Aveeno Oat Masks
Happy #TextureTuesday my friends! Today’s post is all about Aveeno’s new Oat Masks which came out this fall. The masks come in three variations – Glow, Soothe, and Detox. These all have oats in them which gives them this amazing texture, but also makes them super soothing on my skin.
You can find these at your local drugstore or mass merchandisers.
$10.97.
Sothys Lip Duo
It’s the most gorgeous little duo from Sothys. Two creamy pigmented lipcolours.
A neutral rose brown and a deep brick red. They wear nicely alone or mixed together. Because they are so creamy, I like using my fingers to apply them because then I get a smudged wash of colour that looks pretty.
Here’s the back in case you were going shopping. The creaminess balances out the pigment and I found that the colours lasted a long time. Because these are so creamy, they’re also moisturizing on your lips even though they’re definitely lipsticks and not balms.
AT Sothys counters now.
Raincry Haircare
This is the new brand of haircare that I am into right now – Raincry Haircare. Check out the beautiful packaging. The Smoothing shampoo has ingredients like Amla and jojoba oil which makes your hair more moisturized. Amla has been used in Indian haircare products for centuries, and you can find amla oil and amla soaps at any old-school Indian stores.
Anyway, the Smoothing shampoo cleans but is hydrating, and the Nutritive Conditioner is super thick and rich and just really coats each strand to nourish dry hair. All the products are Sulfate and Pthalate-free, but the shampoo still foams and feels like it’s cleaning your hair. The Nutritive conditioner has shea butter and marula oil which help hydrate. I like to use this conditioner on the mid-lengths to the ends because it is really super hydrating.
Raincry also makes brushes, and they are quite beautiful. More of a review on those coming up soon!
You can find Raincry at department stores or on their website.
Boots No. 7 Glycolic Acid Pads
These have been making my life easier for the past couple of weeks. These are the No. 7 Glycolic Acid pads that are soaked in 10% glycolic acid solution. My skin has been using glycolic acid for years, so I’m used to this percentage, and it’s not too too strong.
I know that we’re all trying to be environmentally conscious these days, but I really like the ease of pre-soaked pads. They just leave me with 0 excuses, and I like these for some mornings when I am too lazy to properly wash my face. I just smooth one of these pads on and consider the job done. Not that I am recommending that at all, but I’m just saying that pre-soaked pads are nice.
The rule for acids is start low and go slow. If you are new to glycolic acid, don’t jump into it by using it every single day. Just use them once a week at first and see how your skin does, and then go to using them twice a week, every other day, and then maybe every other day. The last thing you want is red and irritated skin. Glycolic acid helps your skin exfoliate itself quicker so you end up with brighter, more glowy skin if you incorporate it into your routine. I definitely find that the texture of my skin is way better when I use these, so I keep them around.
There are 60 pads in this jar which is about standard – you can use 2 a day if you need and you have a month’s supply. I just use them in the morning and at night I use my retinol, and my skin is fine.
No. 7 is available at Shoppers Drug Mart. $26.
Penhaligon’s of London… In New York
On my last day in New York the last time I was there, I had a chance to wander the streets at my leisure. After checking out Barney’s I walked up Madison Avenue just to see the sights, and lo and behold, I ended up finding the Penhaligon’s store! It was, without a doubt, the highlight of my weekend.
Buying perfume at a regular department store can be grossly overwhelming. There are so many choices, and too many people around waiting for you to make a decision. Sometimes, it seems that the worst thing that you can say is that you don’t like something after hearing about its royal origins or celebrity perfumer. Asking for a sample is almost out of the question.
That’s why Penhaligon’s has its loyal customers and stellar reputation. While I was in the store the phone was ringing off the hook with regular customers placing orders.
The woman who was managing the store asked me what scents I normally wore and allowed me to sample a few. Then she looked at me, adjusted her glasses, and said: “You look like a Violetta – lets try that on you.” It smelled amazing and was just what I was looking for.
I almost bought the bottle on the spot – and declared it was my favourite, but instead of pushing me to buy it, the woman at the Penhaligon’s store said: “I think I have a sample….” So then she handed me a few little vials, told me to try them, and then come back. She also reminded me that I could place my order over the phone and that they delivered.
Shopping at the Penhaligon’s store was a unique experience and one that I really enjoyed. Shopping at the store, you’re not at all overwhelmed by the choice, and you know that you’re a welcome customer there. You’ll also find something that you like and you might even become a regular.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara
Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara is a zero smudge mascara that you need to try if mascara usually smudges on you. The brush on the wand is small and that makes it easy to get every single lash. The Double Wear Mascara really does stay put on lashes and does not budge. When you wash it off with water, the mascara slides off in little clumps and really does come off quite easily.
But what you want to know is whether the mascara is any good.
It is!
This Estee Lauder Mascara is meant for lengthening rather than adding volume, but I found that my lashes did look thicker when I wore it. They also looked super long since the size of the wand let me get to every single lash from root to tip.
$35 at Estee Lauder counters.
MAC Technakohl Liner
I am currently loving MAC’s Technakohl Liner. I have it in Graphblack and Brownborder, but I find myself using the brown one since it’s so dark that it’s almost black.
Technakohl is superior to some of the other liners because it doesn’t smudge or fade during the day, but it’s still creamy enough to go on easily and to smudge before it sets. The mechanical pencil means that it’s great to take on the go because you’ll never have to sharpen it.
Use this if you regularly line your lower lash line.
It is a best-seller at MAC! $23 at MAC counters.