Archives July 2022

I nearly renamed this identify to “Tool Time Tag” – any individual keep in mind the show house Improvement?  I was identified for this very first by Joy, as well as then by Shareen.  Thank you!

Rules:
• identify as much as 5 people & let them understand you identified them.
• listing what you want. If you got three things that are amazing or twenty… Don’t care, just share.
• Cannot be actual makeup, skin care, or hair care products – just the tools/gadgets you use.

You may have gathered that I like appeal tools; at last count, I have 202 eye brushes as well as 126 deal with brushes (I did a clean stock publish a while back here).  I’ll try my finest to listing products that are not discontinued!

MAQuillAGE Eyelash Curler as well as Shishida Seishindo metallic Mascara Comb
I pointed out these 2 products in my Lash Week Curler, Comb, etc. post.  The curler is the best shape for my eyes. as well as the lash comb is important for combing out any type of mascara clumps.  I utilize these 2 products daily.

Anna Sui brow spoolie
Not all spoolies are produced equal! I meant by now it must not be a surprise that I tried a big number of eye brow spoolies? Of all the ones I’ve tried, the Anna Sui is the softest as well as has the fullest bristles.  I may or may not have stocked up on 5 of these when I saw them selling for $4 at Marshalls (vs the routine $11).  Spoolies do have a shelf life considering that the cable holding the bristles will weaken over time, as well as ultimately break at the stem.

Shu Uemura natural clean 10
MAC 217 Blending Brush
Sephora pro crease clean #10
I’ve provided my favourites out of the 3 crucial eye shadow clean shapes that I believe everybody must own: a flat lay down, a fluffy blending, as well as a domed crease.  I utilize the flat clean to pack on colour on the lid, then utilize a fluffy blending to diffuse the colours, then a crease clean to blend the edges.

The Shu Uemura clean picks up product extremely well, as well as it has kept its shape with lots of years of utilize – I have a couple of these.  I don’t requirement to state much about the MAC 217 considering that it’s a cult much-loved – I own just 1 of the genuine thing however about half lots of the dupes ranging from Coastal Scents to Sedona lace to Trish McEvoy.  The Sephora crease clean was a surprise hit – the shape as well as size of this is best for my smaller crease as well as its natural hairs blend out powders extremely well.  Even if you don’t get these precise brushes, these fundamental shapes are important in everyone’s makeup kit.

Body shop Kabuki Brushes (L to R: blusher, foundation, bronzer, slanted)
I started out with the original Nature’s Minerals blusher clean which I discovered in the clearance section for $5. I liked it as well as went back for the larger size (second from left), as well as the slanted kabuki (right). These kabuki brushes are made from synthetic bristles – they’re super soft as well as extremely dense.  They apply my completing powder evenly as well as assists to get rid of any type of foundation streaks or patchiness. The outer 2 sizes are now discontinued as well as they’re my favourite! The bronzer clean is my least much-loved of the lot as it is the least dense.  These brushes laundry clean easily as well as keep their shape well.

Quo* expert blush clean (full & travel size)
I understand the pinnacle of blush brushes is the Suqqu Cheek clean however at £85 (approx $162) it’s ridiculously overpriced. I’m a lot more than delighted with the ultra feathery softness of the Quo expert blush Brushes ($40).  They apply blushes perfectly as well as are one of the softest natural bristle brushes that I own.  They’re rather expensive for a drugstore brand however they rival department store brands in terms of high quality – the very best part is, these brushes go on sale for 40% off on a routine basis.
*Quo is the personal label brand of the primary Canadian medication store, buyers medication Mart.

The travel size (which was part of the “In the Spotlight” holiday set from 2011), oddly, has a larger shaped head than the routine full sized – however they both do wonderfully.  One thing I don’t like about these brushes is the handles – they have a rubbery surface like Nars’ packaging, so they cling onto powder as well as look dingy easily.

Hmm, I just realized I didn’t include any type of nail implements – I might go on as well as on however I’ll stop here.  I’m such a appeal tool junkie!

I Tag:
• Gwenan Carter
• auberginereverie
• speaking about Beauty
• Doves as well as Roses
• appeal Isles

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Lash Curlers, Combs as well as MoreIt may not come as a shock toyou that I’m consumed with lash curlers.  At one point I had no less than 20 of them – I lastly had to provide a bunch away that didn’t fit my eye shape. I’m not right here to suggest a universal eyelash curler that will in shape everyone,…
May 22, 2015In “Beauty”

Back-up deserving ItemsAfter being burned one as well lots of times with discontinued or restricted edition products that I LOVE, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands as well as bought back-ups of specific products for insurance coverage purposes.  Here are some products I have unopened in my stash: Anna Sui Dolly woman Lipstick in…
June 15, 2015In “Beauty”

Travel makeup as well as Skincare: CruisingI’m going on a Mediterranean cruise coming up this week as well as we’ll be gone for 10 days. 😀 I want to pack incredibly light for this trip considering that it’ll be relatively casual, as well as considering that we’re going to warm places, I don’t expect wanting to wear as well much makeup. as well as I’ve just…
September 14, 2016In “Beauty”

starting this Friday, I’ll be on a road trip!  We’ll be heading to northern parts of our province, also known as “cottage country” (don’t let the word “cottage” deceive you, they have multi-million dollar homes that are owned by Hollywood celebs), and then heading to Ottawa.  We’ll be staying mostly at Bed & Breakfasts (B&Bs) which are essentially rooms or a portion of someone’s house. They’re a lot more homey than hotels – and normally the breakfasts (included) are amazing!  We won’t exactly be roughing it, but I will be fairly low-key in terms of clothes and makeup.  I always ask myself 3 questions when packing makeup for a trip:

Do I really need it?

Is it the smallest / a lot of compact item I own of that product category?

Would I be devastated if I lost it or it got broken during the trip?

Keeping these in mind, here is what I’m packing for our 9-day trip.

I usually carry my makeup roll for the cosmetic items and a separate bag for skincare.  The makeup roll was a gwp from Smashbox, and the cute travel bag is from Consonant Skincare.

Skincare:
I know a lot of “what’s in my travel bag” articles feature makeup, but for me, skincare is a lot more important.  I don’t skimp or skip steps on skincare on vacation! That’s why I hoard gwp sizes of my much-loved products so that I can bring them with me when I travel.

• Shiseido The Skincare instant Eye and Lip makeup remover – gwp size
• Vichy Calming Cleansing Micellar option – gwp size
• Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 balancing softener – gwp size
• The face shop THE therapy vital formula emulsion and Secret-Made Anti-Aging cream – gwp sizes – I’ve been trying these for a couple of weeks prior to the trip to make sure my skin gets on with them and so far so good – I’ll be doing a review soon (Pro-tip: avoid trying out new skincare / makeup while on vacation! You never know if it’s going to disagree with your skin.)
• Kiehl’s Midnight recovery Eye cream
• Shiseido Sun protection Eye cream SPF 32 PA+++
• MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ – travel size

• Consonant Skincare The best Sunscreen – picked up the travel size version just for this trip! (shown above with the corresponding full size bottles for scale)
• Consonant Skincare natural Foaming face wash – travel size
• MAC Cleanse Off Oil – I decant from my full sized bottle to the travel size one, which I’m reusing

• Facial cottons: Shiseido Facial Cotton, Delon+ cotton rounds, and Up&Up exfoliating cotton rounds – all the essentials!

Makeup:

I try not to pack liquid foundation on holiday so I rely on powders and creams.

• MAC Matchmaker Concealer in #1 – I will just use generally under eyes, around my nose and on my chin
• Maybelline dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Buff 340
• Shiseido Sun protection Compact foundation SPF35 in SP30 – this powder has light coverage and supplies added sun protection, it’s a bit orange on me but on holiday I don’t mind the “bronzed” look.  I’ll also use this as my transition eye shadow shade to blend
• Marcelle BB Cream-to-Powder Compact in Light to medium – I debated whether to bring this or not but it’s a 4g travel size so it’s tiny, and it’s a terrific no-makeup makeup that can be applied with just my fingers

• NYX Power blush in Angel – it was tough to narrow down which blush to bring but I wanted something understated and Angel is absolutely that
• Clinique Chubby Stick shadow Tint For Eyes in 04 Ample Amber – this will be my shadow base or I can wear it alone
• Lancôme color design Eye shadow in impress – best bronze shade for a single colour eye look
• CoverGirl LashBlast volume Blasting Mascara

• Make Up forever Aqua Eyes pencil in 24L Taupe – I found this pencil sharpener topper in a stationary shop and it’s perfect to bring, in case I need to sharpen the pencils while on vacation.
• Shu Uemura H9 hard Brow Pencil in seal Brown
• Not shown: Dr. Hauschka Lip care Stick

Brushes and accessories:

• bdellium tools #755 Smudger, #776T Blending and #964T AP Blusher brushes – these have shorter handles and are part of the Travel Mineral 10pc. brush Set
• The Body shop kabuki – you know I love my kabukis!  This has its own little carrying case.
• Shishida Seishindo metallic Mascara Comb
• Travel eyelash curler – I don’t know what random brand this is, the label has mostly rubbed off but it’s my much-loved for travel
• Anna Sui Eye-brow brush 1 (brow spoolie)

Hair & Body:

• Curl Keeper original – decanted this into a travel-size bottle (full size shown in photo for scale)
• Tresemme Tres two Ultra fine mist hair spray – travel size can
• COLAB extreme volume dry Shampoo in London – travel size can
• various shampoo, shower gel, body lotion – these are from other hotel stays which I’ll be re-purposing for our B&B stays. I’m not sure if the B&Bs will supply toiletries like normal hotels do (I think they will?), but just in case.  I highly doubt these little bottles will last us the full trip but we’ll be staying in aproper hotel in Ottawa so we must be ok.
• Not shown: deodorant and a sample size of Chloe perfume

What do you pack in your travel makeup bag?

Since we’ll be on the road for quite a bit – we’re thinking of downloading some Podcasts to listen to – are there any that you would recommend?

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Travel makeup and Skincare: CruisingI’m going on a Mediterranean cruise coming up this week and we’ll be gone for 10 days. 😀 I want to pack incredibly light for this trip considering that it’ll be fairly casual, and considering that we’re going to warm places, I don’t anticipate wanting to wear too much makeup. and I’ve just…
September 14, 2016In “Beauty”

Japanese makeup Shopping: My ExperiencesToday I’ll go over some of my observations and experiences in shopping for makeup in Japan. hopefully this will help someone out there who might be taking a trip to Japan. first thing. There are SO. MANY. BRANDS. It’s overwhelming! In an average Canadian drugstore, there may be about 8 key…
June 20, 2016In “Beauty”

What I’m Bringing to Japan (Travel Skincare)While I tend to pack light for my makeup, I don’t skim when it pertains to skincare when I travel.  I am fastidious in my skincare routine and I still maintain separate products for day and night time. This is why it’s crucial for me to hoard travel sizes of my…
May 18, 2016In “Beauty”

This is a popular Youtube topic and I can understand why.  MAC is a very easily accessible line that is a bit of a “gateway” makeup brand for lots of people, myself included.  MAC uses high quality cosmetics in a large variety of colours and finishes, at a affordable price point (compared to department store or Sephora brands).  My makeup collection began with essentials from MAC, including lots of their eye shadows.  I now own 89 MAC eye shadow shades, which is roughly 15% of my total eye shadow collection.

These are my top 10 MAC eye shadows – regrettably I can’t guarantee that all of these are in the permanent collection (in fact, one shade was in their permanent collection but now discontinued!)  Note that these are only MAC’s powder eye shadows, I will do a separate post on Paints / paint Pots and Pigments.

Satin Taupe* (frost) – permanent

Patina* (frost) – permanent

Wedge (matte) – permanent

Romp* (frost) – permanent (discontinued in 2012)

Stolen Moment* (Extra Dimension) – limited edition (LE)

Twinks (Veluxe Pearl) – permanent

Style Snob (Starflash) – LE

All That Glitters (Veluxe Pearl) – permanent

Smoke & diamonds (Starflash) – LE

Vex (frost) – permanent

They’re roughly in the buy of my preference and usage – the ones with the asterisk indicate I own a back-up of them.

I purchase a lot of of my MAC eye shadows in the refill pans – the ones in the individual packaging are normally from limited edition collections (I dispute back and forth whether I must depot them or not).  Below are swatches of each and a lot more in-depth descriptions.

L to R: Satin Taupe, Patina, Wedge, Romp, Stolen Moments
Satin Taupe (frost) – MAC describes this as: Taupe with silver shimmer
This makes creating definition on my eyes a breeze, with just this one single shade. Satin Taupe is the taupe that I gauge all other taupes against.  It tops not only my MAC eye shadow list, but my much-loved shade of all of my eye shadows. That’s a bold statement when one owns a lot more than 600 eye shadow shades!

Patina (frost) – MAC says: Taupe brown with golden pearl
It’s a sandy brown with a touch of tarnished sheen – looks odd in the pan but it adds depth to an otherwise basic eye look. I take pleasure in wearing this on casual days or if I’m doing stronger lips or cheeks. This was one of the first MAC eye shadows I ever gotten (along with Jest and Vex) so it has a special place in my heart.

Wedge (matte) – MAC says: Soft muted beige taupe
Out of all of the shades provided here, this is the one I use a lot of frequently, as it is a good basic transition colour for just about any eye look.  It’s not extremely special but it’s highly blendable and the colour is neither too warm or too cool.

Romp (frost) – MAC says: chocolate laced with gold
This was recommended on Makeupalley as a good bronze shade without an orange undertone, and that’s exactly why I like this shade so much. I know Woodwinked is on a lot of favourites lists but it’s too warm on me. When I learned that MAC had discontinued Romp, I was quite distraught and tried to find dupes, but to no avail (it is NOT the same as MAC tempting or Bronze!)  In the end, I was able to find a respectable seller on ebay and acquired a back-up that way.

Stolen Moment (Extra Dimension) – LE
The extra dimension finish is a limited edition-only finish; MAC describes the formula as a “liquid-powder hybrid, delivering high-resolution colour and prismatic reflections.” It’s a buttery formula that lasts very well through the day.  This shade is a variation on Satin Taupe – it’s a bit deeper and cooler and has a little a lot more reflective particles.

L to R: Twinks, style Snob, All That Glitters, Smoke & Diamonds, Vex
Twinks (Veluxe Pearl) – MAC says: Deep plum with pearl
Veluxe Pearl is my absolute much-loved finish from MAC – all the shadows in this formula are buttery, pigmented, and blendable. I wish MAC would expand their Veluxe Pearl range.  Twinks is a rich chocolaty plum that pairs well with just about any light shade.

Style Snob (Starflash) – LE
This was from the “Love That Look” collection in 2009, and it is essentially a lighter version of Satin Taupe in a smooth and high shimmer limited edition formula called Starflash. MAC only ever released the Starflash finish once even though it’s a wonderful formula – I only own 2 Starflash eye shadows and they are both on this list. I do kick myself for not having gotten a lot more shades – if MAC ever makes a decision to re-release this formula, you can be sure that I’ll be grabbing more! I would say the most similar formula to Starflash from MAC’s permanent collection is Veluxe Pearl.

All That Glitters (Veluxe Pearl) – MAC says: beige with gold pearl
This has a peachy beige undertone that makes it a lot more wearable for me than Jest, which was too white and frosty.  This pairs well with browns and bronzey shades – from my top 10 list, this goes amazingly with Twinks or Romp.  In normal VeluxePearl quality, this is smooth, pigmented and blends easily.

Smoke & diamonds (Starflash) – LE
This is a highly sought after shade by those who missed out when it was released – there are lots of articles trying to find possible dupes (people claim Stila’s diamond Lil is a dupe but I disagree, I own that too and while it’s close, it’s deeper and more green compared to this). Smoke & diamonds is a gunmetal shade with a hint of warmth thrown in – it makes a wonderful single colour eye shadow look with a shimmery flash.

Vex (frost) – MAC says: beige with pink / green pearl
This is one of those colours that look boring and somewhat awful in the pan but it’s a neat shade that can transform other colours it’s paired with. It has a duochrome finish, flashing light pink or green sheen depending on the angle. It looks stunning on top of dark bases.

You may have observed that my top 10 MAC eye shadows are all neutral shades – they’re just the most versatile and beneficial shades for just about everyone.  It’s no surprise that on MAC’s site, they list their bestsellers as follows:

Yup, all neutrals. Out of this list, I own: All That Glitters, Satin Taupe, Woodwinked, and Ricepaper.
One last look at my top 10 MAC eye shadows, all together:

I gotten these directly from MAC stores, over lots of years – the oldest ones here are Vex and Patina – you can see the labels on those are a bit different than the rest.

Bonus:
If I was forced to choose only current permanent shades, indicating I would remove 4 from my list (1 discontinued and 3 LE), then I would swap in:
Grain (satin) – golden beige with icy shimmer
Charcoal brown (matte) – Muted taupe brown
Sable (velvet) – golden plum with bronze pearl
Copperplate (matte²) – muted mid-tone grey
(Yup, still all neutrals.)

What are your top MAC eye shadows?

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The Eye shadow TagImmediately after I did The Lipstick Tag, I thought – hey, why isn’t there an Eye shadow Tag?  I’m not really a lipstick girl, but I love me some eye shadows!  I’ve seen a best palette identify on YouTube but I’m not really a palette gal either, so I decided…
May 28, 2015In “Beauty”

MAC extra dimension Eyeshadow will be PERMANENT!I just saw on Allura appeal that MAC is making the extra dimension Eyeshadows permanent!  You may recall from my top 10 MAC eye shadows post that I love this formula and one of the shades in my top 10 is an extra dimension formula. I won’t regurgitate Allura Beauty’s…
April 28, 2015In “Beauty”

My MAC extra dimension collectionI pointed out a while back that I love the then still limited edition MAC extra dimension finish, and I was incredibly ecstatic when it was announced that they were making it permanent.  Today, I’ll swatch my collection of extra dimension items, which include eye shadows, and blushers and a bronzer:…
August 10, 2015In “Beauty”

Bold, bright summer lips by Chanel
I’ve been affectionately calling summery shades like these my “popsicle lipsticks” because they’re juicy, shiny and absolutely delicious…in the figurative sense, of course! You probably won’t find me nibbling these tubes when I’m feeling peckish, haha!

Side note: I think I may have just invented something!

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Are you ready for it? here goes: ice cream that looks like lipstick. ?? Boom. Wouldn’t that be cool? I’d be all over it. MAKE IT HAPPEN, TRADER JOE’S.

Anywho, I’m revisiting my Chanel lipsticks, and these three are in Chanel’s permanent collection. I think they’re all perfect brights for summer.

Rouge allure velvet in 43 La favorite ($40), a reddish coral with a matte finish that has a touch of luminosity, represents something I think Chanel does extremely well: finish. This lippie has je ne sais quoi, and you can build it up or sheer it out. Of course, both ways are super pretty.

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Rouge Coco in 472 Experimental ($40) is a warm red with a touch of orange, and it reminds me that I’m a big fan of the Rouge Coco line because of how moisturizing the lippies are. My dry lips greatly appreciate that.

Rouge allure in 172 Rouge Rebelle ($40) is a bright neutral red with a satin finish, and it works particularly well with warm brown eyeshadow!

I’m on a Chanel kick, as you can see.
Hello, swatches!
Rouge Coco in 472 Experimental
Rouge allure in 172 Rouge Rebelle
Rouge allure velvet in 43 La Favorite
Additional makeup worn in this look

BASE: Avene Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense tinted Sunscreen SPF 50+, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in 50 Dore, Chanel Le Corrector de Chanel Concealer in 40 Beige, hourglass Veil Retouching fluid in Sand

CHEEKS: Chanel Fleurs de Printemps blush and Highlighter Duo, Chanel Le Blanc Rosy Light Drops

EYES: Chanel healthy glow natural palette in Medium, Chanel Stylo Ombre et Contour Eyeshadow-Liner-Kohl in electric Brown, Chanel Hyperblack Liner, Chanel boy Brow Pencil in Black

It’s a Cruel Summer.

No, I’m not talking about the Bananarama song… ?

Is it just me, or can these girls only barely sing?

I just started watching this young adult-ish mystery show called Cruel Summer, and I blame it for my lack of sleep last night!

It’s about two girls whose lives become intertwined after one gets kidnapped.

The episodes bounce back and forth between 1993, 1994 and 1995, and I’m having all sorts of nostalgia for my ’90s-era wardrobe. I wish I hung on to my oversized overalls, striped knit shirts, baggy Levis and floral dresses, le sigh!

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Also, the suspense is keeping me up at night. note to self: go to sleep early THIS EVENING. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you start marathoning it on Hulu (that’s where I found it).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I visited RINSE appeal Bar this past Wednesday for a Paradise Manicure, which was the prize I won from cat of MyLipstickAddition! I took the day off to meet up with a friend for lunch and made a decision to get some pampering too.

It was quiet and kicking back considering that it was just Julie (the charming and friendly nail technician) and myself at the beauty parlor during my visit.  As cat pointed out on her post about her experience at RINSE, this beauty parlor features natural appeal products – even all of their nail polishes are 5-free, cruelty complimentary and vegan.  I really appreciate the fact that everything they used not only looked good, it was good for me as well.

It wasn’t a normal manicure in a number of ways: they take sanitization seriously here – first, by spraying disinfectant onto my hands before any services began.  All the instruments were sealed in individual pouches that were put through the autoclave.  An aromatherapy mist by Sparitual was then sprayed into the air – a calming jasmine scent that I loved. *inhales deeply*

The manicure began: shaping the nails (I’m incredibly pleased with the way my nails were shaped into a elegant squoval shape), cuticle cleanup and then the best part: a scrub!  RINSE features a line of Canadian natural skincare called Koya which I was quite enamoured by – the “Sugah Sugah” scrub was used from my forearm to my hands to supply a gentle exfoliation. My arms were then wrapped in hot towels to clean off the scrub – it was pure bliss!

The polish applied was from the Bio Seaweed UV Gel polish range, and after a bit of indecisiveness (too much choice is often a hazardous thing!) I finally chose the shade called Champagne. Julie assisted me decide on the colour – I had initially toyed with getting a beige creme shade that blended into my skin tone (surprise!) but I’m enjoying this lavender-rose silvery shimmer shade – a bit bling-y but joyful for the holidays.  This polish will last on my nails for at least 2 weeks.

The final step to the RINSE Paradise Manicure was a massage using Koya’s Butter Up! body cream, which smelled like a tropical dream (cocoa, shea, mango). I lied earlier, this is the best part of the manicure: I may have moaned a little as my hands and arms were being massaged. You may recall that I’m a knitter and getting a hand massage is such a special treat!

Of course I couldn’t leave the beauty parlor without getting something and I couldn’t resist the Koya products, so the Butter Up! body cream and beach Babe body scrub (smells like pina colada!) came home with me.

In total, the manicure lasted 45 pampering minutes. RINSE appeal Bar is a full service beauty parlor using hair blowouts, manicures / pedicures, hair removal, facials, and body treatments – all with a focus on natural products.  I’m absolutely interested in trying a facial there someday – I really take pleasure in the approach behind the limited use of chemicals in their treatments.   Thank you RINSE and cat for the terrific experience!  I highly recommend this gem in the west end of the city!

Please note: I won this manicure through a giveaway, and I bought the body butter and scrub with my own money.  This is not a sponsored post.

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How I Do My ManicuresI realized recently that I’ve never discussed how I do my manicures so it’s time to treatment that. I’ll go over the steps I take to prep my nails and show the tools that I use. removal of existing polish I’m rarely without nail polish so the first step I take…
May 15, 2017In “Beauty”

China Glaze shades of nude CollectionIt’s been a while considering that I’ve done a nail post! Today I’m showcasing a collection that was released for spring this year, but I personally think a good nude collection is season-less. 😀 I’ve got 3 of the China Glaze shades of nude Collection to show: • minimalist Momma (sand beige…
September 12, 2017In “Beauty”

Gel polish for vacationA quickie post to show off my freshly painted gel nail polish! The shade I got is called #117 Strawberry Kiss from the brand Bio Seaweed Gel.  I like getting gel nail polish applied at the beauty parlor when I’m going on holiday – I never bring along nail polish or remover…
July 9, 2015In “Beauty”

Last month was a doozy for empties, I have no concept exactly how I went with so much:

Let’s get started!

Full-sized items

Shiseido Refining makeup primer – $35 for 30ml (department stores as well as online)
I did a evaluation of this before as well as it’s my essential deal with primer. I don’t utilize it daily however I do reach for it the most when I do select to wear a primer.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

C.O. Bigelow Lip Balm in Lemon – $7.50 for 3.7g (Bath & Body Works)
I bought this on a whim during a stock up haul of my HG nighttime lip balm. I chosen this up based on exactly how great it smelled in the store. bit did I understand that it would taste so great too! I kept this at my desk as well as it was a nice pick-me-up whenever I want some lemon-y goodness. The lip balm is rather emollient with a great amount of slip, however not as well much shine. At $7.50, it’s a bit on the expensive side for a lip balm though, however BBW usually has a buy 2 get 1 free deal.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Philosophy Purity Made simple Facial Cleanser – $12 for 360ml (Sephora)
I got mine during Sephora’s Black Friday offer so that’s why this was so inexpensive, however routinely it retails for about 3 times what I paid ($44 for 475ml = approx $34 for 360ml). This is a gentle cream cleanser that I utilize in the mornings in the shower –  I like it, however not like it – it’s gentle however I wouldn’t state it’s fantastic for removing eye makeup as well as oil as claimed (I did test it very first to eliminate makeup –  I still prefer oil cleansers) Also, the scent is type of spicy? I don’t understand exactly how to explain it however I’m not a fan. It did the task in the mornings however I would only think about repurchasing if I discover it once again for cheap. This bottle lasted me for ages (~6 months).
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Rimmel gentle Eye comprise cleaner – $8.99 for 125ml (drugstores)
I haven’t mentioned this on the blog before however it’s one of my long time favourite cleaner for non-waterproof eye makeup. I use oil cleansers very first to melt off most of my eye makeup as well as then clean up utilizing this product – it works extremely well for that purpose. The product claims to work on water resistant mascaras as well however it’s just not true! It leaves no soapy residue, is fragrance-free, efficient (save for the water resistant stuff) as well as extremely affordable – I only buy this when it goes on sale for $4 and I always have an unopened bottle in my stash.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Bath & Body works Waikiki Aloe Gel lotion – $15.00 for 166ml (Bath & Body Works)
Best buy of the summer! I got this during the BBW summertime clearance sale for 3 for $15. I loooove this scent – key notes are coconut, sea notes as well as bamboo – I’m somewhat obsessed, actually. I can’t get sufficient as well as I like layering it as well as smelling it on my clothes. This specific product is no longer on BBW’s site however it is offered from Amazon. The formula of this aloe gel lotion is likewise lovely – takes in quickly as well as makes my skin supple. This product made it onto my July favourites. I did stock up on a number of tubes of this.
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: No (gonzo)

Herbacin Kamille Soft Hand cream Unscented – $8.50 for 75ml (drugstores)
This is a German brand which I got as a Christmas gift as part of a set that included body lotion as well as foot cream. The formula was okay – it has a runny structure however thickens as you rub it into the skin – it doesn’t leave the skin as well greasy. however unfortunately, I hated the smell… it’s supposed to be unscented however it smells like dough that’s gone poor or something. I ended up utilizing this up on my feet so it was as far away from my nose as possible.
Stash worthiness: 5/10     Repurchase: No

L’Oreal Natures therapy Scalp relief treatment Shampoo – $12.19 for 355ml (Sally beauty Supply)
Normally I stay away from shampoos that are creamy – I discover they generally evaluate down my hair (there’s nothing scientific about this assumption however I feel that remove shampoos are more clarifying). however this doesn’t evaluate down my hair as well as it’s extremely nourishing for my scalp (and smells like tasty eco-friendly apples). I’m still getting the strange dry patch flare ups around my temple even during the summertime, for some reason.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Curl Keeper – $46 for 1L (salons / online)
I discussed this in my winter hair rescue post, however it’s something I utilize year-round to keep my hair from getting frizzy.  I like that it does not evaluate down my hair, as well as it does not cause develop up.  The 1L bottle lasted me 6 months with almost everyday use. If your hair is curly or wavy, I extremely suggest this – it’s my trick weapon.
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Annabelle Le huge show mascara – $10 for 10ml (drugstores)
This mascara was a clumpy mess, however, when combed out with a metal tooth lash comb, the results were great – full volumized lashes with decent length. And, impressively, it did not smudge on me. However, it was just method as well much work every time to make it look presentable. I still discover Cover woman LashBlast volume to work better, as well as without the clumps.
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: No

Canmake eyebrow liquid in 01 natural brown – 500¥ which approximately converts to $5.30 CAD but I’m sure I paid double that online
This brow marker has such positive evaluations on the internet however I was left disappointed. The colour is great – an ashy brown that looks natural. The application is effortless – if you’re not familiar with brow markers, they’re usually a sheer laundry of colour that’s meant to mimic hair strokes – the impact doesn’t look like you’ve Sharpie’d your brows on. The issue with this brow marker is that the tip gets clogged easily, so after every 5th stroke on my brows, I would have to wipe it on the back of my hand to continue utilizing it. The other problematic problem is that the product cakes as well as flakes off my brows! I utilize a spoolie to clean with my brows to soften the lines as well as as I’m brushing, the product becomes crusty as well as is visibly flaking off. Ugh. Not a great look.
Stash worthiness: 4/10     Repurchase: No

gwp / travel-sized items
This shows all the gwp / travel sized products that I utilized up as well as would not purchase the full size:

• Clarins Body lift Cellulite Smoother – awesome minty tingle does not mean it’s doing anything
• Clarins One step Facial Cleanser – for lazy people, as well as leaves oily residue on the skin
• The deal with shop THE therapy important tonic treatment – wasn’t wow’d sufficient to buy the full size (I did a evaluation of this here)
• Molton brown White Sandalwood Body laundry – I don’t like the scent of sandalwood
• fight it out & Lyle Vitalising Shampoo – ho hum, I took this from a hotel

These gwp / travel sized products I would (and have) purchase the full size:

• ProTerra Honey as well as Vanilla Conditioning Shampoo as well as Moisturizing lotion – these were pilfered from one of the B&Bs we stayed at during our road trip, as well as I absolutely liked both the formulas as well as the scent!  I googled the and it is available on Amazon, however only in little hotel sizes, as well as the business only creates hospitality products.
• Kibio Ki-Crème – unfortunately, this Clarins-owned brand has been discontinued, but I did handle to snag a couple of full sized tubes of this from shoppers while they were clearing it out.  I kept this bit tube in my purse for when I get dryness around my nose – it’s extremely hydrating however not greasy.
• Clinique wetness surge intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator – I got a few of these in gwp bags as well as it got me hooked! I was extremely skeptical about this lightweight gel formula being able to moisturize my skin however it truly works, as well as doesn’t add any type of greasiness.  I have an unopened full size jar waiting to be opened soon!

Have you utilized any type of of these products?

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June 6, 2017In “Beauty”

This is a publish that was inspired by polished as well as Inspired! I had shown 2 lip oils in my last favourites publish as well as she asked of the lip oils that I own, which do I like most. That got me believing – maybe I must do a comparison post! thanks for the blog publish idea!

I own 3 lip oils which will be featured today, provided in the buy in which I obtained them:
• Clarins immediate Light Lip comfort Oil in Honey
• Sephora Collection Oil Infusion color & care in 06 Bubbly Grenadine
• Lancôme Juicy Shaker in Berry in Love

I got thinking about lip oils since I already like facial as well as hair oils – it seemed to be a natural next step for me to get into this trend.

Clarins immediate Light Lip comfort Oil in Honey – C$25 for 7ml

This was my very first lip oil which I got late last year during an optimal points Redemption event. It was like at very first use! It is a thicker formula so it stays on the lips much longer than balms, however it’s not as sticky as gloss would be. as well as I like honey flavoured lip products – the odor of this is extremely natural, not a synthetic honey. Unfortunately, it’s doesn’t taste like honey – which is most likely for the very best or else I’d lick my lips all day.  It features jojoba, hazel as well as sunflower seed oils.

The doe-foot applicator is rather unique, featuring a scoop-like paddle shape that curves to hug the lips. There is no colour tint in this oil, however it leaves a shiny surface to the lips. Of the 3 that I own, this has the shiniest surface as well as is the longest enduring – it would be a fantastic lipstick topper. I must note that when I got this, Clarins only used the Honey flavour, however now they offer Raspberry (pink), as well as Red Berry (red) flavours. I have not really seen these in person however I’ve checked out on the internet that they leave a faint tint on the lips as well as no discoloring properties. This is made in France.

Sephora Collection Oil Infusion color & care in 06 Bubbly Grenadine – C$18 for 5.5ml

I bought this in January considering that I’d checked out evaluations on exactly how this is similar to the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil. as well as just look at that packaging – it appears like a test tube! This is offered in 9 colours ranging from creamy lavender all the method to a deep vampy brown. Bubbly Grenadine is a bright warm pink that supplies a coral tint to my lips.

The applicator is a normal lip gloss doe-foot applicator with a minor slant – although I must mention that the stem of this wand is very long so it’s a bit unwieldy.  This lip oil feels light on the lips as well as is slippery, as the structure is on the thin side.  It contains Kendi oil as well as shea butter, as well as there is no odor or taste. The surface is rather shiny as well as does leave a faint discolor on my lips as it uses away. Out of the 3 lip oils I have, this is the shortest enduring on the lips. It is made in Italy.

Lancôme Juicy Shaker in Berry in like – C$28 for 6.5ml

I got this in a totally unscripted Lancome haul however I don’t regret it one bit!  This lip oil has the widest variety of shades, used in 14 shades. the most unique function is its mixed drink shaker influenced packaging, just exactly how fun is this!  The flocked cone-shaped application is one of the softest, plushest that I’ve felt on a lip applicator – I’m a bit addicted to applying this to my lips.

Do note that this product does separate, in fact, the official name of this lip oil is “Lip Shaker: Pigment Infused Bi-Phase Lip Oil” so it is indicated to do that. It is rather fun to see the pigment clear up to the bottom, nearly like lava lamp. This doesn’t occur swiftly though, in buy for me to get the above shot, I had to wait 3 days after I’d shaken it up, for the pigment to clear up back down!  There are bit metal spheres inside the shaker that assist mix the pigment, similar to nail polish. This lip oil consists of rosehip, peach kernel, cranberry seed, as well as wonderful almond oils.

I discovered this to have the least amount of radiate of the 3 oils, however the very best discoloring properties (of course, the caveat I would add is that it would depend upon the shade you selected – the lighter colours would not have much colour or discoloring on the lips). The Berry in like shade is a cool-tone berry colour with a hidden blue shimmer – the shimmer isn’t evident on the lips however it looks mesmerizing in the shaker.  The wear time of this lip oil is in the middle of the other 2. It smells like raspberries (different colours have different scents) as well as tastes faintly sweet, which indicates I keep licking my lips as well as have to reapply (which I don’t mind – that incredibly soft applicator!) like the Clarins, this is likewise made in France.

Here are swatches of all 3:

The Sephora Grenadine as well as the Lancôme Berry in like look similar on the arm swatch however on my lipsthey are a lot more unique – Grenadine is warm while Berry in like is cool-toned pink. This is evident on white tissue:

Both are fantastic colours for the summer, actually. This is the discoloring left behind after I tissued the swatches off my skin:

So which one is my favourite? I can’t state definitively considering that I utilize as well as suggest all 3, however I would suggest the following:
• select Clarins if you’re trying to find a long enduring nourishing lip treatment in a sleek, purse friendly packaging
• select Sephora if you’re just starting to try lip oils as well as don’t want to spend as well much money
• select Lancôme if you want something novel housed in a fun little shaker and great colour selection

These are all mid- to higher end of the cost spectrum – I’m sure this pattern will trickle down to drugstore brands soon sufficient (I understand Milani came out with some lip oils, however they’re not easily offered in Canada) – say, a Revlon or Maybelline. I wouldn’t be surprised.  Have you jumped onto the lip oil trend?

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January 25, 2017In “Beauty”

as well as in a blink of an eye, February is gone!

Here’s what I utilized up this month.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter – $46 for 226g (Kiehl’s stores as well as online)
I evaluated the Coriander version of this last year where I discussed that I’ll likely get around to opening up this next winter season (ie now) as well as true to my word, I opened this on January 2nd as well as completed it in February!  I have this tub in the restricted edition Craig & Karl style however Kiehl’s offers this scent in their routine line / packaging – the soy milk & honey scent is a extremely soft, comforting smell.  I felt this version of the body butter felt much more hydrating compared to the Coriander one – I question if the components are somewhat different depending upon the scent? It’s extremely extravagant feeling however rather costly as well as only lasted me a bit over a month – I may repurchase as a treat.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

TRESemme 4+4 additional Hold Hairspray  – $8 for 311g (Sally charm Supply)
I’ve only seen this formula at Sally charm supply – it’s different from the routine TRESemme that is sold at drugstores. The scent is lighter as well as the hold is stronger – I utilize this to tame my flyaways. Unfortunately, mine had a wonky nozzle that would get clogged up all the time. I continuously had to run it under warm water to unclog it. I discovered this on clearance for $2 so I purchased 2 cans. I hope the other can doesn’t have the nozzle problem.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Original Cocunut source shower gel – £1.15 for 250ml (Boots, Tesco, Asda, etc)
I got this last year in my UK / Canada switch with Nicola. She had suggested this was one of her preferred products as well as wow, she’s not kidding! It has a amazing authentic coconut scent as well as leaves the skin feeling soft as well as nourished. I’d state the only weakness of this product is that it doesn’t lather a ton. I can’t believe what a bargain this is for UKers. It’s rather costly for me to purchase on the internet though.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Lise Watier sun wise universal UV shield SPF 30 – $39 for 30ml (Shoppers medication Mart as well as Lise Watier online)
At one point, this was my HG sunscreen however I’ve because discovered one I choose much more (the Consonant ideal Sunscreen discussed below). this is still a excellent everyday sunscreen that looks unnoticeable under makeup. It does leave a small white cast however it’s not visible in the winter season months.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Muji sensitive Skin Cleansing Oil – $14.50 for 200ml (Muji stores)
I can’t reject it anymore – this cleansing oil has shot as much as the top of the listing of my preferred cleansing oils! It is effective, gentle, as well as inexpensive. The very first component is olive oil. This bottle lasted me 4 months with nightly utilize – checked out much more about it here.  The only downfall of this product is that it’s not easily offered all over yet. I hope they will open much more stores soon!
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Paula’s option remove routine stamina Anti-Redness exfoliating service With 2% Salicylic Acid – $26 USD for 118ml (Paula’s option online)
I utilize this as a preventative determine for hormonal breakouts so I utilize this for a few nights monthly only. This bottle has lasted me at least a year. The directions states to pour this onto a cotton as well as apply over the deal with however I choose pouring a quarter size onto my palm as well as patting it on. I primarily concentrate this on my t-zone.  With our present conversion, this $26 USD bottle now costs $36 CAD!
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Mary Kay TimeWise Targeted-Action Eye Revitalizer – $45 for 10ml (discontinued)
I utilize this nightly just on my eyelids to keep them from being puffy. I only have one much more of this left in my stash! Panic time!
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: No (Wah!)

C+M Intensive 3 in 1 Eye repair work Serum Roll-on – $5.30 for 10ml (Sasa.com)
And while I’m at it, I’ll get rid of this useless eye serum roll-on. I discovered this on Sasa.com as well as thought, why not, it’s affordable as well as looks decent. It smells strange as well as doesn’t do diddly.  It likewise oddly doesn’t take in into the skin.
Stash worthiness: 2/10     Repurchase: No

Kiehl’s Midnight healing Eye – $42 for 15ml (Kiehl’s stores as well as online)
One of my HG eye creams. It is lightweight however extremely hydrating – my concealer looks excellent on top of this. The most significant thing for me is that it doesn’t cause milia under the eye area. This tube lasted me around 8 months.
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Consonant Skincare bar soap in lavender (Not shown) – $5 each (Consonant Skincare stores as well as online)
This was a good bar soap that was extremely gentle on the skin. The scent is extremely soothing too. It’s a bit on the expensive side as well as the bar lasted me about 2 months.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Rexall brand deal with blotting paper – $4 for 100 sheets (Rexall)
This stuff was essentially like tissue paper… a somewhat thicker, much more premium tissue paper, however still just tissue paper! I normally had to utilize 2 pieces per blot because it was so useless. I did like the black pouch this product came in – I’m going to keep it for other blotting papers.
Stash worthiness: 3/10     Repurchase: No

Tweezerman Folding Lash Comb – $12 each (drugstores)
Weird to see a lash comb in an empties post, heh. I’m not sure if it’s obvious in the picture above, however the teeth of this is falling out. I keep having to push them back in, as well as if I’m not careful, they poke at my eyes. Ouch.  I truly such as this lash comb – it’s the sharpest of any type of that I’ve tried however the teeth are just ever so somewhat farther apart compared to the Shishida Seishindo lash comb that I like a bit more.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

LUSH The sacred reality Fresh deal with Mask – $7.95 for 60g (LUSH stores)
I got this as well as utilized it up all in the month of February. On the label it reads that it was made on February 5th as well as the expiration was February 22nd. I did a evaluation of this here. I got 6 uses out of this pot (I marked the side of the pot with a marker each time I utilized it) which works out to be approx $1.33 per mask, so compared to single-use sheet masks, it’s truly not that expensive. This is my very first rich mask as well as I’m sold! I’ll certainly try more. I’ll be saving this container to be returned to rich in exchange for a totally free deal with mask (need 4 much more containers).
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Anna Sui Lip Balm – $24 for 16g  (Select consumers medication Mart and Hudson’s Bay)
This isn’t just a quite face! This lip balm is one of my all time favourites. It’s a non-waxy, non-sticky, non-glossy balm that truly penetrates as well as hydrates my lips. It has a light increased scent as well as no flavour, and it’s made in Japan.  I keep this best next to my laptop as well as have been utilizing it everyday for the past couple of years. I do have one more pot of this however it’s in the restricted edition Minnie mouse tin so I’m undecided if I ought to utilize it. I assumption I might always keep the tin as a keepsake after I’m done. The most significant drawback to this product is having to dig your finger into the tin.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Dr Hauschka Lip care Stick – $16 for 4.9g (Select consumers medication Mart, Hudson’s Bay, health and wellness food stores)
My HG lipbalm for the purse. This was suggested to me on MakeUpAlley years back as well as I’m so thankful I heeded their recommendation. It’s all natural with essential components of castor oil, increased hip fruit extract, jojoba oil as well as beeswax. I discover it both hydrating (penetrating) as well as protective (occlusive).  It’s a bit expensive however a tube of this lasts me around 6 months. I’ve already opened my new tube of this.
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in 003 Light / medium – $13 for 3.2g (drugstores)
I like this concealer!  It made my top 15 of 2015 list. It’s pigmented without being cakey or dry looking. It has a creamy consistency that makes it ideal for concealing larger areas (I primarily utilize this around my nose as well as on my chin – I’ve tried it under my eyes however it does crease there) – it likewise applies well on top of makeup for touch-ups. The colour match for me is area on. This tube lasted me just over a year as well as I’ve already bought a replacement.
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Sample / travel size

Shiseido Bio-Performance very Corrective Serum – I utilized this under my eyes at night before my eye cream. It’s a good silicone based serum that makes the area smooth as well as plumped up. I have the full size of this.

Consonant Skincare The ideal Sunscreen SPF 30 – This tinted physical sunscreen uses truly well under makeup. I have been utilizing the full size bottle of this because last summertime (read much more here).  One strange thing is that nowhere does it specify the expiry of this sunscreen – I inquired at the store as well as they recommended 1 year from date of opening. I discover that a bit sketchy. I comprehend physical sunscreens are much more steady as well as the vacuum pump maintains the product better, however there ought to still be an expiry indicated.

Klorane Shampoo with Flax Fibre – Klorane was doing a huge promotion of their products a while back as well as I got a few products to sample. I haven’t been amazed with any type of of them. This shampoo is truly typical as well as I didn’t notice the volumizing impacts it claims.

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body lotion –got this from a hotel while on getaway as well as have been bring it in my handbag to utilize as hand cream. It’s good as well as light as well as has a citrus scent. obviously this product isn’t offered in Canada, what gives?

Have you tried any type of of these products? What products have you utilized up lately?

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This product has already been mentioned a couple of times on this blog in its short existence (my best 2014 discoveries and empties January posts) – I figured I should provide a more thorough review to explain why I enjoy this product so much.

NeoStrata Hydra-Infusion 24 hr Hydrating Serum $38 CAD for 30ml (available at shoppers drug Mart and Rexall)
This serum is a lightweight milky gel that I use in the mornings underneath my moisturizer – I use 2-3 pumps to cover my face; 1 dot per cheek and the rest spread over my t-zone where I require less hydration.

On Neostrata’s product page, it lists the formulations in fancy trademarked names:
AMC™ (5%) – a biotechnological ingredient that is up to 4 times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid. It provides immediate and all day intense moisture.
EXO-H™ (3%) – an ex-polysaccharide rich in essential minerals that helps maintain an optional barrier function and improves short term and long term hydration.
LITCHIDERM™ (2%) – a lychee extract that protects skin against environmental aggressions with its with strong antioxidant properties.

The actual ingredient list:

Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl polyacrylate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquaternium-51, 1,3-Propanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimenthicone, Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1-2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Fragrance.

(Phew, I typed that up from the ingredient list on the box – I could NOT find a proper ingredient list anywhere online – you’re welcome!) It should be noted that Glycerin and Butylene Glycol are listed twice on the packaging – I copied it verbatim.

The substantive hydrating ingredients without their trademarked names are:
Glycerin, Urea, Sodium PCA, Trehalose (a polysaccharide), Sodium Hyaluronate (aka synthetic form of hyaluronic acid), Polyquaternium-51 [the combination of these six ingredients creates AMC™ which stands for advanced moisture Complex], Butylene Glycol + Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate [this combination makes the EXO-H™], and Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract [LITCHIDERM™ sounds more luxe though]
(click on each of the ingredients to read technical details about how they work)

As these ingredients all seem to indicate, this product isn’t so much to moisturize as it is to hydrate the skin – the best way I can explain this concept is that the serum helps to retain water and plumps up the skin whereas a moisturizer seals in the hydration and protect the skin against the elements (dry air, wind, indoor heating, etc).  The one-two combo punch of this serum and a moisturizer have made my skin much more supple and perfectly prepped for base makeup.

I should backtrack to explain how I came across the NeoStrata serum to begin with.  Before this serum, I had never tried anything from NeoStrata – I had just finished a bottle of Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum (which I think is now discontinued in Canada) and wanted to try something new, more hydrating.  Prior to the NeoStrata and Vichy serums, I had used these serums for daytime hydration: indeed Hydraluron moisture Booster (I know this comes highly recommended online but I disliked this so much I could not finish the tube – it dried sticky and interfered with my base makeup), Shiseido White Lucent Intensive spot Target Serum, Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum, Anna Sui Intensive Moisturizing Serum (both this and the Claudalie are quite good in their own rights), etc etc – so you can see that I’m no stranger to hydrating serums.  I spoke to the shoppers drug Mart beauty associate asking for a serum that contained hyaluronic acid and she highly recommended this one.  I’m happy I went with her recommendation – this was a year ago and I haven’t looked back.

Pros:
s  hydrating
s  fragrance free
s  alcohol free
s  absorbs quickly
s  no sticky residue
s  does not interfere with base makeup
s  does not break me out
s  practical pump packaging with a locking mechanism and cap for hygiene

Cons:
s  high price point*

Stash worthiness: 10/10

* The price point is relative – at $38 this is one of the less expensive serums of the ones I’ve tried before, which ranged from $25 up to $140.  However, I’m currently investigating some Asian hydrating serums which seem more commonplace there (often called “essences”), with lower price tags (typically less than $20).

Sample packettes of various Asian essences (Face Shop, Missha, Holika Holika)
It would be fantastic to find a lower priced alternative that performs on par with the NeoStrata.  In the meantime, the NeoStrata is my HG hydrating serum for daytime.  Do you use a serum?

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starting a new book today!
Heya! pleased Friday. How’s your day going?

Mine has been quite great so far. Today I have the day off, my very first in ages, as well as I have a few hours to myself while Connor is in school, as well as I practically don’t understand what do. I’ve been working on the weekends for the past few weeks, as well as while I typically don’t mind keeping busy, I’ve chose that this is the year I’m going to completely accept rest, so today I’m going to do my finest to just relax.

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All I’m enabled to do are things that assist refill the well, so to speak, both psychologically as well as physically. great luck to me, LOL! There’s always something to do around here, as well as I’m already ticking off all the things I might achieve with the additional time, like cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, going grocery shopping, prepping meals for the weekend, getting ahead on composing for work, etc. etc. BUT, NOPE. Not gonna do it. rest is the concern today.

I’m going to curb the requirement to be productive as well as just do fun things for me today. I’m going to view a period piece (I’m believing “Remains of the Day” or “The Age of Innocence”), purchase a Blue Barn salad, begin a new book as well as perhaps paint my nails if I’m feeling ambitious. Oh, I’m going to drink decaf Nespressos all the time long, hahaha. I may even take a nap, GASP!

Ate my preferred salad in the world, the Tostada salad with grilled shrimp as well as avocado from Blue Barn Marin

Love me a period piece

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Let’s do this

Are you great about being proactive about your periods of rest? I’m so not. I’m trying to get much better about it, though.

Anywho, so this note is marginally associated to makeup, Kathleen stated this in the comments last Friday on the two-toned liner makeup post:

Teach me your ways! I can deal with the great liner situation. however can you walk me with the eyeshadow, please? Is the Honey Lust on the lid as well as the Woodwinked on the inner corner? as well as Saddle beneath both as a base? I never wear shadow, so I appreciate your suggestions – Thanks!

Hey, Kathleen! say thanks to you for your question. Here’s a breakdown of where I put each shadow on my lid; hope this helps.

Some general tips:

Practice, practice, practice. With eyeshadow, I believe it’s always a great concept to just keep practicing. location your shadows on your lids, blend as much as you can (use a light touch), as well as repeat up until you get the hang of it. ultimately you’ll figure out what placement works finest for your eye shape.

Keep it simple. I would keep it fairly simple. Do one, two shades at the most. Oh, as well as simplify by skipping the primer if you want (or don’t). I typically opt out as well as just do shadow, no primer.

Smooth it out. That said, if you’re having difficulty smoothing out your gradients, try dusting a light layer of powder on top of your lids first. as well as just keep practicing!

Alright, I’m off to go as well as do absolutely nothing.

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Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!