Saturday, 16 November 2013

Nail Colours of the Moment: Metallic Blues and Nudes

           This holiday season, brands are coming out with toooons of metallic and holographic nail polishes in every colour. What has been catching my eye the most is the amazing metallic blues that I have seen in multiple collections, as well as all of the variations of holographic pinky nudes. I am usually not a big fan of dark nail polishes, but these metallic colours are so beautiful, there may not be a colour that I wouldn't be willing to try. Here are two of my most recent nail polish purchases from this trend!


I am sooooo obsessed with this colour and can't wait to try it! This is the Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Colour in 004 Azure. This was only $3.99 at the drug store as it said "Clear Out" on the price tag, so I'm hoping they're just getting new packaging and they're not discontinuing the Lustre Shine collection. On the Sally Hansen website, it says that this nail polish is actually infused with real silver, and is inspired by the lustrous colour flip of molten, liquid metal and the iridescence of a peacock feather. I am really hoping this will be a hit!


I applied Quo by Orly's Nail Polish in First Class soon after I got it, and was amazed by the colour right away. It is so shimmery and beautiful, I was really impressed. I actually cannot find this collection online, so I can't tell you anymore accurate information about it. However, it retails for $10 at Shopper's Drug Mart. For anyone who doesn't know, Quo is a Canadian Brand!


This went on really smooth when I applied it, and two coats is more than enough. I am a little skeptical about the staying power however, so we'll see how this holds up. In case it doesn't end up holding up too well, I may invest in a good base and top coat because I really am in love with this colour. I have definitely jumped on the metallic/holographic/shimmery bandwagon for this season, and will be continuing to enjoy them for the next couple months!



GOODNIGHT! xx





Thursday, 14 November 2013

How I Heat Style My Hair!

          I know, I literally just submitted a post on why you SHOULDN'T heat style your hair. However, after nearly 3 months of no heat I decided my hair could withstand a bit of damage, as I was getting a little bored! However, I still used caution when heat styling to minimize the damage as much as possible. I use the same process whether I`m styling it straight, wavy or curly for the most part. Here is my process below!


I am a big believer in products as we know, and if you use the right ones they WILL prevent a significant amount of damage. It all comes down to what you're using and what you're using it for. I started fresh today by cleansing my hair with Neutrogena's Anti-Residue Shampoo, (not pictured above) which I use every 2-3 weeks to get rid of any buildup from heavy conditioners and styling products. I then followed up with Alba Botanica's Natural Hawaiian Conditioner, Drink It Up Coconut Milk. Alba Botanica is actually a cruelty free, natural, 100% vegetarian Canadian brand that not many people know about. Check out their website here! 

On my freshly cleansed and conditioned hair, I then spray LÒreal Paris' Everstrong Thickening Tonic onto my roots. This is meant to encourage thicker hair growth and promote the hair you already have to appear thicker and fuller. This has a nice minty smell to it, which I love. After massaging it in, I apply 3 pumps of my lovely Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum to the length of my hair, making sure to avoid the roots. Then, I leave my hair to dry naturally as long as I have time to before blow drying!


Right before blow drying, I spray my CHI Keratin Mist just onto my ends, to make sure they are strong and don`t go anywhere! I've had this bottle for a long time, and I`m not sure they even make the same one anymore, but you can still find it at various places online. The blow dryer I use is one of Conair's Ion Shine ones, although this model is definitely discontinued as it is quite old! I use both my John Frieda Full Volume Medium Porcupine Round Brush and my thermal round brush (not sure which brand) to blow dry and smooth out my hair. 


After my hair is completely dry, I spray the length with CHI's 44 Iron Guard to protect it from my flat iron. I generally use my CHI Original 1" Ceramic Hair Styling Iron to straighten and curl my hair. I've actually had this flat iron since I was 14, so it's crazy that it's lasted this long. I have others, but I keep going back to this one! I use a small comb while straightening or curling to get more of a smooth finish, and separate it with a clip so I can work in sections. During this process, I sometimes add Marc Anthony`s 2nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo to my roots, to give them more volume.


And here is a peak at what my hair looked like when I was finished styling today! I decided to go for a slightly wavy look, as I find that it looks much better then when I just do my hair pin straight. I applied 2 more pumps of my Dove Anti-Frizz Serum to the ends, and sprayed my hair with my favourite hairspray, which is Pantene's Satin Hold Hairspray in their Curly Hair Series. I LOVE this stuff, as it really defines and adds shine to waves or curls and lets your hair move. And that`s it!


HAVE A GOOD NIGHT! xx





Monday, 11 November 2013

My Skin Story: From Hormonal Acne to Clear Skin!


This is my skin with no makeup on, right after washing (and first thing in the morning, as you can see from my bed head). I did not edit out any spots, blotchyness, etc. I still get the occasional spot like pretty much everyone my age, but it is not too often nowadays. My skin has settled on a combination type, and that's what I've been working with for a few years now. Some people may say that my hormonal acne has gone away because I have gotten older, and am no longer a teenager. This is WRONG, as whenever I stray from the products and behavior that keep my skin clear, it breaks out again.  

Disclaimer: Before I say the first step that keeps my skin clear, just a reminder that this is not for everyone, and unless prescribed by a doctor, you should not go on it for this reason. 

1) BIRTH CONTROL


Birth control drastically helped get my skin under control, especially in the beginning stages when I was 15 and had fairly severe acne. This was the initial step that allowed me to even get to the other steps. When you specifically have hormonal acne, combating hormones with hormones is one of the best steps you can take to get your skin to behave, and fast. I have gone off of birth control once or twice since I was 15, and my skin has started to break out again every time, although not as bad as it might of if I didn't take care it. 

2) TAKING YOUR MAKEUP OFF BEFORE BED


When I was younger, I never listened to or cared about all the warnings that sleeping with your makeup on can cause significant damage to your skin. I used to fall asleep with my makeup on CONSTANTLY. Taking it off consistently every night has allowed my skin to repair itself so much more than it ever had the chance to. Not only did it reduce any breakouts, but it allowed my skin to repair itself overtime, and faded some of the acne scars I have from when I was a young teen. This is a definite must for clear skin.

3) USING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR SKIN


You need to look specifically at what products are meant to do for your skin, and target the areas that you wish to change. If you are looking to reduce the size of your pores, look for a product that specifically says it does that. If you are looking to balance and tone your skin, look for a product that does that. Research what you are putting on your face, or at the very least read the back of the bottle. The skin routine that I have now works wonders for me, and that is because each product that I use is meant to target a certain aspect of my skin that I do not like. Below are the products that I have settled on and use on a regular basis, as well as what I use them for:

Biosource Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse: Cleanses, tones and removes leftover makeup. 
Nip + Fab Scrub Fix: I use this once a week to keep acne away/get rid of any spots I may have, plus brighten and renew my skin.
L'Oreal Radiant Tone Ideal Moisture Day/Night Cream: I use this in the morning to moisturize my skin and keep it looking radiant. I also use this to smooth away any texture, which I did have an issue with from leftover scarring/acne. 
Marcelle BB Cleanser: I use this at night to deeply moisturize and repair my skin overnight.

4) USING A WASHCLOTH


This used to be just an aid in taking off my makeup, until I realized what it was doing for my skin. A washcloth acts as an exfoliator, helping to slough off dead skin cells and renew your skin, making you less susceptible to acne and breakouts. This cut down on how often I was exfoliating and how many products I use. This is an absolute must every night in my skin care routine.

5) TREATING YOUR BODY RIGHT


When it comes to eating, unfortunately I do not eat anywhere near how I would like to. This tends to happen when you're a student. However, I rarely drink, do not smoke or do drugs and get plenty of sleep on a regular basis! Smoking, drinking and lack of sleep have a significant effect on your skin, and do not allow it to reach anywhere near it's full potential.


And those are my secrets to clear, healthy skin! Hope you enjoyed! 





Sunday, 10 November 2013

Over 60 Days of No Heat!




  It's official, the last time I blow dried and styled my hair was August 21st, 2013! Coming from someone who used to heat style my hair every day, this is quite an accomplishment for me. When I made the decision to stop heat styling, I also made the decision to only wash my hair every other day. I really wanted to see what putting effort into taking care of my hair was going to do for me. In addition, I have ONLY used a wide toothed comb during this time to comb out my hair after washing it.

So what have I noticed as a result? First of all, I have really come to realize that my hair looks much better in it's natural state. I find that almost everybody's does. People think that straightening or curling their hair everyday or adding extensions makes it look better. However, unless your hair is a mess on a regular basis, I have never come across someone whose natural texture does not look better, with the help of products of course. 

The condition of my hair has really changed in the past couple months. I would say that I have almost twice the amount of hair that I used to in terms of thickness, as you lose significantly less hair when you are not heat styling, brushing and washing every day. Whether or not my hair is growing faster I don't know, but the growth is a LOT more noticeable than it would otherwise be, as it's not breaking off at the ends. My split ends have been drastically reduced, and my hair is much softer than it's ever been. My colour looks more vibrant, and I feel the need to get it touched up less. My hair unfortunately has not become significantly more shiny, as it's hard to make hair that's been bleached as much as mine shine, but it's coming along. 

I would recommend that everyone give their hair a break and let it be for a while. Especially if you're trying to grow it out, and have no idea why it's not growing. It's frustrating that people don't see that it IS growing, but it's snapping off at the ends due to your heat styling! Find new ways to style it that do not involve heat, and you'll find that they're quicker, and look even better. 

Click here to see what products I use on my hair!



HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT WEEKEND! xx





Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Review: Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Stress-Battling Softening Bubble Bath!



Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Stress-Battling Softening Bubble Bath. That's a mouthful! I have heard amazing things about all of Soap and Glory's products, so I decided to try something I can always use-bubble bath! Since we moved into our apartment, I've started taking baths constantly. I'm not the kind of person who can stay in a bath and relax for an hour, but at least 15 minutes in the bath at the end of the day makes me less stressed. I'll actually take one whether I need it or not, which reminded me so much of the quote on the bottle below....except in an opposite kind of way. It says on the bottle that this deluxe formula comes with a built-in body lotion and includes lemon balm, mallow extracts and moisture magnetizing skin conditioners. It's supposed to make your skin so soft, that you don't need to moisturize afterwards! It's also scented with Soap and Glory's original Pink Fragrance.


So, what did I think of this product that I had such high hopes for? Although it smells incredible, (kind of like marshmallow, but floral-like at the same time) I did not find this to be very softening at all! I was extremely bummed out about this! My skin felt pretty much the same going into the bath as it did coming out. Which is so strange, as I've read so many positive reviews on this product, claiming it made their skin super soft! I mean, it has lotion built in! One thing I do have to say is that it creates a VERY sudsy bath, so if you're into baths with tonnnnns of bubbles, this is for you. So, this combined with the smell does make for a very relaxing bath. I don't think it's worth the $14.00 retail price, so I wouldn't buy it again. I think you're paying more for the Soap and Glory brand name than the product. But then again, it works really well for some people, so perhaps it's worth it for them. 



RATING:









Monday, 4 November 2013

Review: Marcelle BB Cream Cleanser



         After receiving a sample of the Marcelle BB Cream Cleanser, I thought it sounded interesting so I gave it a go! Although I never got into the whole BB Cream craze, I thought the idea of a BB cleanser sounded interesting. It actually was the first of it's kind on the Canadian market. I had previously tried Marcelle's Golden Glow BB Cream and wasn't impressed, although I know a lot of people love it. This cleanser is meant to be a skin enhancer as well as a BB cream remover, with many of the same benefits. Even though it's meant to help remove your BB Cream, I've found it does a perfectly good job with foundation as well. It's meant for all skin types, is completely perfume free as well as oil free.


This formula is extremely gentle on the skin, and glides on smooth and creamy. You are actually not supposed to wash off this cleanser to get the full benefits, so I choose to apply it after using my regular cleanser. All you do is wipe off the excess cleanser with a cotton pad, and you are good to go. I have to say, I am quite impressed with this! It REALLY moisturizes your skin, which is surprising as it feels so light. I've used this for the past few nights in place of my regular moisturizer, and not only does it deeply moisturize my skin, but it doesn't break me out either. It helps smooth out my complexion and minimizes my imperfections. Seeing as my skin gets so dry in the winter, it may be necessary to repurchase this to carry me through the winter months and help repair my skin from the harsh cold. The full size BB Cleanser normally retails for $16.95, but is available on marcelle.com right now for $11.87. Definitely worth checking out for any skin type!


RATING:











Sunday, 3 November 2013

Fall Outfit of the Day!


I wish I had started these earlier in the season, because pretty soon I'm going to have to do winter OOTDs! Anyways, this is nothing exciting, just a look at what I would wear on a regular day out in the city!






Jacket: H&M Khaki Green 2012

I'll be sad to have to let this jacket go for the winter! Great colour, great fit, great length.

Scarf: H&M Leopard Print Scarf

I wear this all the time when I'm going out into the cold, and with everything! It's surprisingly warm, as it's quite large when you fold it out, so there's lots of layers.

Pants: H&M Super Skinny Super Low Jeans in Black

I wear these constantly and they are holding up great, plus they were cheap! I believe I purchased these for $24.95. H&M can definitely deliver if you're looking for a decent priced jean to wear around.on a day to day basis.

Bag: Zara Soft Bowling Bag in Black 

I usually use this as my school bag, and it's the perfect bag for the job. Not too big, but can fit anything you will possibly need. Great quality as well!

Shoes: Urban Outfitters Ecote Hidden Wedge High Top Sneaker in Taupe

These are really warm and are made of an amazing super soft suede. I'd definitely recommend these for fall, especially if you do a lot of walking or for running around campus.

Top: Topshop Light Jean Button Down Shirt 2011

I love this shirt! I have never found a jean shirt besides this one that actually cinches in at the waist. It fits me perfectly and is a great length.


HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT WEEKEND! xx





Friday, 1 November 2013

First Impression Review: Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum



         I was recommended the new Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum after my mom received a sample of it, and was extremely impressed at the difference in her hair. She was complimented on the condition of her hair by our hairstylist, who told her to keep using whatever she has been using, as it seemed much less dry. My mom has much curlier hair than I do, and hers tends to be prone to dryness and frizz. Curly hair needs as much moisture as possible, especially when you use colour on top of it like she does. I'm always looking for moisturizing hair products, so I went out and purchased it from the drug store for $8.99.


The package recommends that you dispense 2-3 pumps into your hands, rub them together and then disperse the product evenly into your hair. I used 3 pumps, which isn't very much product, as it's an incredibly light weight oil. It's ingredients include sweet almond oil, hydrogenated coconut oil and argan oil.


Since the texture of my hair is naturally wavy, whenever I apply product I scrunch it in to help form the waves. I let it naturally air dry after I finish scrunching.


And this is the final result! Although it doesn't take care of all of my frizz, it made my hair feel conditioned without weighing it down at all. My waves were so bouncy and light, especially compared to when I use some of my other products. It also smells AMAZING and leaves a lasting scent in your hair. I applied one pump after my hair dried, which made even more of a difference. On dove.ca, they recommend using this product as a pre-blow dry primer or to use after your hair is already dry to tame frizz and flyaways. We'll see if this makes a bigger difference with continued use, but so far I love it!



First Impression Review: Covergirl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation

         It was hard for me to accept that I may actually have to switch up my foundation routine for the winter, as I'm obsessed with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Serum Foundation. However, unless I use a super heavy face cream underneath, I'm starting to get dry patches around my cheeks and nose. So instead of spending another $30 on a foundation that I'm not sure I would like, I went to the drugstore and looked for something more affordable that was meant to be moisturizing.


I found a few possible contenders, but decided on Covergirl's Clean Whipped Creme Foundation. I could tell just by looking at it that it was a good colour match for me. This is the lightest shade, in 305 Ivory. It's usually safe to go for the lightest colour for my skin, although there have been a few exceptions to that. I am 3 shades down in Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation, which is fantastic, especially for the price. And then at times the lightest shade looks way too orange on me.


This foundation is super thick in consistency, therefore it's easy to achieve high coverage. It's meant to be perfect for winter, as it gives your skin a boost of moisture without a shiny, greasy finish. According to covergirl.com, it will make your skin look smooth, natural and matte. It comes in 10 shades, which is a decent selection, but only contains 0.6 fl oz as opposed to the usual 1 fl oz that's fairly standard in foundations.

Bed Head!
While applying this foundation, I noticed right away that it was incredibly smooth, light and matched my skin tone flawlessly. I started in the areas where my pores tend to appear the largest.


The only breakouts I really have right now are around my chin, so I made sure to apply generously around this area. To see if the coverage was buildable, I applied two coats on my entire face with my fingertips, which is how I apply all my foundations.


This is the finished product! As you can tell, I had already applied the rest of my usual makeup. And what do I think of the result? .........Sigh. Here's the problem. Although I definitely found it to be hydrating, that was one of the only things I liked about it. Although I blended and blended with my fingertips, I found that it was hard to get it to sink into my skin. Also, it really washed my face out. I don't feel like using a slightly darker colour would have corrected this, because this shade is 100% my colour, any other colour would have looked unnatural on me. I also did not find that this photographed well on me. I didn't include a picture with just the foundation on on purpose, because I looked SO washed out. It does give a flawless finish, but the two coats I applied definitely did not let my natural skin tone shine through.

Overall, if I had only applied one coat I may have liked it better, but I think this would be a great foundation for anyone with a darker skin tone than me. I purchased this on sale for $5.99, so it's definitely a great price for what you get. So unfortunately, unless my skin is having an exceptionally dry day, I am going to go back to my Bourjois for now!

I give this foundation a 3/5 for the exact colour match, the very reasonable price, the superb hydration and the smooth texture!


THANKS FOR READING! xx


Wednesday, 30 October 2013

October Favourites!

             I can't believe it's November in 2 days! So crazy. This means less than 2 months left until Christmas, and also less than 2 months left until I go to Ireland! Ahhhh! I have been loving anything moisturizing this month, as my skin has officially made the changeover from summer to winter. I also have a few random favourites that I will include as well. I have mentioned some of these products before, so there will be a few familiar ones. Let's get into it!


LIP PRODUCTS


Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm With Kokum Butter: I've started using this lip balm as a base before I put any sort of colour on my lips. It's meant to condition your lips for 4 hours with one application, which I find to be true. I purchased this forever ago, and have busted it out again for the cold weather. A must have for the winter!

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm: The shade I'm using is called Honeysuckle, and it is the perfect colour for me. It's a brownish nude, and goes extremely well with my well loved Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick in Cappuccino. This tinted lip balm is super moisturizing, and conditions with Shea Butter and Botanical Waxes. I'd highly recommend this for the fall/winter! 

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter: I have to say, I really wish I had tried this stuff sooner! The shade I have here is 065 Creamsicle. This may seem like more of a summer colour, but for some reason I only started getting into the light pink shades this fall! You don't need to apply any sort of a base underneath, as it's exceptionally hydrating and glides on effortlessly. Will be repurchasing more shades ASAP!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain: I just did a review on this, which you can find by clicking here, but I love this gorgeous colour! This one is 035 Charm. It lightly stains your lips while giving them a moisturized feel. Unfortunately, the moisturized feeling doesn't last for too long, so I'm really only a fan because of this specific colour!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub: I actually received this as a gift for my birthday in May, but only needed to start using it recently. This has become part of my daily routine when I'm getting ready to go out, to make sure that there's no dry skin building up on my lips. My lips get chapped SO easily because of the cold weather, so this helps significantly in getting them ready for the day.

Top to Bottom: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Honeysuckle, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 035 Charm, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in 065 Creamsicle


EYES + FACE


Nip + Fab CC Eye Fix -Light: This is a really nice concealer and surprisingly moisturizing! I don't have dark circles under my eyes, but this concealer does make you look noticeably more awake and just brightens up the whole eye area. It contains light diffusing particles, as well as beeswax and vitamin E to nourish and protect. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to start carrying for their under eye area and brighten it up at the same time.

Essence Stays No Matter What 24 Hour Jumbo Eye Pencil & Shadow: This eye pencil was extremely cheap and does it's job exceptionally well! I use the shade 07 Whipped White Frosting for the inner corners of my eyes, and it's really made a difference in the presentation of my eye makeup. My eyes look brighter and stand out more. It really does not budge all day. I'll definitely be using throughout the fall and winter.

Revlon Matte Powder Blush: Apparently I'm a big fan of Revlon this month! They actually come out with some really great products, I don't think they get enough credit. I have the shade Perfectly Peach, which I've been wearing forever. I always tend to gravitate towards peach blushes as opposed to pink, just because they seem to look more natural on me. This blush has quite a long staying power, as when I take my makeup off at the end of the day it's still there. There is quite a lot of product there, so it does last you a long time. Big thumbs up!

NAILS


Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer: All Hail the Queen....there's really no need to say anything else. Check out my review here!

CLEANSERS + MOISTURIZERS


Biotherm Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse: I've talked about this cleanser so many times that it seems to be getting a little repetitive. However, I've been using this all month long and it is the perfect cleanser as it really does tone your skin at the same time. I wish it were a LITTLE more moisturizing for this month, so perhaps I will purchase the one that is meant for dry skin as well. Excellent product.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter: I have both the 50 ml size and the 200 ml size, as I like to carry one in my purse. This is a must have for the winter. Incredibly moisturizing, made with Community Fair Trade virgin organic coconut oil, you cannot go wrong with this stuff. I love using this as soon as I get out of the shower and/or on freshly shaven legs. 

Be Better Sakura Sensation Foam Bath: I received this as a gift, but I believe it's from Rexall Pharma Plus, which is a Canadian drug store. I've been using this all month long, as I take baths constantly and it smells amazing! It's made with natural ingredients and is paraben free. Love this stuff!

OTHER


Coconut Oil: I have been a huuuuge fan coconut oil for the past year, but after discovering it's most recent purpose, I've become an even bigger fan. My cat Kenya has not been feeling well (send her good vibes!) and had a really sore throat. She wasn't eating properly and was having a hard time swallowing. I started giving her about a tablespoon of coconut oil twice a day to sooth her throat, and from the first time I gave it to her there has been a huge difference! There's a million different amazing uses for coconut oil, and I'll link an article here in case you don't know about them. The kind I have here is Omega Nutrition Certified Organic Coconut Oil. However, it's best if you can get virgin or extra virgin. 

Owl Change Purse: I am obsessed with this little purse! I purchased it from St Lawrence Market I believe last month and it comes with me all the time! It's hand crafted and made with real leather. I actually use it to separate my subway tokens from my wallet. So adorable!

Kimchi Blue Kissing Swans Zip-Around Wallet: I purchased this online from Urban Outfitters about a month ago, and unfortunately it is sold out now! I love swans, so when I saw this I had to get it. It's got all the space you need and is made of incredibly smooth vegan leather. I'll be using this until it completely wears out.

H&M Leopard Print Scarf: I've been wearing this scarf non stop this month, as it seems to go with everything! I've even been wearing it with my winter coat (which may have to change, as it's not the warmest scarf). It's inexpensive, I believe I got it for $14.99 and is quite durable. I will likely be getting all of my winter accessories from H&M as well!


Back when it was warm enough to sit outside!

AND MY LAST OCTOBER FAVOURITE...




Chloe!!! Seeing as we just got Chloe this month, she is for sure an October favourite! She has settled in quickly, has grown and is such a pleasant little kitten. Her and Kenya love each other so much! Perfect addition to our little family.



THAT'S ALL! xx





March Favourites 2014! ♥

           Welcome to my March favourites 2014! As showcased in my YouTube video below, I had a decent amount of products to share with you...