Instagram Lately

Too much time has passed since I last did one of these posts so I thought I'd share some more iPhone snapshots. A little bit of style, some recent purchases, some fun things I've been up to, and of course a whole lot of food!

A night out, wearing my Mackage "Ava" Coat (this one is similar)

Warby Parker Zagg glasses in "Tennessee Whiskey"... unfortunately they didn't fit me well so I returned them

I've been super into prints lately, especially chain print

Some new Sorel winter boots (here in darker brown)

 Simulated skydiving at Fly Zone - so much fun (though I totally look like a chipmunk in the goggles)

Was finally able to bring out my ice skates for the first time this year

Chicken karaage at Guu, one of my fave restaurants for Japanese tapas

Brunch at the Blue Fox Cafe in Victoria

Dim Sum = major comfort food for me

No Korean meal is complete without soju!

Take-out treats from True Confections

Love these Starbucks "Love" cups

If you're on Instagram, feel free to follow me! My username is alison_elle.


P.S. If you live in the US, don't forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY FOR A $50 VISA GIFTCARD AND EUCERIN PRICE PACKAGE!

Valentine's Day Get-Together & Mani

Over the weekend, Cee of Coco and Vera hosted a pre-Valentine's Day blogger get-together. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday... chatting with some lovely ladies over a big bottle of wine and an array of sweet snacks.

L-R: Randa, Cee, Leonie, Veronika, me, and Alicia

Thanks to Cee and Randa for these photos!

Of course, I can't let a holiday pass without some appropriately themed nail art. Compared to last year's somewhat ridiculous Valentine's Day mani, however, I did decide to keep my nails a bit more subdued this year.

OPI Japanese Rose Garden, OPI Off With Her Red!, Kiss Nail Art Pens in White and Silver Glitter

My bf and I usually don't do anything super fancy but I am looking forward to whatever little surprise he's got planned. I know that many people do not celebrate Valentine's given the whole rampant commercialization factor, but for those that do, Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

P.S. If you live in the US, don't forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY FOR A $50 VISA GIFTCARD AND EUCERIN PRICE PACKAGE!

GIVEAWAY: $50 VISA Giftcard and Eucerin Skincare Products (US Only)

I am super excited to be partnering with Eucerin to host this giveaway because their Original Moisturizing Lotion has been working absolute wonders for my dry skin this Winter. That's why I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to try out some of the company's other products... and thanks to Eucerin, one of my lovely readers can too!

The winner of this giveaway will receive: a $50 Visa Gift Card, Eucerin Calming Daily Moisturizing Crème, Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash, and Skin Calming Itch-Relief.

$50 Visa Gift Card
To be spent on anything your heart desires!

Eucerin Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Crème (8 oz.)
A gentle, non-greasy formula that combines calming oatmeal and rich emollients to help relieve dry, itchy skin for softer, healthier-looking and more comfortable skin. I've been applying this after my morning showers and it keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. I like the thicker texture and the fact that this cream doesn't have a harsh scent (I'm often allergic to highly scented products and this, thankfully, does not cause uncontrollable sneezing fits).

Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash (8.4 oz.) 
A unique body wash formulation that combines soap-free cleansing with omega oils and other natural lipids to nourish and soothe. Despite being called a "shower oil", this wash doesn't leave your skin greasy. In fact, it's quite easy to use: just shake the bottle, apply, and the product gently foams. This is great for those with extremely sensitive skin though the smell may be off-putting to some (the bottle says it is "fragrance free" but I wouldn't say this is quite accurate).

Eucerin Skin Calming Itch-Relief (6.8 fl. oz.) 
An external analgesic lotion for itchy skin flare-ups with cooling menthol and natural oatmeal for effective relief that lasts up to 8 hours. When I was younger I had eczema and now that I am older, I still battle occasional flare-ups with certain types of weather and temperatures. I usually use a medicated cream when my skin gets really itchy but find this product to work pretty well in a pinch.


INTERESTED IN WINNING? HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow my blog on either Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'.
2. “Like” the Eucerin Facebook Page.
3. Leave a comment on this post to let me know that you've done both these things and an e-mail address or other way of contacting you.

For an extra entry, tweet the following: "I've entered to win a $50 Visa Giftcard and prize package from @EucerinUS and @alison_elle - http://bit.ly/ykei8w". If you do this, don't forget to leave a separate comment on this post.

Open to US residents only. (Sorry! I will be hosting a non-restrictive giveaway soon!)

Even if you don't win this giveaway, you can still receive a FREE sample of the Eucerin Skin Calming Crème! After "Liking” the Eucerin Facebook Page, simply follow the instructions on how to take the Eucerin Skin First Pledge.

Giveaway closes on February 26, 2012 at 11:59 PST. Winner will be drawn randomly. Good luck!

Parliament Buildings

As I mentioned in this post, I was recently in Victoria for a work function. It's funny... though it's a relatively short ferry ride away, I've actually only visited a few times before. I'm always surprised by how quaint and familiar the city feels, especially given the fact that it's the capital of British Columbia (for some reason I tend to think of capital cities as being super big and constantly bustling).

After grabbing brunch, we wandered around a bit, snapped some photos in front of the iconic Parliament Buildings, and I managed to pick up some of my favourite teas from Murchies. Next time I'm in Victoria for the weekend I'm really hoping to go to high tea at the Empress Hotel - it's been on my to-do list for ages!

 Top: Forever 21 / Sweater: Pink Martini / Jeggings: Paige Premium Denim / Boots: Rachel Comey
Bag: Longchamp / Bangles: MBMJ and Lulu Frost for J. Crew / Sunglasses: Alfred Sung

An Après-Christmas Party

My firm has two offices, so every year we alternate cities for our big interoffice après-Christmas party. Since last year's party was held in Vancouver, this year's was in Victoria. Admittedly, it's a little strange to be celebrating the holidays in February but who can say "no" to a weekend getaway and the chance to mix and mingle with colleagues we don't see very often?

For the party, I decided to wear my Club Monaco "Angela" skirt (I love skirts with pockets!) paired with black & gold accessories. I first discovered Erica Anenberg's beautiful braille jewelry from Aney's blog and eagerly snatched up this gorgeous "Blind Faith" Cuff during a recent Hautelook sale.

Blouse: Zara / Skirt: Club Monaco (here) / Tights: H&M / Shoes: Aldo / Clutch: Joe Fresh Style

Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Cuff: Erica Anenberg / Nails: OPI My Private Jet

Lumene Skincare

I was recently sent some products from Lumene, a Finnish skincare and beauty line whose formulations are packed full of Arctic plants and berries. I hadn't heard of the company before but I love their philosophy of "harnessing the power of natural Arctic ingredients with a Scandinavian approach to beauty to create skincare and cosmetics with proven effectiveness, integrity, and purpose."

Radiant Touch  with Arctic Cloudberry Moisturizing Toner
I don't use toners with alcohol because I usually find them too drying for my skin, so I was pleased to see that Lumene's toner is alcohol-free. The formula is extremely gentle, almost like water, and leaves the skin feeling refreshed. The cloudberry scent is difficult to describe but it's quite sweet and pleasant.

Radiant Touch with Arctic Cloudberry Moisturizing Cream Cleanser
The formula of this cleanser is lighter than other cream cleansers that I've used and doesn't do such a great job at removing my makeup at the end of the day. Like the toner, the scent is great, but I will be using this as my morning cleanser and using a more heavy-duty one at night.

Vitamin C+ with Arctic Cloudberry Pure Radiance Day Cream
This detox properties of cloudberry are supposed to make skin look brighter and more radiant. The cream's texture is very light and applies easily, though it is best formulated for dry to normal skin rather than my combination/oily skin. I do like that it has SPF 15, which is a must in a day-cream.

Time Freeze with Arctic Heather Firming Day Cream
This cream is thicker than the Pure Radiance Day Cream and doesn't have the same sweet cloudberry scent. In fact, it smells just like plain lotion, perhaps a bit chemically. I personally don't find it too offensive but I imagine some people might not like it. Although I don't have any wrinkles, I do prefer the thicker formula and like that it contains SPF 15.

Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes with Soothing Arctic Linen Seed
These wipes are not textured and less "wet" than other cleansing wipes I've used which I guess is what makes them so perfect for sensitive skin. They didn't irritate my skin at all, which can happen with more harsher formulas, but at the same time are probably not the best for removing heavy makeup.


These products seem perfect for sensitive skin that is more on the dry side since they have high moisturizing qualities. The cloudberry scent is delightful so if you are looking to try some Lumene products, I definitely recommend something containing that.

A Lot of Bows

Do you ever put together outfits and then realize afterwards that perhaps you sub-consciously had a certain theme in mind?

I'm usually quite deliberate in what I choose to wear but in this instance, it was only after I had put this outfit together that I noticed just how many bows I was wearing. It's a good thing I adore them... after all, how else would you explain the fact that I was able to so easily pick out all these bow-adorned items from my otherwise overflowing closet?

Cardigan worn as dress: Delphine (Aritzia) / Tights: Primark / Bag: Miu Miu (here)

Hat: Joe Fresh Style / Belt: H&M / Socks: Garage / Booties: Topshop

Bobbi Brown Shadow Options Palette

For my last birthday, one of my best friends (who obviously knows me very well) gave me this gorgeous Bobbi Brown Shadow Options Eyeshadow Palette.

Top Row: Pebble (Metallic), Moonlight (Sparkle), Storm Cloud (Sparkle), Pink Chandelier (Metallic)

Bottom Row: Navajo, Flint, Iron, Caviar

The palette comes housed in Bobbi Brown's signature sleek packaging with 4 shimmery shadows on top and a pull-out drawer below featuring 4 matte shadows. The idea is that you can use the shimmery shadows to quickly bring your daytime look into an evening look. This process is made even easier thanks to the double-ended shadow/liner brush that's included, and which I find to be much of better quality than your typical palette applicators.

I am a huge fan of neutral matte shadows (one of the reasons my Urban Decay Naked Palette doesn't get much love) and I absolutely adore the ones in this Shadow Options Palette because they are well-pigmented and apply buttery smooth. Lately, my go-to eye look has been Navajo (creamy pinkish white) as a highlight, Flint (light grey brown) as a base, Iron (neutral grey) in the outer corner, and Caviar (black brown) as a liner.

Apologies for not swatching Pebble (golden ivory), Moonlight (silver pink), Storm Cloud (dusty heather), and Pink Chandelier (pink copper), but the reality is that they are a little difficult to work with - not to mention photograph! All 4 of the shimmers are on the sheer side as they are meant to be layering shadows as opposed to standalone shades. Application with a brush also results in major fallout so using fingers is probably the best way to make them work. I'm not the biggest fan of using fingers to apply makeup but at least the product is pretty to look at!

Marc By Marc Jacobs Babylon Stripe Cardigan

I first saw this Marc By Marc Jacobs Babylon Stripe Cardigan in Holt Renfrew a few months ago but couldn't decide if spending so much on a sweater would be worth it. However, after seeing a girl wearing this cardigan (in Holt's again, of all places) and how cute it looked on her, I realized I kind of needed it to be in my closet... you know, right now. As luck would have it, Holt's didn't have it anymore, so I took to the Internet and found it on major sale at Neiman Marcus. Not only that, there was only one left and it was in my size!

Clearly this sweater + me were meant to be, right?

Sweater: Marc by Marc Jacobs (here) / Jeans: Paige Premium Denim
Boots: Primark / Gloves: Club Monaco / Bag: Primark

Majolica Majorca: Pressed Pore Cover, Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, and Dress Glove Cream

While I was in Singapore, I was able to pick up a few products from Majolica Majorca, a brand that I've been wanting to try for the longest time.

Majolica Majorca is a Japanese drugstore line owned by Shiseido, and is marketed towards a "younger" crowd with its reasonable price points and adorable packaging. Despite the fact that I am probably too old for their target demographic, I am forever a sucker for cute packaging so I could really care less!

Here's what I picked up:

Pressed Pore Cover

Although my tried and true HG blotting powder is MAC Blot Powder, this little compact was too cute to pass up. I love the 3D design on the top! The compact also has a full mirror for easy touch-ups and comes with a soft sponge for application on the go.

According to its package, Pressed Pore Cover is "a soft, micro-particle face powder that covers skin's unevenness like pores to create uniformly smooth skin." It is also supposed to control "shine and oiliness so that the beautiful just-applied look lasts for a long time."

The powder only comes in one shade but blends into my skin well. I'm not sure how it would look on darker skin tones, however. Somehow I feel it might leave a bit of a white cast.

The powder is also very finely milled and the texture is silky smooth. It leaves the face nice and matte after a fresh application but it does not do a very good job at oil control. Since that's my main skincare woe, this will not be replacing my MAC. However, I'll continue to use it from time to time for touch-ups... just means more applications than normal. Thankfully it's not super cakey!


Skin Lingerie Pore Cover

To go along with the Pressed Pore Cover, the Skin Lingerie Pore Cover is a "makeup base that instantaneously creates smooth skin by concealing those pesky open pores and red cheeks."

Unlike the other makeup primers that I use (e.g. Smashbox, Reviva Labs), all of which are clear, Skin Lingerie is tinted. Like the Pressed Pore Powder, it only comes in one shade, but when smoothed onto the skin, it blends right in. The formula is similar to Urban Decay Primer Potion and like UDPP (the non-genie bottles), it comes packaged in a squeeze tube. That's great because it's more hygienic and less prone to waste.

As for the product itself, I didn't notice much difference in the look of my pores after using this. Is it just me or do these so-called miracle pore refiners never work? Nonetheless, I was impressed at how well Skin Lingerie mattified my skin. It definitely works well as a base for foundation but if your skin is good I think it you could get away with just powder on top for a "barefaced" day look.


Dress Glove Cream

Dress Glove Cream is part of Majolica Majorca's new Glass Trick Collection and "translucent like sparkling glass, this cream slips on like a velvety-smooth glove for beautiful hands." It's formulated with raspberry and rose extracts for extra-moisturizing qualities. Plus it seriously smells delicious!

The texture is really nice - not too sticky, thick, or waxy like some other hand creams. The formula also contains some shimmer particles which I usually don't like but I find these to be quite subtle. I do regret not picking up another tube, as unfortunately it's limited edition.


For those of you in Asia, Majolica Majorca should be fairly easy to get your hands on (in Singapore and Malaysia it's sold at Watson's). For those outside of Asia, Ichibankao carries the line and ships internationally.