Hey there! Lena here :) So this post is going to be a little different from the usual because it's a little more personal...but it's something I wanted to share.
So I recently realized that it's been just a little over a year ago that I first started posting my outfit photos on Instagram (March 2015, to be exact). It's crazy how time flies...I still remember waking up that one weekend and thinking, "you know what, if I'm gonna put in effort to pick out my outfits, then I might as well present them somewhere" -- and that somehow led me to start my fashion Instagram account. At that time, I didn't think too much into it. It was just an outlet for me to showcase my outfit ideas to the few friends I had following me. But now, I can confidently say that starting this fashion account was probably one of my best decisions.
In just a few weeks I got sucked into the world of "Instagram bloggers." I never knew there was such a large, tightly knit community of fashion bloggers. But week after week, I'd keep meeting new people on Instagram and our exchanges of likes and comments would eventually form into friendships. It's crazy to think how many amazing people I've met through this community--some have even become close friends of mine that I actually hang out with.
As I met new people and became more emerged into this community, I realized that I wanted to do more than just post photos of my outfits. And that's when I decided that I wanted to start a blog and invest a bit more time into my love for fashion. Without Instagram introducing me to other bloggers, I definitely would not have decided to become one. But here I am now, running this lifestyle/fashion/cosmetics blog with one of my best friends, Jay :)
On top of meeting new people, Instagram has also led me to discover so many new places. From cafes, to brunch spots, to abandoned bridges, and fancy buildings, I've been inspired to explore Toronto inside-out. And I've gotten to love this city more and more :)
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm so thankful for stepping into this new world of opportunities. It is so exciting to think of how many more people I'll meet and places I'll discover in the near future. All while doing something I love-- which is sharing bits of my life to you :)
Having gone to the dermatologist a month ago for my acne, I was prescribed a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Peroxide face wash. After using this face wash twice a day (as instructed) my face started to redden and peel around my mouth and eyes! D: I went to Shoppers Drugmart, where I spoke to the in-house doctor who recommended me the Avène Clean-AC Hydrating Cream that hydrated AND relieved the burning and redness. This cream is directed for dry skin caused by acne treatments and was everything I was looking for! The consistency is very gel/liquidy which made it absorb into my skin easily. Definitely try it out if you're also suffering from dry skin and acne problems!
Price: ~25$
Revlon Kissable Balm Stain - Honey (01)
The Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey is one of my all time favourite lip products. It's the perfect medium rose shade that looks great on all skin tones and is subtle enough to be wearable everyday! The stain portion of this lip product helps keep color on my lips for a couple of hours, and the twist-able packaging makes it easy to re-apply. Although I do find that the balm stain itself is not very hydrating, I simply layer some lip balm underneath.
Price: $8-10
LENA'S PICKS
The Face Shop Oil Blotting Paper
I wouldn't say I have oily skin, but parts of my face definitely does get a bit shiny throughout the day (especially my T-zone!). I like to keep a pack of blotting paper on me when I go out, and this Face Shop one is small and compact, perfect for throwing into my bag! I've tried a lot of other blotting sheets, but what I love about this one is that it doesn't remove my foundation and it's relatively cheap :)
Price: ~$6
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eye Brow Pencil
This is my holy grail of eye brow pencils. I first tried it a year ago, and I've been using it ever since! I use the Walnut Brown shade, which is unfortunately only available in Asia. The unique shape of the lead allows me to fill in my brows with thin, fine lines for that natural look. This formula is smudge-proof and super long lasting. I rarely have to touch up my brows even after a long day. I've even gone swimming with them on before, and although it did fade a bit, it surprised me how much of it remained! If you're looking to try new eye brow pencils, I DEFINITELY recommend this one :)
Price: $29
What are your favourite products of March?? Let us know in the comments below!
Watches are staple pieces that can really bring together an outfit. For this post, we're super excited to team up with Caravelle NY by Bulova to share with you our ideas on how to style watches! With the weather finally warming up and thick winter jackets being put away for good, we decided to go with a leather jacket theme--perfect for spring :)
JAY'S WATCH
I picked out this gorgeous black watch studded with black crystals and a stainless steel case. It's the perfect accessory to add a little sparkle and fun to my outfit! Because this watch is such a statement piece, I styled it with a simple white sweater to contrast and let the watch pop out.
I find myself wearing a lot of monochromatic looks, especially black. Sometimes it can get really boring and plain! However, this watch has 60 hand-set individual crystals so it adds just the right amount of shine to my look without looking overly sparkly.
The leather jacket, bag, and boots bring together the outfit nicely :)
LENA'S WATCH
I went for this beautiful silver watch with a mother-of-pearl dial surrounded by crystals. The ring of the watch has a transparent frame, along with Roman numeral numbers that add an element of classiness. This watch really gives the outfit an elegant, chic look.
This past reading week (March 15-19) we got the chance to visit the Bahamas with a couple of our close friends! It was such an amazing winter getaway, especially considering that that week was a super cold one in Toronto. The Bahamas had always been on my go-to list of destinations, and I'm so glad that I got to check this one off. We did some vlogging too, so check it out above :)
This picture says it all. The water was so unbelievably clear and blue, it felt like a dream! Needless to say, it was the perfect snorkelling environment...we were able to see all the way to the bottom and there were so many colourful fish! We even got to swim with sharks and sting rays. Jay was pretty scared, but I personally was beyond excited. I can't be the only one who finds sharks fascinating and cute?
Meet Tamra the dolphin!
Our dolphin interaction experience at Paradise Island was a lot of fun. The staff there were all very friendly and professional, and the dolphins were just too adorable.
Aside from the first cloudy day when we landed in the Bahamas, the weather for the remainder of our stay was beautiful. It was around 27°C, leaving the waters a perfect temperature for swimming. It felt like we time-travelled to summer!
Exuma Island
A quick outfit shot near where we stayed :)
Beach!
From start to end, this trip was an unforgettable experience and we made so many amazing memories. The people of the Bahamas were all extremely friendly and welcoming. And I don't mean just the staff who work at tourist attractions--I mean everyone! When we walked down the streets, most people walking by would say hi. We were initially worried about directions and figuring out their public transportation system, but there was absolutely nothing to be worried about. Everyone was so kind and willing to help. I absolutely love the culture there! :)
I definitely recommend you guys to visit the Bahamas. If you have any questions, leave it in the comments below!
Being one of Lena's staples in her everyday makeup pouch, I often expressed my interest in owning one myself. February is actually my birth month (February 23rd!) and I received this fantastic powder from Lena for my birthday!This Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Pressed Finishing Powder is so easy to bring around with the brush fitting in the compact without being bulky. As my T-zone tends to get a bit oilier than the rest of my face, having this really prolongs my wear of anything I have underneath. The powder is super smooth and finely milled, light and not cakey! I only wish they sold re-fills but unfortunately it seems that they want you to repurchase the whole item when you finish. Highly recommend for touch-ups and oily girls!
I was super excited to get this honey mask sample from Sephora because I've heard so many great things about it! I always wanted to buy it, but one thing kept stopping me: the price. At $164CAD for 100ml, it is definitely on the pricier end for face masks... But let me tell you, this mask truly felt SO good on my skin. It's made with real honey, and it just melted onto my face and left my skin feeling extremely hydrated and nourished. For people like me who get extremely dry skin during the winter, this mask does wonders. And it smells so good! Would I buy the full size? I'm actually not quite sure yet, since I have quite a bit of the sample left. I'm trying to look for similar alternatives within a more reasonable price range, but if I can't find one, I might just cave in and grab myself the full sized one.
Price: $164.00 (Full Size)
Moroccan Oil Treatment
Just like how our skin needs proper treatment, our hair needs just as much attention. I find that people with untouched hair (no dying or frequent heat-styling) can get away with the regular shampoo and conditioner treatment, but for people like me who dye their hair often, we need a little more to keep our hair healthy. I've been using this Moroccan Oil Treatment for quite a while now and I absolutely love it. My hair gets really dry and bristly from all the hair dye and curling, but using this oil twice a week really makes a difference. There are a lot of other brands of hair treatment oils, but I definitely think it's a must-have product for anyone who likes to play around with their hair :)
Price: $45.00
Let us know what your February favorites were! We'd love to hear feedback :)
