

So I've been on a huge nail polish kick lately. Why? Because I feel completely maxed out on make up, skincare, and fragrance. My nails are still recovering from my shellac experience where they put acrylic tips on (why did I do that again? ugh) so I just want to make them pretty again.

My awesome friend/sorority sister Liz shared the most amazing (yet terrible) information with my yesterday (p.s you can check out her blog here). She let me know that http://www.nailpolishcanada.com had major sales on a bunch of nail polish AND there was free shipping. I tried to resist the urge but it was pretty much impossible.

I've heard a lot of beauty bloggers talk about Deborah Lippmann nail polishes and could never seem to find them in Canada (and it's a blessing in disguise - these polishes are $20+). They are currently getting rid of the brand (for whatever reason) and the polishes are around $13. I know, I know, $13 is pretty steep for a polish. But I'm so sick of spending anywhere from 6-12 dollars on a polish and having it chip or completely peel off. I have yet to hear a negative review about DL polishes so I figured, why not give it a go?

I only ordered them today but I will do a follow up review later showing the colours and the pigment on my nails (and maybe a follow up showing how it holds up after a week). Anyway, onward to the colours!

So the first colour I grabbed is called "Whatever Lola Wants". It's from the collection that Deborah Lippmann paired up with Kelly Ripa for. I'm hoping that the polish is soft and gives a nice pink iridescence to my nails.

The second colour is called 'Purple Rain'. My hopes are that it is a lavender colour with a pearl finish.

The next colour is called "Let's Go Crazy". It is a polish from their Fall 2012 collection. The glitter polishes are what first got me with this brand. I don't know what the heck it is, but they just look so good!

The next polish I got was the Umbrella Waterproof Top Coat. I know what you're thinking - why the heck does a nail polish need to be 'waterproof' - isn't it already? Well apparently not so much. The coat says it is waterproof and UV-resistant with a high shine. It brings oxygen to the nail to makes it chip resistant. I am still on the search for a good top coat so I'm hoping this little gem doesn't disappoint.

And last but not least, I grabbed some colours to do nail art with. There's this one brand called 'Art Club' that carries nail polishes with the long thin brush (so that you can draw on your nails precisely). They had a set of 8 pastel colours for $33 - so I definitely couldn't resist! The colours are: Pastel Blue, Lilac, Lavender, Sky Blue, Pink Pastel, Mint, Natural and a top coat sealer.

I had my nails done recently with a bow (yes, I know I know) and I've been dying to recreate the look at home. So I'm hoping that the Art Club colours do not let me down - I will definitely do a review and a tutorial with them once they come.

bows on bows on bows

So that's all the excitement from my purchases. I could resist discounted nail polish with free shipping. Keep your eyes peeled for my tutorials/review. I will be posting the videos on my YouTube Channel, my Twitter, as well as the written portion here :).

I hope you all have a lovely Monday, and don't forget to put a bow on!

xo Hill

But seriously - Who Am I?

Hello World! My name is Hillary and I am a puppy addict, a bow enthusiast, and a Youtuber/Blogger (I guess you could say that). If you haven't stumbled upon my blog, YouTube channel, or my social media before then let me give you a quick run down of what you can expect.

Click here for my YouTube Channel

If I was to choose 3 words to describe myself then I'd say: tenacious, passionate, and resilient (all in the best way possible). I'm a highly energetic individual, a lot of my friends know me as the fun spontaneous friend that is always in for an adventure (but actually, I've been woken up in the middle of the night by friends to go have a snow ball fight at 2 am, bake cookies, or go jump on the next door neighbour's trampoline). I'm an optimist, and I believe that there is good in every person and every situation in life. 

I have plenty of passions in life. I absolutely love my pets and would do absolutely anything for them, I love to paint, I absolutely love music (especially the Foo Fighters- Dave Grohl is amazing), I love DIY's (I mean I have to, being a sorority girl and all), and I LOVE trying new things. I actually made a bucket list with one of my friends last summer to ensure that we made the most of it and tried something new every day (and I highly suggest doing it - it was so fun! Maybe I'll do a summer bucket list video?)

I am extremely passionate about beauty products - I have this thing where if I'm going to know something then I have to research it extensively and legitimately understand what I'm talking about. I don't like giving people advice or speaking about something if I'm unsure or don't feel like I have enough information. Therefore, I can assure you that I have researched every product extensively before I share my thoughts on it (whether that be here for my YouTube channel). That being said, I'm not perfect, and I'm always open to hearing your opinion and advice. 

I don't really want to peg my channel as a 'beauty channel' or myself as a 'beauty guru'. I think that's kind of silly because I feel like I'm pigeon holed. We're all plastic (not barbie plastic!). What do I mean by this? I mean that we are ever-changing. You are who you are, but don't let that stop you from exploring new opportunities and further developing who you are.

I don't want to close doors to where I may take this blog or my YouTube channel in the future. I'm not saying I'm going to stray and be inconsistent, that definitely is not the case. I'm just saying that I want to take my infectious happiness and share it with the world - and how I share it will be driven by what currently makes me happy and what you (yes you reading this right now) want me to talk about. This isn't just a one way street of me blabbing at a camera and tickling the keys of my laptop. This is a conversation - a friendship if you will. 

All I know is that my channel will always have beauty (inside AND out - let's be serious here), DIYs, gluten free (and vegan!) cooking, fashion, and important life advice (but like actual advice, seriously). So if that sounds like your cup of loose leaf tea then feel free to subscribe to me here and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Have a lovely day and don't forget to put a bow on (because you're a prize)

Xo Hill

Sephora VIB Rouge!!!

So I don't know if I should be proud of this, or ashamed, but I had a lovely little email in my inbox today congratulating me on reaching VIB Rouge status at Sephora.

What does that mean? Well, it means that I've spent $1000 in the store since January (ya, I know, but I did buy TWO clarisonics in that time and my mom/sister put their points on my card sometimes). It works exactly like the VIB does (but more!). So if I qualified today that means I'm qualified until July 25th 2014 and then it extends to December 31st 2014 - how awesome is that? I didn't know that before, I always thought that it meant I was a VIB (or VIB rouge) until the end of the calendar year (so December 31st 2013), but a whole other year of bonuses? Yes please!

What else? You get a swanky red card with a red bite lipstick (I still have to go pick mine up). You also get free shipping from sephora.com, free make up applications (unlimited), and 'special surprise gifts'. I've heard a few other rumors but who knows if they're true (such as bigger perks beyond the 500 points, meet and greets with brand designers, and other cool stuff!). I'll be sure to do a separate post once it's officially announced, I don't want to be passing around rumors or anything.

My New(ish) Skincare Routine

So I Recently got into a new skincare routine and have been seeing amazing results! I'm really big on staying away from sketchy chemicals that may be carcinogenic (cause cancer) or are harmful to my body in other ways. However, I still want my skincare to work (& I don't want to be throwing stuff on my face that may be 'good' for me but have no benefit for my skin). So off I went to Lush!

I used Lush skincare a few years back (I mean I've gone from Lush, to Dior, to Aloette, to Nude - and plenty of other skincare lines in between that I'm definitely forgetting). So what sparked this sudden turn around to Lush (aside from the fact that you can read and understand EVERY ingredient in their products and why it is there)? I was actually stuck in the Orlando airport a couple weeks ago and decided to stop by the shop and have a little chat to pass the time. Next thing you know I was sitting in a chair with a mask on my face and a hand massage. I loved the products but I settled for a toner and a sample of a moisturizer and was on my way. I don't like sampling products just to get some free stuff - I will typically buy something if I try it and I like it.

Just a little background on my skin. I used to have amazing skin (but seriously). I never had a single blemish, blackhead, or any other 'imperfection' on my face. The texture of my face was normal (sometimes combination based on the weather) and I had no sensitivities (minus extremely potent tea tree oil - that definitely burned my skin). I had zero worries in the world, I never wore foundation, tinted moisturizer, nothing, why? Because I didn't need it.

Flash forward to now. My job requires that I wear a full and 'inspirational' face of make up. Working long hours with everything from primer, to a full cover foundation, and a setting powder (and everything in between - you think of it, and it's on my face) caused my face to go 'HILLARY WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!" next thing you know, I had insane break outs, blackheads putting up shop on my face, and oily skin. I didn't know what to do, my skincare routine that I was so loyally committed to did not have a 'treat' step that was focused on break outs. I knew I had to change but I was honestly kind of scared - being 22 years old and JUST dealing with break out prevention was extremely weird - wasn't that suppose to happen like 10 years ago?

So my first step in the right direction was towards my Clarisonic (I initially had the Mia, but then I gave it to my mom and bought the newest model - the Aria). Why the Clarisonic? It works with the elasticity of your skin (the brush oscillates back in forth rather than spins like other brushes - spinning can tear your tissue and be rough on your skin), it pulls out the impurities, and it completely changed the texture of my face. You can use it twice a day - seven days a week. It is seriously an amazing investment.

My Clarisonic Aria with the deep pore cleansing brush

So after a few months of trying a bunch of skincare lines (which were lovely - but just couldn't get my face back to what it was) I finally settled on my first love - Lush.

Now I know, I know, I shouldn't sing my praises until my complete cell turnover (minimum 28 days) but I've already been so happy that I just can't help but to share my excitement! I will do a follow-up in 28 days though - with photos of my face (day 1 and day 28) to see if there's a change.

Now Down to the Routine...finally....

So for a cleanser I went with the Ultra Bland which is an amazing gentle cleanser & make up remover. It comes in a pot in a cream form and you just rub it into your dry skin and then wipe it off with a warm damp cloth. It honestly gets all my make up off - which I find is a very difficult task. 

I went off brand with my exfoliating scrub. I went with Burt's Bee's Acne Solution's Scrub. I got this because I wanted something natural that still had a salicylic acid in it (and willow bark - which is natural) to help with my break outs. I find that this scrub is gentle and has definitely helped with the texture of my skin.

Now I'm a HUGE mask junkie. I will typically do a mask at least once a week, if not twice a week. I fell in love with the one that I got to try out at the Lush store - and that was the Mask of Magnaminty. This mask is amazing! It has peppermint in it so it is super cooling on your skin. It also has china clay which acts as a magnet for pulling impurities out of your pores. The vanilla helps with redness and the honey soothes your skin. It honestly is everything I want in a mask all thrown together (and it's green - my favourite colour!)

Blue Steel -MEEEYOW!

It's Hulk Paste!

I chose the Tea Tree Water for my toner and it is unreal! I used it on my plane ride as a refresher and my face was the happiest little panda. It helps with redness, kills bacteria, and the best part? It's alcohol free! 

just the baby bottle for now

And lastly, a moisturizer! I went with the Vanishing Cream and oh man, this bad boy is the best. My skin feels so great and I don't have that awko taco oily residue going down. It has witch hazel (which is awesome for blemishes) and it is an extremely light lotion that completely melts into your skin (also, a little goes a heck of a long way!)

So that's all for now! My findings thus far? The Rocky Mountain that took up camp on my face has almost vanished, and the little ski hills are simply distant memories. My face has a beautiful (healthy) glow to it - it used to look like a perfect place to sautee some mushrooms. I was actually comfortable enough to leave the house today with NO make up on - just an itty bit of lip gloss and mascara (because why not?). I'm starting to wonder why I ever left my beloved lush - they have such an amazing variety of products and it smells like absolute heaven there. Not to mention - you get a free fresh mask every time you bring back 5 of the black pots (so that they can recycle them into new pots).

Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara Review & Tutorial

I have a confession, I'm a total make up hoarder.

I always have at least 3 or 4 mascaras on the go - which is sucky because I have to toss them after 3 months (bacteria) and end up not getting my fill. So I just tossed out my last round and decided that I'm going to try to be good and only open one. The lucky mascara that I opened was the new mascara by Make Up Forever called 'Smoky Extravagant'.

I had my fingers crossed while I opened it because I didn't want to be disappointed (which would lead me to open up another mascara, and next thing you know - I'd have 4 mascaras on the go at the same time). I luckily was not let down. 

The brush is shaped like a pine tree and a prominent amount of the formula sits at the tip of the brush.

There definitely is a technique to applying the mascara. If you apply it like any old mascara then you will not get the full benefits. Hold the brush upright (parallel to your nose) and brush your lashes from the base and about a quarter of the way up your lashes. This will pack on the product (as there is a lot that sits at the tip) this will also help groom your lashes to be separated and keep shape once you do step two. Next, hold the brush perpendicular to your nose (how you would typically hold a mascara). Grab your lashes at the base (where all the formula is sitting from step 1), wiggle the brush left and right, then run the brush to the tip of your lashes. Result? Amazing, full, long, and curled lashes.

My lashes on my left eye

a better view of length of lashes on right eye

These pictures were both taken after wearing this mascara for 6 hours! As you can see, the lashes haven't dropped and my they look awesome (I also drove a car without a/c for 40 minutes and ran through a sprinkler a few times during the 6 hours). I definitely love this mascara and will use it to death over the next 3 months. I think a big deal breaker would be the formula drying out. So I will definitely get back to you guys about how the mascara wears over time (in regards to the formula drying up, flaking etc).

Hope you all have a lovely day! I'm hiding out in my basement with my puppies due to tornado warnings, and as always, don't forget to put a bow on :)

Xo Hill

Check out my video review!

Visiting Disney World!

So I recently went to Disney and had SO much fun! I knew going into this that the parks would be insanely busy, so I did a bunch of research and made a plan of attack. You can check out my video outlining the main tips below:

Check Out My Video - Click here!

I've wanted to go Disney since I was 5 and my parents bought the VHS (yes, a VHS!) about the parks. They told my sister that they were going to take us and guess what? We never went! My sister (who is 25 now) and I have been hanging this over my parents' heads since then and they finally got the message and took us.

We ensured that we'd get the most out of your pricey admission and have the best experience ever. You can see some of my tips talking about fast pass, what to see, how to tackle the parks, helpful apps, etc. 

But here's some tips that I did not include in my video that I feel I need to share.

Wear SPF! It was 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for a couple days while I was there. I honestly thought I was going to melt into the pavement. You definitely do not want to get burnt because that's a first class ticket to a miserable trip.

Go to a dollar store and get a spray bottle (or one of those spray bottles with a fan). It will be a complete life saver and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't buy it because they're $16 in the park. 

Take breaks and drink water! Nothing sucks more than being dehydrated or tired. You don't want to be miserable once the afternoon hits because that's no fun for anyone. So make sure you remember to chill out, get near some air conditioning, and hydrate.

Buy mole skin (the fuzzy sticker stuff) from a drug store. This will be your best friend if you get blisters.

Bring ziplock bags for your cellphone/other important items. You'll be thanking me later when you go on water rides.

Side note: a lot of the water rides have lockers that you can rent for free while you go on the ride. Toss your stuff in there (it's locked with a code) and pick it up when you get back to ensure that you don't lose/ruin your belongings.

That's all I have for today folks! Stay tuned for  my next blog on Gluten free options in Disney & Universal Parks :)

 

Welcome To My Blog!

Helllooo and welcome to my blog!
Let me tell you a bit about myself.

My name is Hillary (a lot of my friends call me Hill - yes I know, real original). I'm 23 years old (although I've been mistaken as still being in high school  - good genes I guess?) and I have a communications degree.

I have TWO (yes -two!) yorkshire terriers. Ivy is a year old (she enjoys being sassy and rolling in the mud) and Remi (her half brother - they share a dad) is 13 weeks old and he enjoys licking everything and copying whatever Ivy does.

Ivy

Remi

I'm currently on the home stretch of my 'year off' between my undergrad and my post grad. I'm actually heading back to my old university town in September to attend a College for a post graduate certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications.

My year off has been pretty awesome. I actually started working in the cosmetics world and have had the honour of being educated by amazing make up artists about make up artistry, brands, ingredients, etc. This sparked a passion for me (that I NEVER thought would happen - I used to wear mascara and maybe a little eyeliner) but I guess this was meant to be. I decided to take this passion and pair it with my life long passion to inspire and educate individuals. So why not start up a blog and a YouTube channel about all things beauty?

I'm a very strong believer in quality over quantity. By that I don't mean 'buy something expensive'. In fact, I mean quality in regards to ingredients. There are a ton of really sketchy chemicals out there such as PEG, parabens, mineral oil, pthalates and more. I've been doing a lot of research as to what these ingredients do - and trust me, I'll be passing it onto you as well :).

That being said - I'm not perfect. I have a ton of make up in my collection that harbors these dangerous ingredients, and yes, I still use them. It's a work in progress- but I'm hoping to have a more 'healthy' make up collection in the next year or so. There are tons of mainstream brands out there that do have products that have eliminated a lot of the dangerous ingredients, so it definitely is possible.

So on this blog I will do different series of dangerous ingredients (and breaking down the facts etc), I will do tutorials, product reviews, hauls, DIYs, favourites, fashion, and pretty much anything else that I feel would be beneficial.

I'm an optimist so I really want to keep this blog positive - let's call it a burst of sunshine. I want to change your day one smile at a time.

This Blog is currently under construction. Check out my tumblr (http://putabowon.tumblr.com) for the time being until this blog is up and running.

You can also subscribe to me on YouTube  and follow me on Twitter

I hope you're having an amazing day - and don't forget to put a bow on :)

Hillary