Canadian Beauty

New Skincare Routine

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Henna

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.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Fenty, neutrogena, Skincare Canada, Skincare Reviews, StriVectin, Trinny, Trinny London, Trinny Skincare, XO Treatment Room | Leave a comment

Alterna Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Henna

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).

Posted in Shampoo and Conditioner | Tagged Alterna, Hair care, Shampoo and condtioner | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Bergamot, Fragrance, Le Labo, Perfume Review, story time | Leave a comment

Molinard Habanita Perfume Review

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Henna

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.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Fragrance, Habanita, Perfume, Review, Vintage | Leave a comment

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).

Posted in Make-Up | Tagged Biosculpture, nail polish | Leave a comment

Lise Watier Sublimessence Vitamin C Serum

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Henna

Vitamin C serums… I’ve tried a few.

New to the rotation is this Lise Watier Sublimessence Brightening Vitamin C serum which has 20% ethyl ascorbic acid. This form of vitamin C is said to be more stable than others so some brands like to formulate with it. People also find it to be more gentle if they have sensitive skin, and I’ve noticed that my skin isn’t stinging the way that it normally does when I use a high concentration of vitamin C.

The texture is what you would expect from a serum. It’s not as thin as some but it does absorb quickly and moisturizer or sunscreen glide on afterwards. There’s a slight tackiness sometimes but the moisturizer on top really takes care of that.

The best time to use it: daytime, under sunscreen. Save your nights for your other skincare actives like retinol. Vitamin C can be brightening and can also stimulate collagen which then makes your skin look more plump and bouncy. It’s a good place to start if you’re already using sunscreen and want to add something else to your skincare routine.

Other vitamin c serums with Ethyl Ascorbic Acid: Boscia and Heavy C from XO Treatment Room.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Boscia, CeraVe, Lise Watier, Vichy, Vitamin C | Leave a comment

Guerlain L’Heure Bleue edp

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Henna

Guerlain L’Heure Bleue. They say that either you’re a Shalimar person or a L’Heure Bleue person. Which one are you?

L’Heure Bleue is my favourite Guerlain unless I’m into a different one, in which case it’ll be that, but for right now it’s for sure this and it’s Perfume with a capital P.

The initial spray is a big lemony bergamot and slightly spiky aniseed, but the Iris carnation heart settles down into a warm skin scent, a dry vanilla pod, tonka, a touch of benzoin. You can’t even tell where one stops and the other begins and I think that’s something most of my favourite perfumes have in common.

Here’s some more thoughts on it that I posted to Youtube.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged L'Heure Bleue | Leave a comment

Cardamom Perfumes for Diwali

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Henna

Diwali is early this year and it makes me pull out more of my India-adjacent fragrances. This year, I’ve pulled out the cardamoms.

Cardamom is the breath-freshening gum of the spice family. Mentholated and dry, it’s a cool spice that’s actually best in the summer. These are three of my favourite cardamom scents but honourable mention goes to Cartier Declaration which is easy enough to find, and has a more mellow cardamom note.

Dior’s Escale a Pondichery is probably an outlier because it’s discontinued (but again, still available here and there, have a google). The cardamom is fresh and paired with black tea in a cologne-type scent, but this has decent longevity thanks to a functional fragrance jasmine base.

Comme des Garcons Incense Jaiselmer is one that doesn’t get talked about because maybe it’s not as good as the other incense fragrances. This has a dark burnt cardamom, probably a black cardamom which is larger and more pungent, also considered to be a warm spice instead of a cool one. Here, the cardamom is lit on fire, given a smokiness that brings out its camphorous facets. The cedar in the base adds to the dryness. I’ve never smelled incense like this.

Finally, Kenzo Jungle. Arguably, the most approachable and most polarizing. This is a BIG perfume, quite intense, and I’m calling it approachable because the cardamom is with so many other spices, but is also paired with vanilla which people love. But it’s so strong. And so spicy! Wear with care!

Do you like cardamom? I’m known for my cardamom ice cream.

Happy Diwali if you celebrate!

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Cardamom, Comme des Garcons, Dior, Fragrance Reviews, Kenzo, Perfume Blog | Leave a comment

Empties: Fenty Skin Sunscreen, Boscia Vitamin C, Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner, Dry Skin Love, Neutrogena

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Henna

A few skincare empties, including sunscreen… can we just talk about refillable skincare? I don’t know if I’m ready for a lifetime commitment to any skincare product so what do I do with the empty shells? Save them for when I decide to get a refill? I don’t know when that might be. I also ran out of the Trinny London Balm Cleanser and this is the second one I’ve gone through. So the shell will wait because I’m using an oil cleanser right now.

Finished a tube of Neutrogena Dry Touch Ultra Sheer lotion. The brand has better formulas. If you want a matte sunscreen try their Clear Face one.

Finished a Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner. I have to say that I do like their skincare. I wasn’t expecting a lot, but this is an exfoliating toner that has a cushiony feel and is a little moisturizing too thanks to lactic acid. I like it.

The Dry Skin Love cleansing oil is very moisturizing. I used it as a first cleanse and then follow up with a foaming cleanser.

Boscia Caviar Lime vitamin C serum is maybe one of my favourites of all time. It’s a 10% concentration and feels almost watery going on. No pilling and no tackiness. Feels liek nothing on your skin.

My morning routine does just consist of cleansing with the toner, using a vitamin C and using a sunscreen, so these are pretty regular empties for me. When you use them daily (sometimes I do this routine twice during the day), you tend to go through them fast.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Boscia, Charlotte tilbury, empties, Fenty, Sunscreen, Trinny London, Trinny Skincare | Leave a comment

Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Lit in Honey Citrine

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Henna

I’ve been using the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Lit in Honey Citrine (the darker one) as a highlighter on top of my foundation. I love the bronze glow that it added. I’ll be reaching for it more over the winter.

Posted in Make-Up | Leave a comment