Fenty Beauty Holiday

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Henna

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Holiday shopping time is here, and I think everyone’s getting a head start this year.

Some Fenty Beauty to get us started. I’ll show colours and talk about formulas in my stories, but these are all the Fenty products we already know and love in fun packaging.

The colours are bright – meaning they’ll work on a range of skin tones, which is key when you are gift-giving. The prices are such that you actually save money when you get a gift pack, which is as it should be.

I think these would be great as a secret Santa type of gift or even as backup gifts for those times that you’re caught unprepared. Personally, I love the Gloss Bomb trio. I’ve loved this formula since it launched because it actually feels moisturizing. I’ve yet to try a colour I didn’t like. Even the super-light shades look super flattering, and I have to admit that I’m addicted to the tingle of the Gloss Bomb Heat.

What do you think?

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New Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Henna

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Newish from Amika. A leave-in conditioner that’s a dreamy creamy spray. A luscious mist that coats your hair in a dose of moisture. Mildly fruity smelling but leaves your hair feeling like silk. Light but intense.

Is it better than the overnight leave-in that came earlier?

I’d say it’s different. I liked the cream for dry hair but I love the spray for wet hair and for detangling.

Honestly, I don’t want to be without either of them.

 

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Neutrogena Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 50

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Henna

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I must be the last person to know that Neutrogena has a new sunscreen – the Moisturizing Face Serum sunscreen in SPF 50. It really is a creamy serum that melts into your skin. I do find it to be moisturizing enough, and easy to wear.

Apparently, this sold out in some places really quickly, and I’m guessing it’s because people want to get whatever’s new because although I do like this sunscreen and formula, I have to admit that it’s nothing groundbreaking or new.

Also, I did find it on Amazon.

I know many of you have tried it, so tell me what you think.

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Chanel Allure edt

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Henna


It’s the 1990’s, you wear your backpack on one shoulder, thin eyebrows are in, and from the backseat of your friend’s mom’s car, you can smell Allure.

Maybe because it’s so 90’s, this seems to be the uncool Chanel of the fragrance community, at least online.  While some people say that it’s a signature for them or that it used to be, others think that it’s dated and needs to be in the past. Citrus peachy vanilla, it reminds me of nail polish remover and Bath and Body Works. Smells like an expensive mall, the kind in Buffalo that we drove to so we could shop at Abercrombie before school started in September. It’s the smell of Fall.

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Sisley Perfume Collection

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Henna

It all started with Sisley, a brand that’s overlooked because they have overpriced skincare and makeup, but behind the counter also lies opulent old-world types of perfume. They stick to their own point of view and I love that. Of course, Eau du Campagne is beloved in Fragcomm for being a Jean-Claude Ellena perfume, but these are others that I enjoy.

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Some people come to the traditional sharpness of a chypre late in their perfume journey, but Eau du Soir always spoke to me. When perfume goes sweet on you all the time, you want something that can stay crisp, so this is what I reach for. A mix of florals on a mossy bed, it’s the reason I don’t need any other chypres in my collection, or other greens.

Eau de Sisley No. 2 is similar profile but with patchouli as the heavy, and in an eau de toilette concentration, so you can splash a bit more on in theory, but actually, it’s still pretty concentrated and a little goes a long way. Also, patchouli has a way of sticking to my skin and the inside of my nose so I can smell it all the time.

Soir d’Orient is a chypre with rose and incense and it’s the one I’m reaching for the most now. The rose is a little sweet, and its juiciness contrasts nicely with the dry incense in the base, that’s slightly woody but not smoky.

Over the years, I’ve reviewed these on Youtube, so here are the reviews if you’re interested.

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New Skincare Routine

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Henna

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Some new skincare in my routine and a texture shot of a product that I’m not feeling.

New Trinny Skincare Plump Up Peptide HA Serum. I’m not a huge fan of the texture. It’s kind of sticky and doesn’t have the best consistency. I’m trying to use it but I do put a nice greasy moisturizer on top and that takes care of that sticky feeling. I will keep using it to see how it actually works in my skin but… it’s probably not going to be my first reach. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor sunscreen in the purple tube. I’ve posted about this and I like it! Completely clear, moisturizing, and layers really well with makeup.

Neutrogena Stubborn Blackheads Daily Serum. You can use this during the day, but I’m just so used to putting on vitamin C only that I keep forgetting. I will eventually try it during the day, but right now I just use it at night when I’m not using retinol! I’m trying to use up my vitamin C too because I know that it definitely oxidizes if you don’t use it up quickly.

Strivectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Multi-Correct Serum. NIA-114 and Niacin, along with ingredients that help with dryness, are what makes this retinol formula unique. Honestly, it’s a great one-one-done option if that’s what you want for night time.

XO Treatment Room PM oil. Ooooh, I love oils, for my face, for my body, hair, all of them. This one has lavender, and yes, it’s formulated by someone who works on faces all the time, DAILY! The oil that it uses is Squalane which is great for oily skin because it’s very light. It also has some antioxidants such as sea-buckthorn oil, and rosehip oil, which are known to be very calming on skin. I use this last after all my other serums and whatnot at night time.

 

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Alterna Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Henna

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By now, you might have learned that hair is dead, and no, you can’t moisturize it or some how bring it back to life. 20 years ago, you could put a silicone serum on it and minimize some of the frizz, coating the hair shaft so that it seemed smoother instead of rough, but now people don’t even want to do that because of something called “build up”. Yes, it turns out that repeatedly applying product without washing it out properly causes a layer to stay on your hair actually making it more brittle, and adding to more… breakage.

So what’s the latest?

Something called “bond repair” wherein the product temporarily repairs broken bonds – temporary being the key word because heat-styling, dying, and even just washing your hair will continue to bring those bonds and cause damage.

Personally – as someone with highlighted, naturally curly hair – I can always tell when a bond repair product is working. I’ll have smoother hair once it’s washed out without any other changes to my hair routine. Alterna’s Restructuring Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner do the trick, and the hair mask is even better if I have time to use it pre-shampoo (although it’s meant to just replace your usual conditioner in the shower).

 

 

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Le Labo Bergamot 22

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Henna


The thing about me is that mostly you want to stay on my good side. Here I am staying on everyone else’s good side today with Le Labo Bergamot 22. Beautiful sunshine in a bottle. Bright citrus and a drydown that smells mostly like vetiver. Decent sillage and projection, this oil lasts the whole day, and relatively inoffensive, dare I say even “office safe”.

I met a lady at the airport, and our flight was delayed by quite a bit.  To kill some time, I pulled out the three perfume samples I had in my bag, and sprayed them directly on my skin, making notes on my phone as I went, thinking about what I was smelling.

This lady next to me says “I used to hate all perfume until I discovered Le Labo Bergamot 22.”

Let me tell you – kudos to this woman.  She’d had a long day behind her, and a long night ahead of her, but she was in good spirits.  Not happy, but ok with just accepting the situation for what it was and making the best of it.  She was a grandmother and traveling alone for this leg.  She was tired, we were all tired.  But she was happy to chat with me, and we talked about perfume a bit.

Bergamot 22 would have suited her.  It’s sunny and affable.

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Molinard Habanita Perfume Review

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Henna

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Baby powder, then smoke, woods, just enough vanilla to draw you in, melt into your skin. The smell of seasons changing. Anything is possible.

This is historical perfume at its finest.

Originally created in the 1920’s for women to scent their cigarettes, Habanita originally came in a bottle with a glass rod that women used to apply the perfume on the smokes. Eventually, the scent went directly on skin instead and glassmaker Rene Lalique was commissioned to design a bottle.

The frieze design is representative of the kind of work he was doing at that time, and reflected the European fascination with antique Greek art. I’ve been sitting on this decant since May and did a lot of research into it at the time. It’s all just coming out now. I don’t know what year my bottle is but it’s the EDP.

A vintage version is on my wishlist, and I’m wondering if the smoky notes were always there or were they added later to replicate the smell of someone smoking.

People who have smelled the vintage say that the ashy smoky note has always been there, which is interesting.

It’s a very interesting perfume.

I very much enjoyed wearing my decant and it’s half done right now.  I might need a full bottle at some point.

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Biosculpture Gemini Nail Polish

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Henna

New shades from Biosculpture’s Gemini Nail Polish line. I tried on the colour Seafoam because it’s hard to find a white that’s not streaky. This went on ok, but looks great after three coats. I like that there are a few cream shades in this collection, and just a couple with shimmer and glitter in them. As always, the colours are trendy so easy to wear, especially that teal (Lake Louise).

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