Sunday, 25 October 2015

Josie Maran - Whimsical Wonder Argan oil skincare essentials

Another skincare set that I picked up was the Josie Maran whimsical wonder skincare. There were a few products in here that I have been wanting to try. Josie Maran has the best makeup removing wipes and her gentle skincare line is very popular. When the Sephora cast member tried this on my hand I was instantly sold. My hand had never felt softer. The whipped Argan oil I have been using for the past few nights and I'm in love. So soft and not oily at all. My skin stays moisturized without the heavy greasy feel that I honestly expected. 

Argan oil is produced from the argan tree in the semideserts of Morocco. This oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which have antiaging properties. This organic ingredient is known to help and prevent dehydration, inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and sebum production. It is your answer to healthy, youthful, and radiant skin and hair.

The set retales for $47 and is available in store and online http://www.sephora.com/whimsical-wonder-argan-oil-skincare-essentials-P400935?skuId=1762590


It includes five items:
 -0.33 oz Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment 
- 0.5 oz 100% Pure Argan Oil 
- 0.5 oz Argan Oil Hair Serum
- 0.5 oz Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil 
- 2 oz Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Apricot 


Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment 0.33oz is available on sephora canada and most locations for $25 http://www.sephora.com/pure-argan-milk-tm-intensive-hydrating-treatment-P384780?skuId=1757020
This revolutionary treatment serum pairs the deep hydration of purified water with skin-rejuvenating micro-droplets of Josie’s 100% Pure Argan Oil. Lightweight yet super-intensive, Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment penetrates deeply and absorbs quickly to fortify and repair skin for instant, long-lasting hydration that produces a fresh, radiant glow.



100% Pure Argan oil 0.5oz is available on sephora canada and most locations for $20 http://www.sephora.com/100-percent-pure-argan-oil-P218700?skuId=1219153
This is a great multi use product. You can put a few drops in your hands. Rub them together and pat onto your face, neck, hair, and anywhere that needs extra hydration; on stretch marks, healing wounds, dry skin patches, cuticles and split ends. My favourite as a nighttime hair treatment and i wash my hair in the morning to restore.


Argan Oil Hair Serum 0.5oz is available on sephora canada and in most locations for $15 http://www.sephora.com/argan-oil-hair-serum-P256603?skuId=1317098
This is a lightweight serum and I'm excited to try considering i have tried morrocan oil and found it too heavy on my hair. this serum is clear and doesn't weigh my hair down. it might be a contender against the pricer bumble and bumble invisible oil serum. To use, Warm a few drops of serum in the palms of your hands and distribute evenly throughout clean, towel-dried hair, concentrating on the ends. Comb through and style as usual. 


Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy oil is only available in 2.2oz for $35 http://www.sephora.com/argan-infinity-cream-intensive-creamy-oil-P377570?skuId=1488733
This product is very moisturizing.  Its another multiuser product and i after tying it it will definitely be a staple in my routine.  Its not greasy at all. Try it in store if you see it! amazing! my favourite uses are listed below in bold
Use Argan Infinity Cream to:
-Deeply moisturize dry areas of the face.
-Soothe irritated skin caused by rosacea, wind, or sunburn.
-Soften elbows, heels, and other rough patches.
-Keep stray eyebrows in place.
-Smooth flyaways.
-Moisturize at night.
-Prevent razor burn and irritation.
-Prevent skin dehydration during airline travel.
-Apply as a lip conditioner before lipstick.
-Apply over lip stain for a silky finish.
-Lightly dab on eyelids before applying eye shadow.
-Apply before or after using cheek stain to improve blendability.
-Transform powder eye shadow or pigment into a cream by mixing with Infinity Cream.
-Mix with a powder luminizer to create a light, shimmery lip balm.
-Use as a subtle face highlighter to illuminate cheekbones, lips, and brow bones.
-Mix with a powder blush to create a silky cream blush or colored lip balm.
-Hydrate and plump dry, swollen undereyes.
-Apply to fingertips and toes to hydrate and soften cuticles



Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter is available in two sizes and in different scents. I have Vanilla Apricot. 2oz retails for $15 and is perfect for travel. hands down the best body butter i have ever used! I'm thinking of picking up citrus next.
http://www.sephora.com/whipped-argan-oil-body-butter-P287700?skuId=1579135
Argan oil, is spun into a unique creamy butter to easily revitalize skin and restore softness while improving skin's texture. Powerful antioxidants enrich and nourish your skin.


Saturday, 24 October 2015

Sephora Favorites- Extend Your Style

The 2015 Sephora Holiday Sets are out! Its a great time to try out new products or pick up smaller sizes of your favourites for travel. 

One of the 2015 sets that i have picked up this year is the Dry Shampoo set "Extend Your Style" for $39 CAN http://www.sephora.com/extend-your-style-P401700?skuId=1745553



It includes 7 small dry shampoos from 7 different brands

1. Amika Perk up dry shampoo 0.75oz
-talc free
-cruelty free
-smells fruity and fresh
-spray format
-sprays clear
-currently not available for purchase on Sephora Canada Website


2. Sally Hershberger 24K Supreme Stylist Voluminous Dry Shampoo 1.5oz
-spray format
-floral hairspray scent
-sprays clear like a hairspray 
-currently not available for purchase on Sephora Canada Website


3. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo 1.8oz
-Rice Starch
-spray format
-sprays white
-advanced formula (I have tried this before and my hair did feel cleaner that other brands that i have tried)
-this size sells for $14 on the Sephora Canada website and is available in most sephora stores http://www.sephora.com/perfect-hair-day-dry-shampoo-P399688?skuId=1722172


4. Drybar detox dry shampoo 1.4oz
-spray format
-sprays beige
-Powder scent
-rice starch 
-this size sells for $16.50 on Sephora Canada website http://www.sephora.com/detox-dry-shampoo-P401123?skuId=1744770

5. Alterna Bamboo Style Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo 1.25oz
-spray format
-sprays clear
-mango coconut scent (delicious)
-this size sells for $14 on the sephora canada website http://www.sephora.com/cleanse-extend-translucent-dry-shampoo-P396324?skuId=1689298

6. Klorane Laboratories Dry Shampoo 1oz
-spray format
-sprays clear
-light hairspray scent
-rice starch
-currently not available for purchase on the Sephora Canada Website


7. Bumble and Bumble prĂȘt-a-powder 0.5oz
-loose formula. Advised to squeeze bottle to release product.
- also a style extender
-white powder
-perfume scent
-this size sells for $16 on the Sephora Canada website and is available in most sephora stores http://www.sephora.com/pret-a-powder-P384541?skuId=1668938

If i were to buy the four that were available for sale it would cost me $60.50 plus tax. I definitely got a great deal. Not good if i like one if these and i can't buy it! 

Monday, 12 October 2015

My favourite nude lipliners

Often I apply liner with balm on top instead of lipstick. Of my small collection my favourite is MAC subculture liner. It matches my natural lip colour perfectly. 

Left to right: Burberry nude beige, MAC subculture, MAC boldly bare, Essence In the Nude, MAC staunchly stylish, MAC whirl, MAC morning coffee. 

Mac Pro pencils last longer but are super drying on my lips. I need MAC prep + prime lip before applying. Other pencils I can get away with Guerlain kiss kiss lip lift ( a drier lip primer). I usually just apply primer and pencil then go. Sometimes I want a little extra like a plumper or gloss. My favourites are YSL vernis a levres plump up, Dior gloss or YSL tint in oil. 


Recommendations for liners? Let me know. I love trying new things 💕

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

MAC Pink Lipsticks vol.1

NSummer is over but had to swatch these beauties before I broke out the Browns 

Silly - brightened white pink-matte
MAC Show Orchid - very hot pink- Amplified 
MAC Gambattista Valli - tats - matte

MAC Pink Pearl Pop ( one of my faves) - frosted multi tonal pink - frosted 




Pedi conversation

You got to take time for your feet! I have horrible circulation and I try to do a mini pedi once a week ( soaking my feet in Epsom salts, buffing and applying creams). I do a full pedi every 3-4 weeks with filing and polish change. 

My key supplies are:
Clarisonic Pedi ( worth it and does the hard work for me)
Tweezerman cuticle trimmer and pusher
Butter London cuticle removing gel
Clarisonic pedi scrub, drops and cream
Dior apricot cream
Dior base coat 
Polish
Dior top coat or Chanel matte top coat
Favourite Epson salts are life brand vanilla 
Plastic tub from the dollar store 
Coconut oil

What pedi products do you recommend ? I love trying new things 



Oh Laneige

A couple of weeks ago I received the Laneige VoxBox from the Influenster (for testing the products)
In my box I received the Brightening Sparkling Water Foam Cleanser. It's a foam dispenser just like shaving cream ( press lightly or a lot of foam will come out). Made from carbonated bubbles that detoxify the skin and promote circulation. The whipped foam promises to gently remove makeup without any irritation. 

It took some time to get used to the foam dispenser. The product its self was great. My face was clean and not dried out. I'm definitely goin to try the other products ( water bank serum, water bank gel cream and water sleeping mask). I seen a small sample set at sephora which would me great for testing them out! Definitely a refreshing line and worth trying http://www.sephora.com/hydration-trial-kit-P399804?skuId=1749761&icid2=laneige_lp_bestsellers_carousel_brand:laneige_p399804_image#

Monday, 7 September 2015

Burberry Beauty - first impressions

Burberry Beauty is a newer luxury brand on the scene. With its luxury iconic plaid packaging it aims to compete with other luxury brands such as Tom Ford, Chanel, Dior, and Gucci. The Burberry brand itself is my favourite highend designer. The line is simple and classy. So I am glad that the makeup line falls into the same category. All the shades are wearable and well done.

The first product that I tried was the Trench sheer eyeshadow. It's a great everyday beige shadow. I use all over the lid and up into the crease or use to help blend darker colours out in my crease. It does have reflecting properties to it. I wouldn't call it a shimmer but it is very brightening and not a plain matte shade (lightest shade in swatches below). This was purchased in New York City by my friend at Saks https://ca.burberry.com/sheer-eye-shadow-trench-no02-p37480501

Rosewood is a beautiful brown/taupe. It's a soft metallic when applied wet. When applied dry the shimmer is more visible. I love this shade on my lid. It really makes my eyes look very green. 
http://www.sephora.com/eye-colour-wet-dry-silk-shadow-P398989?skuId=1749175
Aqua Green applied dry is a matte. The colour payoff dry isn't good. It's a little chalky. Applied wet it's a bluish green. It's a great summer-mermaid shade. I did see this shade online and inshore at Nordstrom Ottawa, Ontario location. I purchased from thebay.com and is no longer available on their site http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/burberry-beauty-eye-colour-wet-dry-silk-eyeshadow/3972785

Earthy Blush no.7 light glow contouring powder face and eyes came in the Sephora Burberry Beauty Box. I apply to my face with the kabuki brush it came with. It's a little light for a contour powder for me but its ok when you don't want to wear much make up but want to through on something to give your cheeks a bit of colour. Ip you favourite use for the product is applied with a Mac 221 brush to my eyelids or under my lower lip to make my lips look bigger http://www.sephora.com/light-glow-natural-blush-P401639?skuId=1760784

Aqua green is the only nail polish shade that I have in the brand. Great quality polish. I'm going to pick up some of there nude shades like dark trench. 

Nude Beige lip definer is a shimmery pink/nude. It's a creamy formula and not the longest lasting product. I definitely prefer Mac lip liners. 

Cashmere concealer is twisted and applied through the sponge. It is a light reflective concealer that dries quickly with no creasing. Great for the under eye. I have the shade 01 porcelain http://www.sephora.com/cashmere-concealer-P399010?skuId=1741875

The Fresh Glow highlighting luminous pen is a twist up similar to a cream shadow stick. I didn't like it for highlighting he face (cheekbones, forehead, etc). It does dry fast and was the hard to blend out. I love it however for outlining my top lip. I was using the touchĂ© eclait for that but that wasn't lasting all day. This stuff lasts and I love that! http://www.sephora.com/fresh-glow-highlighting-luminous-pen-P399014?skuId=1754704

The Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base Nude Radiance no 1  also came in the beauty box. It's a light opal/champagne mixed colour. It dries fast and is highly reflective. I wouldn't use all over but it's great for strobing http://www.sephora.com/fresh-glow-luminous-fluid-base-P398995?skuId=1754688

Burberry kisses Military Red was the last item in the beauty box. It's a bright candy apple red (not my red) nice though dabbed on as a stain. If your looking for something long lasting this is not it. I don't think I will try any more of the shades in this formula http://www.sephora.com/burberry-kisses-lipstick-P398985?skuId=1740620

Finally onto eyeliner. I have three different eyeliners from the brand. Eye Definer in midnight brown is one of my favourites. It lasts 6-8 hours on me (longer when set with a shadow). It's a gorgeous metallic brown that i picked up at a Burberry counter https://ca.burberry.com/eye-definer-midnight-brown-no02-p37480451

Effortless kohl in poppy black is a think kohl pencil. Great for creating a dark smoky eye. Blend a go http://www.sephora.com/effortless-blendable-khol-multi-use-crayon-P399017?skuId=1742113
Effortless kohl eyeliner is a long lasting twist up waterproof pencil. Love this formula. It's comparable to Chanel's stylo yeux. I have the shade storm grey (swatch below) http://www.sephora.com/effortless-kohl-eyeliner-P399018?skuId=1741149

Overall the brand is great quality. I will definitely be getting more items. No disappointments in what I have.