Lise Watier Rivages Summer 2015 Collection

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Henna

Lise Watier’s summer collection is all about mixing colours and neutrals in formulas that are easy-to-wear and work with.  Although all these products are meant for the summer, I’m sure that everyone will find something in these that will be a staple that they can use throughout the year.  

For me, that’s definitely going to be the Rivages bronzer ($39)!  

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The bronzer is my most favourite product ever – and it’s huge!  I honestly feel that this is too large for everyone because there’s no way I’m going to be able to finish this over the course of the summer even though I love to use bronzer every day.  The bronzer is the perfect mix of brown tones, a small amount of golden-brown shimmer, and pink pigments that help it brighten up your skin without it being like blush.  Although the bronzer is shimmery, I’m finding that I can definitely use it in the hollows of my face to use it like a contour, or just on the highest fullest part of my cheeks to make it look like I have a sun-kissed glow.

Second, the eye shadow palette ($54).Rivauges palette  It’s a nice mix of neutrals that are different enough and get dark enough for you to create a smoky eye or a night-time look.  The powders are smooth and pigmented but not too powdery because this is more of a creamy powder formula, so there’s not a lot of fall out from the eye shadows.  I use the darkest colours as subtle eyeliners and they work really well when they’re wet.

blush fondant supremeYou also need to check out the Blush Fondant Supreme ($30), which is a cream to powder blush available in Sand, the perfect neutral pink colour.  The texture is amazing – it blends into skin so easily and looks totally natural.  It was a tad light for me, but I really wanted to be able to make this blush a part of my permanent daily kit just because it applied so smoothly and stayed on the whole entire day.

Pick up the entire collection at Shoppers Drug Mart or online.  

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New Too Faced Melted Metal Liquid Lipsticks

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Henna

Too Faced Melted MetalToo Faced knocked it out of the park when they invented their liquid lipsticks.  Offering super pigmented colour and decent staying power, these lipsticks are great for those of us who want full coverage glosses but with the staying power of a lipstick.

Now there’s Melted Metal, a metallic version of the original Melted.

The finish of these is very much like the metallic lipsticks of the ’90s, which is great if you want a look that’s 2-dimensional. Each and every colour is super bright and has shimmer in it that comes out more when the lipstick dries on the lips.  By no means is this a long-wear product.  Just like regular lipstick, this will wear off as you eat and drink, but because it’s in a squeeze tube with a soft applicator tip, it applies more easily than regular lipstick.

Because the colours are bright and the finish is matte, you’ll need well exfoliated, hydrated lips before you apply this and then your lips will look fantastic.

$25 each at Sephora.  Available in eight super bright gorgeous colours.

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New Vichy Cleansers for Sensitive Skin

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Henna

Vichy Purete Thermale CleansersThe great thing about cleansers for sensitive skin is that really, they’re perfect for all kinds of skin.  That’s why I love the new Vichy Purete Thermale cleaners.  There’s a new cleansing oil and a new foaming cleansers, and the two together are a match made in heaven.  The cleansing oil loosens touch makeup and then emulsifies with water to wash it off.  The foaming gel gets rid of any residue from the oil and also helps wash away anything the oil might have missed.  The two leave you with super clean, yet comfortable skin.  There’s no stripping but no oiliness, and no makeup remover residue.

The cleansing oil is a must to this routine.  Not only does it take away makeup without drying out the skin, it also mixes with oil on the skin to get rid of that – a must in the summer time, when skin seems to be prone to oiliness!

Pick up both at Shoppers Drug Mart and other drug stores and mass merchandisers.  $19.95 each.

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It’s Nuxe Season!

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Henna

nuxe huile prodigieuseEvery summer, we turn to Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse body oil to scent our skin and provide a light layer of moisture.  The 98% natural blend of oils and vitamin E is completely luxurious.  The oil is a blend of Macadamia, Hazelnut, Borage, Sweet Almond, Camellia and St John’s Wort. It’s preservative-free, and the fragrance is photo stable which means that it’s not going to change in the heat.

The oil smells so good that it’s almost too nice to use on the whole body – I prefer spraying it just on my arms so that I get a whiff of it every time that I move. Every time I start a new bottle, I find myself asking “who smells so good?”… and then remember it’s the Nuxe!

This year, the oil is available in a black lacquered bottle that gives it a new chic appearance.   The spray mechanism stays the same, meaning you’ll get a fine layer of oil on your skin or hair every time that you use this.

$45 for 100ml.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay, and Murale.

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More Oil-Based Goodness with Nexxus Colour Assure

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Henna

Nexxus Colour Assure Glossing TonicWhen you colour your hair frequently, the main issue that you’re going to face is lightening and fading of your colour as you continue to shampoo and condition.

The answer is using a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, such as the Nexxus Colour Assure line.  The primer, shampoo, conditioner, and Glossing Tonic are made to coat the hair so that it doesn’t fade and remains vibrant.

My favourite product from the collection is the Glossing Tonic.  Formulated with oils and protectants, this dual-phase spray goes on to wet hair to give it luminosity and shine while protecting it from heat damage.  The real beauty is that it leaves your hair super soft, whether you’re using heat on your hair or not.  It’s pretty amazing because it adds softness and smoothness without weighing hair down.  I use it as the last step in my application of products and it just seals everything right in.

Pick up the entire line in drugstores.

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Currently Wearing: Hourglass Immaculate Liquid-Powder Foundation

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Henna

 

For the past month or so, this has been my jam…

Hourglass Immaculate FoundationI first got my hands on this foundation back in 2013 and I was new to Hourglass makeup then.  This was a splurge and it was a great introduction to the brand.   Others have come and gone since then and there have been advances in foundation formulas, but this has stayed in the rotation simply because it’s a great one for oily skin and because the colour match that I have is amazing (I’m wearing Sand right now which is my winter colour).

True to its name, the foundation comes out as a thick cream and sets to a powder finish that doesn’t budge.  In fact, you have to blend this pretty quickly if you want to avoid any kind of streakiness because if you forget to blend an area, then it sets and needs to be wet to blend again.

My one and only complaint is the dispenser.  The foundation is so thick that a pump bottle isn’t a great way to dispense product.  It comes out in spurts that can end up in the sink or on your clothes (and if you’ve gotten wet foundation on your clothes, you know that it’s a doozy to wash out).  My solution is to open the bottle and dab some of the cream on the back of my hand, which I then pick up with a damp Beauty Blender and apply to my skin in a stippling motion.  A Beauty Blender works best with this rather than a brush: the brush just can’t move the product around quick enough without it drying and setting.   Yes, if the Beauty Blender is damp then you get less coverage, but this layers well so you can add product for more coverage as you see fit.

The finish is absolutely long-lasting: up to 14 hours on me, although my nose does need powdering in the middle of the day.  Blush and contour apply well on this finish and seem to meld with the powders to be as long-wearing as the foundation.  It’s a high-end choice and it performs like one!  There have been new formulas of foundation and I’ve tried them all, but this one is one that I keep coming back to.

Pick it up at Sephora for $64.

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Urban Decay Relaunches Primer Potion

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Henna

…but don’t worry, the formula stays the same!

What’s new is the packaging and some additions to the line.

Urban Decay Primer PotionWhen Primer Potion first launched it was the only real eyeshadow primer on the market that worked.  The primer set on the lid and made eyeshadows stick and last a long long time.  The only thing that makeup professionals complained about was the packaging: when the wand stopped picking up product from the hourglass shaped tube, there was still tons of product inside.  One hack that I used to get out all the excess product was to take off the vacuum-sealing at the opening of the bottle so that the wand was free to scoop up more product.  People also cut the bottle in half and then depotted any remaining primer potion into a different container.

Urban Decay then changed the packaging to a squeeze tube and made it available in a larger bottle – although I have to say that my Primer Potion lasted me a good two years before I ran out of it, so I didn’t need the larger bottle.

Now, they’ve come out with the perfect compromise.  The new tube is a squeeze tube but it’s also got a wand applicator so that you can choose how you want to use the Primer Potion.  I tried the new packaging and yes the formula is still as good as ever!  My preferred method is still the wand, because I dab a tiny amount on to my lids, and then use my fingers to blend it in.

They’ve also included a new shade: Minor Sin which has less shimmer than the original Sin shade.  To be honest, I have Eden and Sin Primer Potions and I found that for some reason they didn’t work as well as the original.  They’re beautiful on their own, especially if your lids aren’t oily and you don’t really need an eyeshadow primer, but they don’t make a great base for eyeshadow.

Urban Decay is available at Sephora and Select Shoppers Drug Mart locations.  Primer Potion is $20-$24.

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New L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Seve Protectrice Oil-in-Cream Primer

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Henna

L'oreal professional seve protectriceL’Oreal Professionnel’s Mythic Oil line is meant to help nourish your hair with a blend of different oils.  Light on the silicone and heavy on the treatment, this line is awesome for those of us who like to heat style our hair on a regular basis.

New to the line is their Oil-in-Cream Primer: think of it as the Mythic Oil treatment in cream form.  It’s thick and rich and is meant to prime the hair for heat styling by coating it with black cumin oil and other hair conditioners.

I’ve found that this cream is nice and rich but sits on the hair without being greasy.  It’s perfect to use before blow-drying: it protects the hair for up to 230 degrees of heat.  That said, it’s also amazing for curly hair!  When I use this and then let my hair air dry, my curls are super shiny, springy, and yet soft to the touch!  It’s a must have for easy summer hair.

Available at professional salons only.  $40.

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Sunscreens to Stock Up On

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Henna

Here are my top three sunscreens, in case you’re heading to the drugstore to stock up!

Friends, if you want good skin, there’s one thing you absolutely must do: wear sunscreen every day, on your face and on your body.  You may think that you’re not outside and baking in the sun, however there’s a lot of sun exposure from just sitting in your car or even on short walks outside and that’s what leads to freckles and other incremental sun damage.

The weather’s great now: maybe you’re playing outside with your kids, or taking time for walks, or opting to sit on a patio rather than inside.  These are the activities that are really going to add up.  One day you’ll notice that your skin is dark enough that you need to change your shade of foundation, and that means that you have incurred some sun damage.

The best way to ensure that you’re wearing sunscreen daily is to use one that you like.  Apply liberally on your face, neck, and then continue to apply on your arms and any other areas that are going to be exposed to the sun.  You’ll find that if you have a good formula (with no white residue) that you won’t mind applying the product and it will even help your makeup apply better and stay on longer.

Sun Protection

Here are some that I love:

1. Neutrogena Clear Face Sun Lotion.  I love this because it comes in a big tube and isn’t too watery so it doesn’t go all over the place.  It’s also not whitish and has kind of a dry light-weight feel after application so it doesn’t get too oily on your face.  Apparently it’s proven not to cause break-outs, but stick with something formulated for the face, and you’ll be fine.  Works well under makeup.  This comes in SPF 30 and 60… but why even bother with the 30 when there’s SPF 60 available?  $12.49 at drug stores and mass merchandisers.

2. New Ombrelle Ultra-Light Advanced. This is new this year to the Ombrelle line of sunscreens and contains Mexoryl which helps keeps the sunscreen stable as well as providing protection against UVA and UVB rays.  Available in a formula for face and a more watery one for the body, this sunscreen is more fluid and feels weightless to the touch.  It’s truly a light formula and I find that the body one is light enough even for use on the face, which is great because it means I can stash it around the house and just worry about applying one thing before I head out on to the patio or to the backyard!  $19.99 also at drugstores and mass merchandisers.

There’s also a kids version of this sunscreen which is 100% mineral.  It’s gentle for the kiddies but it does have a white cast because it’s mineral-based.

3. L’Oreal Sublime Sun Silky Sheer Face Lotion.  This is one of the watery formulas that is available on the market, but it’s maybe my favourite one to apply before makeup because it makes your skin look so smooth that you can definitely apply less foundation afterwards. The SPF 50 broad spectrum formula means that you’ll definitely have adequate sun protection and the vitamin E in it means that your skin will also get a dose of moisture.  It’s also available in a tinted formula but I prefer to skip that because I tend to get it on my clothes if I’m applying sunscreen on my neck or hands.  $17.99.

Those are my favourites that live on my vanity and I apply one of them every single morning.  You can’t go wrong with any of them and they will get you through the summer.  More sunscreen reviews coming if I discover something new!

 

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Bliss’s Multi-Faceted Mask

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Henna

Bliss Multi-faceted MaskTo tell you the truth, I haven’t been making time for masks and the like lately… but then an off day inspired me to give myself an at-home facial and out came this almost-black mask.

Formulated with 10% glycolic acid, exfoliating quartz crystals, and Kaolin clay, and Jojoba oil, this mask is meant to exfoliate your skin making lines and discolourations go away, but it also absorbs excess oil and moisturizes. 

The mask is super thick, and to tell you the truth, I couldn’t feel the 10% glycolic acid on my skin – there was no tingling but rather a bit of a cooling sensation because there’s a minty-ness in the mask.  The mask is super thick and a little bit goes a long way. 

The best way to use this is to apply a very thin layer before you get in the shower.  Let it dry and then jump in the shower.  Wet your hands and start rubbing the mask with them to get the full exfoliating action of the quartz crystals that are in the mask.  Add more water and keep rubbing, repeating this step until the mask is wet and can be easily rinsed off. 

After the mask is off, your skin will feel so smooth and look much clearer.  It’s worth using on the regular. 

About $60 at Sephora and will last for a long time because of the small amount needed each time you apply this.  

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