Mar
2016

FLOWER Hydrasilk Ultimate Lip Butter

categories: Makeup Reviews

FLOWER Ultimate Lip Butter
As much as I love a matte lip, my lips are starting to pay the price and get really dried out. FLOWER’s Hydrasilk Ultimate Lip Butter, while not matte, is a great solution for someone who wants hydrated lips while still wearing great colour. Drew Barrymore’s FLOWER line is only available at Walmart, which means these lip butters are super affordable at around $8 each.
FLOWER Ultimate Lip Butter Open
They come in six shades (we’re missing UL1 – Naked Petal) and some are definitely more pigmented than others. Because they’re so creamy though, it’s easy to build up to the look you want. These lip butters are so comfortable that it feels like you’re not wearing anything but lip balm and even after the colour wears off, your lips still feel moisturized.

FLOWER Ultimate Lip Butter Swatches
L-R: Rose Petal, Peach Petal, Blush Petal, Ruby Petal, Poppy Petal

UL2 – Rose Petal is my favourite daytime shade and when I want more colour I go for UL5 – Ruby Petal, which also seems to be the most pigmented. The shades are all really flattering and easy to wear and the pen makes it really easy to apply. But the best part is how these feel on your lips and I really love how you get the feel of a balm with the colour of a lipstick.


Mar
2016

Products For A Cause With Lush And L’Occitane

categories: Skin Care, Skin Care Reviews

Lush and L’Occitane are two companies that are known for giving back. Lush’s Charity Pot is a permanent product where the proceeds to go to different charities and L’Occitane has different causes they donate to each year. Right now, they each have a product out where the proceeds go to good causes. You’ll want to grab both of these before they run out!

Lush Hand Of Friendship Soap
Lush Hand Of Friendship Soap
Canada just accepted 25,000 Syrian refugees and 100% of the proceeds from Hand Of Friendship (minus taxes) will go to Lush’s Friendship Fund that supplies the relief to their most pressing needs. Hand Of Friendship is a sweet smelling (cherry blossom), highly moisturizing soap that lathers really well. I had to cut mine up to make it easier to use and I love the hand design so much I was really sad about it.

L’Occitane Solidarity Balm
Solidarity Balm Ultra Soft Balm
L’Occitane launched their Solidarity Balm just in time for Women’s Day on March 8th. 100% of the proceeds to this balm will finance NGO programs for women’s leadership in Burkina Faso with the support of the L’Occitane Foundation and it’s program ‘Women For Burkina.’ The balm itself it pretty amazing. Rose scented and full of Shea, this balm is perfect for lips, cuticles, hair or anywhere that your skin is dried out from winter. Considering it’s only $6, I’ll be stocking up on these.

I love when companies match products we’re going to buy anyways with giving us a chance to give back and these two are pretty amazing.


Feb
2016

Mani Monday: Misslyn Viva La Diva Spring 2016 Collection

categories: Mani Monday, Nail Polish

I’ve only tried a few Misslyn nail polishes but I’ve become seriously impressed with the ones I have. For their spring collection, Misslyn introduced the Viva La Diva collection, inspired by Italian temper and a lively colour palette. With five nail polishes (all in some shade of pink), two top coats and ring tattoos, this is a great line for spring and would’ve been great for Valentine’s Day as well. We received two of the nail polish shades to try and both formulas were pretty flawless. The brush is on the larger side but I didn’t need much cleanup and it actually made it easier to cover my nail in one stroke.
361 Speed Dating
Misslyn 361 Speed Dating Swatch
Speed Dating is a deep pink-magenta and was really pretty in the sunlight. It’s not a shade I’m usually drawn to but I really enjoyed how it looked. This is two coats and a top coat.
384 Floral Ornament
Misslyn 384 Floral Ornament Swatch
I might be on some kind of nude polish kick because I love this pink-nude. Application was perfect and I could’ve gotten away with one coat but I went with two anyways. This might be one of my favourite nudes ever. It’s really flattering to my skin tone and wasn’t patchy or streaky at all.

Viva La Diva hit stores yesterday and is only available until March 26, 2016, so if you want one of these gorgeous polishes, you’re going to want to get to Shoppers Drug Mart. For more information on Misslyn, you can check out their Canadian Facebook page.


Feb
2016

Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil

categories: Skin Care, Skin Care Reviews

If I’m being totally honest, 80% of the time I take off makeup I use a cleansing cloth, or at least start with one. I love a good cleanser but I’m just really lazy. That said, my collection of cleansers and makeup removers is pretty astronomical and I was more than happy to try out Caudalie’s new Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil. I generally love Caudalie products and was expecting pretty good things.
Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil
Made with sunflower, castor, sweet almond and grape seed oils, this cleanser is completely natural and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin at all. I don’t really like the scent but it’s light enough that it doesn’t bother me too much. It left my skin feeling really soft and smooth and not dried out at all. I only use a light moisturizer after.

This oil is thinner than most I’ve tried and is really runny. I had to move fast to keep it all from running off my hand. Once I applied to it my face and added water though, it turned into a really soothing milk. The first time I tried this, I was wearing a full face of makeup and mascara that wasn’t waterproof but still gives me a really hard time when I take it off.

The oil did a great job getting my face makeup and lipstick off but my mascara did nothing but smear around my entire face. I tried using more to get the mascara off but eventually had to give up and use another product to get it to move.

Overall, I do love this cleansing oil but I would only use it again on bare skin or if I’m wearing makeup that’s generally easy to take off.


Feb
2016

The Face Shop Ink Lipquid

categories: Makeup Reviews

The Face Shop Ink Lipquid 2

I’m a big supporter of The Face Shop. I’ve loved every product that I have tried since they came to Canada. That’s why I wanted to share my disappointment in the Ink Lipquid products.

Everything about this product should be great. The containers look great. The shades of this lip colour are amazing. Seriously, the shades are vibrant and bold in all of the right ways.

When you pull the wand out of the product, you will notice the first flaw. The smell is not appealing! It’s something between actual ink and paint. It smells like something you would put on the wall, not your lips.

The Face Shop Ink Lipquid

I applied it anyways, because I am brave, crazy and hopefully. The product is very runny. It doesn’t want to stay in place on my lips, but it also doesn’t want to spread easily. It is a funny conundrum.

The worst part is the taste! I know, you aren’t supposed to take your lipstick. It’s inevitable, especially because of how runny the product is. When this Face Shop lip ink gets in your mouth it is honestly, disgusting. It tastes horrible. It’s not something you can easily get over.

If the colours were bold and beautiful on my lips, I might forgive it. The colour is very pale on my lips, maybe because of how thin the formula is.

Whatever the reason, this is a skippable product in my books. It’s ok though, because there are so many other amazing products from The Face Shop that I won’t have any problem finding something wonderful.


Feb
2016

Moisturizing Body Oils Most Wanted

categories: Bath And Body, Skin Care Reviews

We’re in the midst of a warm winter, but that doesn’t mean the chill isn’t taking its toll on my skin. The latest way to moisturize seems to be with oils instead of cream. I tried four body oils to see which restored my soft summer skin.

Neutrogena Body Oil

Neutrogena Body Oil

Get a sleek and smooth moisturizing experience that is so versatile. Neutrogena’s version of this hot trend gives me so many options to use it in a variety of ways. I appreciate any product that makes it easier to work into my normal every day routine. You can moisturize onto dry skin, apply to damp skin after shower or bath to seal in moisture or add a few drops into your bath water for a soothing and relaxing experience. Unlike some other body oils, Neutrogena’s has a very light scent that gives you that clean smell without too many additives. Also unlike many other oils, this oil dries very quickly and doesn’t leave my skin or hands feeling greasy. You have no idea how happy that makes me!

Live Clean Skin Perfecting Dry Oil

Live Clean Skin Perfecting Dry Oil

With a mixture of many different all natural oils, Live Clean has done it again! They are quickly becoming one of my favourite brands. This time they have made a body oil that mot only moisturizes but also helps to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks and skin tone. This is nothing new. There have been oils that make these claims for a long time, so we know this is something that works. I haven’t had the Live Clean oil long enough to prove this one also works, so I am trusting that it works. This oil is a bit greasier than some of the others available, but it dries quickly enough that it isn’t too bothersome.

Zaya Body Oil

Zaya Body Oil

Moisturize and enhance the skin with this natural oil that has a range of lovely ingredients to brighten your day. The best ingredient in this oil is the pink grapefruit oil. The citrus scent is undeniable in the oil and on the skin. It’s a really refreshing scent. It’s wonderful for a morning pick-me-up. There is also sweet almond oil to make it softening and a sweet scent. There are also a number of essential oils to help tone and tighten your skin and improve collagen production. The smell is also very sensual if I do say so myself and would be perfect for a romantic night in… if you know what I mean.

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Caudalie Shaping & Firming Body Oil

Caudalie’s new line is all about helping you slim down including this new oil. It’s meant to firm and smooth your skin, with the bonus of adding a moisturizing skin to your skin. I haven’t been using it long enough yet to tell you if my skin is any tighter, but it does feel oh, so soft. The only problem is that it smells bad. After getting out of the shower with my skin smelling all nice, I don’t really want to apply this strange smelling oil. I do think some people will love the herbal smell, so don’t write it off entirely. This just isn’t the scent for me.


Feb
2016

CND Vinylux Spring 2016 Art Vandal Collection

categories: Mani Monday, Nail Polish

One of the things I love most about CND’s seasonal collections is that they’re not always expect for the season. Most of us think pastel when it comes to spring nails but CND Vinylux’s Art Vandal collection is instead inspired by the self-expression of art. In the eight shades of the collection, there’s only one that can be considered pastel, and I’m definitely ok with that. All of the swatches are two coats, followed by the Vinylux top coat.
Tutti Fruitti
CND Vinylux Tutti Frutti Swatch
Tutti Frutti is a shimmery bright pink that’s gorgeous in the sunlight. This one will be great for summer.
Irreverent Rose
CND Vinylux Irreverent Rose Swatch
I was surprised by how much I loved the pink shades in this collection and Irreverent Rose is a really pretty dark rose creme.
Mauve Maverick
CND Vinylux Mauve Maverick Swatch
Mauve Maverick is not the kind of shade I’d normally pick up and the name is really misleading (it leans more pink than mauve) but this is my favourite shade of the collection. The formula was amazing and it’s just so pretty.
Untitled Bronze
CND Vinylux Untitled Bronze Swatch - Hard to take off
Untitled Bronze on the other hand was my least favourite. A bronze shimmer with lots of pink in it, it was a formula that never seemed to smooth out. And all the glitter in it made it almost impossible to remove. I know I can’t like every single Vinylux shade but I’m always surprised when I don’t.
Art Basil
CND Vinylux Art Basil Swatch
Art Basil is one of the more unusual shades in the collection. A green/teal shimmer, it really stands out against all the other green polishes I own. It’s a gorgeous shade for spring.
Sienna Scribble
CND Vinylux Sienna Scribble Swatch
Sienna Scribble is a metallic copper and it’s basically the exact opposite of Untitled Bronze. It’s smooth, the colour is gorgeous and it wore really well.
Magenta Mischief
CND Vinylux Magenta Mischief Swatch - Could've been 1 coat
There’s something so special about Magenta Mischief, in the sunlight you can see hints of a blue violet undertone within the magenta shimmer.I could’ve gotten away with one coat of this one but went with two to really show it off.
Digi-Teal
CND Vinylux Digi-Teal Swatch
This bright blue creme got me the most compliments of the whole collection. It’s stunning in person and while it might not be a pastel, it definitely leans spring.

The whole Art Vandal collection is beyond gorgeous and I’m going to be using almost the whole collection quite a bit. We already have the summer Vinylux Flirtations collection and it’s just as pretty, that review is coming soon.


Feb
2016

Essence Liquid Lipstick

categories: Makeup Reviews

essence liquid Lipstick
I’ve been trying to wear a lot more lipstick lately and I’ve been firmly on the matte lipstick train but some days my lips need a break from how drying they can be. Essence’s Liquid Lipsticks are kind of the complete opposite of a matte liquid lipstick. They’re pigmented like a lipstick but go on like a gloss.
essence liquid liptick applicator
These super affordable lipsticks have a doe foot applicator that make application pretty easy and come in six shades. While they are definitely more like a gloss than a lipstick, there isn’t any stickiness until they start to wear off, and then they get pretty sticky. But unlike a gloss, they keep their colour really well. Wear time is only about an hour or so on me. My biggest issue with these lipsticks is that they move. I’m constantly checking my lips to see where the colour ended up and that ends up with me wiping product off the skin around my lips. Considering these have a bit of a stain to them, that’s an issue for me.

essence liquid lipstick swatches
01 Colour Party, 02 Beauty Secret, 03 Almost Real, 04 Show Off!, 05 Peach Party, 06 Make A Statement

That said, if you’re looking for an affordable alternative to a matte liquid lipstick, you should really give these a try. Make A Statement (06) is my favourite shade.


Feb
2016

StriVectin Hair Max Volume Collection

categories: Hair Reviews

StriVectin Hair Max Volume Collection
In the past year, StriVectin has made it into my top five skin care brands and is one of the few I use on a regular basis. When they announced they were coming out with three hair care lines (more coming later), I was hoping they would have the same results as the skin care products. All three collections have the NIA-114 technology that StriVectin uses in their skin lines, so we were already off to a good start. The first collection I tried was the Max Volume made for people with fine or flat hair. I have both but mine is also curly and frizzy (which doesn’t make sense but it’s true). All the collections have shampoo and conditioner plus two extra products; Max Volume’s line has a root lifting spray and a serum.
StriVectin Hair Max Volume Shampoo + Conditioner
The shampoo and conditioner bottles are exactly the same but the top of the shampoo bottle is the line’s turquoise (each collection has it’s own colour) and the conditioner is white, so it’s easy to tell which is which. The shampoo gets a really good, soft lather and my hair feels like it’s getting clean without being stripped. The conditioner is a good, medium thickness that doesn’t feel too heavy but definitely moisturizes. All the products from StriVectin hair are sulfate and paraben free.
StriVectin Max Volume Root Lifting Spray
When I’m testing a new hair collection, I try to stick to only using the products in the collection so I can see how they actually work. Considering there wasn’t anything for frizz or curl calming, I was a little worried to see how it would go but the products actually did a great job taming my hair. The Root Lifting Spray not only gave me added lift but also eliminated a good amount of my frizz.
StriVectin Max Volume Bodifying Radiance Serum
The Bodifying Radiance Serum got rid of the rest of the frizz, while leaving my hair shiny and bouncy. I rarely blow dry my hair so I haven’t tested out the serum’s heat protecting capabilities but it definitely fulfills the volume requirement.

As a whole, Max Volume did exactly what the name suggests, my hair got serious volume. But it was also hydrated and I didn’t feel like I had a ton of product in my hair. I did occasionally have to use a couple extra products for my frizz and the conditioner bottle is a little hard to work with but I’m seriously impressed with my first experience with StriVectin Hair and I can’t wait to try the next line that’s waiting for me.


Feb
2016

butter LONDON Sheer Wisdom Nail Tinted Moisturizer

categories: Nail Polish

I’m the kind of person that needs to have something on my nails at all times. On the rare occasion where I’m not wearing polish, I at least need to have a base coat on my nails. butter LONDON recently introduced Sheer Wisdom Nail Tinted Moisturizer; a nail treatment that comes in six shades to match skin tones.

The nail treatment itself is full of keratin, arginine, vitamin E and tea tree oil to strengthen nails, prevent breakage and provide antioxidant protection. The brush is on the larger side and was actually too big for my nail beds but since I wasn’t applying nail polish, it was easy to work around.

Sheer Wisdom in Light
butter LONDON Sheer Nail Tinted Moisturizer - Light Swatch
I’m probably more suited to the fair shade but light wasn’t too bad for my skin tone. One coat looked a lot better but I went with two for photo purposes. These dry super fast and since it’s not polish, I didn’t pay much attention to wear time or chipping.
Sheer Wisdom in Medium
butter LONDON Sheer Nail Tinted Moisturizer - Medium Swatch
I went with two coats again for medium and this one really didn’t look good on me. It was almost like I stained my nails with coffee.

While the treatment itself is fantastic, they really need to add more shades, or maybe include a clear version. I’d love to try the fair shade and see if it makes a difference, but the two shades I tried were just too yellow for me. I need something with more of a pink undertone if it’s going to look even remotely natural.

I’m definitely going to keep using one coat of light on the rare days I don’t have polish on.