Dior Spring 2016 Glowing Gardens Collection

Dior’s spring collection makes a case for the big trends of this season: major highlight, light pink and light blue nail polish, pink eyeshadow, and a glowing lip.

Dior Nude Air illuminating Powder

If you’re into highlighter, you’re going to love the Dior Nude Air Illuminating Powder ($58).  Available in 001 and 002, the first is a pale pink while the second is more of a golden glow.  Both provide lots of shimmery with just a gentle touch, but come with a kabuki brush so that you can apply more if you’d like.  They will likely be what attracts you to the collection, but if you already have highlighters you love, then you may well skip over these. They are certainly generously packaged and provide lots of product for what you’re going to be using them for.  The pattern on them is unreal and so pretty.Dior glowing gardens vernis

If anything, spring for the nail polish!  Lilac is a pretty pink, while Bleuette is a light blue.  Lilac is a lovely cream that is very pigmented and gives full coverage in two coats.  It’s spring-y and wearable and is my new neutral.  Dior always hits if out of the park with their nail polishes and it seems that I’m always surprised by how quickly they can out-do themselves.

There’s always the eyeshadow quints.  These haven’t caught my eye for a while – the colours tend to be a bit much for my tastes and I have no use for 5 colours – I wear one or two at a time at the most.

There is Rose Garden and Blue Garden this time in keeping with the theme.

Dior glowing Gardens shadows

And another exciting product in this season’s collection is the Dior Glow lipliner pen.  It promises the same self-changing color as the other Lip Glow products but it offers precise application since wearing lip liner all over your lips is now a more mainstream trend.  I took a picture of the Lip Glow Liner – yes, I’m wearing Lilac in the picture on my nails!

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So there you have it!  Hits from the collection!  What will you be picking up, if anything?

 

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OPI Starlight Collection

This was definitely one of my favourite collections from the holiday season, and although I’m sad to be writing about it after the vacation, it’s still available at salons (and at full price!) so take a look at the colours before you encounter it for yourself.

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Here’s a closer look:

Starlight Collection part 1

 

Left to right: No More Mr. Night Sky; Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Meteorite; Press * for Silver; Ce-Less-Tial is More; Let Your Love Shine; Infrared-y to Glow.

Of the above, the first (#6) is kind of sheer even with two coats.  #5 and #1 are pretty, and #3 is my all time favourite.  It is a heavy glitter and those really only last on my nails for a couple of days before they begin to chip off.  I used OPI’s glitter base coat and just peeled it off after the first day.  Either the polish has to look perfect…. or it shouldn’t be on at all.

Starlight 2

 

Left to Right: Center of the You-Niverse; Super Star Status; I Drive a Supernova; By The Light of the Moon; Comet Closer; Is this Star Taken.

#7 is a winner.  Textured Black?  Yes, so on point.

Starlight 3

Left to Right: Give me Space; Cosmo with a Twist; I’m in the Moon for Love; Ro-Man-Ce on the Moon; Love is In My Cards.  My favourites are #5 and #3.  Both super dark colours that work well in cold weather and the pigmentation was amazing.  Lasting power was great too!

Have you already checked out this collection?  What color manicures are you guys into right now?

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Currently Using: eos Lipbalm in Honeysuckle Honeydew

…possibly my favorite flavour of eos lipbalm yet, mainly because it reminds me of that tasty watermelon flavoured lip balm I used in junior high and this is the closest I’ve ever come to it.

eos honeysuckle honeydew lip balmAnd Happy New Year to all my readers!  It’s been a busy winter for me – so busy that I didn’t get around to blogging about many of my favourite products this holiday season, but that’s going to change now for sure.  Life is a little bit slower-paced after the holidays and it’s time to get back on track.  I’ve ordered a bunch of new goodies so when they come in, I’ll be writing about those for sure – they include a new scent and something by Charlotte Tilbury!

Obviously, this little lip balm is getting me out of my rut and eos always does!

The quick take: it’s very moisturizing with a definite waxy feel, but paraben free and almost all natural.  This flavour is nice and fresh and I love that.

$3.29 online.

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Too Faced Gift of Great Mascara

I love the little makeup ornaments that are coming out now because they give you a chance to gift some cult favourite products at really affordable prices.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara OrnamentIf you’ve always wanted to try the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, you might be interested in picking up a Deluxe size of it for $18 as a Christmas ornament!

The mascara layers really well and makes for thick lush lashes.  One stroke deposits tons of luscious mascara – it’s a thick formula that really makes lashes look amazing.

Available on TooFaced.com.

 

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Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed Shampoo and Conditioner

If you can’t tell from just the main page on this blog, I’m a little obsessed hair color right now.  I think not having as much time as I used to have for upkeep means that I really care about preserving the quality of color on my hair and making sure that I keep fading to a minimal.

I’ve become obsessed with using something blue-based on a regular basis to preserve the ashy tones in my hair, but I’m also using a color-specific shampoo and conditioner to really make my hair look and feel healthier and shinier.

Matrix Color ObsessedI’m loving Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed Shampoo and Conditioner because they are so gentle on my hair and have been leaving it so soft!  The shampoo is nice and creamy but gives me a deep clean when I’m not using my cleansing conditioner.   The conditioner is super rich but not too thick so it’s not weighing down my hair too much.

If you’re looking for a shampoo and conditioner that’s gentle on your hair and very conditioner, this is a great one to try out without breaking the bank.

Availabls at salons for $12.50 for the shampoo and $13.50 for the conditioner.

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Pureology Hydrate Cleansing Conditioner

My hair is super dry – especially in the winter – and so cleansing conditioners are totally my jam.  I use them when my hair’s not super oily and just needs a light cleansing after a workout.  I’m really just trying to get out the salt and sweat at my roots but don’t want to dry out the rest of my hair.

Pureology Cleansing conditionerPureology’s Hydrate Cleansing Conditioner is what I’m reaching for these days.  It feels just like a conditioner, not a shampoo, but it definitely makes your hair cleaner and shinier – as if you’d just shampooed it.

Pureology has three kinds of cleansing conditioners: Hydrating, Strengthening, and Smoothing.  It goes without saying that they’re all super gentle on your hair and because they are so gentle, you can’t really go wrong with either one.

If you’ve never used a cleansing conditioner, know that they’re almost like a cream cleanser that you might use on your face.  They dispense as a cream, and you use a copious amount on your scalp to get rid of any dirt or grime.  They’re not usually volumizing or deep cleansing because they’re heavier than a regular shampoo, and they don’t usually lather a ton although some do lather a bit.  Wen is one of the better known cleansing conditioners and that brand really works for some people who have very dry hair.  They’re a fantastic option for controlling frizz and taming unruly hair without putting too much product in it.

For the record, I usually follow up with a regular conditioner – these days it’s the one that comes with my Perfect 10 hair color and it makes my hair even more shiny.

Pureology is always made for color-treated hair, and is one of the first lines to come out with sulfate-free products.  They are also 100% vegan.  All the formulas have an aromatherapy bent to them and so they smell amazing.

About $37 at salons.

 

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Current Winter Hand Care from Farmhouse Fresh

Farmhouse Fresh is a line of naturally-based products that are most often found at spas or speciality skincare stores.  They smell scrumptious and have lovely old-school packaging.

Farmhouse Fresh All-Purpose BalmThis winter, I’ve been turning to their All-Purpose Shea Butter Balm in the Plum Chiffon and Marshmallow Melt scents.  They smell amazing and give immediate comfort to dry skin.

The Shea Butter Balms have a texture that’s almost like coconut oil: they’re solid at room temperature but melt on contact with your skin and turn into an easy-to-spread oil.  Obviously, these are greasy on the skin, but I really love that they immediately relieve any sort of dryness and keep your hands feeling moist.  I use them every night before bed and find that they’ve cut down on painful hang nails (although my skin is still super dry because I forget to moisturizing during the day).

You can find Farmhouse Fresh at salons and spas near you, or online.

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CND Aurora Collection

This holiday season, I am all about the frosty and glittery nail polishes, and CND’s Aurora collection delivers on both those counts.

CND Aurora Collection Vinylux

These are available in Shellac and Vinylux formulas, and I’m loving all the colours but you have to check out Tundra which is the prettiest frosty mauve.

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Also, Glacial Mist is the prettiest glitter and different from what I would normally wear on my nails at this time of year.

The other colours are Winter Glow which is a pale pink that can be opaque after three coats, and Nordic Lights which is another glitter.

If you’re looking for long-wearing colour this holiday season, Vinylux and Shellac are the way to go – Shellac is available as an in-salon service only, and if your salon is a real Shellac salon then they’ll likely have this collection.

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Gift the Gift of Gentle Skincare from Burt’s Bees

Today’s gift idea is for those who need gentle skincare – they find soaps and traditional cleansers too irritating or have skin that really feels the burn of the cold winter wind.

Burt’s Bees is a great brand to check out at this time of year because their products are naturally formulated and always moisturizing thanks to the inclusion of beeswax.burt's bees

The Face Essentials gift set is not only naturally formulated, it’s affordable too!  It’s only $19.99 and includes cleansing wipes, a gentle face scrub, a cleansing cream, and their new coconut and pear lip balm.

You can find it in drugstores and grocery stores (check out their store locator), or order online directly from the Burt’s Bees website.

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Holiday Saving with Eos Holiday Pack

eos holiday gift packI know that many of you are fans of the eos lip balms, but they’re definitely not the cheapest ones around.  Their Holiday pack is a wonderful way to stock up on your favourites and it’s great value.  While one lip balm can sometimes cost $6 (depending on where you find it), this pack of three is retailing for $10.

The Holiday Pack contains three flavours: Sweet Mint, Pomegranate Raspberry, and a limited edition flavour Vanilla Bean.  The Vanilla Bean flavour, like all eos flavours is light and slightly sweet.  It’s totally inoffensive and easy to wear.

The Holiday Pack also comes with lots of stickers so you can make your eos lip balms look pretty!  It’s what makes the holiday packaging extra special and perfect for gift-giving.

Like all the eos lip balms, these are packed with Vitamin E and Shea butter and leave lips smooth and hydrated without being overly shiny.  They are also 100% natural and organic (which is why I let my kids use them!)

Pick it up at Indigo, Walmart, or Well.ca.

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