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?

A Mother-Daughter Date At Skoah (AKA. My First Facial)

I've passed by the skoah. location in Metrotown many times and have always been intrigued by it. I told myself numerous times that I would one day treat myself to a facial there. Well, my dears, the time has come! I wanted to surprise my mom with a facial for Mother's Day (which didn't turn out to be much of a surprise, because I had to make sure she would even want to have one), so I figured I would treat myself to one as well.

I chose to go with the Facialiscious, which is probably the most relaxing and most indulgent facial skoah. has to offer. For my mom, I chose the Power Hour, since it seemed to be the choice she would most likely go for (she didn't want to have lots of massage done). Here's what skoah. has to say about these two facials:

Facialiscious - Faint of heart, beware; this workout is pure pleasure. The best part... It's all about you. This facial is personalized by your skincare trainer. Dry skin, oily skin, redness, puffy eyes, acne? We can handle it. So can you. This skoah. classic includes deep cleansing, exfoliating, delicate extractions, detoxifying, stimulating masques, and our trademark soothing massage.

Power Hour - In under an hour, you'll enjoy muscle melting massage while powerful masks get your skin in shape. This full facial also includes extra attention to your peepers and pout - great for smoothing our your signs of wisdom.

skoah. locations are set up like stores; they have a front desk and products displayed throughout the front of the store. Unlike a traditional spa, which would have a sitting area for guests as they wait for their appointment. 

My mom and I went to the South Granville location because there are lots of cute little boutiques in that area for us to check out after our facial... As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by my skincare trainer, Kim. Before I get to the actual facial, I have to talk about the staff at skoah. Kim and Stefanie (my mom's skincare trainer) were both absolutely lovely and really took care of my mom and I. In fact, more than the facial itself, my mom found that the best thing about the entire experience was how Stefanie treated her. The thought of having a complete stranger touching you can be slightly awkward, but both Kim and Stefanie had very gentle hands. My mom and I both felt absolutely comfortable and relaxed with them.

The room was dimly lit and had soothing music playing softly. The bed was also very comfortable and heated, so I stayed warm even though I was only in my underwear.

There were three different massages incorporated into the facial, which were done while certain products were left to do their work on the skin: a foot/leg massage, a neck/shoulders/arms/hands massage, and a scalp massage. I'm not really one to get massages done, but this was absolutely divine! I definitely have to start getting more of them! For the massage, Kim used the Sweet Love Kream, which smelled like cinnamon and vanilla. Now, if you know me, you know I love the scent of vanilla, so I was in absolute heaven during those massages.






























Each product Kim used smelled so lovely; they never smelled harsh or overly synthetic, and none of them gave me a reaction. A cleanser, toner, exfoliating mask, serum, eye cream, two masks (one to calm down my skin after the exfoliation and another to hydrate the skin), lip balm, and two moisturizers were used for me. Kim based her choices on the concerns I enumerated to her at the beginning of our session and I was very pleased with the end result.

My skin looked more even, felt really hydrated (though not greasy at all), felt really soft and smooth, and just looked so much better overall. Because the products are not harsh in the least, I walked out of skoah. with absolutely no redness or irritation on my skin. I also felt incredibly relaxed and ready to spend the rest of the day hanging out with my mom (which is so stressful!).

I was also given a complimentary body wash and I decided to purchase the aha mask Kim used on me during the facial. She recommended using an aha mask instead of a physical exfoliant because I have some sensitivity on my cheeks (which I completely forgot to tell her about, but she could tell after using the exfoliating mask on me).

Something else that impressed me about skoah.'s products is that they're a combination of plant based and active ingredients (99% of their face and body products have an 11-plant blend) and are made in small batches that are made locally in Vancouver to make sure that they're very fresh.

I really cannot rave enough about my experience at skoah. (I've actually convinced Winnie to go for a facial herself)! Everything about the session was absolutely lovely; from the staff to the products, from the massages to the end result. And skoah. has many types of facials available. If you're looking for something quick or something indulgent, they've got a facial for you. They have locations all over the lower mainland, some in North Vancouver, some in Calgary, and one in Boston. So if you're in any of those areas, be sure to step in for a facial. You won't regret it!

Have you ever treated yourself to a facial?

NOTW - Glitter And Hot Pink Tips

I was debating whether or not I wanted to do a blog post about this... The nail stuff is kinda taking over at the moment and my girl Winnie is entirely to blame (if you haven't seen her blog, check it out!). Seeing her designs always sparks my imagination. And while I'm nowhere near her level, I certainly enjoy the the whole process.

Anyway, I actually really like this one, so I figured I'll share it with you all.

When I started doing my nails on Friday night (I know, I'm wild!), I knew only two things: 1) I wanted to use the new glitter nail polish I got, and 2) I wanted to use french manicure tape. So I started off using a peach shade for the tips and then layering the glitter nail polish on the top...

(Apologies for the crap photo. This was just something I sent to Winnie over Whatsapp late at night.)

As you can see, it's no bueno. The peach did not stand out as much as I wanted it to and the glitter over the peach doesn't look so good. So I took that off and started over. 

Products used:

butter LONDON - Horse Power Nail Fertilizer

Sinful Colors - Cream Pink

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear - 180 Disco Ball

I ended up layering the Sally Hansen glitter nail polish over Horse Power, which I used as a base. Then I placed french manicure tape on my nails and painted the tips with Cream Pink, which is actually more like a neon pink. It's quite bright! A layer of Seche Vite later, and my nails were done!

Hope you like, lovelies!

NEW Fragances From Givenchy and Fendi - Perfect For Summer!

(Sneaky stippling brush photobombing my shot! >.<)

Ahh, Summer!

When I think of Summer, I think of a yellow haze from the sun, a cool breeze, driving with the top down, flowy dresses, et cetera, et cetera...

But the reality of Summer for me is sweat, feeling gross and overheated, getting blinded by the sun (because I don't have prescription sunglasses), uncomfortable or unflattering shorts, et cetera, et cetera... Oh, and I don't own a convertible, either.

That said... I may not be able to do anything about such things, but with these new fragrances from Givenchy and Fendi, I can at least guarantee that I'll smell better!

Fan di Fendi by Fendi

Fan di Fendi is the new fragrance created by Delphine Lebeau-Krowiak and François Demachy with top notes of pear green tea accord, blackurrant, calabrian tangerine, and lemon petit grain; heart notes of jasmine, tuberose, and rose; and finally, base notes of patchouli and leather.

First of all, the bottle. The bottle. It's simple, sophisticated, slightly architectural, and looks fabulous on the vanity. I love it!

Now on to the important part, the scent. Fan di Fendi definitely comes across as fruity at first, but the longer you wear it, the more the floral notes come through. I would definitely describe it as more of a nighttime scent, something to wear while out on the town with girlfriends (or your significant other, if you please). If I want to visualize this scent, I see leather, sequins, a dark smoky eye, and messy hair.

Fan di Fendi is also what I like to call, a "sharp" scent. Sometimes, when I smell a certain fragrance, the scent hits my nose in a particular spot (perhaps the sinuses?) and creates a slightly uncomfortable sensation. In some cases, this results in a headache or dizziness. In Fan di Fendi's case, it doesn't get quite that bad, but it definitely smells sharp to me. Though the good thing is, the scent rounds out throughout the day and takes on a muskier depth, which I love.

Unfortunately, this fragrance becomes undetectable on me by around 4 hours. Still a good amount of time, but I still wish it would stick around longer. That said, there have been times when I can no longer smell my perfume and yet people have mentioned that I smell good. So perhaps despite the fact that I can't smell it, others still can.

Fan Di Fendi is now available at The Bay and will be available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores by May 6th. It retails for $77 CAD for 50mL and $92 CAD for 75mL.

Very Irrésistible Givenchy Electric Rose 

First of all, how awesome is the name Givenchy? It just sounds über sophisticated and glamorous, no? I feel so much chicer just saying it! Givenchy, Givenchy, Givenchy...

Right...

About Electric Rose - it is a new twist to Givenchy's Very Irrésistible range and I love it! It has top notes of lemon zest, blueberry, and a basil-verbena twist; heart notes of anise rose and tender green violet, and base notes of cedar wood and musk. It's a fresh, floral scent that never feel sharp and is very comfortable to smell straight out of the bottle. It's feminine, but not cloying, and it has a bit of a powdery scent that makes it very soft and light. I really love wearing Electric Rose in the daytime and the scent brings to mind images of eyelet, lace, a high bun, and hot pink lips.

I'm not a big fan of the bottle, though. To be honest, the rose detailing reminds me slightly of something I would find on an Ed Hardy shirt. But I do love the white, silver, and pink colour palette. Oh! There's also a kickass music video that goes along with the Electric Rose campaign. Check it out:

Liv Tyler will forever be one of the coolest women in Hollywood.

It's funny how the styling and imagery in this video is completely opposite of what I visualize when I smell Electric Rose. It just goes to show you how we all, in our uniqueness, can interpret things so differently from one another.

Electric Rose is definitely my favourite scent of the two.

Very Irrésistible Givenchy Electric Rose is now available at The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Sephora. It retails for $68 CAD for 50mL and $80 CAD for 75mL.

What fragrances do you love for Summer?

*Disclaimer: This product was a PR sample sent for review consideration. 

Monthly Favourites - April 2012

We are now one step closer to Summer and I'm not dreading it as I normally do. Highly unusual, I must say!

I'm kind of getting back into the groove of makeup classes and blogging again, which I'm really happy about. Classes have been going great (I'm in Evening and Bridal right now, for those who don't know), though I definitely need more practice. It's times like these I wish I lived close to my Bandits, so I can practice on their gorgeous faces!

Anyhoo, enough with the waffling! Here are my favourite products from the month of April...

Burberry For Women Eau De Parfum

This fragrance is probably my very first "big girl" perfume and it's had a special place in my semi-fickle heart ever since. I go through a lot of difference phases, like most women do, but Burberry For Women is one of the few perfumes I own that I will consistently repurchase. This month, I rediscovered why I love it so much. It's party fruity, part musky, and a whole lotta loveliness. I also get a lot of compliments whenever I wear this perfume, which is always a good thing.

Revlon Nail Polish in Chic, Timeless, and Fashionista

I've used these three nail polishes to create a somewhat ombré design, which I posted about here, and I was absolutely in love with it. Revlon nail polishes are among my favourites, not only because of the price, but also because of the quality. They apply smoothly, evenly, and only require a few coats to achieve a nice, opaque finish. Also, Revlon is pretty consistent with dupes, so if I fall in love with a particular shade but am not willing to shell out a lot of money for it (which is most often the case :p), I simply have to wait for Revlon to create something similar.

MAC In Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb and Whisper of Gilt

Having never been much of a fan of highlighters or luminizers, these Skinfinishes have come as a bit of a surprise. They apply so smoothly, they never look grainy, they create the most amazing sheen, and have such a lovely texture. I can't believe I haven't jumped on the highlighting bandwagon until now!

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

If you haven't guessed by the two posts that were the precursor to this one, I have been really getting into nail polish lately... My love for nail polish ebbs and flows, and right now, we love each other a lot. Now, the thing about doing nail art or wearing gorgeous shades is that you find yourself constantly looking at your nails... Which then leads to looking at your cuticles.

Now, if yours are lovely, then there's no trouble. But if yours are as atrocious as mine, then you get all cringey and embarrassed. So, I've started to be more diligent in applying this cuticle cream every night (or nearly every night, at least) and my cuticles are looking much better! I honestly don't know how this stuff works, but after applying it every night for a week or two, my cuticles look clean and well moisturized.

MAC Blush in Lovecloud 

 Lovecloud (released in MAC's recent Très Cheek collection) was a bit of a sleeper hit for me... Originally, I was only interested in Immortal Flower and Modern Mandarin, as they were shades that are not very well represented in my budding blush collection. However, I was really taken by the finish of Lovecloud (all Très Cheek blushes have a satin finish, but out of the three that I own, it is the most prominent in Lovecloud). Lovecloud has been my most worn blush since I've purchased it and my love for it is still going strong!

MAKE UP FOR EVER 24S Blush Brush

This brush came with my makeup kit at school and at first, I wasn't all that impressed. Mainly because I was used to rounder brushes that were incredibly soft to the touch. But as I continued to use this brush, the more I began to love it. The flat shape actually makes applying/blending blushes really effortless and patting more pigmented products a breeze. It took some getting used to, but this has quickly become my absolute favourite blush brush.

Butter London Horse Power Nail Fertilizer and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

As I've mentioned before, I've been really into nail polishes lately. Normally, I don't use a base or a top coat (for shame!), but I've taken to using Horse Power as a base under my nail polish. FYI: it can be used as a base. It's even stated in the back of the bottle under Directions. But silly me decided I'll only use it when I'm not wearing nail polish -_-'. As for Seche Vite... The first time I used it, I remember thinking, "this can't be good for you." It smells very strongly of chemicals and I wasn't in a well ventilated room, so there was this anxiety of getting a headache, or worse. (#SayNoToHuffing!)

That said, I've started using Horse Power as a base coat and Seche Vite as a top coat and mother of pearl, does it ever make a difference in my manicure! Horse Power really grabs onto the nail polish and I find I can apply a second coat even quicker with it than without. And Seche Vite is definitely an appropriate name for this top coat because it definitely dries my manicure fast; and you all know waiting for the polish to dry is my weakness! This combination really makes my manicure looking pristine quicker and for longer, which has been amazing when you're constantly washing your hands/dishes/brushes, etc.


Welcome call it beauty. (back) to Facebook!

For those of you who may not know, I created a Facebook page for the blog a while back but didn't really feel that it served much of a purpose. Well, I've kind of changed my mind and decided to get back into it.

<tangent> Oddly enough, I had deleted my account on FB, and I was notified that my account will still be up for a month before being fully deleted. Well, as I tried to create another page, I was then told by FB that there's already an account connected with that email address. Lo and behold, there my page still was. Not deleted by Facebook... That's kind of creepy. </tangent>

So now that call it beauty.: is officially on Facebook (again), I would really love it if you guys took the time to "Like" my page. I promise to be more active on there, so please feel free to join me!

Happy May, lovelies!

NOTW - Mottled Sunset With Nails Inc. And Maybelline New York

Two nail posts in a row? What's that about?

So here's the thing: I'm kind of in love with Chanel June... However, it is approximately (or maybe exactly?) $30 CAD. $30 CAD!!! That's ridiculous, yo! For $30, that nail polish better sing me a song, too!

All kidding aside, I've been patiently searching for a dupe for this gorgeous shade and I think I may have finally found it. Granted, I've never tried Chanel June, so I can't say for certain if it's similar enough. But, it's still the same colour I've been wanting to get for ages (and by ages, I mean months): a pastel, peach-melon type of shade.

Ladies and ladies, I introduce you all to Wellington Square, by Nails Inc. Nails Inc. has been available in North America close to a year, but I've only really remember seeing them in Canadian Sephoras this week. I'm not sure if it's only made its way to Canada now or if I'm just late to the game (the latter being the more likely of the two). Anyway, when I saw Wellington Square, I knew I had to have it. And at $11.50 CAD, it is more in line with how much I am willing to spend on nail polish.

Now, because I've become obsessed with using a sponge to apply nail polish, I've decided to use another shade (Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Tulip Tango) to create a mottled effect that reminded me very much of a sunset. Tulip Tango is a gorgeous, pinky-coral shade that is absolutely perfect for summer; and at $5.99 CAD each, you can't really go wrong, can you?

And here is the finished, "Mottled Sunset" look. I love how subtly the two shades blend together; as opposed to my previous post, which had a more drastic colour change. I decided to do the mottled effect on only two nails (on both hands, of course), just because I can. <insert-emoticon-with-smug-smile-and-sunglasses>

Also, I used Butter London's Horse Power Nail Fertilizer as my base and Seche Vite as my top coat. Both of which make for a kick-ass manicure combo. But more on that in my April Favourites post...

Anyhoo, hope you guys like this rather simple NOTW/Nail Art-thingy! Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

What is your favourite peach/melon nail polish?

Dani Attempts Nail Art And Isn't Half Bad At It!

That said, this is probably one of the simplest designs one can do on oneself and seeing as it's not meant to be neat in the slightest, it's pretty much fool-proof! Or Dani-proof, whichever you prefer.

For this Blue Ombré design, I used three Revlon nail polishes: 310 Timeless (a pale, grey-blue), 480 Chic (a slate-blue), and 471 Fashionista (a deep, peacock-blue); all of which I purchased last night. I'm not normally one to buy multiple nail polishes at once, but caman! Look how gorgeous these three are!

When I got home, I immediately sent Winnie a photo so she can squee over the loveliness with me. Good times were had by all, yo!

*I don't know where I'm going with this. All I know is that I'm dead tired.


**Don't ask me why I decided to blog instead of sleep.

I'm sure you all know the mechanics of an ombré nail design. But for the few of you who quite possibly don't know how this works, here's a quick recap:

Step 1: I applied Timeless from the base of my nails to around the centre area.

Step 2: Using a cosmetic sponge, I applied Chic on top of Timeless with a patting motion, making sure to leave a good amount of Timeless still showing.

Step 3: With a clean area of the same sponge, I dotted Fashionista along the top third of my nail. Then, I applied the same shade with the nail polish brush along the tips for a more opaque layer.

Step 4: Wait a few minutes, then apply top coat (I used Seche Vite).

Et voilà! Ombré nails!

I'm actually quite proud of myself! I didn't even have to re-do any of the nails, which is an absolute first for me. So you should all be proud of me, too :p.

I'm just kidding! You all probably think I'm ridiculous, and you're right, I totally am! :D

What's your favourite fool-proof nail art design?