Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Henna

One of the things that usually lies on my desk  is Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme.

It smells just like Neocitron. To me, Neocitron doesn’t taste like lemons which is a taste I think I would like. Instead, it tastes like what I imagine a lemon peel would taste like and that’s just what this cuticle creme smells like too. But I kept using the creme anyway because it worked and slowly I got used to the scent and didn’t mind it as much.

The Cuticle Creme really does help you keep your cuticles moisturized but it also has an added bonus: I found that if I rub this into my nails when I don’t have any nail polish on, it really helps keep my nails looking very clean. The tips of my nails are whiter and brighter, and I suspect it’s because the lemon oil has a bleaching effect on the nail. That, and the fact that this really is a great salve, makes this product a keeper.

Available at drugstores and mass merchandisers. $8.99.

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Lloyd’s Favourite Scent

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Henna

Anyone remember Entourage???  And this scene?

Ari: What’s that smell?
Lloyd: It’s Issey Miyake, her favourite scent. I’m wearing it as a subtle, subliminal show of our support.


The “her” in Lloyd’s sentence is referring to Mary J. Blige. I don’t know whether that really is her favourite scent or whether it’s just what fit for Lloyd, but in any case, I went to hunt down this perfume. It turns out that there are many Issey Miyake perfumes, and it turns out that there’s more than one kind of Issey Miyake, but I’m guessing that they’re talking about L’Eau D’Issey since that is the one that’s still in production. You can find it at many department stores and the bottle is hard to miss.

This scent comes in many different forms – a body lotion, a body cream, an eau de parfum, and of course an eau de toilette, among others. The scent is fresh and linear with no base notes or top notes that stand out a great deal. The perfume is mostly floral, with notes of tuberose and rose, but it does have some citrusy notes in it as well.

Lloyd’s lucky that Mary J.’s fav scent is so unoffensive.

$125 for 100ml.

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Dark Spot Treatment: The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% and Alpha Arbutin 2%

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Henna

I’ve had a few experiences with Vitamin C: most recently it was the Inkey List’s Vitamin C which is 30% and I’ve also tried The Ordinary’s Vitamin C which is 23%.  Both of them irritated my my skin so much – I didn’t have any redness or peeling but I did experience an itchy and burning sensation on my skin so I didn’t ever want to use them.

Instead, I’m using The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% and Alpha Arbutin 2% formula, and it’s much more gentle on my skin, with no irritation at all. The vitamin C brightens skin and the alpha arbutin targets dark spots and helps minimize them.  Studies have show this to be as effective as hydroquinone without the associated risks of it.

The formula is slightly oily because the ingredients need to be in a waterless formula to stay stable.  So this goes on like a oil but then absorbs into your skin.  You could use vitamin C in the morning so take advantage of its antioxidant properties, but I use it at night time because I like to use Niacinamide during the day.

Pick it up for $10 online.

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Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Henna


Maybelline Define-A-Lash mascara has a wand that resembles that of the some CoverGirl and Chanel offerings – it has flexible rubber spikes rather than a comb or bristly brush.

The mascara claims to give length without the clumps and it delivers. The formulation is one that’s thinner than other mascaras and that means that it does take a bit longer to dry, but the result is worth the wait. Remember that the bendy wand means that you apply with a light touch to get the best results, and the inky black colour means that you don’t have to layer it too much.

$10.99 at drugstores and mass merchandisers.

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Bumble and Bumble Surf Styling Leave-in Review

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Henna

As an addition to their popular Surf Spray, Bumble and Bumble has now launched a Surf Styling Leave-In Gel Cream to help you get those beachy summer waves.

This is a gel with a little bit of hold in it but no grit.  It’s great product for the summer because it lets you apply and go.  Because this is a gel, it has no slip in it and not a great deal of frizz control.  It just defines waves and texture, but isn’t very hydrating or moisturizing.  It’s not great for very dry hair, and if you do have dry hair, it’s a good idea to apply a styling serum on your ends first and then put this in.

I’ve been using this daily and sometimes mix it into a heavier styling cream.

Available at Sephora and salons,$35.

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Empty: Estee Lauder Double Wear Brow Lift Duo

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Henna

Another #empty! Estee Lauder Double Wear Say-In-Place Brow Lift Duo.  One side is a brown brow pencil and the other side is a highlighter.  Honestly, I fill in my brows everyday but I don’t highlight my brow bone every day because it can look a bit much.

I enjoyed using this, but I’m finding that these skinny brow pencils don’t last very long.  I get maybe a month of use out of them and then they’re finished.  This pencil was great and it lasted the whole day.  I have to admit that I LOVE the Estee Lauder Double Wear line.  For someone with oily skin who has makeup slipping and sliding around the whole day, it’s a huge improvement on almost everything else out there.

This is $21.99 at various retailers online, but Estee Lauder has discontinued it, or maybe it was a limited edition pencil.  I would get it again, but I would also look for cheaper drugstore options.

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Sarah Jessica Parker Covet

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Henna

Covet has been out for a few years, but I just pulled it out of my perfume stash.

The bottle itself is beautiful to look at, but remember that the jewel-like top is actually light-weight plastic. The perfume is strong! I was able to smell the one spray I had put on myself even after showering, which is pretty amazing for a regular perfume.

top notes are greens, geranium leaves, sicilian lemon and chocolate and the drydown is musk, vetiver, teakwood and amber.  I think the amber and chocolate makes this almost a gourmande for me, and a little sweet, but it’s fresh and woodsy at the same time.  

 

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The Hills Makeup!

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Henna

GUYS, there’s a Hills reboot that’s on tonight and it made me think of this blog post I wrote about Lauren Conrad’s makeup!  I took a screenshot of her makeup bag and saw what was inside.  These days everything is sponsored or gifted, but these were the days before those partnerships, so it’s a more honest look at what these girls were using.  And before daily hair and makeup was an expectation and they would maybe get themselves ready?

Anyway…

Check out the screen shots:


So, it turns out that “L.C.” is a drugstore girl and a department store girl, like most of us! Spotted was the lovely L’Oreal Voluminous Lash mascara, MAC Studio Tech foundation in NC 32, and what looks like Neutrogena Mineral Sheers powder foundation used as more of a bronzer.

I wonder if we’ll see anything like that this season?

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Empty: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1%

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Henna

I placed a Deciem order in November, and got the Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1% then.  I probably started using it in January or February.  

I really noticed a difference in my skin when I started using this, so I kept using it.  You can read my full review of it here.

And now it’s empty.  I’m going to have to get another one because it helped with breakouts without drying out my skin.  It also helps with pigmentation.

Pick it up at The Ordinary for $5.90.

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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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