This is a beautiful highlighter that has skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalene in it. The colours are versatile enough to work on many skin tones. Less is more with a highlighter because it does tend to accentuate skin texture. This highlighter comes in 7 shades including some warmer options which I would like to try.
Here is Moonlit Glow.
There is of course a Pillow Talk Glow which is a light pink that is really easy to wear.
Have you tried these? Tell me what you think.
I’ve always been a gloss girl and one of my favourites is Fenty’s Gloss Bomb. When it first launched it came in just one colour. A shimmery rosy beige that looks good on everyone. The formula is luscious and moisturizing, so much so that I don’t mind wearing it to bed because when I do, I wake up to softer and less dry lips. 
I used it until it was done and then I bought Hot Chocolate which was a bit of a deeper brown but still shimmery and very flattering.
Then they launched the Cream version, and I got Mauve Wive$, again, just the most flattering colour that went with almost every lip look.
And this winter, there’s the Glossy Posse, which is a trio featuring a Gloss Bomb Heat which has a tingly finish that makes lips a little plumper, a cream gloss in Cupcakin’ which is a pretty pink, and Fuchsia Flex which is a shimmery bright pink. They’re all wearable but surprisingly, even I, who usually love colour, prefer the Fenty Glow because it’s the perfect neutral.
I like how Dior does something new with J’Adore every holiday season – this year it was the perfume water but a few years ago it was the perfume dabber. This is a throwback to vintage perfume splash bottles but it’s better because you never have to tip the bottle upside down to get the perfume out. It’s kind of a cool concept.
It’s the classic Dior J’Adore jasmine, but in an oil formula. It has a good dose of musk in it, and it’s even slightly animalic. Check out the applicator – it’s meant to be dabbed on to pulse points instead of sprayed, but also you could use it to layer with other versions of J’Adore. The result is a richer, more sensual, J’Adore experience.
I thought I’d talk about some new skincare because it’s been a minute.
Starting with a glob of Faded by Topicals. I like it so far, and the reviews are mixed. Some people say that it worked on scarring, but not really on stronger pigmentation. The texture is fine. It looks like a thick cream but it’s a melty kind of serum which absorbs and is a bit moisturizing. I don’t use it at night, but I’m trying it in the morning so I will report back. The thing is that it smells awful. I used to use an Obagi HQ cream, and it smelled terrible and that’s what this serum smells like too. Gross. Hopefully, that means that it works. Look how they included so many active ingredients in the serum, I really like that because right now I am rotating between niacinamide, vitamin C, etc.
On to something that smells amazing.
Nature Mary Revive & Repair oil, which I mentioned in my stories last week. I love how it smells like a big rose bouquet, super fresh, but also kind of strong and I can smell it for a while. Look at the rich colour of the oil. It’s made with terpenes from cloves and rosehip oil which is vibrantly coloured. I’ve only used it for about a week, and I can’t always use it with other products in my routine, but it’s in the rotation. I like it.
Finally, some Veriphy Skincare from Canada. I had used this brand years ago, but I found it very strongly scented. I’m not finding that right now, and notably, the cleanser has no scent at all. The face mist is a toner, the Power trip serum has lactic acid in it, and the cleanser is a gentle cream. I love the cleanser because it melts all my makeup.
If you’d like to try Veriphy skincare, use the code CanadianBeautyDotCom on their website for 20% off (this is an affiliate code).
Does anyone else feel like there’s no time? Not enough time? I mean, yes there’s time to write this but the rest of the time it’s running between work and home, meals and snacks, the grocery store, the post office and everything else. I’m finding myself to be a little spent, but still making time to read this and write, and watch White Lotus (I’m on episode 5, don’t ruin it for me).
Anyway, I’m enjoying Gucci Bloom which I could write off as a boring white floral but I also kind of love that it gave white florals to the masses, because many of you have told me that you like this and a few teens have told me they like this too. It’s a jasmine/tuberose combo and I get a bit of sweetness in there too. Maybe something sticky-sweet like compote or jam or honey, but it’s also in the background and not right up top.
I can’t help but reflect on the fact that Alessandro Michele brought this classic old-school aesthetic to Gucci but also made it whimsical and fun, and will that go away now that he’s out of Gucci? The apothecary-style bottles, the gold, the perfume waters, luxurious yet essential…
Anyway, Gucci Bloom is fun and keeps things light and easy.
I don’t remember what day it is today, but to be honest, I lost track a couple of days ago… I think… Glowy skin because I didn’t use a stitch of powder……my skin’s been a little dry thanks to me amping up the tret before the holidays. So I’m been layering on tons of sunscreen when it’s sunny out, and layer on moisturizer once the sun sets.
The Fenty Skin sunscreen is a moisturizing glowy sunscreen that works well with their makeup. I used Charlotte Tilbury concealer under my eyes, and as you can see, I apply it quite sheerly. I thought about layering on more but I don’t care about hiding every pore on my skin. Also used the Contour Wand in Fair/Light and it blends out so easily. Used the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop foundation but also sheerly. You can see my freckles through the coverage and that’s fine. Also used the Fenty Beauty Double Cheek’d up blush. Lancome Monsieur Big mascara. It’s tubing but it still smudged a bit. Nars Dolce Vita Satin Matte lip pencil because it’s a dumb reach and I’ve had it forever but I think I want something glossy now.
A gateway amber for some, a reference amber for others. Maybe an amber for people who are not really into ambers – Ambre 114 by Histoires de Parfum. Cozy and warm without being suffocating, sweet but not gourmand. Thyme, a shadow of a rose, vanilla, benzoin, and is that tonka?
The opening is so addictive, with a sweet rose, and then it settles into its aromatic amber body. I actually get thyme throughout the wearing of the scent, and I think that’s what keeps it from smelling too sweet. If you have strong associations with thyme being part of your roast chicken or turkey dinner, then this perfume might not be for you, but I rarely bring thyme into my kitchen so I don’t mind it here.
You know those fall walks where you can hear the crisp leaves under your feet, feel a cool wind on your face, but feel snug in your coat, maybe around a fire? This perfume feels like that.
Can we talk about the size of the bottle? I love a travel size, and 15ml is perfect. I love that they kept with the aesthetic and it still looks like a Histoires de Parfum bottle. This size lets you see whether you love a fragrance enough to invest in a full size, and is perfect for stashing in your bag, or your desk.
Every time I spray this I think: “omg, this is my favourite perfume” and when I have that reaction to a perfume, I know it’s a keeper. Here’s my video review of it.
Out/in the perfume version. What would you add?
I posted this video on Youtube. Enjoy!
The highlights:
MooGoo lip balm and body cream. This was my favourite find of 2021 and I enjoyed it this year too. The lip balms aren’t sweetened and are very waxy so they stay on your lips.
Color Wow Dreamcoat. I used this before blow drying or straightening and I won’t ever be without it again. Honestly, it’s so good that I’ve already bought a full-size bottle. It makes your hair so smooth and frizz free and it STAYS that way which is the best part. I bought this because someone compared it to Wonder Water but for blowdrying your hair, and I know that people have bought it because I mentioned it.
Amika purple conditioner – I had this at the pool twice a week and I feel like my hair still looks pretty orange but I’m getting it done in a week so watch out.
Boscia Body Wash. Foamy and lovely.
Fenty Skin Fat Water. Kind of a cool essence that you pat into your skin for extra hydration. I used it out of the shower because Calgary air is notoriously dry.
