How to Apply Sunless Tanner

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Henna

I’m always going to suggest you don’t sun tan.  It is really damaging to your skin and it’s the best way to look older than you really are when you’re in your 30’s. Many of you are new to self-tanner may be wondering how to apply it. I’ve given some tips before that you might want to check out.

My advice is that if you’re a beginner, start by mixing it into your moisturizer so that your mistakes won’t be as obvious.

If you choose to go full strength and want a tan the next day, make sure that you exfoliate before applying the product.

Don’t moisturize your skin, and apply the self-tanner directly to your skin.  Work in small batches and make sure that you rub in the product until it’s completely absorbed.  This will ensure that you get a streak-free finish.

If you have an extra day before you need to be tan, then thoroughly exfoliate your skin again the next day.  This won’t take off all the tan but will help correct any mistakes and will make the tan look more even.  After this, you can reapply the self-tanner if you need to, or enjoy your new tan!

Want to know a good sunless tanner to pick up?  We’re liking Clinique’s Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion.  It has a hint of bronzer and shimmer in it so that you can see exactly where you’re applying product, and is a moisturizing gel formula. $38 at Sephora and your local Clinique counter.

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Urban Decay Grind House Sharpener

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Henna

Why is it that I don’t mind shilling out for the any high-end hair treatment but when it comes to the basic things, I don’t really care for them as much?

Case in point: my eyeliner sharpener. I think I bought a cheap one from Shoppers Drug Mart 10 years ago and kept using it even though it was terrible. It kept breaking the pencils (which are really soft) and so I would run out of eyeliner so quickly. And even though I realized that it wasn’t very good, I kept using it.

I finally bought a new sharpener today. It is Urban Decay’s Grind House and I went for it because it has the slot for a thicker eyeliner if that needs sharpening. I have a few chubby gloss sticks so I thought it would be prudent to have that liner.

The sharpener is pretty good – it does the job although it doesn’t give me a super-fine point. I’m happy with it and my pencils are now all in great condition (I went through my makeup collection and sharpened all my eye pencils!). I got it for $13.50 at Sephora.

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Clean Reserve Citron Fig Perfume

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Henna

I’m sorry to say that I’ve had this perfume for a number of years but I’ve been sleeping on it, and finally pulled it out to give it another sniff and wow, I love it.

Truth be told, the Citron note kept me away.  I’m not a citrus person when it comes to perfume, and I like soft woody scents as opposed to bright ones. But, I’m happy to say that the Citron in this is happy and not astringent, and it dies down to leave a base of cedarwood, musk and fig that is oh so pleasant on my skin.

I keep reaching for this so that I can smell it… and I have it in a travel-sized rollerball so I put it on my neck and wrists, and then I can smell it all day long.

Go take a smell of this at Sephora. $134 for 100mL.

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Pantene Miracle Moisture Boost Collection

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Henna

I love rose perfumes, so it’s no surprise that this Moisture Boost Collection from Pantene was something I wanted to try. I’m sad to report that the Moisture Boost Collection doesn’t really smell like roses, but it does smell wonderfully floral.

Even though the scent isn’t want I expected it to be, I love this new collection for my hair.  The shampoo is sulfate free so it’s more gentle on all hair.  The conditioner makes your hair so moisturized and smooth, and this is a lovely collection of shampoo and conditioner that you can get at the drugstore.

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Kerastase Elixir Ultime Thé Imperial

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Henna

It’s quarantine time, so I dug out my old bottle of Kerastase’s Elixir Ultime Thé Imperial and I remember how much I like it.

Elixir Ultime is in some ways a regular serum.  You can use it on wet or dry hair and it really helps make your hair smoother and softer.  You can use it when you’re blow-drying your hair but I also use it to air dry my hair.  It just feels so soft and smooth when I use it, and it makes my hair so shiny.

Kerastase says that its original Elixir Ultime is a blend of oils, and here’s the ingredient list:

Cyclopentasiloxane ● Dimethiconol ● Zea Mays Germ Oil / Corn Germ Oil ● Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil ● Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil ● Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil ● Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil ● Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride ● Linalool ● Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone ● Limonene ● Coumarin ● Benzyl Alcohol ● Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract ● Tocopherol ● Parfum / Fragrance

There really are  wheat germ oil, argan oil, and other oils in the blend.  It smells amazing and nourishes your hair while you style it in the way that you expect to.

You can get this online for $60 or from your local salon.

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Fenty Gloss Bomb

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Henna

This gloss is now available in so many colours, and there were limited edition ones that came out in the holiday season, but this is the OG that you see here, almost finished.

I have to say that I thought that this gloss was incredibly over-hyped when it first came out. I thought that a gloss in one colour was kind of meh, but then I got it as a present and I was sold. This is SUCH a moisturizing lipgloss, and it makes lips feel so good. It’s also incredibly flattering on any and every skin tone that it’s easy to wear. It looks good on so many shades of lipstick and just makes your lips look comfortable and shiny. I also enjoyed the subtle vanilla-caramel scent but liked that it had no taste.

Now that this gloss is almost done, I’m probably going to have to replace it, but with a pinkish colour – maybe Fu$$y.

Available at Sephora.

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Fenty Beauty Brow MVP

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Henna

I have used so many brow pencils but this has got to be one of my favourites – it’s the Fenty Beauty Brow MVP. Look at the unique brush at the end. It actually grabs on to hair and blends the pencil very nicely.


I liked it so much that I finished it… you can hear all about it in the video.

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Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Henna

I used to purchase this leave-in conditioner all the time.  And it’s still available at Shopper’s Drug Mart, so if you want a good leave-in, check it out.

Curly hair can be difficult to style – you want it to look healthy and for the curls to be defined, but it can’t be heavy or greasy.  Bonus if it actually nourishes your hair instead of drying it out or coating it with tons of silicone which can leave your hair brittle and more prone to breakage.

One of my favourite products for curly hair is the Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, and I’m writing about it again because I just noticed it at my local Shoppers Drug Mart.  This used to be one of those products that I’d order online or go into a special store for, but I’m so happy that I don’t have to do that anymore.

It also adds an incredible amount of shine to the hair and helps define curls as well so that they aren’t prone to frizz.

There’s another bonus, however, that far outweighs all the ones I mentioned above. The best part about this conditioner is that it somehow prevents hair from becoming overly tangled. Fewer tangles means that when you’re brushing your hair, less will fall out! For that reason alone, Mixed Chicks Leave-In is worth a try and has become a staple for me.

Because of this leave-in conditioner, the Mixed Chicks brand has become almost a cult favorite in the US.

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Today

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Henna

Hi everyone,

Like everyone else, I’ve been following the rioting, protesting, and the injustices that are taking place around the world at this time.  I truly feel unequipped to write anything thoughtful that will add to the discussion, partly because all of it has brought up my own trauma with racism expressed towards me throughout my life.  I have 2 little kids, and I definitely want to leave the world better than I came into it, and so I will do what I can to support this movement forward.

For right now, I’m reposting some content that features companies owned by black people. It’s not everything, but it’s something.

Keep well,

Henna

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Briogio Hair Care Review

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Henna

Briogio hair products are some of my most coveted ones.  This line has been doing some interesting work and a lot of their products are about repairing and really taking care of your hair.  Check out some reviews!

First up: the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask.  

The directions on this mask were to apply on wet hair and let it sit for a while.  Which I did.  It washed off like a regular conditioner but it did seem to moisturize my hair.  I didn’t feel like it was much different from any other deep conditioning mask I’ve used, but I will say that it’s nice and thick and super-conditioning, which is awesome.

I had less luck with the Farewell Frizz leave-in conditioning spray.  My hair is curly and frizzy and this wasn’t enough to take care of it on its own.  It was great for layering with other, heavier products, but ultimately it wasn’t essential to my hair routine.

I’m holding on to sample sizes of the two products, but you can find the full sizes and the entire Briogio line at Sephora.

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