Canadian Beauty

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector SPF 30

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Henna

New to the Clinique counter is Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector SPF 30. It’s supposed to be like “Instagram for your skin” – meaning that it is meant to correct the colour of almost perfect skin. If your skin is ashy, it’ll had the right amount of yellow. Red blotchiness disappears, and sallow skin looks healthier.

Because many products that say they’re going to correct your skin tone just add highlighters to reflect light off imperfections, I’m happy to say that Clinique’s CC cream doesn’t go overboard in that department. This cream is neither shimmery nor highlighting. It’s just a really nice tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 that really does blend into the skin making it look better than it already is.

Because it’s a CC cream, it doesn’t have a lot of coverage like foundation does, but the dewy finish makes skin look healthy and pretty.

The base is a pretty amazing blend of skincare ingredients: aloe water, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and UVA/UVB protection. Available in six shades, almost everyone will benefit from using this cream.

And in case you’re wondering: what’s the difference between a CC and BB Cream? A BB cream will have more coverage because it was originally supposed to be used on skin post-opp. A CC cream will have subtle colour correction.

Available at Clinique counters nationwide and at Clinique.com for $39.00.

Posted in Summer 2013 | Tagged CC Cream, Clinique | Leave a comment

Thursday Threes: New Mascaras

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Henna

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara. The last time Make Up For Ever came out with a mascara, it was their Smoky Lash, and that one was so good that it’s hard to top it. We found their new cone-shaped wand a tad difficult to use because of the excess mascara that was always at the tip. We prefer not to waste a Kleenex every time we apply mascara. We’ll stick with the original Smoky Lash on this one. $28 at Sephora stores.

Revlon Lash Potion. This latest mascara from Revlon promises to coat your lashes in proteins that help them look more voluminous. We found that the fluffy brush made it difficult to actually build enough volume, so this isn’t our favourite new mascara. $9.95.

Avon Mega Effects Mascara. Definitely the coolest looking mascara on the block. The brush is meant to work like a comb and brush through your lashes, applying mascara and separating from end to end. Of all the mascara wands I’ve tried, this one is actually very easy to use and actually works! The formula doesn’t allow for building much volume, but if you aren’t looking for that then this is an amazing new mascara. $12.

None of these new mascaras really amazed us so we’re wondering – what mascara are you using right now?

Posted in Search for the Perfect Mascara | Tagged Avon, Make Up For Ever, Revlon | 2 Comments

Sunscreen Review: Vichy Capital Soleil Ultra-Fluid Sun Protection

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Henna

My sunscreen of choice these days is Vichy Capital Soleil Ultra-Fluid Sun Protection. It falls into the category of watery, light sunscreens like Neutrogena Water-Light and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion, both of which I’ve tried and loved. You need to shake these sunscreens before you use them because they do separate, but they go on quickly and blend into the skin without much effort.

Vichy’s Capital Soleil Ultra-Fluid SPF 30 is perhaps slightly more moisturizing than the other two I’ve tried, but it’s still the same concept. I have found that you cannot use this sunscreen with other skincare products such as moisturizers – it just reacts and gets gunky on your hands and skin, and you basically need to wash it off and start over. This formula is fast drying which means that you don’t need to rub it into your skin much, it will absorb and set quite quickly which is really nice. Although it’s moisturizing it’s not at all greasy and has a satiny finish.

However, once it sets, you’ll have really long-lasting protection and you won’t feel or see it on your skin.

I also love that this sunscreen has Mexoryl in it which helps keep the formula stable. That means that it’s not going to break down with the heat of the sun.

$25 at drugstores.

Posted in Sunscreen | Tagged Vichy | Leave a comment

Summer’s Best Scents

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Henna

A little something I wrote for Stylelist.ca. My fave scents this summer.

Summer is a time to escape from the serious slightly heavy scents of the year, and try something a little more light-hearted. Go out on a limb and sniff notes that you usually would shy away from – coconut, peaches, and apples all make appearances in summer scents. And if you’re not into a perfume to wear all day, know that many summer scents come in body lotions, body washes, and scrubs too, so that could be where you get your dose of summer. Here are the ones we’re loving this summer.

1. Avon Fiji Paradise Body Scrub. We love that this gorgeous scent – it’s a blend of coconut, lotus blossom, tiare flower and white musk – and it’s not at all over-powering. The best part is that the formula of the scrub itself is super moisturizing which makes it awesome for easy summer moisturizing and exfoliating.

2. Yves Rocher Monoi de Tahiti Dry Body Oil. Dry body oil is great for giving your skin that summery glow without any of the greasiness of regular moisturizers or oil. This one is awesome because it smells like a tropical garden.

3. L’Occitane Collection de Grasse. If you want something light and fresh, then head to your nearest L’Occitane boutique. Their new fragrance collection is inspired by the capital city of perfume creation – Grasse, France!

4. Dior J’Adore Voile de Parfum. A new take on an old classic is perfume for the summer. This new perfume wears close to the skin so it’s not overpowering in summer weather.

5. Bath and Body Works Lakeside Summer Home Collection. These are scents for your home, and even if you’re stuck inside on a rainy day, they’ll invoke the warm sunny days of summer. Our favourite is “Lakeside” – a mix of water, musk, and lemon zest.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Avon, Bath and Body Works, Dior, l'Occitane, Yves Rocher | Leave a comment

Three Ways to Fruit Punch

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Henna

This Thursday’s Threes are products we picked for Elevate magazine.

This summer we’re loving these fresh fruit-inspired products for the extra dose of sunshine they bring into our day. Check them out for yourself!

1. Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Gentle Foaming Hand Soap. Not only is this soap antibacterial, but it also smells exactly how it says it will! Succulent strawberry and tangy tangerine are just two of the flavours that we love in this line. $5.50 each at Bath and Body Works stores or at BathandBodyWorks.com.

2. The Body Shop’s New Lip Gloss. This fun new lightly tinted gloss comes in 11 flavours and features unique ones such as Lychee, Plum, and Watermelon flavours. We love that it smells great but that we don’t have to taste it to enjoy it. $10 each at The Body Shop stores or at TheBodyShop.ca.

3. Garnier Fructis Fruit Sensation Shampoos and Conditioners. Passion Splash, Grapefruit Tonic, and Citrus Mint are the three scents that could be in your hair thanks to Garnier, but these products don’t just stop at scenting your hair. Each shampoo and conditioner also promises to target common summer hair problems, such as dry hair, oily hair, or dull hair. $5.99 at all major drugstores.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Bath and Body Works, Garnier Fructis, The Body Shop | Leave a comment

Summer’s Best Nail Polishes

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Henna

Here’s a little something we wrote for Stylelist.ca!

We love nice bright colours in the summer and if you’re like us, you look forward to a nice bright pop of colour when the sun’s shining.

So here’s a rundown of this season’s best brights for your nails.

Essie Sunday Funday($7.95). This is a fun orangy coral that has a hint of silver shimmer. Wear it sheer or layered for more of a pop. We also swatched it here.

Lancome 105M($16). Part of Lancome’s new Vernis in Love collection is a peach shade perfect with or without a tan.

Nars Vertebra Left ($32 per duo). Technically, you can only get this shade as one half of a duo – it’s a polish from the Pierre Hardy collection and those sold in pairs. Still, this bright peachy coral is on the money for the summer.

Yves Rocher Hibiscus Rose. Everyone needs a shimmery hot pink for the summer, and this shade doesn’t disappoint. Plus the tiny bottle means that once summer’s over, you’re not still hanging on to this colour.

Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots top coats ($3.99). These come in fun colours and make it look like you can do nail art!

Dior Birds of Paradise Nail Polish duos in Samba and Bahia ($29 per duo). The popularity of nail art makes it reasonable for brands to sell duos – they’re two polishes that go well together so matching colours is a no-brainer. We love these pops of colours and the formula is probably the best in the industry.

MAC polishes from the All About Orange collection ($19). In case we haven’t mentioned enough corals, you need to check out the sweet peaches and oranges from MAC’s All About Orange collection. There’s something for everyone!

The best part about updating your nail polish wardrobe? You’ll be totally on trend and won’t need to break the bank!

Posted in Summer 2013 | Tagged Dior, Essie, Lancome, MAC, Maybelline, Nars, Yves Rocher | Leave a comment

I Tried It: L’Oreal Paris Press-On Nails

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Henna

So I’ve never really been much for fake nails. They always look fake, and if I’m going to invest in fake anything, it’ll be eyelashes, thank you very much. But when L’Oreal Paris launched Colour Riche press-on nails in a beautiful white swirly design, I kind of had to try them.

See?

Pretty, right?

And then I snapped that picture and sent it to a friend who is really into nails, fake and otherwise, and she said “wow! How’d you do that?!”

Well, needless to say, even though they looked fake to me, I guess they looked so spectacular that nobody really focussed on the fake part.

But check out how they look from the side.

The problem is that instead of nail glue, these nails use a double-sided gel sticker to hold the nails in place. It’s quite thick (at least as thick as the nails themselves) and so makes the fakes stand up from the actual nails. The stickers aren’t that sticky either, so unfortunately, most of the nails fell off the same day I applied them.

The suggestion I got from friends is to keep the nails but apply them using a couple of drops of nail glue instead. These come in lots of fun designs and I’m tempted to try them again, although the press-on nail look is not really my thing.

Have you tried press-on nails?

Posted in Summer 2013 | Tagged L'Oreal Paris | 13 Comments

On Counters Now: MAC So Supreme

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Henna

Although this collection wasn’t supposed to be on counters until today, when I stopped by my local MAC store last week, a sales associate pointed me in the direction of new lip products out… which happened to be the MAC So Supreme collection. No matter, turns out that this collection is another version of the MAC Sheen Supreme collection launched last spring. It includes six colours of MAC’s Sheen Supreme lipstick, and eight shades of Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint.

We like this year’s collection better. Instead of the frosts which made up last year’s colours, this season’s Sheen Supreme lipstick comes in creamy shades which is more our style.

Similar to last year, part of this year’s collection is inspired by Asia, which is why some of the names in the collection have an Asian flair.

The Sheen Supreme lipstick colours are:

Prêt-à-Pretty – soft warm pink
Gotta Dash! – pale clean coral
Playtime – bright coral pink
Sweet Grenadine – bright orange
Pleasurefruit – bright warm pink
Candy Apple – mid-tone warm plum
SRP $17.00 US/$20.00 CDN

This lipstick is extremely moist and comfortable on the lips. It has a nice amount of pigment, but one coat does let some of your lip colour show through, while two coats give opaque coverage.

The Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint colours are:

Bubble Gum – soft warm pink
K-wow – soft cool pink
Simply Wow – mid-tone cool mauve
Heart & Seoul – warm peach
Kiss, Kiss – cool peach cream
Blussing Berry – mid-tone cool red
Gwi-Yo-Mi – mid-tone raspberry
Glorious Intent – warm plum
SRP $20.00 US/$23.00 CDN

These are basically jelly glosses. They are incredibly moisturizing and give a transparent pop of colour that seems to leave a slight stain on the lips.

Posted in Summer 2013 | Tagged MAC | Leave a comment

Thursday Threes: Best Hand Creams of the Summer

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Henna

Hey y’all,

This week’s Thursday Threes is actually posted on Elevate Magazine. Check it out.

Posted in Skin Care | 2 Comments

How To Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Henna

I love glitter nail polish but it is notoriously difficult to remove, and the new “sand” or scuffed glitter versions are no better. I’ve scoured the Internet looking for tips on removing the glitter nail polish.

Many blogs say that you should soak cotton pads in nail polish remover, place on your nails, and then cover the entire ensemble in tin foil for 10 minutes. Apparently the glitter polish just swipes right off after this – unfortunately, the health of your cuticles goes too, and after a month of nursing them back to health, that’s just not a sacrifice that I’m willing to make.

Another suggestion is to take a shower and then remove the polish. The warm water softens it enough and then it comes off easily. This didn’t work for me.

So, after much experimenting, I’ve come up with a way to really remove glitter nail polish and it works!

Take a cheap nail file (the disposable kind) and buff the top layer of nail polish off. You’re not aiming to actually remove any polish here but just really scuff up all the nail polish. Then, go ahead and take off the polish with a regular nail polish remover. You’ll find that the nail polish comes right off – I think the nail file just loosens up the glitter enough so that it’s not that stuck to your nail, and then the nail polish remover takes care of the rest.

Try this technique and let me know if it works for you!

….and you’re welcome! Now you can wear glitter nail polish as much as you want without worrying about how difficult the removal process is.

Posted in Summer 2013 | Tagged nail polish | 2 Comments