Zoom meetings are now the new normal and it’s to the point where we wonder why we ever bothered to leave the house just for a meeting – especially when the weather is cold and driving can be a hazard. The good news is that you can do Zoom ready makeup in less than 10 minutes, and because you probably won’t be on the meeting for long, you don’t have to worry about powder or primer.
I hope you enjoy the video!
http://www.instagram.com/tv/CG3S2Q0B3uR/
Just like to post these once in a while… here’s what I’m actually using right now!
I gotta say that all of these are favourites, and I just ran out of the Ole Henriksen Glow2Oh toner – it has acid in it so it made my skin so nice and smooth, but it wasn’t strong enough to be majorly irritating.
Check out how much of the Vichy Normaderam double Action Anti-Acne Lotion I’ve used up! It’s so light that I can use it morning and night after using the toner. I think top with something heavier – the Glossier Priming Moisturizer during the day and the Neutrogena Rapid Repair lotion at night.
The Altilis Beauty InflorEssence Clarifying Gel Mask is a Lactic acid product so it’s exfoliating but a bit gentler and more moisturizing than something with glycolic on it. I use this when I’m not in the mood for the Normaderm and only at night.
What are you using right now?
I was so excited to finally get my hands on a Byredo scent. I wanted something new for the new year, and so went online and did a little searching and reading. I was originally going to get Byredo’s Gypsy Water, somewhat for the cool name, then thought of getting Rose of No Man’s Land, because I love roses, but finally decided on Blanche because it was so well-reviewed and seemed to be the “popular” scent. It also had White Rose and Sandalwood written beside it, and well, that’s what gets me.
I read the description: clean, fresh, and like the name suggests, white. It’s supposed to invoke innocence but also warmth.
I’m not usually for clean scents… but it was the beginning of January, so I thought, why not?
Well, I have to say that I’m disappointed. Blanche doesn’t smell bad, but it does smell just like laundry detergent. Well, I do a lot of laundry, run the dishwasher daily, and am washing a lot of dishes, so I smell detergent all the time. The last smell I really want to apply on to myself is something that smells just like Tide and Bounce.
Yes, Blanche is clean and warm like clothes coming out of the dryer, like steam after a soapy shower, like clean babies, but it’s just not exotic enough for me. I like scents to be transportive and exotic. I was wooed by the description of sandalwood in Blanche’s drydown, but I didn’t smell enough of it and there was just too much powdery musk instead. I didn’t catch any white rose or peony in the opening and from beginning to end, this smelled like clean fresh soap… which I smell enough of during the day anyway.
I do love that this scent comes in a rollerball oil. Oils tend to stick to skin better, and you can apply them exactly what you want with the rollerball. Le Labo also sells oil versions of their scents, but in a dropper format which is less elegant to use. I might still travel with this because I like the concept, but I definitely don’t find myself reaching for it at all. Maybe if I was going on a plane ride or camping, this might be my scent, but it’s not cool enough for everyday use, and for a premium scent, I’d like to use it for more than hanging out in nature.
$100 at Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, and Net-A-Porter which is where I originally bought it.
Brands are still coming out with glossy lip products even though most of us are wearing masks, and I still wear whatever lippie I want, and just wash my mask afterwards.
Right now, I’ve got the new Glossier Vinylic Lip on hand. I’ve got it in the colour Driver and Genius. Driver is a red, and that’s the one I’ve gotten more compliments on. Genius is a peachy pink that’s really close to my natural lip colour but a bit lighter. The point is that it looks more natural on my lips. It’s the colour I’m wearing below – Glossier says that they wanted a liner, gloss, and lipstick in one but I’d put my own liner with this.
The texture of Vinylic Lip is glossy, balmy, and moisturizing. This is not an overly shiny or long-wearing product but it feels comfortable on your skin and gives you a hint of tint. I do love it and am wearing it daily.
They come in a clicky-kind of pen and the lush cream comes out of the top of a carpeted applicator. They feel comfortable to apply and are great for colder weather because they’re moisturizing.
The creamy red below is called Driver. It’s moisturizing and so wearable.
You can get them online. If you use my link you can get 10% off! $20 each.
I am all about the retinol. I make a part of my routine even if it’s just something that I’m just using once a week. I’m hoping that it’ll help boost collagen and keep acne away from my skin. We all know that retinol can be super irritating on your skin especially if you already have dry and sensitive skin. So many people tell me that retinol doesn’t “work” for them, but it’s important to remember that it’s one of those ingredients that works on the deeper layers of the skin – so you likely can’t see what it’s doing, and if you’re experiencing irritation, it’s because of the formula, not the ingredient.
This new Strivectin Mult-Action Super-C Retinol has retinol and vitamin C in it to really brighten skin and boost collagen. Did you know that vitamin C can boost collagen in its own way? That means that pairing it with retinol as part of a regimen to take care of your skin can be a great idea, especially if you feel as if your skin doesn’t look as plump as usual.
This serum is suitable to use in the morning and at night – it’s actually pretty gentle because it doesn’t have a very high concentration or retinol or vitamin C, so it’s easy to use without disrupting your skin barrier. I think that’s the reason that they haven’t labelled the percentage of ingredients on the package, because there’s just a small amount in there.
You can pick this up online or wherever you usually find your Strivectin products – Shoppers Drug Mart has them in Canada.
$79.
I’ll admit that I was a bit of a skeptic when it came to this cleanser, but I do use retinol on a regular basis, so this was also something that I wanted to try.
The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser is a gentle cream cleanser and it’s actually become one of my favourites. It’s rich and creamy but so it emulsifies everything – makeup, sunscreen, mascara is all melted by this cleanser, but it washes away clean without leaving any kind of film and residue on your face.
This is a great cleanser for those who have sensitive skin due to using retinol or even otherwise. It’s not drying or stripping and just cleans your skin without foaming.
Available in drugstores or online. $12.99.
#nofilter On this @eauthermaleaveneca compact sunscreen because I wanted you guys to be able to see the color.
This is an SPF 50 tinted compact sunscreen that comes with its own sponge applicator. It’s not very pigmented and it is water resistant with broad-spectrum sun protection. I have the compact in the shade Honey. You can see from the inside of the compact that it’s kind of a light tan color that’s more cool or neutral in town.
My biggest issue with tinted sunscreen is is that they’re usually not in warm shades which means that they’re not a very good match for my skin tone. This one is quite sheer and I like to use it in the middle of the day to reapply my sunscreen but I wouldn’t use it as a foundation.
It looks great on camera so it’s nice to throw on before a zoom meeting!
Watch me demo it here.
http://www.instagram.com/tv/CGBW5-8BH-b/
$34.50 at Shoppers Drug Mart or wherever you buy your Avene products.
Are you a BB Cream fan? The concept of BB Creams comes from Germany where they were used on patients who had undergone laser treatments. The BB cream was meant to provide skin treatment and cover-up in one and since then they’ve been introduced by almost every brand in a variety of formulas.
The Marcelle Cosmetics BB cream has a combination of Vitamin C and Green Tea, in a flattering base that provides just enough pigment to make skin look healthier and better, not completely covered. It’s sheer but also adds a little glow, and you can see that the medium tone is really right on! 
I found this BB cream comfortable to wear and moisturizing which is what my skin likes. Because it has no sun protection, I’m not really sure if the vitamin C or green tea are getting into my skin because the sunscreen I’m wearing underneath this is a barrier, but it is a good foundation-type product on my skin. I think of it more like a tinted moisturizer.
Available in 3 colours – Fair, Light-Medium, and Medium. If you’re my skin tone, medium would suit you but if you’re even a smidge darker you might find that there’s no shade available. Because this is so sheet, each colour is forgiving.
$24.95 online.
I didn’t love Giorgio Armani Face Fabric when I first tried it.
On my skin, it did this weird, rolling thing, especially when applied with fingers.
The trick with Face Fabric is to use a damp sponge, and when applied as such, it goes on smoooooothly, thanks to its silicon base. The coverage is pretty light, but does a good job of evening out skin tone efficiently and dries to a silky finish.
I absolutely understand the hype with this foundation. It feels fantastic on the skin, and in spite of the silicon base, it never feels mask-like, and allows your skin plenty of breathing room.
The end result is skin that is smooth, flawless, and dewy – isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
$63 at the Armani counter.
Here are some empties that I just finished. What did you go through this month?
http://www.instagram.com/tv/CF0kSFiBKeD/
