Monthly Favourites - May 2012

Sometimes, I feel like time gets away from me... This is one of those times. Pretty soon, we'll be ringing in another new year and I'll be dumbfounded as to where all that time went. :p

Ahh, but right now, we're still in June. So as I always do, I present to you all my favourite products from the previous month.

1. Pure+simple All Natural Sunscreen 

I confess that sun protection is not something I always think about. In fact, I downright forget about it during the late Fall, through the Winter, and in early Spring. But when I noticed that my left arm was darker than my right (curse you, driving tan! *shakes fist*), I realized it's time to whip out the sunscreen again.

This Pure+simple sunscreen is the best I've tried so far. It doesn't feel sticky and doesn't smell like your typical sunscreen product. Also, it evens out my skintone. So for those few days in May where I didn't want to wear any foundation at all, I found that this product and some concealing were enough to make me look presentable... It also made me realize that my skin really doesn't need foundation to look good. So I'm going to aim to go foundation-less at least 4 times a month to give my skin a bit of a breather.

To read my full review, click here. 

2. Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Powder*

I've been using this to set my foundation nearly every day now. I also wore it during my foundation free days just to add a bit of illumination.

But does it make my skin look youthful? Well, I can't say it did. Though at 26, it's not really much of a concern for me. That said, it does give a very nice glow; so while my skin didn't necessarily look more youthful, it did look healthier and more glowing, which is always gets a thumbs up in my books!

3. Lush Ro's Argan Oil Body Conditioner

I don't think I can rave about this product enough! It leaves my skin so deliciously smooth and it smells amazing, to boot. All I need to do is do a quick slather of this stuff while my skin is still wet from the shower and then do a quick rinse. This removes the excess, but it doesn't remove everything. It definitely feels like I've got product on my skin. It moisturizes my skin so well and it lasts all day, too! My skin feels just as soft, smooth, and moisturized at the end of the day as it did in the beginning (though the product does seep in a bit more - meaning there's less tackiness, but your skin still feels hydrated). The scent, as I mentioned, is absolutely lovely and also lasts the whole day. Incredible!

To read my full review, click here.

4. Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker pH Powered Bronzer & Blush

Say that 10 times fast!

These two products have been doing a lot of work for me lately. Whether worn alone or paired together, they both colour-match to a shade that is both lovely and wearable for my skintone. I love that the bronzer doesn't look orangey on me and that the blush does double duty by leaning more pink when worn along and leaning more coral when worn with the bronzer. 2-in-1 is better than 1-in-1! (that doesn't even make sense -_-')

To read my full review, click here.

5. Hand Therapy Avocado Hand Repair Butter

I'm always on the lookout for a great hand cream. I wash my hands quite often and my hands can get pretty dry, so that means I require some lotion application fairly frequently. I have two requirements for a great hand cream: 1) fantastic hydration, and 2) no shiny, greasy residue left behind... So far, I have only found one that does that, and that's L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream. But it's $30 CADqw for a 150mL tube and around $12 CAD for a mini tube at Sephora. I mean, the larger tube did last me a long time, but $30 for hand cream still feels a bit like a kick in the gut.

So when I found this Hand Therapy product, I decided to give it a try... And boy, am I ever glad I did. This product makes my hands feel silky smooth and super hydrated, without the greasiness! And for the cheap price of $6.99 (I found this product in Superstore), it can't get any better!

I lied, it totally gets better. This hand cream is paraben free, synthetic dye free, mineral oil free, SLS free, and phthalate free. Amazing, no? I always have to resist the urge to buy more every time I pass by the display at my local Superstore.

6. Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense

Ahh, the new love of my life!

This perfume has been my latest obsession... It smells divine and it lasts all day, two things that are most important to me when it comes to fragrances. It's really hard for me to describe what this smells like, but it's definitely one of the most interesting scents I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. With some perfumes, I can tell straight away if it's floral or citrusy or what have you. But this one is pretty complex, at least for me, and that's what I love so much about it.

To read my full review, click here.

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So there you have my May favourites.

It is now officially June. Which means the next two Wednesdays are my Evening & Bridal final exams. I'm nervous, but kind of just looking forward to getting it over with. I've gotten to the point where I don't really sweat it anymore. Yes, marks are great, but that's not going to book me a job, is it? No, I just want to focus on doing a great job so that I can be more confident in my skills.

Aaaand I just remembered I have to do makeup, hair, and styling in under 90 minutes...

*thud*

Happy June, lovelies!

My Skin Is In Love With Ro's Argan Body Conditioner by Lush!

I haven't been this excited by a body skincare product in a long time...

I wasn't terribly intrigued, at first. I was a bit doubtful about using a body lotion in the shower, while my skin was still wet... And then to rinse it off afterwards? Isn't that a waste of product? Dani was a confused beauty blogger.

But when I stepped into Lush a few weeks ago, a kind SA asked if I would like a demo of this product after she caught me sniffing it in store. Well, why not? And you guys... I couldn't stop touching or smelling my hand after. #ThatSoundsWrong

So I purchased this baby and I've been using it every single day ever since. 

Ingredients: Fresh Spring Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Cypress Leaf Infusion (Cupressus sempervirens), Brazil Nut Oil (Bertholletia Excelsa), Vanilla Pod (Vanilla planifolia), Fair Trade Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Stearic Acid, Argan Oil (Argania spinosa), Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma Grandiflorum), Perfume, Triethanolamine, Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Goji Berry Decoction (Lycium barbarum), Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena), Gernanium Oil (Pelagonium graveolens), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Limonene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Gerniol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner is an after-wash product that acts in the same way a hair conditioner would for your tresses. I apply this all over my body is still wet/damp from rinsing off soap and then I rinse once more to remove any excess product. Et voilà - perfectly soft, perfectly moisturized, wonderfully scented skin!

Because it's used in the shower while the skin is still damp and rinsed off afterwards, there's no waiting around for the lotion to dry. I know some of you have experienced that as well. You use a body lotion/cream/butter/etc. and then you have to stand around for a bit for it to dry before putting your clothes on. I don't know about you, but I do not have enough time in the mornings to do that (hitting the snooze button too many times will do that to you). So it's perfect for every day use because I can just pat my skin dry and get going with the rest of my routine.

The best part is that the scent, which is pretty light and not at all strong, stays on all day. I'm not kidding when I say I can still smell this on me after a full day of work and school. It also makes your skin feel ridiculously soft! I'm experiencing some serious hydration right now because of this product and I am absolutely loving it!

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner can be purchased in Lush stores or online for $29.95 CAD.

What's your favourite body skincare product?

Monthly Favourites - February 2012

Goodbye, February! Hello, March!

You know Spring is on its way in Vancouver when it's sunny one moment, then hailing the next. Then there's the fact that it's warm one week, then cold the other; and out of nowhere, it starts snowing! If there's one thing I learned from living in Vancouver, it's that I need to be prepared for all weather eventualities.

Well, wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining for you!

And without further ado, here are my favourite items from this past month...

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

This was my go-to foundation for most of January and February. It looks very natural and provides pretty good coverage. I do require some blotting throughout the day, but that's the norm for most foundations I use.

Royal & Langnickel Round Kabuki Brush

After applying Healthy Mix Serum foundation, it's important for me to set my foundation. Though sometimes, I just want to add a touch more coverage. This kabuki brush is what I use to get the job done. It's ridiculously soft and hasn't shed since I purchased it last year. Love!

David Babaii for WildAid - Bohemian Beach Spray

Now that (the right side of) my hair has grown out enough for it to sustain curls, I've been using this spray to style my hair after every wash. It gives my hair body, curl, texture, and never makes it look overly done. It has a very light, coconut-y scent and holds a curl really well.

This product, as with all David Babaii for WildAid products, is sulfate, paraben, petrochemical and animal product free. Plus, ten percent of all profits go to WildAid. How amazing is that?

LUSH - Sultana of Soap 

This soap is creamy and smells absolutely divine! It contains real fruit, which I actually don't like (they just fall off!), but it sure makes the soap look pretty, no? My skin always feels so soft and smooth after using this and I think it's ranked up at the top along with Honey I Washed The Kids as my favourite Lush soap.

Marcelle BB Cream Beauty Balm

This product in one word: awesome! 

I haven't tried any North American BB Creams on my face, though I did swatch some on my hand and so far, Marcelle has been the only brand to get the texture right. BB Creams are not tinted moisturizers, yo! 

This shade matches my skin perfectly, gives good coverage, evens out my skin tone enough (I still need some concealing, though), and is so easy to use. While I was running late last week, I ended up applying this haphazardly all over my face (like a moisturizer) and it still looked amazing. I do need some blotting throughout the day, but I'm so impressed at how well this baby sticks around. 

I've been having "good face days" thanks to this BB Cream and I think I may have found a product that will truly become a staple in my modest arsenal.

What are your February favourites?

Checking In...

 

Hello, lovelies! I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas.

Still laptop-less, but I've figured out a way to blog here and there until I am able to afford a new one. In the meantime, I thought I'd share my post-Christmas haul with you guys. All my photos were taken on my iPhone, so please bear with the quality :p.

Steve Madden Bandditt Boots

 

Steve Madden Dynemite Platforms

 

Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion

 Caudalie Premières Vendanges Moisturizing Cream

MAC Blush in Subtle Breeze (from the Naturally Collection)
Funny tidbit: the SA at the MAC counter in Nordstrom pronounced it
SUB-TUHL. Forreal... I had to stop myself from giggling.

  MAC Blush Ombré in Azalea Blossom (from the Daphne Guinness Collection)

 Burberry Beauty Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick in No. 07 Camelia Pink

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Vision

 Sultana of Soap, Lust Soap,Golden Wonder Bath Bomb, Cinders Bath Bomb, Abombinaball Bath Bomb, Lil Lush Pud Bath Bomb & Three Gold Rings Bubble Bar.

 What does your Boxing Day damage look like?

Monthly Favourites - November 2011

It's DECEMBER! Now I can go nuts about Christmas without people looking at me funny!

How's everyone's Christmas shopping going? I've actually finished mine; all I have to do now is bake cookies. Do any of you give treats on Christmas? If so, give me some of your recipes! I'd love to broaden my baking horizons :p.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourites from the wonderful month of November (and it's mostly wonderful because December comes after it):

1. Batiste Dry Shampoo - Blush

Before I had even heard of Batiste, I tried Tresemmé's dry shampoo. It was kind of useless. 

So I tried Batiste out, subconsciously expecting for it to be ineffective, but boy was I ever wrong! It actually de-greases (that sounds gross) and volumizes my roots. It does leave your hair looking white, but it goes away completely after I brush my hair through with my fingers. If you don't want to go through that trouble, Batiste also make dry shampoo that comes with a "hint of colour" with shades that correspond to whatever colour your hair is. Unfortunately, Shoppers Drug Mart doesn't carry those. 

It also has a lovely floral scent which I appreciate a lot because my hair tends to pick up scents really well and I don't fancy having my hair smell like "ulam" (if you're Filipino, you know what this means :p). I've been trying not to wash my hair every day, especially now that I use warm-hot water for my showers. Now that I have something to refresh my hair every other day, I can actually fulfill that goal. 

2. The Body Shop Perfume Oil - Vanilla

This perfume has been a staple in my fragrance stash for many years now and I still absolutely love it. Vanilla is probably my favourite scent, so this perfume oil gets a lot of love from me.

First of all, you don't need a lot (I've had this one for a while now, it doesn't even come in a bottle like this anymore) so you'll be able to use it for a long time. Secondly, it's $16; enough said, I should think.

3. Maybelline Clear Smooth Blush - Fresh Berry

I was first drawn to this blush because of the super bright shade, but I've really grown to love it because it blends beautifully on the skin (applied with a light hand, of course :p) and sticks around for my entire work day. 

It's such a lovely shade and I've been loving wearing it this month because it makes these dark and dreary days a little bit better :).

4. Spa Resource Brushes - Powder Brush & Stippling Brush

I spotted these babies at Walmart and truthfully, I wasn't intrigued... That is, until I felt the bristles. Softness galore! I'd say they are about on par with EcoTools in terms of softness and both retail for under $11 CAD. Not bad, no?

The only thing I don't like is the stippling brush's propensity to shed - I had a lot of bristles on my face! Although, the shedding did stop after a second wash. I definitely prefer this stippling brush to Sigma's; it feels much softer on the skin.

You can find these brushes in Walmart or purchase them online at Spa Resource.

5. Macadamia Natural Oil - Healing Oil Spray

My hairstylist would always spritz my hair with this after a cut & style and I remember thinking I absolutely had to have it because it smells divine! 

This stuff is uh-may-zing! It makes my hair look shiny and hydrated, removes frizz, but doesn't weigh my hair down at all. And did I mention it smells divine? I did? Well, it smells diviiine!

I thought I would have to say goodbye to my little bottle, because the nozzle started spritzing in a straight line (instead of a mist) but a few minutes under HOT water did the trick. I can now use it again! 

I'm not sure where you can purchase this product because they don't have an online store and not all salons carry them. But if you have wavy/curly hair, you should start looking for this baby because you need this in your life!

For those in the US, you can purchase Macadamia Natural Oil at Ulta.

6. Lush - Sympathy For The Skin

This lotion was one of my "Best in 2010" picks and it still delivers. The scent (vanilla, of course) is absolutely delicious and it keeps my skin so wonderfully moisturized, soft and smooooth (operatoooor, smooooth operatoooor). 

It retails for $25.95, which does sound pretty steep; but it lasts for such a long time, I don't find myself needing to purchase it often. If you do try this lotion out, be sure to remember the expiry date. Because Lush uses a lot of fresh ingredients, their products do go bad. Conveniently, they have a sticker on the outside of their packaging with a best before date, as well as a lovely photo of whoever made that particular batch. How cool is that?

7. The Face Shop - Power Perfection BB Cream

A skincare product that has good coverage. No, it's not a Tinted Moisturizer, it's better than that: it's a BB Cream! I love this stuff because it gives me such natural coverage. I still need to do some concealing, but for the most part, it leaves my skin looking much better (My Skin But Better :p). It has a nice consistency, thicker than some Tinted Moisturizers I've tried and easily blends onto the skin. 

It's not perfect - my face does get a bit oily at the end of the day, which I would rather it didn't, but it's nothing a quick blot couldn't fix. All in all, I am so pleased with this BB Cream; it's a pleasure to use and leaves my skin looking really healthy.

8. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick - Plum Jewel

Such a pretty colour! I love the formula and how the product just grabs onto your lips and doesn't shift around. It's creamy and applies smoothly, albeit with a slight bit of tugging (due to the thickish texture?) on the lips and with an average wear time of about 4 hours.

9. Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick - Mulberry

My chosen Lipstick Bandit lippie for the Fall. It contains a "super antioxidant" called reservatrol and is formulated without synthetics, polybutenes and petroleum byproducts. This lipstick glides on easily, feels really nice on the lips and is also one drop-dead gorgeous shade; absolutely perfect for fall!

What are your favourites for November?

Monthly Favourites - September 2011

Goodbye, September! Hello, October!

As I'm writing this, I am trying not to think about the stresses of work and packing for a month long trip (what makeup will I bring?!); but as you're reading this, I am currently thousands of feet in the air, cramped in a flying tin machine, not enjoying the scent of stale air and coffee. Can you tell I'm not much into flying? I'm really not... I might change my mind about it if I get to experience First Class, though :p. But enough whining! And really, why should I? I get to go to the Philippines for a month! #Hurrah

*Yes, I just used a hashtag. Don't judge me.

Well, you know the drill; this is the part where I tell you my September Favourites. Here we go!

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette

I can't believe how often I am using this palette! Typically I become a bit gung-ho about palettes and then I get tired of it... Not so with this one (at least not yet :p). It just goes to show how absolutely wearable these shades are because I've been using it nearly every single day since I purchased it in July.  My favourite combination is Sin all over the lid, Naked & Buck to contour the socket, and Virgin to highlight the inner corners and the brow bone (topped off with black eyeliner, of course). I've also taken to using Sidecar as opposed to Sin for more oomph. But my absolute favourite shade is probably Hustle, which is described by Urban Decay as a "mocha shimmer." It's such a gooorgeous shade!

2. Cargo Blush - Mendocino

This blush came with Cargo's Mediterranean Collection, which I purchased last month and it's my favourite piece in the collection. Cargo describes it as a "wildflower pink with a gold sheen" and it's absolutely lovely. It came out in the Summer, but it's totally wearable in the the Fall and Winter, as you can see from the swatch above. The texture is pretty soft and applies quite smoothly on the skin. The only thing is, I wish that it would last longer on the skin. I find that the shade is noticeably diminished after blotting. Although, the packaging is so lightweight, that it's no trouble bringing it with you in your handbag for quick touch ups.

3. MAC Blush - Feeling Flush

This has been my other blush of choice and has been featured in my Monthly Favourites list a before. It's a lovely blue-toned pink that I can actually pull off. The best thing about this blush is that it's pretty long wearing. I'll definitely be bringing this with me on vacation because I need something that's going to keep up with me.

4. eos Lip Balms - Honeysuckle Honeydew & Summer Fruit

I've been wanting to try these lip balms ever since I first saw them on a YouTube video. How cute are they? The formula isn't as thick as my favourite lip balm, Nivea Milk & Honey, but it still does a decent job of moisturizing my dry lips. It's not useful when my lips get really dry, but they're handy when my lips are behaving. The packaging is an adorable egg shape and clicks shut very securely. The flavours I got are Honeysuckle Honeydew and Summer Fruit; both smell lovely and both have a hint of a sweet taste. I love using this under lipstick, it keeps my lips from drying up throughout the day. 

5. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen - Jet Black

Jet black, applies easily and smoothly, and absolutely long-lasting... Seriously, this stuff doesn't budge, even in the heat and even without primer. I haven't yet used any liquid eyeliner this good. The felt tip makes it super easy to create a thin line at the edges, too; which is something that I definitely need help with :p.

6. MAC Blot Powder - Medium Dark

I love how this powder just blends into the skin so smoothly. I've been using this after a quick blot with blotting paper and it leaves me looking so much fresher and more put together. It doesn't add any coverage though, which is a shame because I could definitely use a bit after blotting. Still, it feels lovely on the skin and makes me look and feel so much better! Because as oilier skinned gals know, it does not feel good!

7. NYX Eyeshadow - Root Beer

I love this colour so much, I bought it 3 times. 

"3 times?!" You ask? 

Yeah... Turns out, I'm really bad at de-potting. I bought one at IMATS Vancouver, ruined it while de-potting, bought one online, ruined that de-potting and finally was able to buy it at NYX's store in Surrey. Needless to say, I didn't even attempt to de-pot this one. Root Beer is a lovely taupey-brown shade that was absolutely welcome in my "stash" because I've been indulging in way too many brights lately. The texture is very soft and very easy to blend. Because it's so soft, it creates a lot of excess powder; even so, there is very little fall out. I've been loving applying this along the lash line after my usual Naked Palette combo's for a softer look. 

8. MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Bare Again

This has been my go-to lipstick in September. Bare Again is a lovely pinky-nude, MLBB shade that is completely versatile. It's appropriate for work but you can still rock with a smoky eye. I love the creamy texture and the fact that it doesn't dry out my lips at all. Seriously, the texture is amazing; it's such a pleasure to wear.

9. The Body Shop Lotion - Mango Whip

UH-MAY-ZING scent! It sinks into the skin really nicely, leaving behind soft, amazing smelling skin. I've been using this lotion religiously since I first bought it because it's light and doesn't take forever to absorb into the skin. And have I mentioned the scent? I have? Ok, fine...

What are your favourite products of September?