New & Noteworthy: Rouge Dior Liquid Lipstick

While we were in Italy, at home in Vancouver everyone seems to have fast-forwarded from summer patio parties right into the depths of fall. I returned from my trip and its exhilarating highs only to feel as though I'd fallen in a time warp. My surefire ways to snap into the spirit of things after two weeks away and a long flight home? Take a long shower and do a body scrub, followed by a pampering at-home skincare routine. Pick up a few decorative gourds and fresh blooms for the condo. And last but certainly not least, re-assess my makeup routine, switching from a minimal summer regimen that relies on a tan and glossy pink or coral lips to something more dramatic and polished. Luckily, samples of the newly launched Rouge Dior Liquid Lipstick ($43) landed on my beauty desk right before I departed on my trip. I can already tell they'll be a go-to as we head into a new season and I begin embracing all things autumn.

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Off To Italy!

Photo by Stephen K. Lee

All roads lead to Rome. The month before I turned 25 on September 25th, I briefly contemplated doing something wild and crazy to celebrate my champagne birthday and landed on going to Rome by myself. That trip never happened. Instead I stayed in town and planned a huge party at which I got very drunk. Lawrence, the sweet guy I'd met through salsa dancing and only started dating the week before, showed up at my doorstep to pick me up on the night of the party wearing his best blue shirt and holding a dozen red roses. Fast forward through our relationship, from dating to buying a condo and moving in together, our engagement, getting married last year. Now here we are, both of us heading to Italy for the first time for our honeymoon. Funny how things come full circle, isn't it? I'm so happy and grateful that I ended up taking this "8-year detour" and I'll be seeing the Eternal City for the first time with my love by my side.

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Drugstore Delight: L'Oreal Pure-Clay Skincare

September is often dubbed "the other January" because it's a fresh chance for us to tackle goals as we return to school and work. But as stress accumulates over the coming weeks our skin will probably crave a little TLC, especially when summer tans fade and the damage wrought by pollution and sun starts to reveal itself. The good news? You don't have to spend a mint to get effective skincare that works as the L'Oreal Pure-Clay line proves. This collection of masks and cleansers is formulated to tackle a wide variety of concerns and features a trio of clays (Kaolin, Montmorillonite, and Moroccan) as the hero ingredients. I've been testing them on and off since they crossed my beauty desk earlier this summer—I have my favourites and I'm sure if you try them, you'll have the formulas you're partial to as well. All the details after the jump!

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Dior Fall 2017 Metallics Collection

Despite the fact that Labour Day weekend was unseasonably warm in Vancouver, my thoughts have already turned to fall. September has always been my favourite month of the year: it's the month of my birthday, when Hubs and I started dating eight years ago, and this year we're also celebrating our first wedding anniversary(!) on Sunday. Aside from the personal and sentimental reasons, I just love the richness of the hues in makeup collections at this time of year. Case in point? The Dior Metallics Fall 2017 collection, which according to creative and image director Peter Phillips is a collection of "vibrant metallics and muted mattes." In other words, there's something for everyone whether you're craving drama or subtlety this season. I've got a few samples to show you after the jump!

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