Benefit Crescent Row

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Henna

Throwback to the Benefit Crescent Row perfume collection which was a lovely collection that launched in 2009 but is now discontinued.  I loved it and you might be able to find it at second-hand perfume retailers.

No matter how hard I try to break out of my heady, musky, incense-y fragrance craze, I just can’t seem to enjoy a nice light scent, no matter what time of year. Yes, I’m an oriental fragrance lover, and there’s no oriental scent that I don’t like.

My most recent favourite scent is actually a whole collection. I’m talking about Benefit’s new line of pretty scents called Crescent Row. All the scents have light, fruity or floral openings but they are all oriental in their dry-downs.

The scents are called Sofia, Lee Lee, and Gina. Sofia is my favourite and has strong top notes of mango – so real that you can almost taste it – but the dry-down is a mixture of musk and vanilla on me.

Lee Lee has notes of cassis, melon, and citrus, and the drydown is a woody amber and santal.

Finally there’s Gina, which I thought I loved on first sniff, but it turns out that the drydown isn’t something I love. It has top notes of peony and white lily, and base notes of patchouli and tonka bean.

Although all of these are eau de toilettes, they are quite strong, and one spritz is often enough. Because of the oriental bottom notes, the scents are long-lasting and can make it through a summer day without wearing out. They are actually remarkable in their longevity and are surprisingly sophisticated scent offerings considering that Benefit has more of a “fun” aesthetic when it comes to fragrances.

The packaging of the scents is to die for, and I have them all lined up on my vanity. The bottle is a gold one with colourful overlay denoting the scent’s name. They look so pretty, and my only complaint is that the overlay is a sticker that can come off if you’re not careful. Nevertheless, these are truly pretty possessions and house fantastic scents to boot!

 

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Derma-E Acne Deep Pore Cleansing Wash Review

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Henna

I was introduced to the Derma-E line last year, and I’ve loved using a lot of their products.  This Acne Deep Pore Cleansing Wash has salicylic acid and tea tree oil in it so it smells invigorating but is anti-bacterial at the same time. It combines 2 great anti-acne products and helps get rid of oil on your skin.

I really love the texture of this cleanser.  It’s a slippery formula that is gently foaming so it’s not too drying.  I use it as the second cleanser in my night time routine, and as the first cleanse during my daytime routine.

This is actually the second bottle of this cleanser that I’ve used, and it’s already half done.  That’s how much I like it, and I’m going to keep using it!

You can find Derma-E products in health food stores, and sometimes in the natural aisle at the pharmacy.  You can also get this online.

About $25.

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Should I Get a Facial?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Henna

Facials require not only a commitment of funds but also of time, and so a lot of people are wary of getting them before they sign away 3 hours of their afternoon. Should you get a facial?

The short answer: it depends.

Personally, I agree with many of you in that it’s hard to relax for a whole afternoon and just get a facial when there is so much else to do in one’s day. I would rather get a half-hour quicky massage and do more in my afternoon. I would rather go to the gym for 2 hours than sit in a facialist’s chair. But hey, that’s just me.

The truth is that facials can be good but only if you can commit to getting them on a regular basis. They can definitely alleviate severe dryness and can be quite relaxing. I once had a facial so great, that I felt asleep in the chair!

Furthermore, if you have a lot of blocked pores, a facialist can help clear those for you.

I would say that the best thing about getting a facial is that you’re seeing a skincare expert on a regular basis and so they can make sure that you’re taking care of your skin and using the right products for your skin conditions. If you have ongoing skin problems, a facialist can be a huge help for you. I love Dermalogica facials.

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Vera Wang Bouquet

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Henna

As soon as I heard the name Vera Wang Bouquet, I knew that it would be a fragrance that matched up to my tastes.  I love the floral scents in the summer.  After reading the notes – blackcurrent, and honeysuckle with bases of teak and woods, I knew I was in for a treat.

It’s true, this scent is already one of my favourites and I like it so much that I can wear it almost every day.  It has great lasting power, it’s a parfum, and although the top notes are a little too generically floral, it’s the combination of those with the base that makes this fragrance smell so good.  It’s a fresh green scent that reminds me of freshly cut grass and a garden after a rainfall. It lasts the whole day on me, and it’s one of those that I wish I could douse myself in.

Check out Vera Wang Bouquet if you want a nice floral scent.  Available online.

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Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Specialist Moisturizer

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Henna

I’m testing out Vichy’s Liftactiv Collagen Specialist cream right now.  The line is formulated with peptides and vitamin C which both help collagen formation in the skin.  After you turn 30, collagen production in your skin can go down, and so your skin can start to look saggy, and not as bouncy as it was.  

There are lots of ingredients that can help with that, but vitamin C and peptides are 2 of them, and Vichy has them in their formula.  Check out the open jar of this cream.  You can see that it has a lush and lovely texture – that’s thanks to the addition of water, glycerin, and silicones – which make this cream moisturizing but not greasy.

I don’t love putting too many silicones on my skin, so is a moisturizer that I wouldn’t like to use daily.  It also pills if you put too much on, so I like to use it sparingly.  It’s great in the morning because of the matte texture, and the silicone will absorb oil throughout your day.  This is true for night time too.  It works ok on top of serums that you use as long as you use an appropriate amount and leave it alone.

This cream would work for all skin types, but if you have very dry skin, I think you will want something richer and heavier, and this is not it.  You could use it and put an oil on top, but I would just go for something more rich.

Available in drugstores and online. $59.95.

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Carol’s Daughter Monoi Collection

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

Carol’s Daughter is a brand that I’ve been dying to try ever since it launched.

The company was started by a woman named Lisa Price.  Lisa had a talent for mixing oils and other natural ingredients to make lovely goodies for skin and hair.  She got so good, that people came to her house to buy her products and she became a cult cosmetics fixture in Brooklyn.  Throughout it all, her mother – Carol – kept encouraging her to do her thing.

When Carol’s Daughter opened its first store in Brooklyn, it was super successful, and even celebrities became loyal clients – and investors.

I tried the Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner, and the Monoi Repairing Shampoo and Mask.  All the products are sulfate and paraben free, and are very moisturizing so they’re perfect for dry and damaged hair.  The one thing that I was disappointed in was the ingredient list – though the list says that there are natural oils in the products, the oils are listed after fragrance.  You need a tiny bit of fragrance to scent each product, and so that means that there’s an even tinier amount of hydrating and repairing oils.

The formulations, however, are good.  After using the set for 2 weeks, I’ve found that my hair does indeed break less, and I can notice that it’s in better condition than when I wasn’t using the line.  Although the shampoo is sulfate-free, it still lathers a LOT, and washes clean.

The conditioner and mask seal in moisture, although I have to say that I didn’t notice the mask being a great deal more hydrating than the conditioner.  The mask is thick and really stays in your hair until you rinse it out, but in terms of treatment, it gives about the same as the conditioner, and I actually found myself reaching more for the conditioner because it was easier to apply.

Has anyone tried Carol’s Daughter products already?  If so, what did you think?

This shampoo is available for about $21, available online.

 

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Luminess Air Brush Foundation Review

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

Have you heard about the Luminess Air Brush Foundation System.  It’s the same kind of makeup that professional makeup artists use, and there’s no brushes or fingertips required to put on any of the products.  All you use is a simple airbrush to literally spray the foundation on to your skin.

I was so excited to use this kit, and watched the instructional tutorial right when it came in the mail.  Then I foundation matched myself (by spraying a layer on my jaw line and seeing how well it blended into the rest of my skin), and proceeded to use this for a night out.

I’ve used this 10 or so times now, and I absolutely love the whole system.  Not only does it look natural on the skin, but the foundation lasts the whole entire day and looks fabulous.  When I know that I’m going to be running around for the whole day, I use this system because I know that my skin will look flawless from morning to night.

I think what I really like about this foundation is that it can be customized on every level. You are spraying such a light layer that you can get exactly the right amount of coverage on your skin. Areas that have light scarring get a 2nd or 3rd pass, while the rest of my skin gets just a light spray and it all blends in together. I can also spray some on my neck and chest so that matches the rest of my skin, and I can blend everything out perfectly.

I can also customize the foundation colour. So far, I’ve realized that I’m a UF-3 mixed with a few drops of the UF-2 and I get my own perfect shade of foundation. I know that when I get a little more tan this summer, I’m going to be a full UF-3 that will maybe be topped up with some of the luminous bronzer.

I’m also loving the blush that the Luminess Air kit came with. On the first try, I found that the blush was way too pigmented and looked unnatural on my skin. However, I used a makeup artist tip to make it blend in more. I applied the blush to my cheeks first, and then I applied the foundation all over my face. This way, the blush showed through the foundation, and it looked more blended in and natural.

I’ve also really liked mixing a couple of drops of bronzer into my foundation to give my skin a glowy look. The bronzer is shimmery, so you can add just the right amount of shimmer to your whole foundation by just adding one or two drops into the mix.

The one thing that I have to say is that the foundation sets a lot darker than it first appears on your skin. That’s why the blush was so hard to use as well – when it went on, it looked like a nice soft pink, but once it fully dried it was much darker and brighter. The same goes for the foundation. I really thought that UF-3 would be a perfect match for my skin and it looked great in the bottle on when I first applied it on my skin. However, once it dried it was much darker, and almost orangy in tone whereas my regular skintone is more of a neutral colour.

My suggestion would be to play with this kit a lot at home, and really see how it dries and wears on your skin before you wear it out. You may decide that you like the slight darkening (it looks great in pictures and totally natural, actually) or you might decide to blend with a lighter colour like I did.

I found that I used a lot more foundation that they recommended to get the kind of coverage and expanse of coverage that I wanted. They recommended using 7-8 drops and I found that 10 drops was ideal for me. At this rate, I’m going through the foundation pretty quickly, but it’s really worth it for the look that I’m getting.

My other tip is to use the moisturizer primer that comes with the kit – it is amazing, and I actually saw a difference in how the foundation wore when I used this. The foundation not only went on better, but it looked more natural for the rest of my day.

I also used a translucent powder on top of my foundation to set it. The powder started out really matte, but once everything set on my skin (about 30 minutes later) the whole look was totally flawless.

I don’t use the foundation every day – it is more of a special events kind of look for me, so I do use it more on the weekends and when I know that I’m going to have a very long day. I plan on using it a lot more when I attend some weddings this summer, and so far, I’ve seen that the foundation shows up really nicely in pictures.

Again, the Luminess Airbrush System is available online for $200. Get the beginner kit and really play around with it before you splurge and get the foundation colour that suits you the best.

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Niucoco – a New Line of Coconut Oil Hair Care

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

I’m totally on the coconut bandwagon. I’ve always loved eating macaroons and Bounty bars, and now I’m even adding coconut oil to my coffee in the mornings. But people around the world – India included – have been using coconut oil in their hair for centuries. In India, you put coconut oil in your hair, let it marinate while you brush your teeth, wash your face, choose what to wear, and then you wash it out.

It’s a natural conditioner, and because it can coat the hair and make it brittle – like silicone – it’s not always a great idea to leave it on the hair all the time. That being said, coconut oil, and other palm oils, are the only ones that have been proven to actually enter the hair shaft and condition hair from the inside out so they can definitely make a difference in the health of your hair when used over the long-term.

Niucoco Hair Care uses coconut oil in their shampoo, conditioner, and serum. The products are hydrating and moisturizing and they leave hair looking and feeling conditioned.

But check out the ingredients for the serum: I wish coconut oil was higher on the list – maybe second or third – but it’s in there! The products aren’t silicone-free or even all-natural but they’re still a good option if you want to incorporate some coconut oil styling products to your haircare routine.

Available online.

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The Ordinary Company 2% Retinoid Serum

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

This Retinoid Serum costs just $9.80.

If you’ve always been interested in top-of-the-line skincare, but wary of the price point, then you need to check out The Ordinary skincare company.  They have key ingredients formulated at a strength that’s really going to make a difference in your skin, and all without the crazy price tag that comes with marketing.  This is the future of skincare. 

For example, I’ve been using their Advanced Retinoid 2% serum – and it costs just $9.80.

No, it doesn’t have 2% retinol in it, that would be crazy strong, but it does have a new form of stabilized retinoate that’s more gentle on your skin but still makes it brighter and clearer.  You won’t have the crazy peeling that a regular retinol product would give you, but you will have skin that’s a little bit dryer because of the increased cell turnover, and that’s what’s going to make your skin more clear and better-looking.  It’ll take care of acne, oiliness, and large pores, and all without you even breaking the bank. 

The Ordinary Company is the skincare company you haven’t heard of.  They don’t spend a lot of money on their marketing or fancy packaging.  What they invest in is their formulas, and they don’t mark up the price because they don’t need to.  It turns out that you can still make a profit if you’re selling a good product!

I use this in the evening on its own without any moisturizer.  In the case that my skin is feeling dry, then I apply moisturizer on its own followed by a face oil to really lock everything in.  I find that using the Retinoid every other evening really works for me, and I use a moisturizing sunscreen in the morning so make sure that I don’t get any more freckles and sunspots. 

If you want really good skincare, then check out The Ordinary Company – they even have a Regimen Guide on their website so that you can figure out which products are good for you. 

The Ordinary products are available online only.  They are quite affordable and if you’re trying to figure out what kind of ingredient works for your skin, they’re great. 

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It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Setting Powder Review

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

If you like wearing foundation that has more of a satin finish rather than a true matte one, you’re going to need something that’s going to set it for the entire day.  Try using It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Setting Powder.

The powder just melts into the skin and absorbs any extra oils without drying out the skin.  It’s not as totally color-less as some setting powders are – I did notice that my skin was a little paler after I used this powder – but it does a really good job of giving you matte skin that’s not powdery.  I actually loved how this looked because it made me look as if I wasn’t wearing any makeup at all.

However, the reason that I use this is because the matte finish doesn’t last the entire day.  After a little while of wearing this powder, I notice that it kind of sinks into my foundation and just gives it a nice and “set” look.  Indeed, the reason that I wear this is not because it’s totally matte.  The reason I use this is because I’ve noticed that it really does make my foundation last the whole entire day, and everything just looks blended together.  My skin looks poreless yet glowy and I absolutely love that.  At the end of a long day (days which are getting warmer and warmer might I add), my skin still feels silky soft to the touch and my makeup still looks done.

My personal tip is to put this on your foundation brush first, then put your foundation on the brush and blend into your skin.  The foundation will be more matte and more powdery and you might not need any more powder on top!  The other thing that I’ve seen online is that people apply the powder lightly first, almost like a primer, and then put the foundation on top for longer lasting powder and better coverage.

Available online.

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