Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Henna

This is the best cheap way to get hydrated skin – Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel.
Now, if you haven’t heard of this or seen it, just look for it in the baby care section of your local supermarket or drugstore. It’s basically mostly baby oil with the addition of a couple of other ingredients to make the baby oil into a gel. Works the same way as the original baby oil.

The best way to use this gel is to use it in conjunction with your soap in the shower – not only does this method cut down on time spent in the bathroom but it also ensures that you’re not left with an oily residue that wipes on to your clothes. Lather yourself with your regular soap or body wash and then, before you rinse, slick on this gel. Finally, rinse off the soap and excess oil and get out of the shower. Dry yourself as usual. Chances are that you won’t need a moisturizer after you use this and if you do decide to use one, it’ll go a lot further. I use this every single winter and it really works and once you get the hang of it, you’ll love it too.

$5 at the drugstore or mass merchandisers.

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Kerastase Blond Absolu Shampoos

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Henna

Two new Blond Absolu shampoos are part of Kerastase’s Blond Absolu line. One is clear and hydrating and makes hair brighter while the other has a deep blue pigment and helps retone hair and keep it ashy-looking.

I’ve been using the blue one when I wash my hair and it’s a great shampoo even though it’s not moisturizing.

Available online and at salons for $45 each.

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Holt Renfew’s New Givenchy Counter

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Henna

You might have noticed that Holt Renfrew stores across the country have been opening up new Givenchy counters. Previously only at other makeup stores, the Holt Renfrew Givenchy counters are a cut above what’s been available. Namely, they’ve got the Atelier Givenchy fragrance line – these are a specially curated batch of scents that have very specific central notes. For example, the rose note in one of them will be the focus, but then surrounded by others that give it a unique character.

Of course, the makeup is the star of the show here, and there’s plenty of spring makeup in pretty colours.  The glosses below are sheer, and layer with lipsticks to adjust the colour.

I had to get a picture of this pretty blush.  It actually goes on a little darker than it seems in the pan, and it worked well for my skin tone too.

Of course, blingy glam makeup is my thing, and so I loved the Teint Couture Radiant Drops, the Matissime Velvet foundation and the gorge sparkly eyeshadow quad.

 

Here’s my glam after.

You can find Givenchy at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada.

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Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Henna

Here’s a lip balm if you’re looking for one that’s not too greasy and shiny. Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm is thick and waxy so it doesn’t actually look super shiny or like you’re even wearing lip balm.

That makes it perfect for layering under lipstick or liquid lipstick because it doesn’t interfere with the finish. But it still has intensively moisturizing properties and I use it at night to help my lips look better in the morning. I keep it in my bathroom near the rest of my skincare and just apply there morning and night so that I don’t forget.

This definitely makes my list of top 5 lip balms – it’s that good!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart. $29.

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Empty: Joico Defy Damage Protective Masque

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Henna

You know it’s good when you get to the empty stage and then cut open the tube to get out every last drop inside.

That’s the case with this Joico Defy Damage Protective Masque. It’s super thick and rich, silicone-heavy formula was great at coating every single strand of hair and made it less prone to frizz.

Guess what? After cutting the tube open, I got atleast 3 more generous uses of this conditioner so it was totally worth it. Use it once a week on dry and damaged hair. If your hair is superfine, you might find this to be rather thick and heavy – it’s certainly one of the heaviest conditioners I’ve used and that’s why I kept it in my rotation. I have lighter conditioners for everyday and heavier ones for once-a-week masking.

Available in salons. About $27.

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Kerastase Blond Absolu Cicaplasme Treatment

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Henna

Kerastase has recently launched a Blond Absolu line for blonds, those with white hair, and even highlighted hair.  The entire collection is in purple tones of varying degrees and aims to help blond hair look fresh and bright. I’ve been using it on my highlighted hair and I’m loving the deeply tinted blue shampoo and conditioner – more on those later. After I shower, I’ve been using the Blond Absolu Cicaplasme leave-in treatment in my hair.

It is super light so it’s perfect for fine hair, but for my frizzy curly hair, it just didn’t have enough conditioning agents in it.  I found that it became pretty watery on wet hair and left my hair dry and frizzy.  What I needed was something that would tame the curl and frizz, but this didn’t do it.  I had better luck when I added a serum on top or mixed this with a thicker styling cream, but then what’s the point?

The serum does have hyaluronic acid and edelweiss flower extract in it, and offers hair heat protection.  It also has a good amount of slip, and is light enough, so it makes an excellent blow-dry cream.

Available at salons.

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L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Henna

The wand of Telescopic is similar to the wand of Lancome’s Fatale – the exception being that instead of 3 sides there are 4, and the teeth on the comb of each side are more pronounced. The effect however, is not like Fatale and I think that the above differences are the reason. L’Oreal claims that it’s the brush’s flexibility that allows you to reach even the smallest lashes. The brush is flexible – but it’s not as bendy as L’Oreal says it is, and I think that it’s the size of the brush that really does allow you to get to every lash.

The mascara itself promises to lengthen your lashes and it does not disappoint. When I used Telescopic, my lashes really did look longer. Moreover the formula is beautiful – your lashes are still soft and don’t feel crunchy while wearing this mascara. A word of caution: don’t over-apply. Two coats is likely enough, and if you go over your lashes anymore than that you’ll find that they stick together very easily.

Overall, I liked this mascara a lot.

$10-$12 depending on where you buy it.

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Clean Fragrances – Shower Fresh

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Henna

Here’s a fragrance that’s made for the summer: Clean Shower Fresh. It’s been out for over 10 years and is still available at Sephora – probably a best-seller too.  This might just be better than the smell of dry shampoo, although I’ve found a few that I really love.

To be quite honest, when the whole line of CLEAN fragrances came out on the market I didn’t really get it. It makes you smell like laundry? You just smell like soap? Isn’t it easier (and cheaper) to rub yourself with Bounce, or better yet, take a shower?

Then last week I decided that maybe this was one of those things you had to try to “get”.

So I tried it. I still don’t get it.

I wore Clean Shower Fresh all this week and I catch a whiff of something fresh every now and then and I know that it’s me. Yes, the scent is good. It’s absolutely not annoying and doesn’t seem to be the kind that would get on anyone’s nerves. The fact remains that when I wear perfume, I want to smell nice not average. I want to smell special and original, not just like everyone else’s laundry or like I took a shower.

But clean fragrances are a thing: Byredo even has one and it’s not cheap.

Available at Sephora for $98.

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Finish This: MAC To The Beach Body Oil

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Henna

In this era of Kardashian Body Makeup that’s available now, I’ve decided that I’m not going to buy it until I’ve actually used up my other body products that I’ve gotten at one time or another. It seems that there’s a backlash against almost anything new these days, and it’s easy to hate on anything Kardashian/Jenner-related because for some reason, we just expect them to do it better and get it right.

In the case of this new body makeup, people are complaining that it only comes in 7 shades, and that it places an undue pressure on women to look perfect. In this age of photoshop and filters, I hate to say it, but if there’s any pressure, it’s from yourself. Nobody’s body looks perfect – lets move on, or lets buy the body makeup and move on! You do you!

I’m not going to be putting makeup on my legs because I would hate for it to rub off on clothes or furniture, but I do love me a good shimmer product and I’m going to use that until the days of summer are gone.

It pains me to say this: but I’ve had this MAC body oil for years and you can see that I’ve barely used it.

All that is going to change this summer. I’ve put this MAC Body Oil at the front and centre of my vanity so that I remember to use it when I’m baring my arms or legs. I even put it in my hair and it gives it a little extra glow.
The benefit of going to a makeup company for a body product is that their products are super pigmented – and this oil basically has an even shimmer to oil ratio. The shimmer is densely packed in this oil, so that it almost comes out looking like a gel. It’s got a hint of a bronze tint to help your skin look more even, but really, the light-reflecting properties of the shimmer will give you a glow.

Here’s to shopping your stash instead of shopping online, and finishing what you have. If you see me post this as an empty, you’ll know that I’ve been successful.

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Aveeno Eczema Care Itch Relief Balm

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Henna

This is a huge jar of body balm and that’s why I have had it forever!
Aveeno makes some of the best baby and eczema care products out there – not only are they gentle but they are also effective. What makes this balm so effective is that it’s thick. It just melts on to your skin and then actually sticks to it, preventing spots with eczema from getting dry again. It’s perfect for using at night time so that the moisturizer actually stays on your skin and helps it look and feel better in the morning.

Truth be told, I had this for using on my kids when they were little but I used it so infrequently that I have tons left over – so now I’m using it on myself and I love it.

Available at drugstores.

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