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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Benefit BadGal Lash Mascara Review

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Henna

I’m trying out this new mascara. Do you find that it takes some time to figure out how each one works and then you’re good after that?

I’m finding that the Benefit Badgal Lash mascara is really dry and super natural-looking. It’s perfect for people who don’t like a wet mascara and who prefer a kind of old-school wand.  This mascara is absolutely great to use on the lower lashes, because it doesn’t smudge but is nice and intense and black.

$33, available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, Indigo.ca, and TSC.ca

 

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Favourite Facial Oils Roundup

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Henna

Face oils – consider me a convert.  I’ve realized that my skin isn’t just combination, sometimes it’s downright dehydrated because of the climate and because of not drinking enough water!  The struggle is real!

So I’m adding hydration to my routine, usually first thing in the morning, and I’m also using a facial oil so that my skin doesn’t feel so tight during the day.  Here are three that I have on rotation, and I use them for different purposes.  One will be right for you too!

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  1. The Body Shop Intensely Revitalizing Oils of Life Facial Oil. ($44)  This is the lightest feeling oil that I’ve tried so far, but it still leaves my skin feeling hydrated, soft, and comfortable. The Facial Oil contains Black Cumin Seed Oil, Camelia Oil, and Rosehip Oil.  They’re all proven to be great for the skin, and this oil has a velvety smooth finish to boot.  This is the one oil that’s super versatile – use it day or night, with or without moisturizer, under makeup or mixed into foundation!
  2. Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate. ($96)  This is the oil to use if you need more hydration.  It’s heavier than The Body Shop oil and best used at night.  It has Tamanu Botanical Oil, Sunflower Botanical Oil, and ginger Root Essential Oil.  It feels like a true oil on the skin and doesn’t really “set” but that moisturizing feeling lasts and lasts.  It leaves my skin super bright – I notice when I use it, so I’m sticking with this one too!
  3. Smashbox Primer Oil. ($52)  This is the best primer I’ve ever tried.  It makes everything going on super smooth and really lets makeup last during the day. Thicker feeling yet best for use under makeup because it lets it go on so smooth.  This is the only oil that really absorbs into the skin and leaves it feeling as smooth as butter.  This is my favourite oil to use during the day especially if I’m going to be wearing makeup.  Powder on top of it and then everything else looks extra extra smooth. 
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4 Best Hair Oils

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Henna

Hair oils have been gaining popularity, and there’s nothing I love more than dousing my hair in some oil, going to work out, and then washing it all off. I feel like the heat from the workout helps the oil penetrate each and every strand of my hair, and then I’m left with more nourished and shiny hair afterwards.

Here are some of the hair oils that I’ve tried. Click on the links to read the full reviews!

1. Bumble and Bumble Luminous Oil Spray. This is maybe the only spray on the list. It’s light and awesome for curly dry hair.

 

2. Kerastase Aura Botanica.  I used this one as a serum and it worked so well.  No silicones in this!

 

3. Aveda Dry Remedy Oil.  Smells AMAZING, and absorbs into your hair so quickly.

 

4. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Concentrate.  Again, a pre-shampoo treatment and it washes clean so easily – you just need 1 shampoo.  The entire Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil line is great, but this especially so.

Do you need hair oil?  Is castor oil from Amazon better than all of these?  I’m of the view that doing a pre-shampoo is a great treatment for all hair types once a week.  Give your hair something that’s not as drying, and it’ll be happy, especially in the winter when we seem to be harsher to our hair.  Use something you’re going to like – if you like how it smells and how easy it is to apply to your hair, then you’ll probably use it way more.  If you’re not a big fan of it, and it doesn’t smell good, then maybe you won’t bother.

The Bumble and Bumble Concentrate is great, but if you’re too lazy to heat it up then maybe you won’t use it, but the brand does say that you only need to leave it in your hair for a few minutes, so it’s not going to take that much time!

I really like something pre-shampoo, but I also think it’s important to seal in moisture post-shampoo so I always using an oil-type serum or some kind of oily product at some point in my haircare routine.  Every stylist I’ve had has told me that this is important to my hair because it’s dry and curly.

Do you use hair oil in your hair?

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MAC Mehr Lipstick Swatch

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Henna

Here’s my favourite MAC lipstick of all time: Mehr.

It came out in 2011, as part of the Mickey Contractor collection and it’s described as a dirty blue pink.  Mickey Contractor is a Bollywood makeup artist, which means that he works on the stars in Indian cinema.

I still remember bring the lipstick with me to a party, and when I got asked what colour it was, I had to pull it out.  My friend, who is also Indian and has a huge love for Bollywood, almost started crying when she saw the name of the lipstick because that’s how much it meant to her to be represented in the beauty world.  She finally felt seen.

It does mean something when a makeup brand you’ve shopped at since you were little works with someone who gets your skin tone.  Mickey Contractor had also come out with an orange and yellow corrector that you could use on different parts of your face, which was kind of a big deal too.  The brand didn’t have anything like it at the time.

Anyway, Mehr was made part of the permanent collection when they expanded their matte lipsticks and now we don’t have to hoard it anymore.

Available at the MAC counter. $24.

 

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Bumble and Bumble Bond-Building Products

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Henna

Bumble and Bumble has expanded its Bond-Building collection, so it’s not just styling products.  The line now includes a shampoo, conditioner, and a Repair Treatment that repairs broken bonds but is in a beautiful moisturizing formula.  It leaves hair softer and smoother, and I love that. I use it in my hair before I go workout, and then wash it out afterwards.  Works like a charm.

I’ve also reviewed the Repair Styling Cream, and it’s maybe my most favourite styling cream ever!

$31 for the shampoo, $34 for the conditioner, $34 for the treatment, and $34 for the styling cream, all available online.

 

 

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Prada Infusion de Vetiver EDT Review

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Henna

This perfume has sat in my collection forever, and I can’t believe that I haven’t reviewed it, especially considering that I love the smell of vetiver. Officially a “men’s” scent, but one that I keep for myself.  This was originally launched as an EDT pour homme, and then reformulated and relaunched as a unisex EDP.

Prada Infusion de Vetiver – I know it doesn’t say this on the bottle, but this was a Prada Homme launch back when they were first launching the Infusions. They put the notes right on the bottle: Vetiver, tarragon, Madagascar pepper, and purple (or red) ginger.

This is definitely a unisex scent, and I love the dryness of the Vetiver at any time of year. When I found out that vetiver was a grass sometimes found in India, I realized that’s maybe why it spoke to me so much. The opening of Infusion de Vetiver is quite peppery and I find that I definitely have days when I’m not into that, so I don’t reach for this one. But on some days, if I want something revitalizing and awakening, the pepper is just the thing. This is definitely a morning or daytime scent for me because I prefer something cozy in the afternoon.

Because this is discontinued, it may only be available at fragrance resale points.

 

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Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Henna

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You have to love a mascara with packaging as cute as this one. Benefit’s new Roller Lash mascara is aptly named because it promises to give lashes a lash curler type effect while adding volume and length. Check out the wand – it has long and short bristles.  I find that the short bristles are good at depositing product and the longer bristles are good at combing it out.

I’m not big on using a lash curler, and I wasn’t too sure how much Benefit’s claims would be true, but actually, this mascara did provide quite a nice uplifting hold to my lashes even though I did nothing special to really apply the mascara – all I did was apply copious amounts as I do with all my mascara.

My lashes look amazing, there’s no smudging at all with this mascara, unlike They’re Real which tends to stray on to my lid by lunch time. The only weird thing I noticed is that my lashes are a little tacky to the touch – that could be because of all the mascara I’ve applied, but it doesn’t happen with any other mascara, so I thought it was a little strange. Regardless, it’s not something that I notice during the day and I like this mascara enough to keep using it and applying it.

Benefit Rller Lash mascaraI especially like the wand which is the kind that has a spiky comb – it makes it easy to separate lashes, and not apply the mascara on to your eyelid.

The mascara is on counters and is $33.

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