Hair Dryers Matter....

Hi Friends,

I know the importance of having a good hair dryer from personal experience.  I have had the same hair dryer for about 5+ years and before this dryer belonged to me, my best friend used it for a couple of years while in hair school. This dryer has had a lot of mileage and worked really well until one day it had enough! It is expected for things to break and need to be replaced but unfortunately I did not notice that my hair dryer was malfunctioning. My malfunctioning hair dryer resulted in dry, frizzy and DAMAGED hair.  My hair was so damaged that my hair dressed believed that someone had purposely cut it as it was so short and blunt. I had to cut my longer than mid length hair to the "safe haven" haircut a la Julianne Hough. I put this puppy through the wringer.... the nozzle was long gone and after being dropped repeatedly, the barrel began to chip away. The nozzle is VERY important because without out your hair becomes a frizzy dry mess with hair going in every direction. My fly away's were also so "Miley" as in they couldn't be tamed! Get it?

Don't know how much this puppy costs... just glad it is outta my life!

Enter in the Babyliss PRO. I absolutely LOVE this dryer! It is basic and does not have the crazy bells and whistles as other dryers but it gets the job done. It is 1875 watts with three heat settings and a cool shot button.  It is also SUPER lightweight which is more important than one would think when I am trying to round brush my hair.  The concentrator nozzle also does not come off easily which is important because it concentrates the airflow by getting the air to go one direction instead of all over the place thereby reducing frizz and general ridiciulousness. 

Like I said, I love my new dryer. I really should not have waited so long to replace it. Perhaps if I would have acted sooner I would have more hair. Hindsight is always 20/20. 

xoxo

And remember you're beautiful! 

Highlighters

Hi Friends,

To clarify, this post is not about the stationary products university students cling to during finals. This post is about one of the most overlooked (in my opinion) makeup products ever.  A highlighter is something that you put on specific areas of your face to cast a glow to your complexion. Sometimes the results are beautiful, and other times it goes horribly wrong.  I have amassed quite the collection of highlighters and the majority of these products are samples and thus do not reflect the actual retail size (or packaging for that matter).  

Stila eyeshadow in Kitten $23 at Sephora.ca

Yeah, yeah yeah. I know this is an eyeshadow. But it works so perfectly as a face highlighter (and in the brow bone).  See swatch below. This colour is a great peachy pink shade that really seems to compliment my skin tone leaving me looking refreshed and awake (which is a feat... trust me!). If you are looking to save money this would be my go to because it is so versatile. Looks great on the face, lid etc.

Benefit Sun beam $32 at Sephora (for full size)... sample size pictured here
This product is waaaay better when you have a tan. Right now my skin is much to pale to pull off this shade. However, come July or post vacation this puppy will be in heavy rotation. Sun beam is a nice bronze shade but still light enough that it acts as a highlight (ie. Not a bronzer). 

Benefit High beam $32 at Sephora.ca (for full size).... sample size pictured here

This is a pretty highlighter but a bit predictable. It also can be a bit too white in the summertime. I also tend to reach for powder highlighters and thus this puppy does not get as much love. I guess the name is fairly accurate as this little guy is not very subtle on the face. However, if you are looking for extreme highlighting this guy would do the job... probably should reserve this guy for nights when you are going to a ridiculous disco or something.

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl $36 at Sephora.ca (for full size).... sample size pictured here

I have had this sample for some time and pretty much never give it love. For a long time I thought this product was a primer and so I avoided this puppy as I had a BAD reaction to POREFESSIONAL. This product is pretty but seems to be fairly obvious (although more subtle than high beam) and wears quite nicely. I don't think I will be running out to buy the full size any time soon. 

bareMinerals All Over Face Colour in Pure Radiance $24 at Sephora.ca (for full size)... sample size pictured

This product is nice and has really awesome complex microshimmer (well thats what it looks like to me). I wore this to work today to see what would happen and it had faded away by my typical 10am bathroom break.  I loved the colour but the MESS this product creates is not worth it. I won't be buying the full size. 

LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil Free Luminizer $32 at LORAC.com

THIS. PRODUCT. Has me wanting to run out and buy the full size and find a backup or two. I included this puppy in my 2013 favorites for very good reason. I get compliments everytime I wear it, it's buildable, usually looks natural, makes me look awake and healthy. LORAC is no longer stocked at my local Sephora so I WILL be buying this online once the makeup ban is over (2 wks down, 2.5 months to go!).

Hard Candy Blush Crush in Pinup $7 at Walmart.com (likely more expensive in Canada)

This product is worth the price. YOU GET SO MUCH! I have had this puppy for a VERY long time. Lucky for me I invested in a sanitizer that cleans powder products so I don't mind holding on to this one. I will probably throw it out soon as the lid it cracked (thats what you get for cheap packaging). You can't really go wrong with this one. This puppy is a good way to dip your toe into the highligher pond if you are looking to experiment but don't want to spend too much. 

L to R: High Beam, Sun Beam, Girl Meets Pearl

Just some swatches so you can see what I am talking about. Note: My face is a couple of shades darker than my hands. I think that is because I have been taking A LOT of vitamin D lately to compensate from living in constant darkness of Canadian winter.  I also have a lot of freckles... this shot does not do them justice or explain the complications they cause with foundation application.

L to R: Hard Candy Pinup, Lorac Perfectly Lit, bareMinerals Pure Radiance, Stila Kitten

Hang on a sec, in this picture I am not loving LORAC. I promise it looks much different on my face with all the bells and whistles of my usual makeup.  

You might be wondering why I have so many sample sizes. I prefer sample sizes because there is less waste, it allows me to try many more products while spending less money, it allows me to avoid addressing my commitment issues head on. What I mean to say is I don't want to invest in a product I don't love. If I am shelling out 30 bucks for a product it had better be love and fireworks. For example, I will not buy the majority of the highlighters featured in this post.  I will have a lot of fun using them up and experimenting with different looks. Promise. 

 Which luminizer/highlighter is your fav and why? What should I check out?

Thats about it for me!
...and remember you're beautiful
XOXO



Note: All opinons are my own.  All photos are my own (unless otherwise specified). 

REVIEW: Kim Kardashian Perfume

Hi Friends,

I am a sucker for celebrity fragrances. Well at least I used to be. Now I am really into fragrances from various fashion house (Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Florabotanica by Balenciaga) but unfortunately I am left with many celebrity scents that I must use up.

I think a fragrance tells you a lot about a person. For example, are you more floral? woodsy? musk? sweet? citrus?  With that premise a celebrity fragrance is a perfect way to get to know your favourite celebrity in a up close and personal way.  The only catch is how many celebrities are actually involved in the development process of the fragrance. In virtually every interview celebrities claim to be very involved through every step of the way in creating a fragrance claiming they are not like those other celebrities who will slap their name on anything.

Anywhoo, when this scent came out I was dying to try it. The only problem is it was expensive and didn't want to pay full price for it. Finally, an eternity later it showed up on the $20 fragrance shelf at Shopper's Drugmart and I did not hesitate to pick up this puppy.

Kim has been releasing fragrances pretty much every year since 2009 and apparently has 6 in total (according to Fragrantic). This self titled fragrance has notes of white floral, tuberose, animalic (no clue what this is), woody, warm spicy, and balsamic.  To be honest I can't smell the majority of the notes in this fragrance as I do not have a developed nose and the tuberose is very overpowering.  The fragrance does not seem to have a good lasting power.  I know this because I dowse myself in this stuff and it seems to fade away very quickly.  So typical of a celebrity scent.

Overall, I like this perfume especially since the price was right. I am not eager to run out and repurchase this puppy because I have a gazillion other fragrances that I must get through before I can buy more.

Have a great day!

...and remember you're beautiful!
XOXO

EMPTIES

Hi Friends!

I have always loved posts about empties because if someone uses up a whole product then they have a good idea about how it performs. I have been collecting empties for a while now. Some of the products I absolutely LOVE and will continue to repurchase and some I won't.  I have been on a big natural product kick for the last year so the majority of these products are "natural" and purchased from Planet Organic.

Giovanni's Golden Wheat Deep Cleanse Shampoo $9.79 at Well.ca

I purchased Giovanni's Golden Wheat Deep Cleanse Shampoo because I needed a clarifying shampoo you know to remove all the gunk and product build up in my hair.  This shampoo was mediocre. It also left my hair feeling very stripped. Part of the problem is that this line is natural and therefore it doesn't have the powerful punch of "salon" shampoos.  I won't be repurchasing this.

Fekkai's Brilliant Glossing Olive Oil Shampoo $28 at Shopper's Drugmart... as you can see I crushed this with my bare hands to get out every last drop of product!

I love Fekkai's Brilliant Glossing Olive Oil Shampoo. The smell is out of this world AND makes my hair very glossy! The downside is this shampoo is very expensive. So expensive that for two years this was my "fancy day" shampoo. What is a "fancy day" you ask? It is a day when you want to look your best and have some extra pep in your step from your fancy expensive shampoo.  I will absolutely repurchase this shampoo however it will be through Shoppers Optimum points or if I win the lottery.

Alba Botanica's Natural Hawaiian Conditioner in So Smooth Gardenia $9.99 at Well.ca

When I think of Alba Botanica's So Smooth Gardenia Conditioner the only thing that comes to mind is meh. This conditioner was alright. Fairly good in fact for being a natural product but it just didn't help my hair. At times it really weighed it down and tangled easily. I won't be repurchasing this.

Rusk Sensories Brilliance Leave-In Conditioner $12 at Rusk.com

Next up is Rusk Sensories Brilliance Leave-In Conditioner. The smell of this product is incredible! The grapefruit really shines through and leave my hair smelling citrus fresh.  I have had this product for a very long time and it replaced my Moroccan Oil and Chi Silk Infusion when I ran out. Let's just say this conditioner does not hold a candle to the fancy hair oils, but I would repurchase it again if the price was right.

Bath and Body Works -price unknown probably a 5/$25 deal or something

I love apple scents. Probably more than I like actual apples. This is your run of the mill Bath and Body Works Soap, it foams and cleans but the smell is out of the world. I'll repurchase once I get through my stash. It's a nice fall scent.

This is one of my favourite Christmas soaps because it makes your hands smell like fragrant Christmas trees sans inevitable allergic reaction.  I do adore this scent but restrained myself when in BBW recently and did not pick up anymore. Why didn't I repurchase? Because it is no longer Christmas and I have more than enough soap to get me through until spring... and possibly summer. 

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit $11.49 at Well.ca

I have saved the best for last! Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit. This is probably my fourth bottle of this stuff and I do not anticipate discontinuing using this product. I often switch back and forth between face washes and thus breaking the cardinal rule of skin care (sticking to a skin routine).  When my skin gets VERY bad or starts to look like it's going in that direction, I reach for this stuff and it does not disappoint. The wash foams into an deep cleansing lather with little beads that exfoliate your skin.  I use this wash in the evening to remove all my face makeup and it does a good job of removing everything. Did I mention it smells AMAZING???

And there you have it! All my empties ready to be recycled!

... And Remember... you're Beautiful!
XO

Note: All products were purchased by me (except for Rusk, it was a gift from a friend), and all opinions are my own :)

Review: Andalou Naturals Beta Hydroxy Complex Recovery Cream

Hi Friends,

I wanted to do an in depth review of this product because I really think it is helping to clear my skin.  If you read my blog regularly you will know that I recently purchased this puppy from Planet Organic . I included it in my 2013 favourites because I LOVE what it is doing for my skin. 

PROS: It is very affordable and seems to be less chemically (a clinical term I invented) than other clearing treatments.  It smells like ORANGES which is relaxing before bed.  It soaks into my skin nicely (provided I don't use too much). It doesn't feel greasy or annoying. The results speak for itself! After using it my skin is clearer, brighter, and moisturized in the AM. 

CONS: I usually end up using too much of this product (ie. the jar is almost gone after using it for a month). I dislike that it is in a tub (bacteria gets in there!). The orange smell also makes me very hungry which is inconvenient after brushing my teeth. 

VERDICT: I will repurchase this product but will likely only use it in the winter (probably too hydrating in the Summer making me an oily mess). 

Click here for more info about this product 

...and remember... YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
XO

Note: All pictures and opinions are my own. I purchased this product. 

10 Skin Clearing Tips

A big focus of this blog is my quest for clear skin. For some reason my skin has gone CRAZY in the last 6 months. It could be due to stress, diet, hormonal changes... I don't care what is causing it, I just want it to stop. In this spirit I have complied my top 10 Skin Clearing Skin Tips. Mostly to remind myself!


1. Change Your Pillowcases Often

When I was in high school my Mom worked part time at her friend's spa and the esthetician told me to only sleep on one side of the pillow, flip it the next night and then wash the pillow case. This is a lot of work but the result are obvious. This has lead me to investing in several white pillow cases for this purpose. I chose white because they typically go on sale and can be bleached should I go to sleep with makeup on and smear it everywhere. Of course I get lazy with this and do follow through but notice a big difference when I am consistent. 

2. Wash Your Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria and product to gunk up your pores. Washing your brushes consistently removes all that crap thus limiting the chances it gets on your face. 

3. Use a Fresh Wash Cloth

After washing my face there is ALWAYS water everywhere. I need something clean and bacteria free to remove the excess water. I use white wash clothes so I can bleach the crap out of them.  I grab a new wash cloth every.single.time.

4. Salicylic Acid is YOUR Friend!

My favorite Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Here is an easy to read article about Salicylic Acid: http://www.teenvogue.com/beauty/skin-care/2012-12/salicylic-acid-versus-benzoyl-peroxide

5. HYDRATE!

When I stay hydrated I notice a HUGE difference in the clarity of my skin.  I've been told that the water  helps to remove the waste from your body so it's not trying to escape from your skin. Isn't that a powerful visual. 

6. Be Consistent

I really need to take my own advice! I have a hard time being consistent with a skincare routine, luckily, this is improving with age.  I would agree that every bit counts but the more often you practice these tips, the clearer your skin will look. 

7. Dot your Face

I regularly go to sleep and chill in my house with dots of spot remover all over my face. This is also very entertaining for my roommate.  I like to dot spot treatments and masks on a concentrated area so it does not dry out my face. I like doing this with masks that contain sulfur. They seem to be the most effective. 

8. Exfoliate

This seems to work for me because I am removing the old skin and revealing the new skin. It also prevents the skin debris from getting too clogged. 

9.  DO NOT go to sleep with your makeup on!!!!

Sigh. How many of us do this and know it is a bad thing to do! Part of my problem is I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. The other part of the equation is my natural laziness. Whenever I fall asleep with foundation (especially LONG WEAR formulas) my skin revolts. I am trying to wash my face when I get home from the day to reduce the chance of me falling sleep in my Estee Lauder Double Wear. 

10. Hands Away from YOUR FACE!

I usually always have my hands from my face. You can tell where my hands have been because there are usually breakouts there too! Limiting bacteria transfer can occur by keeping your hands clean. 



.... and REMEMBER you're BEAUTIFUL!
XO

Note: All pictures and opinions are my own. Also I am not a doctor or skin care professional and my ideas are based on personal experience. 

Another Year Older!

Hi Friends,

Today is my 29th Birthday and in the spirit of getting older I wanted to do a little blog post on the subject.  I experienced an interesting beauty evolution in my 20's going from a girl who didn't really wear any makeup and was hopeless at liquid liner to taking 45 (!) minutes to put on my face. I am slowly scaling back now and going for a more put together professional look.

I didn't really have anyone to show me about makeup and learned everything I know through youtube and trial and error (emphasis on the error).  I went through a phase where I never wanted to leave my house without makeup and now I only wear makeup when I want.  I don't feel the same pressure that I did when I was younger.  The truth is I really enjoy makeup. It is downright relaxing. I have a high stress occupation and taking 30 minutes to focus on something completing frivolous feels good.

I'm not really worried about moving into my 30's.  I can't recall ever being afraid of getting older, but I do have a fear of not accomplishing everything I want to do. A focus of my 30's will hopefully be centred around financial stability instead of seeking out a limited edition MAC eyeshadow.  I have amassed quite a collection and I think it's time to start scaling back.  How much makeup could I possibly need?

I'm excited for the year ahead!


.... And Remember You're Beautiful!
XO