Three Ways to Get Uplifted This Winter

La Quinta Resort and Club…This was my week last week.  Sunny blue skies, tons of sun, palm trees, and … a resort.

And now it’s -20 and there’s a snowstorm going on.

We made it to the winter solstice, which means that winter is half over, right?  At least that’s what I like to keep telling myself.  But somehow, on some days, the second half seems longer than the first half.  Can it just be May already?

If you’re looking for pick-me-ups this winter, here’s what’s helping me get through.

shu uemura art of hair essential drops

1. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essential Drops. ($48)  These come in a peppermint version for normal to oily hair.  You simply apply them to the scalp and then rinse them out…. or like me, you can not rinse them and get a whiff of peppermint from your hair every now and then.  They smell fresh and are utterly energizing for your body and soul.  Paraben, Sulfate, and Silicone Free.

aveda beautifying body moisturizer

2. Aveda Beautifying Body Moisturizer. When you pay $34 for a moisturizer, the nice thing is that the scent just lasts and lasts on your skin.  A blend of citrus and herbs this one is definitely fresh and energizing.

escents roll ons

3. Escents Roll-ons.  I love scents in oil format because they last longer on my skin.  At once fresh and different, rub these on all your pulse points to get the benefits of real aromatherapy.  I love the Pure Immunity blend because it has tea tree and thyme both of which are known to help kill germs.  If that’s not your style, then they have other scents such as roses, chocolate, mulled cider, and on and on so that you can find a scent that works for you. $22.95.

How are you going to get through the winter?

 

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Kerastase Traitement Intensif Anti-Affinement (Anti-Thinning Treatment) Review

kerastase anti-thinning treatmentWhen my hair dresser told me about Kerastase’s Traitement Intensif Anti-Affinement, and said that she used it on her own thinning patches, I had to try it.  The treatment is part of a line of products that all help to stimulate hair growth and have the active ingredient Arginine.

Now, don’t expect miracles, but this product (and the entire line) does in fact work.

The premiere product in the line is this anti-thinning treatment which is a box of 10 vials that contain the treatment product in them.  Included is an applicator which helps you apply the treatment only to specific parts of your scalp – and only your scalp.  You then massage in the treatment (which gives a mild tingling minty sensation) and follow up with the spray (also for the scalp) which helps thicken the hair.

The entire treatment is part texturizing and part actual stimulation and all the products – shampoo, treatment, spray – help to help the hair grow and make it thicker and fuller.

So I’ve completed using my ten vials, and am still using the shampoo and spray and I’ve found that everything works so well together.  My hair fall has definitely slowed down, and the little bit of thinning that I experienced at my temples has pretty much reversed.  I can feel and see the difference – enough to know that any time I come across this problem again, I’m going to be investing in the 10 vials again so that I can stimulate some regrowth to my hair.

For those of you who have tried Nioxin – and I have too – I have to say that this works better.  Nobody was more surprised than I was, but this does work extremely well.  Again, don’t expect miracles but expect to be wowed, like I was.

Pick up the treatment for $68 at your local salon or Kerastase.ca.  The shampoo is $38 and the Densitive Bodifying and Texturizing Root Spray is $43.

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Aveeno Eczema Care Hand Cream

Aveeno Eczema Care Hand CreamFull disclosure: I don’t know if this works on eczema and I really liked the texture and feel of this hand cream, so I didn’t give it away to anyone.

Aveeno’s Eczema Care hand cream has natural colloidal oatmeal which has been proven to relieve dry and itchy skin.  It also has humectants that can attract and retain moisture, and lipids that help provide a barrier on the skin to help protect it.

This cream lives in my car, because its slightly watery texture means that it absorbs super quickly and leaves hands feeling totally relieved.  It’s the perfect cream to keep using throughout the winter months.

$9.99 at mass retailers and drug stores.

The Eczema Care Line also has a body wash, a moisturizing cream, Aveeno Baby Eczema Care Body Wash, and an Aveeno Baby Eczema Care Moisturizing Cream.

If you have eczema and have tried this line, I would love to hear from you so that I can find out whether it works!

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Urban Decay Vice3 Palette

Vice3If you like to experiment with makeup, then there’s a good chance that you’re already a fan of Urban Decay.  You’ll also want to check out their new Vice3 palette.  With 20 brand new shades of eye shadow, this palette is everything you’re ever going to need to create a plethora of makeup looks.  Whether you want something subtle or something very vibrant, this palette is going to give you all the options.  It also has a huge mirror and a double-ended brush so that you can use it on the go.

Urban Decay Vice3

The finishing touch is a matching bag, so that you can store it nicely and make sure that the sleek metallic packaging doesn’t get scratched in your kit.

The shadows in this kit are super pigmented.  They are velvety and rich, and are everything that Urban Decay shadows are known for.

Available for $70 at Sephora, Sephora.ca, and select Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

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Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment in Three New Colours

Fresh’s amazing hydrating Sugar Shine Lip Treatment now comes in three new colours.

Fresh Sugar ShineHoney (a warm beige), Rose (a dark raspberry), and Cherry (a bright red).  All three colours are just slightly sheer and have a hefty dose of pigment but lots of moisturizing power.  If you haven’t tried this lip treatment but you have super dry lips then it’s a must-have.   It’s not long-lasting but is emollient and provides lots of shine to the lips.  That’s pretty typical for lip glosses so we weren’t surprised there.  It’s great to have in the car where you’re not going to be eating or drinking much so the Sugar Shine can last and do what it’s supposed to do.

$22 each at Sephora.

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Clinique’s Sparkly Pink Holiday Collection

Clinique Nutcracker SuiteI love the plethora of all-inclusive palettes out this year.  Not only are they amazing to travel with but all the ones I’ve seen so far are super high-quality in terms of colour payoff which means that they make it easier for us to do our makeup!

The Nutcracker Suite is Clinique’s holiday collection for this year, and it does not disappoint for those of us who love sparkly sugary things.

The collection includes this beautiful Nutcracker Suite I compact ($46) which includes an eyeshadow quad and a bright pink blush.

Nutcracker Suite I

 

The collection also includes a Blended Face Powder in Snowflake Dreams ($29) which is a sheer sparkly shimmery pink.  It’s sheer enough to use as an all-over face powder or as a highlighter.  The effect is similar to Guerlain’s Meteorites Perles but less subtle.  The colour of the powder is a pinkish-white so it’s probably only suited for very fair skin tones.   I like the Blended Face Powder a bit better because it’s possible to get lots of powder on a pouf and apply it to the whole body which is perfect for holiday parties!

Check out the entire collection at your local Clinique Counter.

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The Foundation of Your Beauty: 10 Tips for a Healthy Glow

The Foundation of Your Beauty: 10 Tips for a Healthy Glow

A huge part of our jobs as beauty editors is trying out the latest health advice and trends. After all, beauty starts from within. These are the tricks we’ve discovered have stood the test of time. Try them, and say hello to a happier and healthier you.

See our healthy living tips.

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Guerlain Holiday 2014

Guerlain Holiday 2014

 

Guerlain’s holiday collection is super pretty and definitely one that puts one in a festive mood… and with lovely textures and versatile colours, it’s one that’s going to last you even when the holiday season is over.

I couldn’t help but get super excited about the Meteorites Perles D’Etoiles ($67) which is a pretty gold-tinted highlighter. If you’ve ever used the Guerlain Meteorites Perles before, you’ll know that they are very shimmery and super sheer. That means that although you can use them all over your face, the effect will be so shimmery that it won’t necessarily be flattering in all lights. My suggestion is to use this as a highlighter instead or as an eyeshadow (albeit a very sheer one).

The real gem, however, is the Petrouchka Eye and Blush palette ($95).

The inside contains a 4 shadow palette which is a blend of golds and taupes that look festive and are easy to wear.

petrouchka eyeshadows

 

There’s also a collection of four blushes that range in colours so they can be used for highlighting and contouring.

Petrouchka blushes

 

The palette does cost a lot (for a palette) but it goes the distance.  The shadows are creamy and super pigmented, while the blushes are blendable and easy to use.

If I were traveling with this, I’d use my own brushes because the ones included are on the small side, but the palette does work in a pinch.

Pick up the entire collection (it also includes some gold nail polishes, and red lipstick and gloss) at the Guerlain counter near you.

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Estee Lauder Picture Perfect Makeup

Estee Lauder Picture Perfect Makeup

Does your beauty routine feel a little stale? It’s time to do something about it. From tips for the perfect foundation application, to tricks for enhancing your skin care routine and even ideas to help you maintain a healthy glow from the inside out, our latest series has everything you need to create a strong beauty foundation.

See the tips now.

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CND Gilded Dream Collection

CND Winter CollectionCND Gilded Dreams is the winter 2014 collection from the company behind Shellac and Vinylux.  The collection features three new nail polishes available in both formulas, and the collection is perfect for those looking for something shimmery for the holidays.

Grand Gala is a rose-gold shade that’s a duochrome.  It looks like a pale neutral gold from further away, but has rose shimmer mixed in.

Chiffon Twirl is a sparkly shimmery light pink, and Dazzling Dance is an icy blue with pinkish purple duochrome and silver sparkles.

All the shades go on beautifully with no streaking and give almost-full coverage with two coats.

$11.90 per bottle of the Vinylux and it must be used with the top coat (which really works!).  .

 

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