Canadian Beauty

New Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Henna

This year, Maybelline relaunches their Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation. Ever since finishing up my bottle of the Fit Me matte foundation, I’ve been a fan of Maybelline foundations. They offer them in skin-true colours and I’ve managed to find shades at look real on my skin.

Here’s 220 Natural Beige which was too light and not warm enough for me. I still tried it and wore it around – warmed it up with some bronzer, and added contour to add some depth to my face.

The Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation is actually medium-full coverage. The best thing about the packaging is that it comes with a pump! I use one pump and apply where I need most coverage, and then blend it out with a brush. You could also use 2 pumps and use with a beauty-blender and this would sheer out your finish a bit, but you could just dab on more where you needed more coverage. The texture is thick, almost moussy, but this applies smoothly and is very easy to blend. It dries to a powdery matte finish that needs almost no powder.

I say almost, because although this is supposed to last a long time, if you have oily skin, then you might find that it does wear off by lunch time. For me, that’s about 6 hours, and not near the 12 mark. Even if I’m having a day where my skin isn’t too oily, I’ll find that the foundation is pretty much worn off by 3 or 4pm, and my skin needs a retouch, but I’m ok with that. As long as my eye makeup stays on, we’re golden.

I think what makes this foundation a winner for me is the colours that are available. There are natural-looking and warm options as well as a few options for dark (but not very dark) skin tones. For the price of around $13, that’s not too bad.

Have you tried Super Stay? Are you going to try it?

Posted in Spring 2018 | Tagged Foundation, Maybelline | 1 Comment

Latest Empty: Paula’s Choice Resist 1% Retinol Booster

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Henna

Retinols can really help your skin exfoliate more quickly and I’ve noticed enough of a difference that I keep using them. Lately, I’ve been into the Paula’s Choice Resist 1% Retinol Booster. 1% is quite a high percentage of retinol, so this was a bit drying and extreme when I first tried it, but after a while of consistent use, my skin got used to it and I can use it everyday.

Paula’s Choice calls this a booster because you can mix it into another skincare option so that you’re diluting the retinol, but I just used it straight up on its own and that worked pretty well for me.

The product is liquidy but more like a serum than a toner or lotion, and spreads into skin really easily, which is another reason that I liked it. I sometimes followed up with an oil if I thought I needed it, but always waited a while to see what my skin needed. Sometimes I just went straight to bed.

Loved it enough that it’s done!

$52 online – and you can read my original review of it here. You can see my retinol before and afters here.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Empty, Paula's Choice, Retinol | Leave a comment

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara Review

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Henna

Just a shout-out again to this CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara. I accidentally bought this in a dark brown colour instead of black like I was supposed to, but I’m not mad about it. It’s great because you can really layer lots of mascara on and the brush helps keep all your lashes separated.

It seems that CoverGirl had me in mind when they made this mascara.

These days, I haven’t got time for my regular face full of makeup, but the one thing that I do make time to apply is my mascara. Actually, maybe if applying mascara wasn’t such an ordeal for me, I’d have time for the rest of my face, but I love the mascara and so I do apply it the way I do.

People always ask me what kind of mascara I’m wearing. I like to apply a lot. Maybe 5 or 6 coats in all. I’m serious, I don’t stop at just 1 coat or even the 2. I just keep going because major lashes are kind of my thing. I actually like it verging on clumpy yet not clumpy. I just keep on applying until I notice that the coats might be starting to clump a little, and then I stop.

The key is to find a wand and mascara combo that layers well and then keeps all these mascara-coated lashes perfectly separated.

Well, now that mascara combo magic is in CoverGirl’s new LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara. This mascara is specially made for people like me. It’s made so that you can apply as many coats as you want and you won’t get a clump at all.

The secret is the wand, which is slightly curved and has bristles that are placed really close together so that your lashes get separated every time you run the wand through them.

Also the curving brush? Perfect. The beginning and end of the curve match the beginning and end of your lashes, so that you get those little lashes right at the end to curve up just so, giving you the perfect fringe.

The formula, of course, facilitates layering and that’s what CoverGirl mascaras all have in common. They’re waxy and dry in just the right amount of time. There’s enough time for you to do a coat on both sets of lashes, and then go back and do more coats. And then the formula lasts all day, although flaking will entirely depend on exactly how much you’ve applied that day.

Still, the whole package is pretty major, and this is definitely my new favourite mascara of all time.

$9.49.

Posted in Search for the Perfect Mascara | Tagged CoverGirl | 5 Comments

Rimmel Insta Collection

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Henna

Drugstore collections these days are just so pretty and full of great formulas, and @RimmelLondonCan’s new Insta collection is one of those, and also Rimmel Stay Matte liquid lipsticks which came out in December.

The Stay Matte Liquid Lip colours ($8.99 each). OMG. So. MANY. Great. Options. I literally have been wearing these non-stop since I got them, and the obsession is similar to the Only One Matte Lipsticks that I got from Rimmel last year.

I mean, you either love the liquid lip or you hate it. It’s dry, it emphasizes fine lines, and it kind of looks painted on, so it’s not the most natural look, but you apply it and then you’re done! No need to retouch or put on more until you eat something greasy! Mine easily lasts through lunch and that’s why I keep using it every morning. After lunch, I switch to a balm, but I mean, this lip lasts through multiple coffees so that is a major plus!

Here’s a picture of me wearing Pink Bliss which I wore during all of Christmas Vacay. It’s casual enough for the mall, for a family gathering, but also punchy enough for The Nutcracker.

I mixed it with Moca or Latte To Go to get more of a nude lip or just wore either of those on their own.

The Insta Collection has some very nice options for getting your makeup to look flawless. If you’ve ever been scare of contour and highlight, baking or liquid eyeliner then there are some options here that might make all of those easier.

My other favourite product is the Insta Conceal and Contour in Medium ($11.99) which I used every day over the break because it was easier to travel with than my regular foundation. These are three creams that blend into a powder soft finish and just set on your skin. They’re silky smooth and matte finished so they look really natural on your skin. I didn’t find myself using the darkest contour colour that much because it’s so warm, but I used the undereye concealer which brightened my under eye area. If you have really dark circles, then this won’t be the best at concealing them but if you just want something brightening, it really works. The medium colour was great at covering blemishing and evening out my chin area which is the most problematic for me. I think this is a great deal for $12 because the formula is good and the products are actually good colours. It also comes in a light palette. There’s also a correcting palette with blue, green, and yellow shades to address specific skin concerns.

The matte pressed powder ($9.99) is fine but the Contour Stick ($11.99) has a highlighter that’s too glittery so I don’t love that.

There’s also a stamp eyeliner – it’s ok. It makes it really easy to do a cat eye, but even when I used it with a primer and put powder on it, the liner smudged all over my eye within the hour, so I didn’t love it. Eyeliner needs to dry and stay put!

Pick

Posted in Spring 2018 | Tagged Conceal and Contour, lipstick, makeup, Rimmel | Leave a comment

Vichy LiftActiv UV

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Henna

Day creams need to have SPF – it really kills 2 birds with 1 stone because you can moisturize and protect your skin without too much trouble. I mean, do we really want to moisturize and then add more product on top with sunscreen?

That’s why I love Vichy’s LiftActiv UV moisturizer – it has broad spectrum protection with SPF 15 but in a base that’s thoroughly moisturizing on the skin. It immediately relieves dryness and tightness and keeps that feeling gone for the rest of the day.

Now, because this is a moisturizer, it does leave a bit of a sheen on the skin, but I just powder that away and then I’m good for the whole day. Of course, it’s also fortified with Vichy Thermal Spa Water. Really, this is a great option for all skin types, especially for those people who need to start using SPF because they haven’t been.

Available online or at mass merchandisers for $49.95.

Posted in Sunscreen | Tagged Daycream, Sunscreen, Vichy | Leave a comment

Skincare from Rocky Mountain Soap Company

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Henna

Have you heard of this phenomenon called bedside table skincare? Or nightstand skincare? Really, the idea is that even if you’re too lazy to wash your face at the sink, and you just want to hop into bed because you’re so tired, you can just keep some skincare options on your nightstand and use them before you go to sleep. Ideally, these options are luxurious and effective so that you can take care of your skin while you sleep.

I don’t have anything like that – my kids would dip into anything I left lying around, but I do have laptop skincare. It’s skincare I keep on a high shelf near my laptop so that I can use it when the kids are asleep and I’m sitting down to do some work or watch a bit of Netflix.

These days, what I’m keeping on hand is some skincare from Rocky Mountain Soap Company – check out their Hydrating Toner and their Pomegranate Day Cream.

Now, a word about their toner: it’s one of the best options to leave on your bedside table because it comes in a spray bottle, and I’ve noticed that this is becoming more and more popular. You get the benefit of the toner on your face but without wasting a cotton pad. It wouldn’t work for everything, but what a concept. You can totally put this toner on your night stand and just spray it on, wait for it to absorb a bit, and then follow up with a moisturizer to seal all the benefits in. The Aloe and Frankincense is soothing and hydrating because of the aloe, but smells amazing because of the frankincense. Besides smelling good, frankincense has been known to improve cell health, can help take care of acne, reduces respiratory issues, and can delay skin aging. Imagine all that in a spray bottle. I also love the Tea Tree Toner from Rocky Mountain Soap Company because it’s antibacterial and is fantastic for stopping breakouts in their tracks.

Then I follow up with the day cream which doesn’t have SPF in it so I just use it at night. It’s creamy but light and doesn’t make me break out.

$13.50 for the travel sized toner, and $27 for the large size. $35 for a large size of the day cream. I have a little travel size here which wasn’t for sale when I checked online.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Cream, Moisturizer, RMSC, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Spray, toner | Leave a comment

Jo Malone Jasmine and Mint Cologne

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Henna

@JoMaloneLondon makes some of nicest most wearable colognes. They are unique and light enough to wear every day.

How can I describe Jasmine and Mint Cologne?

It doesn’t smell like Jasmine and it doesn’t smell like Mint. More like a fresh garden, which is a good thing. The only problem with Jo Malone colognes is that they don’t always last a long time because they’re so light.

In any case, look for it at your local Jo Malone counter, which is at Holt Renfrew or Nordstorm.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Jo Malone, Perfumes | Leave a comment

Kiehl’s Product Reviews

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Henna

I must admit that I’m going through an @KiehlsCanada phase right now. I’m smitten with a few of their products and I can’t get enough of the brand – and

If you’re unfamiliar with this line, know that it was a New York pharmacy started in 1851. (The brand is now owned by L’Oreal Paris). Their look is reminiscent of simple pharma packaging and going into that store is an old-world experience too. Their employees wear lab coats and assist you personally, asking you questions about your needs, whether they be skin, body, or hair-oriented.

Creme de Corps is perhaps Kiehl’s most famous product.This lotion is worth trying. It’s liquidy and really does have the consistency of whipping cream but do not mistake this for a lotion that’s watery. Smoothed on your skin, it’s light yet moisturizing. The very best part is that your skin is left looking absolutely luminous and it’s not at all sticky.

This lotion also comes in a light-weight formula and on that has SPF 30. Lovely. There’s also a Creme de Corps Body Nurturing Body Washing Cream that I’m dying to try.

Kiehl’s also makes great bath gel. Theirs is called Bath and Shower Liquid Body Cleanser and is very gentle.

The scent I use is grapefruit and it’s light and fresh. They also have this body wash in a few other scents including coriander, herbs, and vanilla to name just a few, and they also periodically offer limited edition scents that sell out quite quickly.

Lastly, Kiehl’s Epidermal re-Texturizing Micro-dermabrasion is definitely one of the best exfoliators I have ever tried. It’s not listed with the rest of Kiehl’s regular face scrubs, and is grouped with their “Dermatologist Solutions“.

The product uses aluminum oxide crystals and ground up sea shells as its scrubbing particles! Knowing that might remind you of this article that I mentioned a while back. Knowing that what I was putting back into the sea is from there in the first place made me appreciate the scrub even more.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, the scrub’s particles are very very fine so the amount of exfoliation you get is pretty high. I would only use this once a week at the most, and each time I used it I was left with very smooth soft skin. The base is lovely and not at all drying or overly moisturizing.

So those are the Kiehl’s products that I’m loving right now. Needless to say, I’m very impressed with the brand and can’t wait to try more of its products.

Posted in For the Body, Styling Products | Tagged Exfoliator, Kiehl's, Moisturizer | 6 Comments

Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Henna

I’ve been a longtime fan of @clinique for my skin, and one of the products that I love is their Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector, which isn’t exactly for making my pores smaller, but more for making them look invisible.

This product isn’t new on the market and I’ve had it forever.

The Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector is just one of those standbys that I have on hand. It does the same kind of thing that my blotting powder does – take away shine without disturbing the rest of my makeup – but somehow it seems to go on more natural looking. It might be because it’s tinted and it seems to cover up my pores without at all looking powdery on my skin. It comes in three colours: kind of a clear, a pale beige, and a deeper warm beige.

You’d think that I’d just applied another layer of foundation, but that’s definitely not the case either. It just does what it says – perfects. It’s a hot weather must-have.

Posted in Make-Up, Skin Care | Tagged Clinique, Oily Skin | 1 Comment

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Henna

A mask for those of us who sometimes have troublesome skin. If you’ve spent too much time in the sun, the cold, the smog or with your exfoliator, then this is for you.We start then, with a mask that’s not necessarily for combination skin but is definitely a mask that’s good for the summer. The Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque is a green gel that claims to soothe skin so that it looks its best.

Upon putting this masque on, my skin felt instantly refreshed – and it should since it is a water-based gel. This is an excellent option for those people who have experience sunburn or simply need to calm their skin after spending time in the heat. The gel mask goes on clear and doesn’t really dry out – it stays wet and provides refreshing relief to the skin while providing sheer moisture as well. After using this mask, my skin was super hydrated and ready for moisturizer.

Take it on vacation with you. Keep it around for emergencies.

It has been around for a really long time and it works.

$64. At Sephora.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Masks, Peter Thomas Roth | 1 Comment