Canadian Beauty

L’Occitane Launches Solidarity Balm for International Women’s Day

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Henna

Every year, L’Occitane launches a limited edition product in support of International Women’s Day. This year, this product is a Shea Butter Balm scented with rose and decorated in a design reminiscent of fabrics worn by the Burkinabe women in Africa.

The Solidarity Balm is only $6 and 100% of the profits will go to an NGO that helps fund women’s leadership in Burkina Faso, where L’Occitane gets is Shea Butter.

Pick up the balm in L’Occitane boutiques. It is a hard balm that melts in the palm of your hands. It’s great as a nail and hand balm, or even applied on the ends of your hair to smooth down ends.

The balm is so potent and thick that it lasts a long time. Pick it up at L’Occitane boutiques.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged l'Occitane | Leave a comment

New eos Flavour – Summer Fruit

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Henna

Our favourite organic lip balm is now available in a Summer Fruit flavour. 95% organic and 100% natural – no that doesn’t mean that it’ll work better than plain old petroleum jelly, but at least you won’t feel bad if it you end up licking your lips an accidentally ingesting some of it.

The lip balm also has Jojoba oil, shea butter, and vitamin E in it.

Pick it up for $3.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Loblaw’s, Walmart, London Drugs, Uniprix, Chapters (always a little overpriced there!), and Costco.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged EOS, Lip Balm | Leave a comment

New Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Henna

…so, I have to give a shout out to Wayne Goss and his video Makeup Trends That Need to Die in 2016 because it’s everything that I really think about makeup. Yes, I love contour, highlighting, strobing, blush, concealer, lots of lipstick, etc, but all at the same time? No way. The video basically slams the Jaclyn Hill and Dress Your Face school of makeup which is really about using so much makeup that you don’t even look like yourself anymore, and I say that despite the fact that I love both their work and watch Jaclyn Hill ALL the time, but I just would never be able to use so much highlighter on my face even for a night out.

SO, that being said, I actually have usually not been a fan of concealer, not even for the under eye area. I think that completely masking your dark circles usually looks super fake and overly powdery (if I know you IRL, YES, YOU TOO!), and I just use foundations to do it, or HEY, I advertise the fact that I’m tired! No biggie, I’m a mom, people usually get it and know that it’s not because I’ve been out partying – LOL.

Buttttttt, all that being said, there’s definitely nights out when I want to look brighter, more awake, and just like I’m all there, and so concealer is for those times. If I’m going to use one, it better glide on, not settle into fine lines, and it should really look natural on the minimal makeup that I’m wearing.

And so that’s what you get with the new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer. The concealer comes in just 10 shades which seems minimalistic for the brand, considering how many shades of foundation they have, but considering how light-weight this is, there’s a chance that it’s going to mix into whatever else your using.

They’ve divided their shades into two categories: the peaches and the yellows. I went with a yellow-based concealer as that’s what kind of skin tone I have and I wanted something that would brighten, not just neutralize dark circles. If you have very very dark circles and need something to neutralize the darkness before using foundation or another coverage product, then definitely go with a peach-based shade in your color – it will work wonders and because you’re neutralizing and not just covering up, you’ll find that you’ll actually need less product in that area and so you won’t have to worry about it caking or settling into lines.

This concealer actually really reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer which I had in a colour that matched my skin exactly, and I used almost like foundation until, uh, the glass tube broke. Shucks, as much as I love glass packaging, I get why everyone hates on it all the time. Make Up For Ever has their concealer in a tube, however, I’m not finding that to be much better because already my concealer has leaked all over the place and it’s quite messy. These also run on the light side, so test them in store or be ready to make a return. Or order a couple of shades so that you’re not running the risk of wearing one that’s too light. I have it in Y31 which is described as being for medium skin tones, and it’s definitely brightening because it’s on the light side. I still use it, but sparingly and I can’t use it all over my face because it’s too light, and not really meant for that.

I know this review has been a bit rambly, but basically this is a great light concealer if you need it specifically for the under-eye area. It won’t hide everything, but you know what, that’s ok.

$32 at Sephora. Yes, pricy, but you’ll only use a tiny bit at a time, I promise.

Posted in Spring 2016 | Tagged Make Up For Ever, MUFE | Leave a comment

New Year New Brush from The Knot Dr.

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Henna

Have you heard? Starting today, there’s no more shopping online at Murale.ca – instead, head over to BeautyBoutique.ca to get the high-end beauty products you would have bought at the Murale site. It’s no big deal, obviously. Murale is also owned by Shoppers Drug Mart, but with only a few locations in each city, sometimes it’s just the same to head over to a Shoppers Beauty Boutique and get what you need – and now we’re doing that online too.

I only noticed because I was going to talk about my latest find from Murale: my new Knot Dr. hairbrush.

So backing up just a little bit, I have a little one who’s 3. And I do her hair every day, and lately that’s been resulting in more tears than anything else. Clever mom found a solution: cookies! Yup, have her munching on cookies and there are no tears, no matter how many tangles.

… you can see the flaw in this plan. Yes, it works, but man, did I feel guilty after doing it just once! Junk food in the morning is no good, and really, I try to not even buy cookies at home because then you end up eating them.

So I was looking for a solution and I found The Knot Dr. at Murale. I’ve already tried a Mason Pearson brush (didn’t really detangle that well), combs (they work but aren’t always gentle), and wide-toothed combs (they’re not as smoothing as I would like). Last year, I even got a Tangle Teezer (love it but then lost it, whoops). The Knot Dr. looked promising.

I have the Knot Dr. PhD Hybrid Styler which is thinner than their regular model and has 135 bristles all of which help get tangles out. I am loving this brush. I use it on wet hair like I normally would, and it gets caught at the tangles, but then I slow down and carefully brush them out, and they come out so easily. I don’t like using a detangling product or a leave-in spray because I find that there can be a noticeable residue on very dark hair, but with this brush I don’t even need it. My daughter’s hair becomes so smooth and is so easy to style… and I haven’t had to resort to any cookies!

The Knot Dr. also makes a brush for kids, but it’s smaller and made specifically for kids’ hands – I don’t need that at this point since I’m the one holding the brush! I’ve been using it on myself too, and it’s worth the $25 price tag. It comes in a range of colours: cabernet, ebony, ivory, and sharkskin. Check out the entire line at Murale stores.

Posted in Tools | Tagged Murale, The Knot Dr. | 2 Comments

New Perfume Line: Clean Reserve

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Henna

I’m back in the perfume game, and the latest line to catch my eye has been the new line of scents from Clean. Clean has been a perfume aisle mainstay with scents that smell like laundry detergent and freshness. There’s the original Clean scent which nailed smelling clean on the head, and then there were all sorts of introductions like rain and grass, but also other scents like cotton candy, mojito, etc.

Now, the line has something for those of us who like a little bit of dimension: Clean Reserve.

This new line of scents has more lux packaging than the original Clean bottles but the same focus on scents that are fresh, wearable, and can be layered. The bottles, I’ll add, are huge, with beautiful blonde wooden caps that cover the spray mechanism. The wood is a nod to the sustainable ingredients that the fragrances are made of, and the fact that the bottle is recyclable. They feel hefty in your hand and look beautiful.

The scents are:

Blonde Rose

Terra Woods

Skin

Velvet Flora

Amber Saffron

Sueded Oud

Warm Cotton

Smoked Vetiver

Rain

Of course, I’m a sucker for Rose scents, and a fresh rose scent really appealed for me, so that’s the one that I have.

It smells…. not like roses!

This is a fresh floral scent that’s very clean and musky, powdery and light, but definitely not a major rose scent. It’s not like your grandmother’s rose, and it’s not like your garden’s rose. It’s definitely slightly warm and very fresh, but it feels kind of airy and anonymous to me. It’s a unisex scent that’s easy to wear – it fades into the background pretty quickly, and doesn’t overpower the wearer which is always a good thing.

I found the lasting power to be lacking, but I think that the problem is also that it’s one of those scents that you kind of forget about after a while. It’s on my vanity, and I’m reaching for it daily – I like it well enough – but I’m also curious to see if there’s one I like better, such as Smoked Vetiver or Rain. Lately, I’m craving the herby scent of my old Marc Jacobs cucumber perfume that I gave away years and years ago, so I’m hoping one of these will bring back the grassy freshness of that.

You can check out the Clean Reserve line at Sephora stores now – there’s also a discovery set which might be for you if you like to try them all before buying a huge bottle or if you tend to go through perfume very quickly.

$125 each at Sephora. Terra Woods is exclusive to Sephora.ca.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Clean | Leave a comment

Pantene’s New “Air Spray”

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Henna

Here’s why I need hairspray. I straighten my hair with a bit of a curl in it at the ends, but using a curling iron, and then I need something that’s going to keep the curl in my hair but not make it crunchy and let it still have movement since I’m leaving it out and not doing an updo.

I sometimes don’t like using hairspray because it has a tendency to make my hair really dry too, but I’ve finally found one that works so well for my hair: It’s Pantene’s Style Series Air Spray Alcohol Free Hairspray. This hairspray is alcohol-free so it’s less drying, but it’s still quick to set in my hair and hold my style.

Pantene has called it Air Spray because it’s the first ever aerosol alcohol-free hairspray – it has no ethanol so it doesn’t smell like alcohol which quickly dissipates in the air when you first spray any hair product. This hairspray actually smells good but it also makes your hair super shiny. There’s a bit of stiffness at first spray, but I find that I can still run my fingers through my hair, and break up the curl and loosen up the style if I need to.

This is available at mass market retailers.

Posted in Styling Products | Tagged hairspray, Pantene | 2 Comments

Special Occasion Pampering for Every Day

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Henna

When it comes to pampering, I’m definitely of the thinking that you can indulge in it more often if you do it at home, and by yourself. I love going to the spa, getting my hair done, and relaxing outside of the home, but the truth is that with two kids, there’s not always enough time to get out of the car and drive somewhere.

I’ve always preferred doing my nails myself, anyway. I find that an at-home manicure just seems to last longer and if it chips I don’t feel bad about the money that I’ve spent on it.

Taking my manicure to the next level is Amopé™ Pedi Perfect ™ Electronic Nail Care System, which helps file and buff nails until they’re smooth and shiny. Truly, you might not even nail polish after using this kit because after a final buff, your nails will be so shiny that they’ll look as if there’s a top coat on them.

The electronic Nail Care System is battery-powered, so you can use it anywhere and it has two settings (fast or slow) so you can have control over how much you’re filing and buffing your nails.

I still look forward to getting out of the house for a spa treatment, but when I can’t I’ll be using the Amopé™ Pedi Perfect ™ Electronic Nail Care System.

Available at Well.ca, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Superstore, Rexall, and Amazon.ca for about $50.

Posted in More Than Beauty | Tagged Amope | Leave a comment

More Ways to Get Your Hands on Joe Fresh Beauty

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Henna

You may have read in the business papers that Shoppers Drug Mart was acquired by Loblaw Companies Ltd. some time ago, and if you frequent the two stores on the regular, you may have noticed the slow appearance of PC products in the aisles at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Well, now makeup lovers can rejoice because Joe Fresh Beauty – typically found at Loblaws and Supercenter stores in Canada – will now be available at Shoppers Drug Mart as well. The brand brings more than 150 new cosmetics products, all of which are under $18 and make beauty affordable.

Wondering where to start with the brand?

Try the Lip Crèmes, which are super pigmented lip creams that give opaque coverage in just one swipe. They come in vivid colours – Rose, Candy, Fuchsia, Berry, Ruby, Wine – and are like liquid lipsticks from Sephora, except these are just $12. The Lip Creams are moisturizing and long-wearing and perfect for the cold months.

Check out Joe Fresh Beauty at your local Shoppers Drug Mart – and let me know what caught your eye!

Posted in More Than Beauty | Tagged Joe Fresh, Shoppers Drug Mart | Leave a comment

Calgary Has a New Grocery Store and You Need to See It

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Henna

Yes, I’m writing about a grocery store. Calgary has a new Loblaws City Market – a gourmet grocery store – and it’s amazing. It’s so good that you need to check it out for yourself.

I went opening day. I loved it so much that I went back the next day. And then I sent my husband. “I can’t keep talking about it,” I told him, “you need to see it for yourself.”

The City Market is designed to impress. Walk in and an array of pastries and cakes greet you.

It’s one thing for a grocery store to beckon you with the scent of freshly baked bread, but this is different. If you’re in the mood to grab something freshly prepared and then scooch out of the store, you can do that easily.

In fact, the entire store is so well-planned and unlike anything else in Calgary while being the best of what’s already available. Well, it is a little like what’s in Calgary – it’s a bit of Calgary’s best grocery and gourmet stores, but in one huge building.

If you’re used to shopping at Superstore here, then you’ll be able to find all the PC products that you love, but if you, like me also head to Planet Organic for special dark chocolate, and then Sunterra for pastries, and Sobeys for the best fruit… well, now I just have to go to the Loblaws City Market and I’ll be set.

I do have to say that this store has a focus on fresh food. You’ll find tons of freshly prepared items perfect for meals at home. There’s freshly-pressed juice (something not available at any of the grocery stores near me, even the fancy new Planet Organic), house-made gelato (something my daughter now insists on if we go there), tons of pizza, whole wheels of cheese, and a coffee bar. There’s a special area just for Greek desserts (below), and a little kiosk full of different kinds of Italian cookies.

Montreal-style bagels and croissants you can buy individually (and they’re better than Superstore’s too!), as well as smoked salmon at the deli counter so you can get exactly the amount you need. I also loved the cheese trays assembled on actual boards, as well as the in-store cheese specialist.

Moreover the store is clean – even considering the tons of people that were in there to check it out this opening weekend.

Will I be back? For sure.

But I will say that although I loved all the food at the store, I found that packaged products were more expensive than the Superstore close to my house. Diapers were $2 more a box, and baby food was more pricy too, even though both were marked as being on sale. The thing I love about Superstore is the deals. They occasionally have huge skids certain products that are priced to sell quickly. You can stock up on essentials almost like at Costco, and that won’t be the case for this new Loblaws.

I’ll be back there for my weekly groceries, and especially when I have company coming and need something special. But I’ll be stocking up on home essentials somewhere else.

Go see it for yourself.

Loblaws City Market

10 Sage Hill Ct NW

Calgary, Alberta.

Posted in More Than Beauty | Leave a comment

Winter Hydration Solved: Neutrogena Deep Moisture Day Cream

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Henna

If you’ve read about my experience with using Retinol, then you know that I suffered from intensely dry skin for a couple of weeks after I started using it. My saviour was Neutrogena’s Deep Moisture Day Cream which is perfect to use if you’re exfoliating because it also has SPF 20 in it.

The Deep Moisture Day Cream is made for dry skin. It has a very emollient feel and finish which completely takes away all dry spots. If you have flaking skin, this will make it disappear. Although it feels satiny to the touch, the look is a little greasy which I don’t mind for weekends, but I do powder down before I go out.

The cream is formulated with Glycerine which draws moisture to the skin – the formula is one that is perfect for applying makeup on top of or for mixing with foundation to make your own tinted moisturizer. It also has shea butter and anti-oxidants in it which help keep skin looking hydrated, and there’s a slight bit of shimmer that helps skin look even more glowing – something that I like. My skin just looks healthy when I use this cream – but because of the sheen it does also look very well moisturized.

I’ve always had oily skin so this is the first time I’ve used something deeply mositurizing, but it worked so well that it’s worth keeping in my arsenal of skincare products.

Posted in Moisturizers | Tagged neutrogena | 2 Comments