Happy Birthday to Me!

Today’s my birthday! What did I get for my birthday, you ask?

For the past few years, every year around my birthday I get a new perfume. I don’t know how it started or why, but I like the concept of every year having a particular scent associated with it.
It all started when I got Ralph Lauren Blue a couple of years ago. Some think that this fragrance smells very “average” and label it decidedly “department store” (not a good thing, I am to understand), but I love the jasmine note in it. It’s fresh and light and not at all intimidating or overpowering. Blue is a very wearable scent and I got a lot of compliments on it so I consider it a winner. I think that it just worked really well with my body chemistry.

Last year I got Narciso Rodriguez For Her. It’s a decidedly more mature fragrance and can be overpowering if you apply more than two sprays (and even that’s toeing the line). With heavy musk notes, this fragrance definitely isn’t for everyone but I love it nonetheless. It’s a distinctive fragrance and the type of scent that you could recognize anywhere. Because this scent is so warm it’s definitely one to wear in the winter. I’ve worn it in the summer before, and though I like how it smells, the sweetness in it really comes out and starts to get slightly cloying.

In 2007, my choice is Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir . This is another distinctive choice. Unfortunately Jo Malone only makes colognes rather than parfums or eau de toilettes, so the staying power of most of her scents is minimal. That said, Pomegranate Noir probably has the most lasting power and I can wear it for at least 6 hours without reapplying it. The “noir” part of this cologne is what makes it stands out. Though the top notes are tartly fruity, the scent dies down to a leathery woody smokiness that’s so unusual. The scent is perfect for April – a dark and rainy time peppered with reminders of the sunshine soon to come.

8 years ago, I got Tom Ford Champaca.

This year, I’m not sure which perfume I’m going to get.

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Full Face Care from Spectro

Everyone wants to know what kind of cleanser they should be using and I guess it makes sense. Although switching your cleanser shouldn’t really make a huge change change in the condition of your skin, it is a product that you use atleast once a day and so using a good one is a good idea!

I’ve talked about it before, but I like to wash my face twice. Once with a gentle cleanser, or cleansing oil, and then another time with something more soapy. This isn’t for everyone, but it really works well for me.

If you have very dry skin or sensitive skin, or if you don’t wear any makeup, you should probably just stick to using a gentle cleanser, and there’s nothing better than Spectro Gel. Whether you use the kind for combination skin or the kind for sensitive skin, Spectro Gel is a mild gel cleanser without any foam or harsh chemicals in it. It also doesn’t have any fragrance or oil.

Because it’s so mild, it can be applied and then tissued off, or it can be rinsed.

For those who are already fans of Spectro Gel, there are now also Spectro HydraCare moisturizers that you can use to follow up your skincare routine. Like the Spectro Gel, the moisturizers are light and are fragrance free. They won’t irritate the skin, and they can calm dry skin.

The Spectro products can be found easily at most drugstores, and they are loved by many dermatologists because they are so gentle.  It’ll be a change from your harsh foaming face wash, but one that your skin will appreciate even if you don’t.

You can find both products at your local drugstore!

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Make Your Own Beauty Products

Every once in a while a friend will suggest that we have some kind of get together where we make beauty products. You’ve seen the kits that help you make your own lip products and the like and you could make your own scrubs and even moisturizers if you wanted to.  And now, there are tons of tutorials and things online suggesting that this is one of the things we can do to keep busy during the pandemic.

But I’m just not interested. I’d rather just buy the products and not worry so much about making the product in my own kitchen. The time that it would tale me to find the ingredients that I need and put them all together just doesn’t make it worth it.

Have you ever made a beauty product yourself?  Are you interested in trying it?  Lemme know in the comments!

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Lancome La Base Pro

If you find that your foundation doesn’t go on as smoothly as you’d like, then what you need is a makeup primer!  While some can be mattifying, there’s Lancome’s version, called La Base Pro, which is more of an intense oil-free moisturizer that makes skin velvety soft and fresh-looking all at the same time.

It not only helps makeup glide over dry rough spots but also helps it stay out of fine lines.  I use it in place of my regular moisturizer and even love mixing it with a dab of foundation to create my own tinted moisturizer.

Available online. $55.

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Should I Use a Top Coat for My Nail Polish?

Should you use a top coat on your nail polish?

Short answer: yes!

A top coat can make your nail polish last longer and makes it look shiny and professionally applied. For best results, use a thin coat after allowing the coloured polish to dry completely. Reapply mid-week for a fresh looking manicure. You’ll see that the top coat also prevents your nail polish colour from fading so it always looks fresh and true.

I really love an OPI Top coat and I like OPI Nail Envy as a base coat.

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My Favourite Retinols Video

Here are my favourite retinols, but what can I say, I never met a retinol or peel I didn’t like.

http://www.instagram.com/tv/B-K6y_VpzKl/

I mentioned Alumier, and Skinceuticals in the video which are both available at aesthetician or dermatologists’ office.  I also loved the Reversa retinol because it has hyaluronic acid in it which is amazing for your skin.  Hydrating but also with retinol.  I’d love to try some vitamin C and retinol products that are available out there.

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Retinol Reviews

I’ve tried a bunch of retinols over the past few years, and here are the reviews:

A313. This is a French retinol that is over-the-counter. Don’t be fooled by the pomade texture. It is pretty strong. You can get it on Amazon!

Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster. This is a retinol that they’re saying you can mix into other creams, but why take the chance and lessen its efficacy? I use it on its own.

The Ordinary Retinol in Squalene. I loved using this but because of the large molecules of oil, it’ll mostly sit on top of your skin instead of sinking in. So not my top pick but great for people with dry skin.

Alumier MD 1% Retinol Resurfacing Serum. Kind of a powdery silicone finish and dry to the touch but it works. Comes in different percentages.

Skinceuticals Retinol. Also comes in different percentages and also a bit of a powdery finish. Great formula though. This is the one that got me on the retinol bandwagon.

Differin Gel. Prescription only in Canada but it’s a great formula without any bells or whistles. I have the 0.1% but it also comes in a 0.3%. Way stronger than over-the-counter formulas.

Reversa Retin[A]List 0.3 Retinol Cream. Loved this formula because it has hyaluronic acid in it. This is probably my favourite formula but I wish it was stronger.

Pixi Collagen and Retinol Serum. Not strong at all. If it doesn’t say the percentage on the bottle then it’s probably not that strong.

Beautycounter Countertime Collection. Uses Bakuchiol which is an alternative that can help lessen wrinkles. It’s not like retinol but has some of the same effects. But so do lots of other things. *shrugs*. These products are very nice. But they’re not retinol. But I did like them.

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Prescription vs. OTC Retinols

Should you go get a retinol prescription or just buy something over-the-counter?  It depends.  Watch this video and I explain it all…Thoughts, comments?  Leave them below!

http://www.instagram.com/tv/B-ITNe8JT4w/

 

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Cookbook Reviews

Some of you might be cooking more than usual, and truth be told, I don’t really consult cookbooks anymore because it seems like a lot of recipes are on the Internet, but I do like these that I have and I’ve used the Cookie on the most.  Here are my cookbook reviews in one place.

Giada at Home.  Casual Italian cooking.  Good ideas for pasta, if you’re bored of the same old, same old.

Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics.  Also great for reinventing classics.

Martha Stewart Cookies. There is a blondie recipe in here which is to die for.  My all time favourite cookie recipe is the NYT Cookie recipe and it’s not in here.  Google it.

Martha Stewart New Classics.  It’s a tome.  It’s an epic.  Great mac and cheese, if you don’t have a recipe already.  Perfect for a new cook.

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Pictures from the Estee Lauder Chocolate Collection!

The Chocolate collection came out in 2008, and since we’re at home right now I thought it was a good time for me to revisit some of my older makeup.

Below is the shimmer compact, and though it’s beautiful in the picture, in person it has a fine layer of gold dust on the surface that looks ever so pretty.


Here’s an eyeshadow quad: The gold swirls are just on the surface and once you start using the eyeshadow they’re blended into it and don’t show anymore.

Hope everyone is staying safe and staying inside!

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