Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Henna

Before there was Tatcha, and Fenty, and Laneige, there was Fresh beauty, and their Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment. And you know what? That stuff is such a hit that it’s still around.

Now I’ll be honest: the one thing I don’t like about it is that it’s incredibly soft, and it melts in your car in the summer. So don’t leave it in your car in the summer. That should be easy enough to do. It’s great if you keep it in your purse, or your wallet, or beside your bed, and it’s an amazing lip balm in the winter. We’ve been having quite a winter this year, and my lips have been drier than ever – especially because I’m loving my long-wearing lip stains. But I use this stuff in the morning and at night and it’s been working to save my lips and really moisturize them.

Beeswax and a bunch of different oils are what makes this treatment so good, and it actually does taste sweet – but not enough that you’ll want to eat your lips. Just so you’re not just tasting wax all the time. This is an awesome lip balm to keep on hand this spring.

Available at Sephora stores. $34 each.

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Givenchy Mister Light

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Henna

I can’t believe I haven’t written about my favourite concealer that I have on stand-by all the time.  I present, Givenchy Mister Light which is a brightening concealer.  I say that it’s a brightening concealer because it’s not for heavy duty concealing jobs.  If you have really dark circles, this is not going to get rid of them, but it will make them brighter, which is good enough for me.

I’ve seen a lot of makeup artists use this.  They use it in the center of the face as a highlighter without any shimmer.  There is a tiny bit of shimmer in this concealer, but not enough that it’s going to be noticeable and it definitely didn’t stop me from using it under my eyes.

I have it in the colour 5.  It’s a tad lighter than my skin and that’s why it works well as a highlighter.  Because it’s so sheer, I really like using it as a gentle wash of colour after I’ve already used my foundation.  I wouldn’t use it for anything other than under-eye or highlight.

I love brush applicators.  I’m surprised that more companies don’t use them!  They work well to distribute product and to actually place product exactly where you need it.  I don’t use the applicator to blend in the product – I use my own concealer brush to do that.  I really like the Hourglass concealer brush.

$50 at Sephora and wherever Givenchy products are sold.

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Nars Toledo Swatch

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Henna

I took some time to swatch some lipsticks this summer and went through a lot of what I have. One of my favourite finds was this Nars Toledo lipstick.  Tried it on and I thought that it might be similar to my favourite Nars Velvet Matte Lip Crayon in Intriguing so I had to swatch them side by side.

Take a look.  They are pretty close. Toledo on the left, Intriguing on the right.

Toledo is creamier, more pigmented, and the colour is a little deeper.  Intriguing is a bit more peach and has a drier texture.  Intriguing will last longer on the lips and Toledo will be more moisturizing.  I don’t think that I could really substitute one for the other, but I don’t like to throw Intriguing into my purse because I need a sharpener to use it.  Toledo will be what goes around with me, but I’ll use Intriguing at home.

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Tom Ford Black Orchid Review

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

I love Tom Ford perfume, and Tom Ford Black Orchid is the perfect fall scent. In a way, it’s classic Tom Ford. Assertive, unique, and strong.

Patchouli and vanilla are paired together to make a spicy warm base with a bit of mustiness from sandalwood. Sandalwood is a favourite note of mine so this is a scent that really agrees with me. It’s dry but warm like a fire and I love that.

It’s an eau de parfum that has decent lasting power and longevity and you need just one spray to last you the whole entire day no matter what is going on.

$119 for 30ml or $65 for the mini 10ml size which is honestly my favourite way to buy perfume these days. I’m definitely not investing in a full size, because I’m trying to finish some of the stuff that I have before I add to it. But this is on my list of perfumes to own. It’s truly unisex.

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Vichy Normaderm Serum and Cleanser

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

These are two of my favourite skincare products this year – the Vichy Normaderm anti-Acne cleanser, and the Double Action Anti-Acne Lotion.

I know that a lot of you might be struggling with acne because of mask-wearing – it gets hot and sweaty under those masks especially if you’re talking or working out a lot. Really, you can’t avoid wearing a mask, but you can incorporate some skincare into your routine that will help with the breakouts, and that’s where these Vichy Normaderm products come in handy. The Normaderm cleanser is your typical foaming gel cleanser. It has a wonderful herbaceous scent and if leaves skin clean but not stripped. I would use it as a second cleanser, and use something creamy to take off makeup if you’re using it.

The Double Action Anti-Acne lotion is one that I can’t live without, but I’m using it as a serum in the morning and at night, instead of using it as a lotion. It has hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid in it – the first helps your skin hold moisture, and the second helps fight acne inside the pores and through any oil. This is a great product for oily skin and it works so well under a heavier moisturizer.

$26.95 for the Normaderm cleanser and $29.95 for the Anti-Acne lotion and both are available online or in drugstores.

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Affordable Luxury: Pai Skincare

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

Apparently, this skincare line is the favourite of Natalie Portman, and knowing the actress’s preference for the vegan natural sort of products that are more luxury and less granola, Pai Skincare totally fits the bill.

Pai offers organic solutions for sensitive skins and the products are seriously moisturizing but with a roster of natural ingredients that are proven to make a difference on skin.

Try the Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($49).

Rosehip is the latest natural ingredient proven to help regenerate skin, taking care of fine lines and wrinkles.  Used on the body, Rosehip oil helps get rid of stretch marks or prevents them from occurring in the first place.  Pai’s Rosehip oil is the most concentrated one on the market, making it a go-to product for anyone looking to repair skin naturally and without any harsh ingredients.

Interested in ordering either for yourself or someone else who would appreciate them? Head over to PaiSkincare.com.

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PAI Rosehip Oil

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

It’s getting colder outside so it’s time to layer on the oils in your skincare routine. This is probably best as the last step in your morning skincare, before sunscreen, and the last step in your PM skincare before you go to bed. I’ve been using this Pai skincare Rosehip oil recently – you can always spot the rosehip oil because of its bright orange colour! Rosehip oil is unique because it has a dry consistency and finish. So it feels like a dry oil on your skin instead of a regular oil. This is great for people who don’t like the greasy feel of an oil and want something weightless.

My only issue with any rosehip oil is how bright it is, and I’m always worried I’m going to drop it on my clothes. For this reason, I do like mixing it with a moisturizer and then applying it. That way I get all the goodness of the oil but not the bright orange colour, and I do find that the Pai oil plays well with everything. Just a couple of drops and I still get all the antioxidants that are in the oil.

Pai skincare is available at many stores, including The Bay, The Detox market, Well.ca, but also on their own website. $49.

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Freshening Up Curly Hair

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

Do you refresh your curls instead of washing them?  I know lots of people do this, but it’s something that I don’t think works for me.  I just find it’s not the same as a freshly washed head.That being said, here are two products that I think are great for curly hair: Moroccanoil Leave-In Conditioner, and Bumble and Bumble Curl Reactivator.  They are both slippery and conditioning, and I like to use them on wet hair to add some moisture.

The Moroccanoil Leave-In might just be my most favourite hair product of all time.  $32 on Amazon.ca.

BB Curl Reactivator is $28 (for a bigger bottle than the Moroccanoil Leave-in) and is $28 wherever you get your Bumble and Bumble (including Sephora).

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Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier Review

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Henna

My skin is getting kind of dry – it’s a combo of the product that I’m using, and quite honestly, age.  So I’ve basically had to permanently add a hydrating serum to my routine, and it’s barely cutting it, so I’ll cut down on the actives for a little while and see if that helps.

But! These days I’m using Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier as my first step after cleansing and it’s doing a great job putting some actual hydration into my skin before I follow up with treatment, moisturizer, or an oil to lock that Hyaluronic Acid in.

Because a hyaluronic acid product is lighter, watery, and is there for the hydration, you want to put it on first, but if you’re using a watery vitamin C serum, then you want to put it on after that.  If you’re using a toner as an active, then you want to put it on after that. I’m using a vitamin C oil in the morning, and a moisturizer at night, so I put it on before both those things!

If you have very dry skin, then I really recommend putting a hyaluronic acid product on your skin to see if that makes a difference.  So far, it’s working for me.

You can get Skinceuticals at a med-spa, or dermatologist’s office, or online. $130.

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How To Use The Ordinary’s Vitamin C Suspension 23%

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Henna

I love that we can get a really high percentage of vitamin C for less than $10 thanks to Deciem’s The Ordinary.  If you’re in the market for a new vitamin C serum, this would be one to try because it’s so concentrated.  But because it’s so strong, I find that it really burns my skin when I put it on so I thought I would include some tips for using it.

Firstly, this is vitamin C in a squalane oil base.  People online have complained that it’s oily.  That’s because squalane is a plan oil that’s very close to our natural skin’s oil so, yes, this is going to feel oily.

Because it’s an oil, you want to put this on as a last step in your skincare routine.  After any other serums and moisturizers.  The oil will lock in the moisture that you’re putting on first.  Then. you can go ahead and top with sunscreen or makeup or both!

I also find that this really burns my skin if it has dry patches and if I don’t hydrate it first, so that’s my other tip.  First put a moisturizer and then your skin won’t burn as much.

Also, the burning diminishes day by day, but you do have to distract yourself from it at first so that you don’t scratch your face or even touch your face while the vitamin C is on there.  I just move on to the next part of my getting ready routine and really, the burning is gone in less than a minute.

Deciem says that a tingly, stinging sensation is completely normal, but I found that it was more of a burn and I wasn’t ready for it.  If you’re mentally prepared, it’s easier to deal with.

Those are my tips!  You can get this online for $5.80, and Deciem is having a 23% off sale for the whole month of November.

 

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