Body Shop Lip Butter

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Henna

With the air being hot and dry at times, and with my layering on lots of sunscreen, I’ve found that my lips have taken a back seat in terms of care.  So I’ve been looking through my stash of lip products and reached for The Body Shop Grapefruit Lip Butter since it smelled so yummy. It is beautifully creamy and soft! This is one of the smoothest lip balms that I have ever tried and it turns out that all the flavours are like that.  They’re so great that it’s hard to pick a favorite but the Papaya one is a good choice, as is the Grapefruit one.

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Fragrance Friday: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Henna

Here are pictures of my own bottle of Coco Mademoiselle. The seal is difficult to break – not because it’s uber-secure but because you know that it was put on in some workshop at Chanel Headquarters.

 


I did finally end up breaking the seal – but only because I know that Chanel never discontinues any of its fragrances. They believe that what comes out of the Chanel Perfumery is timeless and so I know that should I ever want to, I will be able to purchase another bottle of Coco Mademoiselle.

The scent itself is like a new classic – it’s a slightly powdery floral that’s young but still distinctively Chanel.

 

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A Completely Clear Face Sunscreen

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Henna

#SorryNotSorry for all the sunscreen posts.  I’ve been using sunscreen diligently – on myself and the kids – as part of a quest to get out of the house more and be out and about with the kids.  I mean, I try anyway, but in the winter, it’s easier to make an excuse and just stay indoors.  The weather has been so nice that there’s really no excuse anymore and so we have been going through copious amounts of sunscreen.

Of course, one of the challenges is to find a sunscreen that protects but doesn’t show up as white, and isn’t greasy, so that I actually want to use it. 

The Aveeno Ultra-Calming Sensitive Skin Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 is a winner.  Not only does it rub into your skin easily, but it does absorb into your skin with a non-shiny soft and smooth finish.  I have oily skin and this works for it – if you have dry skin, you are going to need something that’s more hydrating underneath.

I put it on my face, continue on to my neck, my shoulders, arms, and hands and then I’m ready for my day.

$19.97 in drugstores and mass merchandisers.

 

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Annabelle Edge Lipstick

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Henna

Annabelle’s Edge collection is inspired by geometry but the Edge lipstick that’s part of the collection is functional too.

The lipsticks are in a diamond shape which makes for an unusual lipstick, but also provides lots of sharp corners to draw nice clean lines with. 

The Edge lipsticks come in lots of bright colours.  Colour payoff is decent but if you have darker lips or any discolouration, you’re going to have to go over your lips more than once to get full coverage.  There’s also slight staining with the brighter colours, so even when the lipstick fades, the colour will be there.

These are super creamy and shiny in their finish – which means that they don’t last a really long time, but they look good when you first apply them, and they feel comfortable on the lips. Because the lipsticks are so creamy, they even feel moisturizing, and in the long run make your lips look better.

Pick them up at drugstores and mass merchandisers for $9.95.  Also online at Annabelle.com.

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Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Even Finish Foundation Review

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Henna

I now use Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Even Finish Foundation and my love of this foundation has a story behind it.
We all have those Mondays. Mine included parking too far away in the middle of the city and having to run for blocks and blocks in high heels and in the rain. It was silly of me and let me tell you the looks of people passing by informed me of the fact.

When I finally arrived at my destination, I was perspiring and wet from the rain. I ducked into a restroom. I knew my hair wouldn’t look good but what I really dreaded seeing was that makeup that had melted. I had been wiping my skin so I didn’t know what would be there and what wouldn’t.

You already know how this story ends.

I still looked flawless. Everything was just as I had applied it a few hours before, and after blotting my skin with some paper towel, I was ready to go. I didn’t need powder, I didn’t need more blush, everything was as it should be.

This foundation already has SPF 15 – is there anything it can’t do?

It is oil-free and sets matte without powder. They recommend it for oily skin, but if you have dry skin but moisturize every day, then I think that you can use this too. You can’t really layer it and it doesn’t come with a pump (not a good move, Bobbi Brown) but it’s still worth having. Some people buy expensive foundation and then don’t use it. I don’t save this for a special occasion. Why should I? This stuff can tackle every day!

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CoverGirl Lash Blast

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Henna

Here’s a picture of the wand that makes Cover Girl’s mascara, Lash Blast, so intriguing. It seems to use the same spiky bristles as the newest mascaras but the wand is huge! The small wand you see on the left is the one for Volume Exact. See how much smaller it is?
I usually don’t like mascaras with fat brushes. I find them to be unwieldy and I inadvertently get mascara on my eyelid as I try to negotiate mascara on every part of my lashes. That said, this mascara is really good and it does give me long full lashes that are slightly curled as well. I would even say that this is one of the best mascaras of the year and if you’re looking for a mascara that delivers and you like the fat wand mascaras, then this is your best bet.
$7.49 at drugstores and mass merchandisers.
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New Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Henna

Little known fact: cosmetics are regulated so that they’re safe for use on the part of your face they’re for.  The tightest regulations are for eye products – which means that anything deemed safe for use on the eye area, is safe for the rest of your face too.

I mention this because Make Up For Ever new Artist Pencils are for the eyes, lips and face.  That means you could choose your fave shade and do a monochromatic look, if that’s your style.  Or, if you’re like me, it’s nice to know that you can multi-task in a pinch.

No matter where you’re using these, they are smooth and creamy, and just glide on.  While it’s great that they’re not tugging or pulling, they’re a little too creamy to really last a long time on your eyes without a primer or some shadow to set it.

$23 at Sephora stores or Sephora.com.

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Graydon The Putty

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Henna

I know I have so many sunscreen reviews on here, but um, guess what?  I still got a sunburn this summer, and it was not pretty!  The worst part of the sunburn is the flaking itching skin that I just can’t seem to keep my hands off.

Thankfully, a friend gave me The Putty by Graydon.  The Putty is a skin-saver for dry irritated skins.  That typically isn’t me, but the sunburn had me reaching for this rich moisturizer, and it stopped the burning and itching on contact, allowing my skin to really heal!  This cream is the best.  I even put it on itchy spots of eczema and felt instantly relieved.

The Putty is a blend including Cocoa Seed Butter, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, and Aloe Water that all bring their healing properties to the blend.  In fact, there’s over 15 different different oils and moisturizers in this beautiful cream, so you’re getting a bit of everything. The best part is that it absorbs into your skin quickly (especially if it’s dry) and sets to a powdery non-greasy finish, so you can go about your day and forget about your irritated skin.

Graydon is a natural brand out of Ontario, Canada and each and every product is created by the founder Graydon Moffat and her team.  I’m also a huge fan of Graydon’s Matcha Mint Shampoo – you can read about that here.

You can find Graydon products at natural beauty stores and online. $38.

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Matrix Biolage Airdry Glotion

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Henna

Guys, this summer has been the year that haircare brands are jumping on the air dry bandwagon, and for those of us with curly frizzy hair that doesn’t like being straightened when there’s so much humidity in the air, it’s about time.  I mean, air drying your hair isn’t a new thing, but I love that companies are now making products specifically for those of us who air dry our hair.

The Biolage Aidry Glotion is a spray bottle of lotion and leave-in conditioner in one.  It’s meant to hydrate and add shine, not unlike a leave-in, and make it so that your hair looks nice without a blowdry. While this certainly added tons of shine and even hydrated my hair, it wasn’t enough for me to air dry my hair with it.  My hair is ultra-frizzy, curly, and has been coloured so there’s damage because of that.  I need something that’s heavier to tame the frizz, so I layer this with serum and a light-hold gel that keeps the frizz at bay and makes my hair stay the way I style it.

This is a great leave-in, the scent is light and pleasant, but if you’ve got frizz in your hair, then you might need something heavier.

$22.

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L’Occitane Verbena Icy Gel is Here for the Summer

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Henna

There are products you use in the winter, and then there are products that you use in the summer.  Thick body butters and lotions are done, and slippery fresh lotions and gels are in right now.  That made me reach for L’Occitane’s Verveine Icy Body Gel, which is made up of water and glycerin in a smooth quick-drying formula. 

There’s a little shimmer in this, but mostly it’s a light gel moisturizer that’s perfect for cooling down.  I like to use this at the end of the day when the day’s caught up with me, and it’s the perfect cooling treat on a hot day.  The gel is not sticky as long as you don’t apply too much, and it’s heavily scented but the Verveine scent is fresh.

Check out this and the rest of the Verveine line which includes a hair and body mist, and exfoliating sugars.

At L’Occitane Boutiques now.  $44.

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