Dior Double Rouge Lipstick

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Henna

Are you guys into the metallic lipstick trend?

I’m not.  I didn’t like it in the ’90’s and I’m not really feeling it now either.  It just doesn’t jive with my aesthetic which goes between matte red to glossy pink to a pop of raspberry.

But when Dior came out with Double Rouge, I had to try it.

Double Rouge is matte on the outside and metallic on the inside, giving you options, one of which is to wear them together as a lip that’s ombre and a hybrid of both.

Below is 999 (the only red in the collection) and 999 (which is kind of a nude).

Swatches below.

The centre in the red is golden which is pretty but too warm if you like a bright red that makes your teeth look whiter.


The nude is wearable and pretty but still metallic.

You can pick these up at Dior counters in department stores for $43 each.

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Neostrata Adds to Acne Care Line

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Henna

I’ve been into using Neostrata skincare products since I discovered that there are lots of great skincare ingredients that can make a different on problematic skin, especially skin that has acne on it.

Their Acne Clear line is second-to-none because it contains salicylic acid in it, and now in addition to having a cleanser and toner in the line, there’s also a light Treatment Fluid that helps keep pores clear.

The hero ingredient, salicylic acid, works by cutting through oil and exfoliating from inside the pore.  This makes the ingredient especially powerful and effective for those who have oily skin. It’s not as drying as benzoyl peroxide because it works in a different way so if that’s something you’re interested in then this line is for you.

Pick it up at Shoppers Drug Mart.

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Mineral Sunscreen For Kids

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Henna

We have been so lucky with some amazing weather this summer – yes, there’s been summer showers and smoke – but this year I really made it a point to take the kids out and about.  They love it and I find that it helps them eat better and sleep better too!  Plus, most days I can be out there with a book while they play, so it’s win-win.

And then we brought home some sand for them to play with… 

and most of it ended up on the floor…. But before we went outside, we put on sunscreen, something that’s actually a huge pain, but that I do anyway, especially since I’ve gotten burned so many times this summer.  The sun seems to be burning especially hard this summer and it’s been so important to get covered.

I’ve been using Aveeno’s Active Naturals Sensitive Skin SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen or the Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.  The sunscreens are zinc-based so their sunscreen ingredients are 100% mineral-based not chemical-based.  There’s less of a chance of minerals absorbing into the skin and interfering with how the body functions, which makes this sunscreens especially useful for babies, kids, and anyone with sensitive skin.

Like all mineral-based sunscreens, these go on white, but once you rub them in they dry clear!

… applying sunscreen is never fun, but once you do it, atleast you’re set for a couple of hours!  This sunscreen is also water-resistant for 80 minutes. It’s also light-weight and not too sticky, so it’s comfortable on the body.

$15,99 – 18.99 at all food, drug, and mass merchandisers.

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Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eyeliner and Eye Paint

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Henna

Make Up For Ever’s new Aqua XL eyeliner and eye paint are a long-wearing options for any seasons.

The eyeliner comes in a tube with a spongy applicator that lets you draw a fine or thick liner with the perfect feline flick.

The paint is just that.  A liquidy eyeshadow that adheres to lids once it sets.  And that’s the key to using it: letting it set.
I have the eyeliner in dark blue and the paint in black.  I thought I would get the black paint to see if I could use it as eyeliner and the truth is that it’s difficult because it’s so liquidy and because it needs to dry.  Open your eye too soon, and you get the paint all over your lids and that’s not the look I was going for.
The eyeliner is amazing.  Truly longwearing, this doesn’t smudge or smear off, but comes off easily with makeup remover and water.  That’s pretty much everything I want in an eyeliner – oh, and it’s fairly easy to apply given you practice a little.  I definitely had to practice because i hadn’t worn liquid eyeliner in a while, and I’m so glad I did.
Pick them up at Sephora stores.

 

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Stila Aqua Glow Serum Concealer with Swatches

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Henna

Stila’s Aqua Glow Serum Concealer is a wonder product.

Offering a your-skin-but-better finish, this concealer is light but buildable.  It comes in skin-true colours, and effectively highlights or conceals and in some cases, it can even correct.

Below are swatches of the Aqua Glow Serum Concealer in the colours Medium-Tan (left) and Medium.

 You can see that Medium Tan is slightly more salmon-coloured making it perfect for counter-acting the blue that comes with under-eye circles.  It doesn’t go on as orange as it appears and really brightens skin.
In the picture below, I’ve blended in the concealers with a brush.
Medium Tan is still on the left, and Medium is on the right.  You can see that Medium Tan has some real warmth in it which makes it a good choice for deeper skin tones.  
You can also see that the finish isn’t totally matte and maybe that’s my favourite thing about this concealer.  It makes your skin look healthy and dewy but without being oily and greasy.  You can apply powder on top to have it set, and that’s really the best way to make this concealer last.  I didn’t have any creasing because I powder and I’m careful to not apply so much that it mutes the dewiness in this concealer.
I think that this is great for all skin types, but especially for those people who have dry skin.  It’ll add another layer of moisture to your skin to make it look better.
Oh, and I’m using the Medium-Tan under my eyes, and the Medium on my chin and forehead.  Because it’s not a full coverage product, it blends nicely with my foundation and still lets my skin show through looking very natural.
Pick it up at Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique for $35.
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Kerastase Hairsprays: Laque Couture and Laque Noire

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Henna

Kerastase has to be one of my favourite brands for styling, and so I turned to it for hair spray.  If we’re talking strictly hairspray, there are two kinds to choose from: Laque Couture and Laque Noire.  Couture has lighter hold and Noire has more hold.

What I love about both of these is that they’re not glue-ey or sticky and they dry shiny making your hair looking better than it was before.
My favourite is Laque Couture because my hair is usually worn down, so I like it to have some movement.  I’ve gotten used to using it so much that I really notice when I haven’t because those are the days that even a little bit of humidity will make my hair look more frizzy than it was before.
Lacque Noire is better for updos or hair styles that need to last through more humidity.  Always start with just a little bit and then add more if you think your hair is falling.
There’s also Lacque Dentelle which is the lightest hold available.
$41 online and in salons.
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Avene Makes The Best Mineral Sunscreen

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Henna

Mineral sunscreens.  I feel as if they’re all that anyone is talking about right now and they’re definitely not for everyone because a lot of times they include a high concentration of zinc oxide which goes on very white.

But then there’s Avene.
Avene is a French brand but it’s available easily at Shoppers Drug Mart, and it turns out that you don’t have to spend too much more money to get a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t make you look like some kind of a ghost.

Avene’s High Protection sunscreens are mineral-based – they’re a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – but they both go on mostly clear.

I say mostly, because I have tan skin, and I can tell where I’ve applied sunscreen and where I haven’t, but by the time I’ve finished applying and have really rubbed everything in, I can’t see the sunscreen.  I can’t see it on my face, and I can’t see it on my arms and legs, and I’m happy about that. I’m using a product that’s supposed to be better for me, but it’s not coming at the cost of not looking normal.  The truth is that if I use a sunscreen that goes on whitish, I’m more liable to skip putting it on some days, and that’s definitely not the case with this.

Oh, and it’s not greasy, or tacky, but does kind of go on like a light moisturizer.  The face version is actually pretty nice and kind of watery, and I’m tempted to use it all over, but the texture is so light and thin that I save it for my face. I do think that there’s some silicone in the face version to make it feel slippery yet dry on your skin, and that’s fine although I do find that some people’s skin reacts badly to silicone and I can be one of those.  This didn’t make my break out, but it’s something to remember.

$28 for the face lotion and $35 for the body lotion.  Avene is available at Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, or Well.ca.

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Beautycounter’s Vitamin C Oil Brightens Your Skin

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Henna

I recommend some kind of oil to almost everyone I meet.

Ok, maybe it’s because I live in a very dry climate and meet a lot of people with topical dryness, and maybe it’s because my friends are of “an age” when they’re starting to add retinol to their skincare regimen, but people ask me about dry skin and skin dullness a lot and that’s what I recommend!

Oils nowadays have actual skincare ingredients in them – they’re not just grease for your skin – and Beautycounter has some of the best options available.

I really am loving their brightening Vitamin C oil.  This oil is lightweight and absorbs into my skin in a matter of minutes.  I apply it as the last step in my skincare regimen, after any exfoliators or treatments.  It sinks in and adds some vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant.  Antioxidants help prevent environmental damage and can be used morning and night.  So you could apply this in the AM as part of your routine, before sunscreen, or at night before you go to sleep.  Makeup will glide on and you’ll have to powder if you want it to stay on.  But it works and I love it.

Pick up Beautycounter online, and check out their options for oils.  They function almost like serums but more hydrating which is nice.  Once the weather gets really cold, you’ll really want to stock up because these are the best at getting rid of that tight feeling on your skin.

$68.

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Rocky Mountain Soap Company Hydrating Outdoor Spray

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Henna

Summers for me include heading to a cottage out in Muskoka, and while we love being out and about while we’re there, the mosquitos don’t leave us alone.

We’ve stocked up on our DEET, but you wonder about spraying that stuff in the air and near your kids when they’re going to be breathing it in.

This year, I put Rocky Mountain’s Outdoor Spray near the back door and got everyone to use it.  Even my 4 year old could use this spray bottle and because she’s 4, she sprayed it liberally.  She even made sure to get behind her ears and at the ends of her hair.  (Yep, I’m rolling my eyes even as I remember it.)

The long and the short? She didn’t get any bug bites this year.  I got a few at night time, but after a while, I remembered that I had to just get this stuff on everywhere and it worked.  Rocky Mountain Soap doesn’t say that this is bug spray or to use it instead of DEET, and I’m going to stick with them.  Use it at your own risk, but my experience with it was a positive one.

Available online or at RMSC boutiques.  $15.75.

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Mornings Made Easier with Coffee Scrub

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Henna

Literally, whatever you’ve been using as a scrub won’t be as good as this one unless it already smells like a Vanilla Latte… which is what you get when you use this Lovefresh Coffee Sugar Scrub. 

The one that I have smells like Coffee and Japanese Lime, but there’s also a version made with Vanilla which makes it smell so good too!

I also love that I can recognize all the ingredients in this scrub.  Coffee? Check.  Sugar? Check.  Shea Butter? Check.  And the list goes on to include even Honey, Sunflower Oil, and Coconut Butter, which are all amazing hydrators.

This scrub not only left my skin smooth, but it was hydrated and soft when I was done with it.  Definitely, this has been one of my favourite summer finds.

Pick it up at Lovefresh for $34.

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