Beauty: Holiday Gift Guide

Hope everyone is enjoying this Holiday Season! Monica here from Beauty Parler. If you're like me I tend to wait last minute to buy gifts. But, I seriously need to change that habit as most beauty gifts sell out quick. For any beauty aficionado this is the season to do some serious shopping and I mean for yourself too. Stock up on your favourite makeup products because it's the best time to find deals and kits that aren't normally offered throughout the year.

For example, the Charlotte Tilbury 'The Bombshell' Set is almost a complete full-face set minus a foundation at an exceptional value versus buying the items separately. Items like makeup brushes are another great add to your wish-list. Sigma Brushes (as pictured) are a great gift for a teen or young adult who is looking to start a makeup kit without breaking the bank.

Can't forget those work parties and Secret Santa exchange. Co-workers love hand creams and lipbalms. Kiehl's is my go-to source in that department. Love the Kiehl's #1 Lip Balm, perfect for dry cracked Winter lips. For the lipstick lovers at the office or a great hostess gift, the Clinique 'Days of the Week' Matte lipstick set if a fabulous gift.

Am I the only one that likes to stock up on beauty products this time of year? Do tell. Happy Shopping!

-post by Monica

BEAUTY: SUMMER MAKEUP ROUTINE

Summer is finally here! Monica here from beautyparler with my Summer Routine. Adding a bright shade of lipstick and nail polish keeps the routine easy but adds a punch of color. Here are a few of my makeup favourites.

On days I don't want to wear a "full-face" I prefer a light weight base like a tinted moisturizer. Staying out of the sun rays means faking a tan, a golden bronzer brings out the glow. As for the eyes, I prefer not wearing any eyeshadow and keeping it simple with a black mascara. Now, for color I love bright pink lips and nails. Reminds me of watermelon on a hot Summer day!

base: Clinique Moisture Surge C.C Cream // bronzer: Make Up Forever Pro Bronze Fusion // eyes: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara // lips: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick // nails: Essie Nail Polish 

-Monica Da Rosa from Beautyparler.ca

BEAUTY: BEAUTY & THE BROWS

 Hi! Monica, here from beautyparler.  Jen, is away enjoying her bundle of joy today! So happy for her & her husband! As a mom to an 18 month old, I know how tiring and exciting those first weeks are.

So, March is here already which means Spring is near. One beauty trend that will continue this Spring is the full brow. In all honesty, regardless of trendy or not I've always been a fan of a fuller brow. Now, not all of us are born with full brows. So, sometimes we just have to FAKE it.  Growing up as a teen in the 90's meant that two brow trends came into effect. For the first part of the 90's full sculpted brows and by the mid to late 90's a thinner brow was in.  My mom warned me, "once you start tweezing those brows they'll never grow back the same or ever".  Mom knows best! Thankfully, I listened.

Weather you use a brow pencil, cream or powder there are countless brow products to choose from and fake it if necessary.  A new release is Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Drama, an easy to use mascara for brows. A great method for those that don't want to fully commit to a full sculpted brow. Looking to fill in sparse brows, a pencil is another easy method. An old favorite of mine, MAC Cosmetics Brow Pencil, is a no nonsense pencil that defines and allows for a more precise brow. For shading in brows, Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings is a great kit for beginners.

Although, brow powders can be a tad time consuming you can achieve a more natural looking brow. The newest brow product in my kit, Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade is a water-proof cream formula that basically does the job of all three products listed above but in one product. Sculpt, define, shade, and fill-in brows using the dip brow. This product is for those not afraid of a more intense brow. Lastly, Wink Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer is for those that over tweezed. Increase and thicken hair with usage of Wink.

What do you think of fuller more natural eyebrows?

-post by monica darosa

BEAUTY: Color Of the Year

Hello! Bonjour! My name is Monica and I write a beauty blog called Beauty Parler. No, not a spelling mistake. Parler, the french verb to talk/speak in this case Beauty Talk. So excited to contribute my first beauty post here at Made by Girl. What better way to begin my first post than with Pantone's 2015 color, Marsala. The perfect earthy wine shade that translates beautifully to makeup. A universal shade that suits most skin tones. A warm shade that is perfect for Winter.

Marsala is such a fabulous shade to wear.

(1) NARS Almerla Blush- Use it as a hint of color on cheeks.

(2) OPI Nail Lacquer- the easiest way to wear Marsala this year is using a nail lacquer like shade Lost on Lombard.

(3) Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner - this waterproof cream liner is a great for those that want to try a shade other than black. Shade Honey Black is not black but rather a reddish brown liner.

(4) NARS Satin Lipstick- a bold lip always makes a fabulous statement in Winter. Shade Afghan Red is balance of reddish brown. Making it a close match to marsala.

What do you think of the color Marsala?

-post by Monica