The Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream Is A Godsend!

I first heard about this product from Makeup and Beauty Blog and I was immediately intrigued. You see, I never really paid that much attention to my cuticles at all and it showed. In fact, I only started taking notice after looking at my NOTD photos. So I decided I was going to take better care of my cuticles and by extension, my nails. 

I've used Vaseline petroleum jelly, I've tried some Sally Hansen cuticle oil, but none of them made my cuticles look better. They just made my fingers oily for a period of time. A hassle, if you ask me. So I picked up one of these tins at my local supermarket and was so pleased with it, I felt like my whole life has changed :p.

As you can see, this product is 95% natural and is paraben and phthalate free; all good points in my book! But the best part is that this cuticle cream really does work. Not only does it moisturize my cuticles well at application, but it also keeps my nails looking moisturized long after use. 

When I first applied this cream, my cuticles were a mess because I hadn't pushed them or cut them in a while. But around a week after daily use (I apply at night), I noticed that my cuticles looked like I had just pushed them and they were so much healthier. Even now as I look at them, more than 15 hours later, they look healthy and moisturized.

The Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream comes in a tin and has a waxy formula. The great thing about that is when you apply it, it doesn't shift around and spill all over your fingers, unlike my experience with the Sally Hansen cuticle oil or Vaseline petroleum jelly. Once I've rubbed it onto my cuticles, I don't need to wait around too long for it to dry. It just clings to your cuticles and keeps them hydrated, but the rest of your fingertips stays dry. 

I've taken to applying this every night since I first bought it after L'Occitane's shea butter hand cream and it has really transformed my hands! These two products together have been an absolute miracle for me and I can't imagine ever not using them. If you're looking for a good cuticle treatment, I definitely recommend Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream; on top of all its good qualities and zero bad qualities, it's also inexpensive at $7.99 CAD.

What's your favourite cuticle treatment?

2011 Golden Globes Awards - Hits & Misses

Who else caught the Golden Globes last night? I personally didn't watch the awards show but I definitely was on the ball when it came to the red carpet. Anyway, without further ado, here are my hits and misses (note: click on the photo for a larger view).

BEAUTY MISSES

(first photo from LIFE, others from bellasugar)

left to right:

- Carrie Underwood: Gorgeous look, but her foundation makes her look much too pasty.

- Eva Longoria: Like Carrie, her foundation is much too light (nothing new for Eva, though). 

Plus, I'm not a fan of the uber-nude lip.

- Emma Stone: I will never be a fan of orange skin. I'm not sure if it's the combination of her peach dress and her newly blonde hair or if she really did apply the self-tanner a little too liberally, 

but the orange was definitely visible.

- Helena Bonham Carter: Makeup is quite gorgeous, but that hair... Oh, that hair...

BEAUTY HITS

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Mila Kunis: Flawless skin, long fluttery lashes, warm apricot on the lips & cheeks... One word: gorgeous.

- Julianne Hough: What an amazing sun kissed glow! But the standout is the coppery colour lined around her eyes, it really makes her beautiful blue eyes pop.

- Jenna Ushkowitz: Loving the soft, grey smoky eye and her voluminous hair.

(photos from bellasugar)

left to right:

- Olivia Wilde: Subtle, yet gorgeous cat-eye and soft nude lip really compliment the rest of her look; plus, I'm really loving this fringe on her.

- Scarlett Johansson: Scarlett always looks so classy. Love the updo and the soft pink lips.

- Christina Hendricks: All this pinks & reds should clash, but I find it doesn't. The pink flush of her cheeks matched with the soft, red stain of her lips are especially pretty.

- Natalie Portman: Pregnancy suits her, that's for sure! She's definitely got that inner-glow and her berry stained lips compliment her blush perfectly.

- Michelle Williams: Pretty in peach and rockin the pixie cut. So lovely.

(photos from bellasugar)

left to right:

- Halle Berry: Classic smoky eye and a nude lip that I can get appreciate. 

- Dianna Agron: She has such a gorgeous, girl-next-door face. Looking lovely, as usual, but it's the pinky-brown lip colour that makes the look quite grown-up.

- Jennifer Lawrence: Another sun-kissed beauty. The hint of shimmer in her lips makes the look much fresher, perfect for a young actress like her.

- Megan Fox: I really love a smoky eye on Megan, her eyes look so much bluer. She's sporting some shimmer on her lips as well, much like, Jennifer; though Megan's is much more subtle. But the show stopper in this whole look is definitely her brows, I love how full and natural they are.

P.S. Megan, please gain some weight.

- Leighton Meester: As Benefit would say, "her name was Glowla." 

I'm seriously lemming for whatever was used on her cheeks. Anyone know?

FASHION MISSES

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Diane Warren: The blazer is fierce, but the button up and the slacks are a bit sloppy for an awards show. This Stella McCartney number would've been more appropriate for dinner out with friends or possibly a concert.

- Hope Davis: The colour is absolutely gorgeous but I'm not feeling the two-sided detailing.

- Helena Bonham Carter: I understand that some people have a really quirky sense of style and I can definitely appreciate it. I love the style and fit of this Vivienne Westwood dress because it really accentuates Helena's lovely curves. But the fabric is too all over the place for me and the mismatched shoes... Well, I just don't understand it.

- Julianne Moore: It's no secret that Julianne loves Lanvin. The colour is gorgeous and the sleeve could've worked for me were it not for whatever is going on around the neckline area.

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Michelle Williams: Neither the colour nor the shape of this Valentino dress do anything for Michelle Williams. In fact, it makes her look a bit frumpy. Also, the daisy print might be more suited for her daughter's bedroom. Such a shame because she's been on such a fashion roll with her Blue Valentine appearances.

- Julianna Marguiles: Oh goodness. One word: droopy. The colours wash her out, too.

- Halle Berry: This Nina Ricci number looks like shapewear with some bits of fabric hanging from the waist. Granted, she looks fantastic, but I don't think it's appropriate for the Golden Globes.

- Heidi Klum: This could've worked. Except all the extra fabric bunching around the waist of this Marc Jacobs number makes the whole outfit look sloppy. 

FASHION HITS

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Natalie Portman: The empire waist of this baby pink Viktor & Rolf dress really flatters her mommy-to-be figure. The red floral accent is also really sweet.

- Christina Aguilera: Holy curves, Batman! Christina separated herself from the rest of the nude crowd by picking a Zuhair Murad gown that incorporated black lace as well. Absolutely stunning!

- Nicole Kidman: This sparkly Prada dress really accentuates Nicole's statuesque frame. 

And how adorable is that bow?

- Leighton Meester: Burberry Prorsum looks good on Leighton. Love the Victorian vibe and the thigh high slit. Not to mention, the shoes are fierce!

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Heather Morris: Looking super classy in a sparkly, nude dress. Love the clutch, too!

- Kyra Sedgwick: I'm reminded of Michelle Williams at the 2006 Oscars. Kyra definitely stood out from the crowd in this mustard yellow dress. Very boho, absolutely lovely.

- Emma Stone: Easily the simplest dress at the Globes and yet it's one of the most striking. The clean silhouette coupled with the gorgeous peach shade really make this Calvin Klein dress a standout.

- Julie Bowen: The detailing in this Tadashi Shoji dress is so, unbelievably gorgeous.

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Megan Fox: I absolutely adore the weaving detailing in this Giorgio Armani Privé dress. 

- Claire Danes: If the simplicity looks familiar and you guess Calvin Klein, you would be right. Gorgeous colour, perfect fit, beautiful altogether. 

- Christina Hendricks: Red on red should clash, but it doesn't. Christina Hendricks works it all with such class and talk about curvaceous! She really fits this Romona Keveza dress well. Shoulder detailing is fab, too!

- Hailee Steinfeld: This Prabal Gurung piece is the perfect dress for a young up-and-comer in her debut. Age appropriate but not boring; she looks stunning!

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Shaun Robinson: The Access Hollywood host rocked her one-shouldered, sequined dress!

- Kaley Cuoco: Soft, romantic, airy; this Catherine Kidd dress is the epitome of pretty.

- Julia Stiles: Oh, it's nice to see Ms. Stiles on the red carpet again! I love this Romona Keveza gown on her. The mermaid silhouette is especially flattering. It's dramatic, which is perfect for the Golden Globes.

- Dianna Agron: J. Mendel's dress does Dianna justice. Or is it the other way around? Love how champagne looks on her, love the silhouette, love the slight shimmer. Oh, and love the clutch, too!

MY PERSONAL FAVES

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Sandra Bullock: Looking absolutely gorgeous in this classic Jenny Packham dress. 

And how fierce is her new fringe? I personally love it!

- Jennifer Lopez: Some might not like the sheer cape of this Zuhair Murad number, but that's what makes the outfit for me. JLo looks positively ethereal.

- Amber Riley: This Oliver Tolentino dress is so fierce! It's the only way to go when you're as fierce as Ms. Riley. Love the one-shoulder detail and the black belt really accentuates her waist. She proves that just because you're not a size 2, doesn't mean you have to shy away from figure hugging silhouettes.

- Angelina Jolie: She doesn't normally wear colours, but when she does, people take notice. And it's no wonder; this emerald green Versace dress is divine in all its sparkly, long-sleeved glory! 

And doesn't she look like she just stepped out of Dynasty a bit? 

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Mila Kunis: Mila has been looking especially beautiful lately and the Globes was no different. Her Vera Wang dress looks like it was poured over her and the gorgeous green shade really compliments her olive skintone. Of course, I also love the knot detail on the shoulder.

- Kelly Osbourne: Boy, has Kelly been stepping up her fashion game, or what? Again, one-shoulder = love. But what really makes this gown is the nude/grey pattern that goes from the side of her torso to the front of the dress. Very architectural, I love it!

- Catherine Zeta-Jones: Love the colour (there were 4 emerald green gowns on the red carpet), love the textured fabric, and love the sweetheart neckline of this Monique Lhuillier gown. 

Her chandelier earrings are gorgeous, as well.

BEST DRESSED

(photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- January Jones: This dress was seen in Versace's Spring 2011 runway show. Originally in sky blue, January Jones requested it to be made in this stunning red colour; a good move on her part. The best part about this dress is undoubtedly the fringe. 

- Mandy Moore: This Monique Lhuillier gown is absolutely gorgeous. The colour alone is stunning but the mermaid silhouette and the airiness of the tulle skirt really makes it that much more beautiful.

- Scarlett Johansson: Another throwback for me, this Elie Saab gown reminds me of one of my all time favourite dresses, a champagne Versace gown donned by Kate Hudson at the 2003 Academy Awards. I'm just a sucker for a nude dress with sparkly detailing! Also the fluttery sleeves are just lovely.

- Anne Hathaway: I must say, this is a bit of a departure for Anne. We normally see her looking classy and elegant but I've never seen her look this vixen-like ever... And I love it. Long sleeves, sequins, padded shoulders; all fantastic details. But the best part about this Armani Privé dress? It's completely backless.

- Olivia Wilde: This Marchesa gown definitely takes the cake for me. I mean, what's not to love? The ball gown silhouette makes Olivia look like a princess (isn't she one, technically? :p) and the nude to black gradient is stunning. Same with the "lots of sequins" to "less sequins" gradient. Wow, I'm really getting technical with my terms :p. No matter, this dress speaks for itself and will probably be one of the best dresses of 2011.

Who are your picks for the best dressed stars 

at the Golden Globes?

Collection Spotlight: Giambattista Valli - Resort 2011

(photos from style.com)

One of my absolute favourite collections of last season was by Giambattista Valli and to be honest, I've never really paid attention to his work prior. Well, I definitely took notice and have been eagerly anticipating his next collection, which doesn't disappoint either.

To me, Valli's dresses are never typical. There is always something interesting that catches your eye, whether it's the draping, ruffles, bows, prints, colours, what have you.

Call It Beauty loves: the vintage vibe of the dresses in set 1/photo 3 and set 3/photo 2, the bubblegum pink that was also featured in last season's collection, the animal prints (I definitely need more of it in my wardrobe), and the beauty & elegance of the gowns in the last set (I can't wait to see it on the red carpet).

Any favourites?

Dear Blog Followers...

(photo from paper tastebuds)

I have reached 180 followers today and I just wanted to say a big WELCOME to the brand new followers and THANK YOU to every single one of you who follows my blog. What started as a hobby has become a really fun and important way for me to express my creativity in other ways; knowing that you guys are actually reading this really warms my heart :).

Please feel free to introduce yourselves in the comments. I do reply back 99% of the time so don't hesitate! Also, I've been obsessed with a few skin (face & body) products lately, what products have you been using religiously?

Have an awesome weekend, lovelies! :)

Style Crush - Emma Watson

I really love how Emma Watson's style has evolved over the years. People all over the world have literally watched her grow up and yet she did it with such poise and class.

Lately I've been really looking forward to HP releases; not just because I love the films, but because I'm really eager to see what Emma Watson will show up in.

And on another note, she literally encompasses the term "beauty and brains." It's great for the future generation to have someone like her to look up to and not just various "reality stars." Look, ladies! You can be successful and not have to take your clothes off! Imagine that...

Do you like Emma Watson's style?

All About Eyes - Mountain Summit

This look was inspired by the photo above, which was my desktop wallpaper for a few months. I'm not sure if it's a real photo or a painting, to be honest, but I was really blown away by the beauty of the snow capped mountains meeting the pink/purple sunset in the sky.

Products Used:

Sephora Collection Mono Eyeshadow - Aspen Summit 23 (shimmery white)

MAC Eyeshadow - Paradisco

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette in Circus - hot pink & lilac shades

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Black

To start off, I applied Aspen Summit with a dense brush (Sigma E55) because I wanted to really pack the colour on. This eyeshadow isn't crazy pigmented which is why I used this particular brush. This eyeshadow was applied all over the lid, ending around the crease area and I used the edge of the E55 to apply it along the lower lash line. Starting from the crease, I applied Paradisco eyeshadow from the inner to the outer corner, blending as I go. Next, I applied a combination of the hot pink & lilac shades from Sleek's Circus palette on top of Paradisco and connected to the outer edge of my eyelid softly, creating a subtle V shape. Lastly, I curled my eyelashes, applied multiple coats of mascara, and filled in my brow with matte black eyeshadow (also from the Circus palette).

Does nature inspire your makeup looks?

I'm Obsessed With L'Occitane's Shea Butter Line!

About a month ago, Beauty Crazed held a L'Occitane contest and of course, having never tried any of their products, I entered myself. Well, as you've deduced from the photos... I won :D.

I was so excited when I received Lisamarie's email, but I was even more excited when I saw how huge some of the products were! I mean, I knew they were going to be full-size but I was still surprised. It definitely felt like Christmas came early when I opened the package.

I love them all to pieces, though I do love one of them a little less... We'll get to that later. On to the review!

Shea Butter Hand Cream

Out of all 6 products, this is tied for first place as my number one love. It's the absolute most perfect hand cream! I've tried many drugstore hand creams (Glysomed, Vaseline, St. Ives, Lubriderm) and even some from other bath & body stores but none compare. 

Some moisturized well but left an oily film on my hands which meant I couldn't touch anything until my they dried. Sometimes I would get so tired of waiting I would eventually just wipe them on something, which pretty much defeats the purpose of applying hand cream. I even took to using the back of my hands to apply the cream just so I could keep my palms and fingers oil-slick free. 

But I don't need to do any of that with L'Occitane's product. It's the perfect formula for me: so creamy, so moisturizing, but still fast absorbing. There really isn't anything negative I can say about this product except maybe the $30 CAD price tag; but with a 150 mL product, I don't see that as a negative at all because a little bit goes a long way. And if the size bothers you (if you're a small purse type of gal), don't worry because L'Occitane also sells a mini hand cream for $12 CAD (you can get a pack of 3 mini's as well).

Shea Butter Foot Cream

(Yes, that's the actual top of my foot. Please don't hate me for posting a photo of it)

I don't bother much with foot creams (for shame!) but I've vowed that this year I will start to take better care of my hands and feet. So when this package arrived, I incorporated it into my nightly routine. Needless to say, my neglected tootsies were thanking me for it!

I've only ever tried one other foot cream before, if I'm remembering it correctly. It was some pink lotion that smelled like peppermint that my mom got in the drugstore. Did I mention this was also probably around a decade ago? Imagine the state of my feet! Actually, don't...

This product is really quite lovely. It doesn't absorb as quickly as the hand cream does and is a bit oilier as well, which means you can't be walking around right after you apply it (I usually will put on socks). But it's kept my feet feeling so smooth and soft that it's really such a joy to apply it at night and not the usual hassle I thought it to be. The application of this product as well as the hand cream (and some cuticle butter, too) is a routine I look forward to at night.

Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream

Now this here is the other half of my "number one love tie." It's 200 mL of shea buttery gloriousness. The moment I put it on, I was in heaven!

Again, it's pretty pricey ($48 CAD), but like the hand cream, a little bit goes a long way and I see this lasting me a while. And unless you're over 6 feet tall and have a larger surface area to cover, I don't see you needing to purchase this more than once a year either.

It's absorbs quickly without compromising any of the moisturizing properties. It keeps my skin feeling silky, smooth, and supple. Also, like the hand & foot creams, it smells lovely; you definitely smell the shea butter in these products and it's a smell I particularly like. Speaking of the scent, another thing I love about this product is that the scent lingers. Catching a whiff of it when you're out and about is always a pleasure.

Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Verbena

I could not believe how big this soap was. In fact, it can kind of be a challenge holding it when wet, especially if you have smallish hands like me. But don't let that stop you, because a) it's so good, and b) you can always cut it into two smaller, more manageable pieces.

Like the name suggests, it's a gentle soap that feels super creamy but also lathers well. Not sure what Verbena is but I'm guessing it has something to with citrus because it smells very much like lemon. I don't normally go for citrusy scents, but this one is rather pleasant because it's pretty mild. It's a pleasure to use in the mornings too because the lemony scent really wakes you up!

It's creamy consistency keeps the skin feeling like it hasn't been stripped of moisture. I don't suffer too much from dry skin on my body and I'm sure this soap will be enough to keep my skin feeling a bit moisturized. The verbena soap has been a surprise & a revelation and I'm really enjoying using it at the moment.

Mini Pure Shea Butter

This little 8mL tin is genius! It's great to put in your purse for those times when you need a bit of extra moisture. Especially now that it's winter and we're going to be experiencing some below 0 weather and snow soon, this will really come in handy when my skin is feeling a bit raw.

It's pure shea butter so you really don't need a lot and you can apply it anywhere it needs to go. So far I've been applying it to my elbows and it's done a fabulous job! 

Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick

And now we've come to the product that hasn't completely won my heart over. Don't get me wrong, it does its job keeping my lips moisturized, not to mention it smells delicious (like cotton candy), but the waxy texture makes it a bit difficult to apply and I'm not fond of feeling the waxiness on my lips. I can't stop using it, though; it really smells that good!

The Verdict

I can honestly say, that I can recommend every single item from this gift set enthusiastically (the lip balm less so). They all smell gorgeous and work so incredibly well, I wonder how I've gone so long without using them before! And now I can't imagine living my life without them (wow, so melodramatic).

But if you find the prices a bit too steep and want to budget yourself to only a few products, then I highly recommend the Ultra Rich Body Cream and the Hand Cream. They are my absolute favourites and I'm sure you will love them, too!

Have you tried L'Occitane products before?