Canadian Beauty

MAC Sheer Mystery Powder and No Foundation in 2019

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Henna

It’s the days of no foundation. I know. I’ve been a religious foundation wearer for the better part of two years, and my skin isn’t better now than it was then, but I found that I just wanted to be more low maintenance and cut the habit. So here’s how I did it: I went on vacation and purposely didn’t pack foundation with me. I wore it the day I left: to the airport. But then I didn’t apply any while I was gone for ten days because I hadn’t packed it.

What I took with me was this: MAC Sheer Mystery Powder from aeons ago.

I went on a “shop my stash” binge, and got rid of molding lipsticks and got out some stuff that I could be using but wasn’t. The Sheer Mystery Powder in Medium Plus which is just a bit darker than a yellowish-medium but not as dark as medium-deep. This was limited edition and is only available in Deep Dark on the MAC website.

It’s sheer coverage and very natural looking, which makes it perfect for everyday. I can apply it on my dry skin, but to be honest, if I’m using a powder I use a very moisturizing primer beforehand, or even a facial oil because I find it makes the powder stick better to my skin.

This particular powder photographs beautifully, and looks very natural in every light. It lets your skin shine through – you can’t hide freckles or scarring with this, but I’m ok with that. I think 2019 is going to be the year of more natural makeup, and I’m here to celebrate that.

I think you should join me. Would you go without foundation?

Sheer Mystery Powder is $72. I apply with a big buffing brush and really pile on as much as I can. I like the hefty palette and the pretty packaging, and I think I’ll keep it around even when the powder is done. I’ve thrown out the little puff that it came with because I only apply this at home. The powder doesn’t last that long on your skin – I was oily after lunch – but that’s just me. I’m sure if you use it with a primer you could make it last longer, or you could top this with a setting spray to really seal it in. I’m trying to make mornings as quick as possible, so this is the last step in my skincare, after sunscreen, and then I’m out the door.

Anyone else have resolutions for 2019? Or new habits?

Posted in Make-Up | Tagged Foundation, MAC, powder | Leave a comment

The Ordinary 1% Retinol in Squalene

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Henna

I wrote about my The Ordinary Haul, and the first product that I opened right away was the 1% Retinol in Squalene. Squalene is a plant-based oil that’s often found in skincare. It’s light and feels comfortable on the skin.

I’ve used retinol before and I know that it can make your skin feel a little dry and tight because of the intense amount of exfoliation that’s going on. I can feel it after I wash my skin and I know thatbefore I put on a retinol, I can use a very basic moisturizer to put back in what my skin might have lost in the cleansing process, but with the Retinol in Squalene, I actually don’t have to do that. The squalene immediately makes my skin feel so comfortable and the retinol goes to work speeding up the exfoliation of my skin.

Did I get the flakes when I was using this serum.

Of course I did.

It’s potent, and I hadn’t been using a retinol regularly before I was using this. I had used the A313 for a bit but I had stopped for a week or so. I much prefer the texture and feel of this retinol and because it makes my skin feel so comfortable when i put it on, I know that I’m going to keep on using it. I also didn’t have any itchiness when I used it, and I think that’s a really good sign. It means that my skin wasn’t that sensitive to the feeling of retinol and that also made me want to keep using it, hopefully giving me better results.

You can get this retinol online and if you’re new to the retinol game, I recommend that you get one at a lower percentage so that your skin can get used to it. Once that’s done, then you can work your way up to a higher percentage of retinol.

The Ordinary Retinol serum is remarkably affordable. This serum is less than $10.

Posted in Skin Care | Leave a comment

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Henna

Having a definite Serge Lutens moment over here too, and I highly recommend you check out the Serge Lutens counter at Sephora or Holt Renfrew. The scents are wearable, pretty, and have major staying power if they’re not necessarily all that unique.

La Fille de Berlin is a simple scent – rose, and pepper. The freshness of roses, combined with a tiny bit of spiciness from the pepper. This scent doesn’t knock you off your feet. It is pretty and fresh and because it’s an Eau de Parfum it’s got some depth instead of being fleeting. Think of a classic red rose scent and that’s what you’ve got here.

$255 for 100mL.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Serge Lutens | Leave a comment

The Holy Grail Nail Trio

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Henna

This is a nail look I’ve done so many times that it’s become my go-to. I really love understated super long nails – as long as they’re actually my real nails and I can grow them long enough to my liking. The polish needs to be a safe pink that’s not nude or neutral. Dior Lady fits the bill.

I’ve worn it in so many Instagram posts and it really fits any nail shape. Long, short, square, or oval, this colour just looks polished and fresh.

I use a tinted Nail Envy base coat underneath. I started using Nail Envy a couple of years ago, because I saw pictures posted of people with really long nails, and Nail Envy seems to have made the difference. I do notice that my nails are less prone to peeling but I don’t know whether that’s Nail Envy or not. What I like is that it actually makes a great base coat, so I keep coming back to it.

Finally, the piece de resistance is the top coat, because all this effort is only going to last as long as your top coat is the best, and in this case, it is. I love the Infinite Shine 3 because it gets harder and harder with the UV rays of the sun, and so it’s a fantastic top coat. It’s also super duper shiny. I can’t promise 10 day wear, but I can easily get through a 5 day week, and stretch it out to 7 days if I need to.

But sadly, after years, I’m out of Dior Lady and I’m out of my second bottle of the Infinite Shine 3 top coat, so it’s time to say bye bye.

Posted in Make-Up | Tagged Nails | Leave a comment

Bumble and Bumble Go Big Treatment

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Henna

I’ve been on a bit of a blow-drying bandwagon this month. I think there’s just something about wearing winter hats that makes me want to be more polished, and have nice smooth locks, which takes a lot of work for someone with curly hair. So I’ve been test-driving all kinds of treatments before I blow-dry my hair to see what works best for it.

To be honest, I think the best thing is just not blow-drying. I really like my hair to air-dry mostly and then go through it with a straightener.

No matter what I’m doing though, I’m liking the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Go Big Treatment ($34) which is a new addition to their Thickening line of products. It’s perfect for people like me who have fine hair. I spray it on my roots (just like I’ve seen my stylist do) and then blow-dry with a round brush trying to go away from the roots. The result is a lift and thickening of hair that really seems to last and last. And the best part is that it feels natural and fresh and not crispy like some volumizers can.

If you have dry hair then there’s also the Thickening Great Body Blow Dry Creme ($38) which is emollient but also has some hold and gives hair some weight. So it’s volumized but not as fluffy as it would be with a spray. I found that just a tiny amount was what I needed for my hair, and it had enough hold that it made blow-drying easier than it were usually.

Oh, and if you’re really into bigger hair, you could use the Go Big Treatment before the Blow Dry Cream and really get your hair to stay.

Available at salons and Sephora.

Posted in Styling Products | Tagged Bumble and Bumble | Leave a comment

Clay Masks: Your Christmas Party Must-Have

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Henna

Ok, I feel like we’re kind of getting to a time when masks are getting a bad rap… the effects are temporary! They’re sometimes fragranced! You need to use them continually to get results!

Nevermind all that. When you have tons of Christmas parties to go to, or secret Santas, or pictures with Santa, sometimes you just need your skin to look polished IMMEDIATELY.

Guess what: this is not the time for peels no matter what your local medispa on Instagram is telling you. The last thing you want is for your skin to be peeling and flaky. You’ll just want to put more product on it and that’ll be no good for the pictures.

What you need is either a hydrating sheet mask or a mattifying clay mask. I find clay masks to be great at leaving just the right amount of oil absorption on your skin so that you really get your makeup to go on smooth and stay matte longer. It’ll mean that you use less primer and less powder and that you won’t be updating your makeup throughout the day or night.

I’m partial to the Strivectin Glycolic Skin Reset Mask: it has glycolic acid in it but it’s only on your skin for about 5 minutes which means that it’s going to brighten but not do a doozy on your skin. If your skin isn’t sensitive, then it won’t redden it either. The mask is kaolin-based, so it instantly mattifies and mattifies for a while.

Pick it up online for $80.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged clay masks, Masks, StriVectin | Leave a comment

Acqua di Parma Sandalo and a Very Nice Gift for Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Henna

I mean, this is a gift that you would want to get for someone very special in your life, but it’s also just so pretty that I totally want to keep it for myself. Acqua di Parma’s Colonia Sandalo Holiday Set ($273) is one of those, because of the beautifully illustrated hat box that it comes in. The set includes a 100ml Eau de Cologne Concentrée, Shower Gel and Candle, all of which smell completely like the rich woody fragrance. Truly, the gift set is a good deal – the bottle of perfume itself retails for $273, so if you’re going to get a scent anyway, you may as well get the gift set and get the candle and gel included, and the packaging is beautiful. The illustrations on the box are done by British artist Clym Evernden, which is kind of cool considering that Acqua di Parma is an Italian brand.

Now on to Colonia Sandalo…

I don’t normally like classifying scents as being for a gender, and a lot of high end perfume brands don’t either, but I do feel like Colonia Sandalo is quite masculine. Maybe it’s because it reminded me a lot of my dad, and also because the scent feels quite heavy to me.

There is a sandalwood note in this fragrance, but also heavy amber, and tonka which made it so round and gourmand. The opening notes of bergamot, lemon orange, and petit grain are quickly overwhelmed by the sandalwood and the bit of cardamom in the middles notes makes it even more of a gourmand scent. The perfume is at once dark and deep which makes it perfect for a winter’s day.

The Eau de Cologne Concentree lasts a really long time. I got a full day of wear with just one spray, and I could smell it on myself at bedtime – in fact, so could my kids which is telling. Of course, it’s the notes in this that make the difference too. Gourmand notes have a way of sticking to my skin like nothing else does, and that’s ok.

The candle is absolutely beautiful and can scent a whole room, and the shower gel is nice to use in your hair so you can layer the perfume.

Truly, this is a wonderful gift for the fragrance lover in your life.

Available at Holt Renfrew.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Acqua di Parma | Leave a comment

Skincare Update

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Henna

What do you think and what can you spot?

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Beautycounter, Bumble and Bumble, neutrogena, skincare, The Ordinary | Leave a comment

Friends-Mas and Live Clean’s new Holiday Soap

Posted on December 8, 2018 by Henna

I love the holidays. I start listening to Christmas music right after Remembrance Day and shop for presents starting December 1st. I love giving gifts, holiday baking, and people in my house. I also love Friends-mas which is basically holiday dinner with my friends. It doesn’t represent Christmas dinner with my family but it does have its own place, and it’s super fun.

I’m stocking my bathroom with holiday soap, and it’s always been Live Clean. My kids love the Peppermint Vanilla, but this year there’s Gingerbread Latte which has the sweet and spicy scent of gingerbread. These soaps smell good but they’re also super moisturizing with tons of lather. And there’s tons in in the packaging so you’ll be set for the whole holiday season.

Plus, all Live Clean products, are plant derived and free of SLS/Sulfates, Petroleum, DEA, Parabens, Silicone, Phthalates and Phosphates, so if there are ingredients that you’re sensitive to or are trying to avoid, you can check out these soaps. These are also available in Holly Berry (which is a berry scent) and Peppermint Vanilla (which is still the favourite around here).

Available at drugstores and mass merchandisers. $4.99 to $5.99.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Live Clean, Soap | Leave a comment

Moisturizing Protective Cream for Really Dry Skin

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Henna

This is for all of you who email or text me asking for a cream that’s for dry skin and moisturizes in a real lasting way. Kariderm is a Canadian brand, that makes products formulated with Shea Butter – organic shea butter in this case. I’ve used their shampoo and conditioner before, and it was super moisturizing in a way that was untraditional – no silicones in sight, but still moisturized hair.

The Kariderm Moisturizing Protective Cream has shea butter in it but it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. Shea Butter is the fourth ingredient in this cream, but it absorbs into your skin easily and makes your skin feel soft and moisturized.

The best part is that it’s thick enough to last the whole day.

$29.95 at drugstores.

Posted in Moisturizers | Tagged Kariderm, Moisturizer | Leave a comment