New DermaE DMAE Products

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Henna

DermaE is a brand you want to look to if you’re into vegan skincare, because from what I’ve seen, they are really leaders in this field.  I’ve been using their new DMAE products – I’ve got the Ferulic Acid Resurfacing Pads, and the Firming DMAE Moisturizer.  DMAE is an antioxidant, and works to help your skin be more firm.

I love the Ferulic Acid pads because they have antioxidants (ferulic acid is one too), paired with lactic acid and glycerin to make for an exfoliating pad that’s moisturizing at the same time.  This is rare in exfoliators, and if you have dry skin, I encourage you to seek out an exfoliator with lactic acid in it!  You might find it to be more gentle!

I didn’t like the DermaE Firming Moisturizer as much.  For one, it wasn’t that moisturizing on me, and it has a bit of a matte finish.  This would be great for someone who doesn’t have very dry skin or whose skin is oily. I also found that this had a bit of a funny smell that I didn’t like.

All in all, 1/2 of the DMAE products were a hit which is fine.  The moisturizer wasn’t bad, it just didn’t work for me because my skin is more dry than usual.  I’ve been wearing a mask all day and it really sucks the moisture out of my skin and the only way I can really calm it down is with a thick layer of moisturizer and oil.

DermaE is available at Well.ca, iHerb, and online.

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Tom Ford Cafe Rose Video Review

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Henna

I bought this perfume for my birthday in 2017 and it’s still one of my favourites.

Finally, I happened upon Tom Ford Cafe Rose – I only picked it up because I love Rose scents and I saw that there was Rose in the name of this one.  I was blown away by how unique it smelled.  The Cafe part of the Cafe Rose is more about coffee grounds and less about lattes or a coffee shop.  There’s lots of Rose and spice.

Here’s the video review:

 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CLsdKATBywc/?igshid=159bq2ph6t8af

At the heart of this fragrance are three different rose notes: Rose de Mai, Turkish Rose, and Bulgarian Rose, so it kind of smells like a garden rather than just one simple rose note. The drydown is incense, amber, and patchouli which makes for a deeply intense woody base.  It goes from smelling rosy, to smelling quite like patchouli.

The longevity of this scent isn’t the greatest.  One spritz seems to disappear by the end of the day, but layered a bit more, and it does last longer.  The final effect is dry and kind of sour, but not in a bad way.  Kind of like the pucker of a balsamic vinegar throughout the scent, rather than that of a vinegar. Because this is more of a dark rose, and not a bright rose, it is unisex and can be worn by anyone.  Of course, you’ll have to try it out in person to see how it warms up to your skin, but on mine it doesn’t warm at all, and it really stays nice and powdery which I like.

Cafe Rose is different from other rose scents that I have smelled but still does smell like a bouquet of roses.

Pick it up wherever fine fragrances are sold.

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Image: MAC Haute and Naughty Lash Brushes

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Henna

The cool thing about this mascara is that there’s only one formula, and all that’s changing is the brush that you apply it with.  You can use the brush with the spaces and the fine combs to get more definition and length (bottom comb) and the thicker brush can be used to give volume.  I usually want a voluminous look so I actually use the fine comb to make sure that all the lashes are covered and then go over them again with the voluminous comb so that I have more drama.  And I only have to use one tube.

$31 at MAC.

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The Best Retinol

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Henna

Comparing 2 bougie retinols today. Alumier MD and Vivier. Both have 1% retinol in them, and both come in airless pumps. My Alumier has clearly seen better days because the bottle is falling apart, but that’s just because it got tossed into a travel bag this summer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Maybe you can make this out from the picture, but the Alumier MD retinol has a golden colour and a stiffer, grainy, and dry texture. It feels powdery on your skin and quite dry. It would be perfect for someone with very oily skin, but tbh, even if with oily skin, the effects of a strong retinol are so drying that I could only use this one once a week. I find the texture of this very similar to the Skinceuticals retinol.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Vivier Retinol has shea butter in the formula and is more of a cream, and although it’s not very moisturizing, it’s still not as drying. Again, the formula is strong, but I find this not to be as harsh on my skin, and I can definitely use it every other day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You’re paying more than $100 for each of these, and you might not be able to get samples before you try, so it might be good to know what to expect!

 

 

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Favourite Products – Foundation, Lips, Palette, Primer

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Henna

Here are some things that I’ve been using and loving recently. You know when you find something you like and you’re obsessed with it and can’t use anything else? Well, that’s what’s happened with this Bare Minerals Matte Lip Cream. I have it in XYZ which is a discontinued colour. This lip cream is matte but not too drying which means that it doesn’t last forever, but still doesn’t wear off after my first cup of coffee.

Also in rotation is the Maybelline Dream Urban Cover, and the Make Up For Ever Pro-Contour palette.  Using the Nars Smooth and Protect primer, and the Lise Watier Sun Smart primer which help my makeup stay on. It still comes off on a mask but it looks pretty good at the end of the day!

What’s something you’re obsessed with?

 

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Clive Christian 1872 for Women Perfume Review

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Henna

1872 for Women by @clivechristianperfume, a house that holds the record for most expensive perfume in the world.

It’s old-school and very masculine because the opening is sharp and almost abrasive. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. One spray lasts forever with impressive projection and longevity.

 

 

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YSL Belle d’Opium

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Henna

YSL Opium was launched in 1978, well before my time as well, and caused a bit of a stir at that time.  The hoopla was caused by the shock of a perfume being named after a drug (imagine a new scent released now being called “Meth” or “Coke”).  Further sensation was caused by the juice itself which was spicy and heady (and it still is), the YSL couture collection was created to back up the scent (this is the norm now, especially for Chanel who has even in all subtlety featured a large perfume bottle in the center of a runway), and there was of course, a ton of marketing to back up the perfume including a disco party, and a launch at an actual opium den.

Belle d’Opium is to be an update of the original.  Something that younger audiences can relate to.  If you weren’t alive when the original Opium came out, perhaps you’ll take notice of Belle d’Opium.  YSL says that this isn’t a flanker, but after smelling it, I have to say that it is.  It keeps the same feel as the original Opium but updates it with a few different notes, and that’s what a flanker is.

Having worn Opium for some time which I was younger, I have to say that I do like this version better.  I’m sure that it’s partly because I am the intended audience for it.  The only reason that I stopped wearing Opium was that it did start to feel a little too much for me, and I thought that it was a little too mature.

But the Belle d’Opium feels like me.  I think it’s because it combines 2 of my favourite kinds of notes: big white florals and incense.  The drydown is quite spicy and peppery and has notes of patchouli, amber, and sandalwood.  Thus, it is a long-lasting scent, and for me the top and middles notes barely lasted, and I was left with mostly patchouli and amber which is just fine with me.

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By Kilian Love and Tears

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Henna

For the past few weeks I have been wearing Love and Tears, Surrender By Kilian.  This scent is a jasmine-based one and is listed as being unisex, though I can’t imagine any men I know wanting to wear it.

That being said, the scent is not overly feminine either.  This is not a big white floral or one that knocks you on the head with its Jasmine notes.  Instead it’s pretty subtle and that may be because it’s supposed to be the last scent in the Kilian Love series.  This scent is supposed to represent succumbing to love.

The scent also has notes of orange blossom and bergamot which help keep it fresh and relevant.

This scent reminds me of a fresh summer day after the rain.  The scent of the jasmine is so wonderful but not overly heavy.  It’s kind of a perfect spring scent because it’s only slightly warmer than summer scents are.

The other scents in the Love collection are Prelude to Love, Invitation (my favourite); Love, Don’t Be Shy; and Beyond Love, Prohibited.

 

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Nude Lipsticks from Maybelline and Hourglass

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Henna

Pictured below are a couple of Maybelline Lipsticks from their Buffs collection which came out a while ago, and the Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylos which are still available on the Sephora website, but probably not for long.

Honestly, I have to recommend the Maybelline lipsticks over the Hourglass ones.  They’re smoother, creamier, and easier to work with.  I have the Hourglass lippies in No. 3 and No. 4 and you would think that the medium tones would be perfect for me, I’m a medium skin tone through and through, but they wear so light and are quite peachy.

The Maybelline lipsticks in the colours 920 (Nude Lust) and 930 (Truffle Tease) are also medium, and suit me perfectly, and they’re only $8 compared to the $42 from Hourglass.

Here’s me wearing Truffle Tease with a pink lip liner and it worked so well. I really liked how it looked and I’m going to be keeping it in the round up.

You can find Truffle Tease here, as well as all the Maybelline Buffs lipsticks.

 

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Boy Smells Ambrosia Candle

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Henna

I’m not one for pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon, or clean cotton candles but if you like to smell floral, smoky, or dirty, then you can sit beside me.

The Boy Smells Ambrosia candle looks and smells amazing.  Rosemary is fresh and soapy, the iris is floral and I almost don’t smell the vanilla so I don’t mind it it’s there.

I’ve written about Boy Smells before, and wow, I do love the pictures I’ve taken of this line. 

Find them at Holt Renfrew.

$48 each.

 

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