Sephora Exchange & A few purchases....

So while the Dior BB Cream that I previously hauled- was WONDERFUL( it smelled great, had great coverage without being heavy, had an SPF, went on smoothly, and blended easily) BUT the colour range between Fair and light and medium is not so great :( Light was too light and medium was way too dark) so in comes Becca!
I chose the Becca: Ever Matte Shine Proof Foundation- thinking... okay better colours to choose from... is it really shine proof? We will give it a try!
I wore it today for the first time and wow am I impressed! I walked to school and I was gross dripping mess when I finally got to work- then I had a dance class with the kids- and took them to exercise outside in the afternoon- needless to say it was one SWEATY day- and even with the constant dabbing and blotting- nothing moved.
My first impression is- where has this been all my life?!

Then I bought two other goodies from Too Faced: The Better Than Sex Mascara and The Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow. What a mouthful.
I have to say the Mascara... is not waterproof but I've heard amazing things... so I'm willing to give it a good try- so far I'm unsure about what I think so I don't want to comment quite yet.. but the blush is amazing! So pretty.. imagine the perfect cotton candy but better blush- not for all ladies but definitely a good pick for me!


Mini Hauls make me so happy! :)

Disappointing Products May Edition

So recently, for whatever reason, I've come across quite a few products that I regretted purchasing. For various reasons you should skip these and splurge on the items that are in the other posts and are well worth it!

First up:

The Too Faced Lip Injection Colour Bomb: In Candy Burst
Naturally I was drawn to the pale pink one in this collection, I didn't even really see that it was plumping- I only discovered that fun fact when I put this on and my lips and they were literally burning right afterwards.. I even had a friend try it and she thought the same... Because of the intense burning my lips ended up turning red with this weird pink tint on top... not cute... and definitely not something I would recommend to anyone. These are about $20 each, so keep on shopping when you come across this one ladies!

The next one may be a bit controversial because I know a lot of people like this one but it is the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream. I have the luxury of having extremely oily skin in the summer- though it is dehydrated- it is so beautifully slick... *sigh* how did I get so lucky?!? For me, finding a BB cream that actually works or lasts any amount of time is something special- and there are not many that stand up to the challenge... trust me. This is one of those that unfortunately does not cut it for me. It has a great price point,  has an SPF, blends easily, and looks better after it sinks in, however for me it slides right off my face after a few hours, and I look like a hot mess by the time I get home from work... so for me... It is a pass!

Next: Loreal Sublime Soft Micellar Solution

Micellar Waters are all the rage these days: they are a staple of makeup artists and beauty gurus love them. The best one would be from Bioderma which we are lucky enough to have in Canada, but it can be quite costly. You can essentially wash your face without water with this stuff... which to me doesn't cut it, don't get me wrong- I love them when I'm touching up makeup or redoing something... but I need real water and a cloth to actually feel clean. 

The great things about this one are that it's gentle, and the price point- it was about $11, however what I didn't like was the smell... I can't even really explain what it smells like... but its funky. I also didn't like that it made the cotton pad foam when it touched my skin and I felt like there was a layer left on my face after I used it... Not a good clean feeling like I had anticipated. 

For me... Warm water, a good cloth, and a proper cleanser are a far better choice.

Rimmel: Wake me up concealer

This was a recommendation from Tanya Burr's makeup channel (UK makeup artist and beauty guru). I love the price point, the fact that I can pick it up anywhere, the smell, but not the way it actually looked on my skin. Just to be sure I picked up two shades... very fair and light and both equally sucked. They went on with an ashy grey colour that did not make me look "awake" at all... actually it was the opposite- and I don't put stuff on to look worse my friends!

I wish the colour range was a bit better... needless to say our relationship didn't last very long!

Last one:

Huge disappointment for this one:

Being completely honest- I didn't pay for this one... no I did not steal it! It was a beauty bonus gift for being a VIB Rouge member at Sephora... If you don't know what that is.. Don't even worry about it- you don't need it!

Moving on: Stila Lip Glazes are raved about by pretty much everyone- they are rate 4.1 out of 5 on Sephora's website but to me... it was a definite pass!

I found this to be extremely sticky with no pigmentation whatsoever. 

I'm not a fan of sticky lip glosses at all and this one was probably the stickiest ever... 

I'll make sure to keep the recommendations for buying and avoiding coming:)

Sephora HAUL!!!!!!

Sweet sweet Lord... This came in the mail today and I am one happy girl!! 

I have stayed away from Sephora for months and it has been hard... It's like keeping a dog from a bone, a fish from water, a child from toys... ITS JUST NOT RIGHT! 

Well all is well in my world again, and I have some first impressions to share with you ladies!!!

I took advantage of the VIB 15% off sale just a few weeks ago and got some goodies I've been wanting to try some time now. 

1. DIORSKIN NUDE BB CREAM- raved about all over YouTube... I haven't had much luck with bb creams, or cc creams so far, but trying it on the back of my hand... It was completely different than any of the others...It actually covered, wasn't oily, and dried to a powder finish... Could this be the answer for me???? 

Spring and summer are the time to keep things light, natural, and pretty. Excited to try it out and report back!! 

2. BITE AGAVE LIP MASK: my lips have been extremely dehydrated lately and nothing works... So I decided to give this one a try. It smells and tastes yummy... Almost reminds me of Carmex in a way, but less waxy...it is very thick and I've been wearing it for a few hours, it hasn't disappeared, and  my lips feel amazing. The best part for me, is that it is made of 99% natural ingredients, so hallelujah for this discovery!!! 

3. Clinique: take the day off eye makeup remover: 

I needed to try a new makeup remover. While mine is great, I've been using it for about two years now, and just decided it was time to switch it up. Being the waterproof mascara girl that I am, I can really tell if something works very quickly....

How did it do? I put just a little bit on a cotton pad, held it on my eye for about ten seconds and EVERYTHING came off!!!! Then just to put it to the test, held it on the other eye and same thing! Winner! 

With points and free samples I got a few more things... A St. tropez face self tanner, Benefit zero shine  powder, Benefit new self adjusting colour bb cream, a sephora body butter, murad cleansing wipes, and the best point perk was a First Aid Beauty exfoliator. It was quite a big size and I have heard nothing but amazing things about the First Aid Beauty line for a while now... I will let you know how things are going in a haul update in a few weeks. 

Nothing like some good online shopping to make my day. It's the little things in life ladies!  😊💄👑

Product empties # 2:

A much shorter empties collection this time... Starting from the right: 

Avene: Clean-Ac Cleansing Cream: 

First off, This is a really great brand... Gentle very light scent, no stripping ingredients, quality product, made in France, formulated for very sensitive skin. I happen to love all of the Avene products that I have personally tried. And if you have the type of skin that cant handle most creams or cleansers because of how sensitive it is, or the reaction it will cause... This line is for you! 

Loved the smell of this product. It cleaned my face without it feeling tight and dry afterwards, and lasted a long time! I would definitely repurchase this face wash again!  

Origins Checks and Balances Faces wash: this happens to be what Kev uses to wash his face, by it's also what I use in the shower... Mainly cause it's there and I always seem to forget my stuff! 

I really like this wash- it doesn't stand out to me but it's an it's an overall good product- nothing crazy! Although I will say my skin definitely feels stripped after using this wash... And I will immediately need moisturizer when I get out of the shower... So not my first choice! 

Dove: Nourishing Oil care conditioner

This is an incredible deep conditioner. It smells amazing and does a great job of detangljng and nourishing my hair. Warning: I apply this from my chin down... The one time I put it all over I looked like a greaseball the next day: not cute! 

Side note: I tried the shampoo from this line and I HATED it. I felt like I didn't wash my hair for a month when I blow dried it, and it took forever to shampoo that feeling out. 

Deep conditioner: YES 

Shampoo: HELL NO! 

Tiber river: Spring Fling shower gel

Well you already know this is my favourite scent ever so that shouldnt come as a surprise... The one thing that I did find though was that after a bath with this stuff my skin felt really dry... Especially on my legs...so while I am obsessed with the scent I would rather spend a little more money on the Spring Fling Shower Shake which I find much more moisturizing! 

Micheal Todd Antioxidant Carrot serum

Micheal Todd Antiox serum 

To be honest I used These two together a half pump of each every night since I rediscovered them in my skin care drawer... I have loved Micheal Todd products for some time now. They are almost 100% organic and small wonderful. Their products and my skin just seem to work really well together. Their Blue Algae toner is the best toner I have ever ever ever used!! 

After years of torturing my skin I discovered something life changing when I rediscovered these serums... My skin doesn't like creams but it LOVES SERUMS! I don't have bad skin by any means but when I am using the wrong products it can quickly get irritated and full of lovely breakouts... When I stopped using a heavier cream on my face and instead using these my skin cleared up instantly! 

Both of these serums have natural acids in them which are meant as a gentle exfoliant. You would never ever feel it doing it's job but after a few weeks of using it you would definitely notice a difference! They slowly break down the dead skin in the top layer so the new healthy skin cells underneath can come to the surface. 

It sounds weird but your skin is constantly turning over, old skin sheds and new skin comes through, but with acids like AHA or citrus etc it just helps for those dead skin cells not to hang on and clog your pores which means less breakouts and a better complexion! 

While I am absolutely in love with these products and they are very affordable... (There are always coupon codes available for this line) what bothered me last time I picked up my order at the post office I had to pay $40 duty... No not 4... 4-0!!!! What the heck is that about?! 

I was not impressed to say the least... But if I saw a Michael Todd store... I'm pretty sure I would buy every Blue Algae toner on the shelf and these two serums!!!! 

-xoxo

K.I.S.S

To say that I am a marketers dream is probably the biggest understatement ever... And I have tried WAY too many products out on my skin searching for that perfect combination of products to make it perfect... After a very long search I've found the secret... Keep it simple, and INVEST IN YOUR SKIN!!! 

*Stay out of the sun! For obvious reasons... You know cancer and all, and for gods sake cover your face at least if you must tan! If Premature wrinkles, sun spots, and skin damage don't scare you... I'm not sure what to say except that you must be an idiot! Bronzer can help your face look tanned... Guard your skin!!! Sure, tans are amazing and you may look awesome now, but later... You'll regret that shit for sure! There's plenty of self tanning products out there to keep you satisfied! 

*After you wash your face take a CLEAN (a new one very day!!!) face cloth and get it wet with the hottest tap water your skin can handle. Squeeze out the excess and do a once over in your face with that cloth. This will pick up any left over products, and really leave your face feeling clean. Adding this step to my routine has really helped clear it up... Leftover product build up is one of the biggest reasons you will break out. Buy a stack of cheap face cloths at Walmart or superstore or anywhere... It will cost you next to nothing and you'll have enough for a week! Use a clean one every day, avoid trying to be green here... They're tiny cloths... It's the bacteria that you don't want to be putting back on your face! 😊

* change your pillow case... A lot. Think about all the stuff you put in your hair... Moving tons during the night and rubbing that gunk all over your precious face... Yum right? Also a HUGE factor in breakouts

* Wash all of your face and neck: that means hairline, jaw, neck... Everything. Why would you spend all your time on your face and not include your neck?? It's the first thing to show your age, and it needs to be taken care of! 

*Put your hair up at night. Less crap on your pillow means less junk on your face. Less oil and product on your face means clear skin. 

*DOUBLE CLEANSE: you can't possibly remove all of the oil, dirt, debris, dead skin, and your makeup in one minute. So avoid the temptation to be lazy! Wash that gross layer off first with cleanse # 1, and then really ran what's underneath and get what you didn't get the first time with cleanse

 # 2. 

It's always so bizarre to me when people will spend hundreds of dollars on clothes or shoes, yet be too cheap to even buy themselves a face product or two over ten dollars. It seems so backwards... 

Honestly you get what you pay for in most cases, and unlike that handbag or sweater that will be out of style in a year or two, you are stuck with your face for the rest of your life so take care of it! It's the first thing people see... 

Makeup always sits better on skin that is taken care of and it's meant to be used to enhance your natural beauty not cake it on until you look like someone else... 

INVEST IN YOUR SKIN, save your money somewhere else! 

I have combination skin on the sensitive side that is dry in the winter and oily in the summer. I've tried it all and here is some of the advice that I've discovered through research and trial and error...

Scrubs and exfoliaters: scrubbing your face has to be one of the best feelings ever, it makes you feel as though it is super clean, but using a scrub that is too harsh can actually really hurt, not benefit your skin... 

It can cause tiny scratches and broken capillaries which look like small blood vessels on your face. Harsh scrubs are also really not a good idea of you have breakouts. When you rub that scrub all over your face, what you have in your head is the idea that you are cleaning, when really you could be spreading the bacteria of your breakouts all over... That means more breakouts!!!

So while it feels good to really giver, try a chemical exfoliant which doesn't have to be harsh at all, let the product do the work for you and you can have the same result of a scrub without any risks! 

Some exfoliants I really like are...

Ren Glycol Lactic Renewal Mask: 

This one is very cool! REN is an all natural skin brand that you can find at Sephora. It was created by two men that were searching for something that their wives could use without being too harsh... I know Kev loves me, but I'm not sure that he would cook up products for my face... 

ANYWAYS, the point is that they are great products free of everything you would like to avoid. 

It feels like a thick cross between honey, and jam. It's amber in colour and it smells AMAZING! When you out this mask on your skin automatic feels cooler. It says to leave it on for five to ten minutes but after trying it out a few times and realizing that my skin can tolerate it, I usually leave it on for twenty-thirty minutes so it really does it's job. 

It uses lactic acid and natur enzymes to break down the dead skin cells and peel them away when you wipe the product off... And no it does not hurt one bit!!! 

Kate Somerville: Exfolikate

Exfolikate is a great product from Kate Somerville skin care. It is on the pricey side BUT if you buy the small tube which is about $25 this will last you 10-15 uses. You don't need a lot lf product and you only use this once every week or two, so really it works out to... $1.60 or so every time you use it for all you number crunchers. 

This product is both a physical exfoliant: gritty texture AND a chemical exfoliant. 

Masks: Are a huge help and can be used as spot treatments if you want the mask to go further. I have talked about the Glam Glow mask that I absolutely LOVE in my product empties # 1 post, and this is probably my favourite mask EVER. Il be honest though... Paying for it really blows so I'll usually wait until I have a gift card, and for a 20% off sale at Sephora to make it a little easier. I have no problem spending money on good products but $70 for a mask is a bit hard to swallow...

There is a budget buy that almost every beauty blogger that I read has mentioned... Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask: you can find this at Sally'ms beauty supply, and apparently at regular drugstores in the states. It is everything you want: soothing, smells great, it pulls out impurities and detoxifies the skin, and the best part... You can buy a huge tub of it for around $7!!!! Now your thinking... Why the heck spend money on Glam Glow if this is so good? But while this mask is wonderful it's just not the same as Glam Glow. 

Face wash: this is where you can buy something more affordable. Out of all of your face steps your cleanser will spend the least amount of time on your face. Instead of a foaming face wash try a cleansing milk... Much more gentle and not stripping! I personally love Avene cleansers or The Body ShopVitamin E cleansing milk.  

Toner: Toner is something I go back and forth on... Do I need it, do I not need it... But every time I am using a great one I notice a huge difference in my skin! It's clearer, brighter, and just feels better. A toners job is to prep your skin for the serum or moisturizer that you are going to put on next. The problem with toners is that there are so many of them and most suck... So a few suggestions I have are to use the tea tree oil concoction I mentioned in one of my first posts ( just a few drops of the oil mixed with water), or use a toner with an acid in it which will promote cell turnover and cleaner pores... My absolute hands down favourite toner of life is the Michael Todd Blue Algae toner! I can recommend that product without even hesitating, the only problem is- is that it's only available online and sometimes the duty can be a real pain... But besides that... It's worth it my friends!! 

P.S. Don't be fooled by those toners with alcohol in them... Remember alcohol will dry out your skin... Skin lacking it's natural oils will over compensate by producing too much and that's when your skin will do bizarre things... Don't use toners with alcohol!!! 

Serums & Lotion: now this is where to invest those pennies my loves!!! These are the products that stay on your skin overnight and can literally make or break the next day for you...so choose wisely and for gods sake don't be a cheapo here!!! 

My skin type can't handle a lotion or cream but serums are perfect! Dry skins needs both a serum and a lotion,and some skin types might even need an oil. Oils are all the rage these days (as these things tend to go in phases) and are a great idea but don't use an oil like you would a cream... 2-3 drops max!!! 

A little goes a very long way! 

Some serums or very light lotions I would recommend: 

Any serum by Micheal Todd-online

Josie Maran Light Argan Oil- Sephora

Organic Aloe Vera Gel: JASON (brand) -health food stores or some Superstore organic isles 

Kate Somerville: Quench Oil Free Serum- Sephora

The Works: Perfect Look Skin Miracle- this works.com (think Vitazing minus the grease...)

If you have dryer skin...

The Origins Vitazing is amazing... But a touch greasy for my skin

Routine: 

Morning: cleanse, tone, serum

Night: double cleanse, tone, serum, spot treatment if needed

Weekly: exfoliate and use a mask 

Keep it simple, but use quality products that work for your skin! Trust me... That is money very well spent!

-xoxo

Spring Cleaning: Brushes

Ladies!

It's time to spring clean your brushes! Yep, brushes! Now your probably thinking why the hell would I do that? Well here's a few reasons... 

*With lots of build up your brushes become scratchy, and will pick up less product

*Inside your innocent and clean looking brush that never gets a good cleaning (ew by the way) is dirt, debris, dead skin, oil, bacteria... Yummy right?? 

*All of the yumminess mentioned above means one thing for your skin: breakouts! (Don't say I didn't warn you!) 

This may seem like a harsh reality check but friends... Seriously not washing your brushes is like using the same cloth every single day to wash your dishes and counters... Would you eat food off of your counter then? Didn't think so... 

Think of the disgusting possibilities there... Is washing your brushes sounding more appealing now?? Let's get to it! 

Now that you know WHY to wash them you can go about it a few different ways... But you need to know a few tips before you start: 

*Never get the whole handle of your brush wet... You don't want the glue to melt between the bristles and handle

*Always be gentle with your brushes!! Swish them side to side don't scrub the junk out of them or consider them garbage. Brushes are an investment and when they are taken cAre of they can last years! 

*Reshape them and lay them flat to dry so the water doesn't drip into the handle causing the hair or brush to become loose! 

Now you can use a spray... Usually these have alcohol in them and are good to use day to day...but IT DOES NOT COUNT AS A DEEP CLEAN! 

You can use your regular face wash , or baby shampoo!

Or you can use a professional deep cleaning solution ( pictured below... This is really easy and costs less than $10... At Sally's Beauty Supply, No excuses!!!) just add a bit of this to water and swish the brushes around. 

Or for you natural kids out there you can use hot water and vinegar and you are good! 

Enjoy the cleanliness ladies! And btw you should be deep cleaning at least every two weeks, and spot cleaning in between... Otherwise you are now aware of what could happen😊

Xoxo

This Works: Perfect Look Skin Miracle Review

I heard about this cream from several beauty bloggers... And after Lisa Eldridge used it in a tutorial of hers... I was sold! Watch the link below if you want to see it in use! 

http://youtu.be/Xql3MenPRbw

This Works is an all natural brand that you can find in the UK, and the US but not so easy to find in Canada. 

This product is described as a tinted moisturizer but not the kind you are thinking right now... This isn't a makeup and cream hybrid, nope this is a cream with natural ingredients that gives skin an amazing glow or tanned tint. 

In the summer I can get away with just wearing this cream on lazy days, but it also helps when my skin is pale as can be in winter just to warm things up a bit. It has an herbal smell to it but not one that I minded at all. 

Now it was a bit pricey to order this beauty but well worth it. I used it all last summer and quite a bit this winter and I JUST finished my tube. I love the fact that even though it is in a tune it has a pump which keeps things hygienic. Not a fan of dipping my fingers in a pot...

It reminds me of Origins Vitazing moisturizer which used to be a big favourite of mine, but I like the fact that this cream is completely non-greasy which is an absolute must for me... After a few hours with Vitazing my face turned into an oil slick... Married or not that is not attractive!

It's about time I order another tube... If summer every does come...😏

You can order this at www.thisworks.com (another great product that everyone raves about is their deep sleep spray... Haven't tried it myself yet but wow am I tempted!!!) 

My favourite face products of the moment...

A few weeks back I mentioned my favourite foundation mix, and when my skin needs extra coverage that is my go to combo. But I wanted to try a lighter look to give my skin a break, and I have noticed a huge difference.

Currently I am using Mac studio fix powder foundation in NC20 and the Mac Pro long wear concealer in NC15. I am loving the look and my skin is loving these two products! 

I spot cover and use the concealer under my eyes, and do a light dusting of the powder foundation all over. A little bronzer and blush and you have flawless skin! Try going for a lighter look for Spring and let your skin breathe. 

This hair product changed my life... But really!

This is one product that I really think every woman should have. It claims to be a ten in one product... It's ten claims include: heat protectant, light hold, softener, detangler, manageability, uv protection, anti breakage, shine, strength, & moisture. You can find this at Sephora and Chatters carries the Alterna line as well. 

Now before this I would have to use multiple products; detangler, mousse, oil, cream to finish... I mean even typing it makes me feel exhausted... But with this product, it's all I need, and on occasion when I need my hair to be fuller a little bit of mouse and I am good to go! 

I have fine hair but I also have a lot of it. It's naturally wavy, and it doesn't always behave for me. I really like that this cream smoothes without weighing down, makes it shiny without being greasy, and gets me that salon blow dry kind of a look, without trying all that hard. 

You might think $25.00 that's way more than what I spend now... But guaranteed you will need a lot less of this product to do a far better job than the four or five products you buy from the drugstore to do the same. 

Trust me, if you are searching for that one holy grail hair product... You've found it... 

Your welcome! 

Found: Wen conditioning shampoo dupe!

You know Wen conditioning shampoo by Chaz Dean on the commercials? Well I have found a much more affordable dupe people! 

I ran out of shampoo and conditioner the other day and had to quickly grab something. I grabbed a shampoo and what I thought was the matching conditioner... It looked bigger and cost a bit more but oh well! 

When I got home I realized my mistake... Cleansing conditioner ? Because of my fine hair and the fact that I have lots of it, I was quite nervous. But after a few tries I really like it! 

It was weird at first, four pumps and you massage it in but there hardly any lather. When I wash it out my hair feels clean but not the squeaky clean...where your hair is stripped of the oils it needs. 

I like that my hair has far less flyaways when I use this product and it smells really good! 

If you are a fan of Wen or if you have ever wanted to try it, give the Herbal Essences Cleansing conditioner a try! 

Way more affordable, smells great, doesn't weigh hair down, but makes it far more manageable... A winner as far as I'm concerned! 

Let me know what you think!! 

Some new drugstore goodies...

So I stopped in at Pharma Plus today and turns out they had everything on sale, so I may have gotten a few things, and by may I mean obviously I did.

Some are products I have tried and loved, there for repurchased and some are new and I am so excited! 

Loreal Telescopic mascara: this is my third or fourth, and it absolutely love it. It makes my lashes long, and look thick. Love it! 

Rimmel scandal eyes nude liner: love it! This is my second one, and nude liner in your bottom water line is the fastest way to to look awake when you have had no sleep what so ever. 

Two eye brow brushes: from NYX. I'm not someone who will spend a ton of eye makeup brushes... Face brushes yes, but not eyes so much because I have two favourites and frankly I don't need any others, but for my eyebrows I needed new brushes and both of these brushes, a flat brush and an angled brush were under $10😊 

Nuxe Reve de Miel (honey lip balm): I have heard a lot about this, and I have really dry lips lately, so hopefully this will do the trick. I will report back! 

NYX lipgloss in Beige. Not beige at all, but a beautiful pink for spring. Not too sticky, not too dry, but a good consistency.

Lip smacker lip balm in "pink velvet gelato". This reminded me of Nars Turkish Delight, an absolute favourite of mine ( and the kardashians may I add... Lol), beautiful, opaque, baby pink. Unfortunately for me my dog seems to have gotten my amazing taste and has eaten that 26$ Nars lipgloss three times, So I'm hoping this cheaper alternative stays safe! As a bonus: this lipgloss tastes and smells just like a vanilla cupcake, which is my favourite!!! 

NYX blush in angel, is the perfect balance between a fun springy pink, and peach! Love it already!

Maybelline colour tattoo in "inked in pink" is a beautiful pink shade that will look amazing with a champagne colour in the tear duct. I can't wait to try it!!!

Spotted: amazing nail polish, I didn't buy it, but it's been on my mind since I got home... An Essie shade called Mint candy apple, think pastel mint, but closer to the blue side of things... I'll wait and see how long I can hold out for that one! 

Love finding good things at the drugstore!!! What are your favourite spring finds??

The Spring Report

Believe it or not, it's coming! And that means spring makeup, spring body care, and fun and flirty hair styles. After as much snow as we have had here in Winnipeg, it gives us something to look forward to. The spring essentials posts are starting right ....NOW! 

I'm going to start with spring body essentials. Now you may know this or you may not, but I am a HUGE fan of Tiber River. They are a Winnipeg based company and they make amazing natural products for your body that smell amazing minus the bad for you chemicals !!! They also give the best pedicures, and manicures there too! If you haven't already gone there... You need to go! 

Every spring Tiber River releases my favourite scent of all time, but it is only around for about two months, so if your into fruity, fresh, with a sophisticated twist, you need to get yourself some Spring Fling!!! 

This may seem excessive but remember people... Two months, and I don't go all that often , so this is what I picked up last time I was there...

Everything is in the spring fling scent except for the deodorant which I will talk about later. 

The spring fling bubble bath, hand soap, and lotion are pretty self explanatory. They are amazing and smell beyond what you can imagine... But the shower shake is something pretty special. Think of it like a scrub and body wash hybrid. It's really nice to use in the morning to wake yourself up and with body butter on top, you are going to be one smooth, ready for spring hottie! 

My only complaint is that they used to make a spring fling body spray but they didn't this time around, which makes me incredibly sad😥. Maybe one day they will do it again! *fingers crossed*

The deodorant pictured here is in Bittersweet (a citrusy, vanilla blend) but I also love sweet cheeks ( baby powder-ish scent). These deodorants are a bit different than your typical secret or dove deodorants but are worth it. To apply this deodorant you scoop it out and rub it into your armpits, it's a wet & dry formula that is hard to explain but it keeps all of the smells away. It will not keep you from sweating but you will smell great all day long, even on your busiest of days. Regular deodorants have terrible chemicals like aluminum and other junk that has been proven to do damage to our bodies, so if there is an alternative you better believe I am using it, and you should too! 

Now if you don't live close to either the Academy or Kenaston locations of Tiber River, they now deliver to your home if your order is over $75.00, and trust me my friends it's easy to spend that. Just order online! Www.tiberriver.ca 

Now for spring scents that I am currently loving and rotating between: 

Sorry for the terrible picture but as you can see I am almost out of both of these scents. 

1) Fresh:Sugar Lychee: I first got the roller ball for about $26 from Sephora, and I was so obsessed I needed the big size which costs around $56.00. But I am happy to say that I have used almost all of it up. This scent is very fresh, as the name suggests, citrusy, with mango and other yummy things mixed in there. It just makes me think spring time, and Kev is a huge fan.

2) Victorias Secret PINK: Sweet & Flirty scent: when you think Dom, don't you think sweet and flirty?? Lol. Sweet maybe, but flirty? Not if my life depended on it. Anyway it's a beautiful berry and citrus scent and it is perfect for spring. Definitely will need to repurchase this one.

Currently, I have my eye on Dolce & Gabana: Light Blue. It is described as a fresh, light, & citrusy scent. (Is anyone noticing a pattern here?) Maybe once these baby's are done I can justify that purchase.

Stay tuned for spring makeup essentials coming soon! 

Product empties and reviews # 1

Let's just be clear right from the start... Many of these products are from Tiber River and I am absolutely obsessed with Tiber river because their products are free from chemical nasties, they smell amazing and you can feel good using the stuff on your body. 

 Let's start with the sweet pits deodorant: 

Natural deodorant was something I was completely skeptical of before this product... I've tried many of them just to get rid of aluminum under the arms because it's been linked to breast cancer... and if I can do anything to save my skin and myself from that you better believe I'm going to do it. 

Most natural deodorants don't work. They arent meant to stop you from sweating but to help with the smell. This deodorant from Tiber River is a bit different because you apply with your fingers, using a small scoop you rub the product into your armpit. 

They have many different scents available they even have one that has no scent at all (Raw). I was worried about whether or not this would actually work, but to my surprise it really does. Even on days where I am working out or running around with the kids at school, it even works in the hot summer time. This product is sold for about $10, it is free from harsh chemical that you should not have anywhere near your skin, it smells great, and it works...you need to buy it!!! 

The next product from Tiber river that I am going to talk about is the shower shake.This particular one is the "honey do" scent which is a really light fruity fresh scent. My all time favourite shower shake is Spring Fling (girly, floral, and sweet) which only comes out... you guessed it...in the spring... and is my favourite TR scent of all time.

 Think of the shower shake as kind of a combination of the cream body wash and a light body scrub one one. It is quite moisturizing with a bit of exfoliating grit. Definitely a re-buy for me!

These bath bombs will run you about five dollars each and can turn a regular bath into an experience... I happen to love the Coco Cabana scented bath bomb- it makes me feel like I'm on vacation instead of in -40 degree weather! Another favourite of both mine and Kev's is the Cold relief bath bomb. If you are sick and you can barely breathe because you are so stuffed up, take a nice hot bath with the cold relief bath bomb and feel yourself breathe again. It uses eucalyptus and mint and refreshes your body when you feel like death.

The soaps from Tiber River are really fun too. They have great scents and they don't strip your body of it's good oils like regular soaps can. I happen to love the Yuzu soap which is a really fresh citrusy scent (Japanese grapefruit to be exact). One soap that really stands out to me is the Honey Pot Ultra soap. Think a bar of soap with really exfoliating beads. This is awesome if you get sugared or waxed and want to keep your "area" free from ingrown hairs, and also great as a weekly exfoliation treatment to get all of the dead skin off of your body! LOVE this soap.

Tip: Store this in a travel soap container and keep it away from the shower when you aren't using it. Soap regardless of whether it is natural or not will melt if it is getting hot water on it from the shower- and this is a soap you want to keep around. It's pricier than your regular soap but worth it!

I don't know about you but when I'm going to shave my legs I hate shaving gel because it comes right off your legs the second water hits it. Then you have to start all over again and you waste so much product! It's pretty much useless. That brings me to "Shave to be smooth" shaving lotion. It is much thicker and creamier than what you are probably used to- think a really thick conditioner/cream mixture. It stays in place letting you take your time and get all of your stuff done. 

This is a pricier product but I have a dupe... The EOS shaving lotion is a really great alternative and they have great scents to choose from. You can find this at Pharma Plus. I'm not really sure that I would buy this again, because of the price, but it is a great product!

Kev and I have both used many bottles of bye-bye blemish and we really like it! It smells herbal-y but it does its job. Just a dab on your zits at night and within a few days you will be blemish free.

Body butters are my absolute favorite thing in the world but I cannot used heavily fragranced and chemical filled products because the irritate my skin and the dry the crap out of my skin which is the complete opposite of what they are supposed to do. Tiber rivers body butters are incredibly moisturizing, so if you have dry skin: here is your answer! 

I had run out of my Michael Todd toner and was looking for a short-term replacement while I was in the process of reordering. I didn't want to spend a ton of money and so I decided on Clinique clarifying lotion number one. Clarifying lotion one of the four that they have, had the least amount of alcohol. It wasn't great, didn't do anything really crazy, it didn't help with any of my skin blemishes it didn't make me feel refreshed, it just made me feel dry. I used it up but I will definitely not be repurchasing this product. 

I decided to splurge because I had a gift card from Sephora and I got the bumble and bumble gentle shampoo and superrich conditioner. The shampoo is really nice and gentle just like it says lightly fragranced and does the job cleaning but without feeling stripped. The superrich conditioner makes your hair moisturized and come back to life without weighing anything down. Amazing products but the price is not going to work so I'm on the hunt for a less expensive alternative.

The Sonia Kasuk Eye make up remover is about $10 a bottle. I wanted to try to find an alternative to my make up for ever remover which cost about $22. I had heard good reviews of this Eye make up remover which is a dual phase eye make up remover, but I wasn't all that impressed. You use far more product from the Sonya Kashuk Eye make up remover then you do of my regular make up for ever remover. I used this Eye make up remover up in about one month as compared to the make up forever remover, which I use up in about six months. The final verdict is : okay but I will not be repurchasing this product.

This L'Oreal conditioner was recommended by one of the beauty gurus that I watch on YouTube. It was okay and I bought it for about five dollars so I don't regret the purchase but I'm not sure that I will be repurchasing again. It just felt like a regular conditioner the one thing that I will say about it though is that it smelled incredible.

Been hearing about the glam glow masks from YouTube beauty gurus and was very curious to try them.  I got a couple samples of this glam glow tingling in exfoliating mask from my Sephora points. The first thing I noticed was the big chunks that came out of the bottle in the exfoliant, which I thought were just not necessary at all. It smelled great and made my skin tingle but when I took it off I really did not notice any difference. So first $69 this is a product I would pass on!

Now this mask from glam glow is amazing. The price is something that I am not crazy about because it is $69 a jar but I am on my second jar so that should tell you something. This will draw out all of the impurities in your skin, it will calm down blemishes and even out skintone. This is a mask I use weekly and I put on nightly as a spot treatment for breakouts. If you have trouble with your skin this is a mask you need to try!

This is my make up for ever make up remover that I talked about a few products up comparing it to the Sonya Kashuk eye make up remover.  This product looks small but the full-size is about $22 and it will last me a good six months. I use this as Eye make up remover every single night because I only use waterproof mascara. This is gentle, it never stings, it never irritates, just does it's job and breaks down all of my eye makeup. This Eye make up remover comes second to the Chanel Eye make up remover, but at 50+ dollars a bottle for Chanel ...I think I'm going to stick with this one. 

This is a product that gets a lot talk on YouTube and by anyone who is as obsessed with make up as me. Bioderma cleansing water or micellar solution is something that is often imitated but not duplicated. I love this... you can use this in many different ways... as a cleanser, or to touch up some mistakes and when you are applying your make up, you can use this just to do a quick switch if you are changing your make up from day to night, or just to refresh your face in the middle of the day even with no makeup on. It is extremely gentle, has no scent and it's just a great all-around face refresher. PS make up artists swear by this product. 

This shower gel from the body shop has an amazing floral fragrance. But this is not a light fragrance ...its of full on Floral explosion. I got this product for free when I bought a few other products from the body shop so I liked it but I'm not sure that I would be repurchasing it. If you are into floral it's definitely something you should check out.

I cannot live without this product! The Anastasia brow wiz is amazing! If you have barely there brows, or just need to fill in any gaps, then you need the brow Wiz in your life. It will go and fill in every little part of your eyebrow that you need but look natural and amazing the same time. 

Dirty was a scent that we discovered from a Christmas gift from Kevs mom. The smell is AMAZING, minty, clean and fresh. This product is great because both men and women can use it and it is free from harsh chemicals. You can buy this at Lush and since discovering it, we've rebought countless bottles. 

My amazing Laguna bronzer has come to an end. I have used two of these up which is actually crazy for me. It's a great all-around bronzer especially for fair skin, it won't make you look Orange just a hint of a glow without sparkle. It is beautiful and looks great on everyone.

I received a deluxe sample of this Bobbi Brown eye makeup remover but I can't say that I was too impressed with it. It did the job but only when I scrubbed at my eyes and that is not something that you are supposed to do with a good remover or around your eye area at all, so a pass for me! 

This Dove body wash is really nice especially in winter time, if you have a dry skin. It felt very moisturizing and had a lovely coconut and floral scent and I absolutely loved it when I use this and then put on the St. Ives lotion down below on top.

I was looking for another moisturizing body wash and this one with the cream ribbons is something that I would definitely not repurchase I found the scent to be way overpowering and I just hated it after a few uses. 

This lotion cost me $3 and I absolutely loved the light scent, it was moisturizing but was not too thick. I loved it. I wish that it was chemical free but if I was in a pinch I would definitely rebuy this one again! 

And we are done! It seems like I have used so much up! Which is good because you know what that means... The new reviews are coming!!! 

Stay tuned my loves!!! 

DIY toner and scrub: try it and you won't be sorry!!!

I have heard a lot about this lip scrub from Lush, and while I'm sure it smells and works great... Like everyone says it does, but I happened to have made my own little concoction that costs a lot less with things you may just have at home. I mixed an equal amount of coconut oil and brown sugar in a small container, then rub it on dry lips (water could melt the sugar) for a minute or two. Rub off with a wet cloth and voila, baby soft lips. Put on a thick lip balm and your husbands and boyfriends will thank me! You could also use this on dry skin before you shower if you are suffering from dry winter skin.... it would scrub and nourish at the same time!!

Did you know that coconut oil is a multipurpose product???  I use it to deep condition my hair, as body butter after I get out of the shower, on my eyebrows and eyelashes to promote hair growth, I even put it on my toast in the morning... Let's be clear though; I have two containers of it, one for cooking and one for my body... 

Research shows that people who ingest coconut oil are among the healthiest people on the planet... So if that fact doesn't convince you, I don't know what will! They sell coconut oil everywhere but the best place to get it value wise is Costco. If you don't have it in your house.. Go get it...NOW! 

An easy and anti bacterial face toner with two ingredients: mix 10-20 drops of 100% pure tea tree oil In a small travel bottle with water. Use this on a cotton pad or just spray directly on your face after you're finished washing or even if you just want to refresh your face during day. The oil smell is a bit strong for some, but it has so many antibacterial properties that are so good for your skin it's totally worth it and much cheaper than any toner you will buy at the store, minus the alcohol that they put in that dries your precious skin out. 

Did you know: tea tree oil can be used for so many different things from break outs to dandruff to cuts and scrapes... The list can go on forever, if you want to know a little bit more about it Google uses and buy a little bottle of this multipurpose lifesaver. Just make sure when you are purchasing the Tea tree oil that you are buying 100% pure tea tree oil because places like the body shop sell it in a little container for twice as much money, way less product, and only 5% tea tree oil. 

Just a little word of caution...if you are going to use Tea tree oil on blemishes go right ahead, but make sure not to put 100% oil directly on your break out! Mix it with a little bit of water so that it does not burn your skin. 

Let me know if you try it out!!!
Happy Sunday!

My current everyday favourites!

There have been many phases in my obsession with beauty...
There were the "good old days" as Kev would call it where I wore no makeup and would never dream of spending ungodly amounts of money on products... There were the over indulgent days where I wore too much, drained my bank account, and drove my skin to suffocate and hate me... and then there is now... where I've found a happy medium.

There is never going to be a day (at least I hope) that I won't wear makeup. I love it too much- playing, buying, applying, browsing...I love it all! But I also love my skin... and a caked on face is not pretty or appealing...
So that brings us to today where I am in love with the products I am using and am happy to share!

These two foundations are great for completely opposite reasons... over the past few years my skin has completely changed... what used to be dry is now combination bordering on the side of oily most seasons... lucky me:)

I've tried so many foundations, bb creams, cc creams... you name it I've tried it. My skin won't hold onto any of them, not even with a primer... but these two- are my magic pair. 

The covergirl 3 in 1 is amazing because it has a primer built in. It lasts all day, does not go greasy, but it can make my face look dull if I just wear it alone... 

Which is where Rimmel wake me up comes in... 

This foundation on it's own oxidizes way too dark for my skin, and doesn't last very long, however gives it a beautiful healthy glow... and mixed with covergirl lasts all day. A little bit of both and I have the best of everything I need!

A dab of the Lumi touch under my eyes... and a touch of powder on those extra sexy shiny days...;)

 My eyebrows are probably my biggest frustration. Let's rewind back to when I was maybe 13 or 14... I thought it would be a good idea to pluck a few hairs and got a bit carried away... Not having a lot to work with in the first place... you can imagine it didn't end up so great. Fast forward to now- I have been growing these baby's out for years and I am just starting to see almost a whole brow...but a thin one.
The Anastasia Brow Wiz is amazing at creating real looking hairs in sparse areas, and the wax from the elf eyebrow kit (almost an exact dupe for the Benefit version... with a $3 price tag!) are a perfect pair for creating a fuller brow look. Now the few hairs I do have are quite long so in order to keep them from doing their own crazy thing I love gimme Brow by Benefit (think a dry, brown coloured, mascara product for the brows) to keep them all in place!

This nars Liner is supposed to "last all day"... and when I heard this, I was completely skeptical, but after trying it... it completely lives up to its claims. I use it to tight line the top lid to make my eyelashes look thicker and define my eyes. A total splurge but completely worth the price! And on days where I don't feel like wearing mascara it makes a huge difference!

Shu Uemura... you've heard of it... Is it really the best? Yes it is! And you need it now! The easiest way to open up your eyes, look more awake, bring life to your face... CURL.YOUR.LASHES!

 Now I know people say waterproof mascara isn't the greatest for your lashes however it's the only thing that truly holds a curl, I don't care what anyone says- Again... I've tried expensive- and drugstore and the one brand that I am loyal to, and always get good results from is Maybelline. Whether it's one by one, plush lash, full n soft, or the rocket... it doesn't matter because as long as you layer two of them, and take the time to do two coats... these will not disappoint!

Ahhhh blush... your best friend. If you don't wear blush... you need to start- its like an eyelash curler effect on your face! It will make you look younger, more awake, and full of life! Who doesn't want to look like that? 

Stila convertible colour blushes are amazing- and this one in petunia happens to be one of my favourites. Its a bright peachy pink that can be worn shear or built up on the cheeks or lips. Just a quick dab and you are good to go! Don't skip it!

Lip products... such a hard thing to talk about because everyone's tastes are so different. Some like sticky, or balmy, or waxy, sheer, pigmented, dry, wet.... and on top of that there is a million shades and kinds to choose from! Personally I am loving Christian Dior Creme De Rose balm...I am on my second pot. It's hella expensive and for good reason! Once you use it, you'll never go back so unless you are comfortable paying $30 for a balm, don't even look at it! The moisture lasts forever, plumps up the lips, glossy finish, smells and tastes like a dream, and has a sheer hint of colour. I wear this at home and layer it on before bed. I would love to wear it during the day- but fingers full of classroom germs aren't so sexy or hygienic on the lips... 

Baby Lips- The original baby lips formula was quite waxy- picture a crayon... but I am loving this Dr. Rescue version. It's moisturizing and has a sheer hint of colour- just enough to look polished but not enough that you need a mirror to put it on, you can just swipe and go.. and it looks amazing! For $3 or $4 it would be silly not to try it! (My fav is the berry!)

If I am dinking around in the morning my makeup could easily take more than twenty minutes- but if I need to get out the door- I can do this all in under ten:)