reviewing the colours and angles of beauty
Good morning beauties, hope you had a great long weekend! We had some nice sunny weather here in Ottawa and so it’s time to bust out the dresses and shorts. In doing so one of the concerns is that winter dry skin, ew. I was given the Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion at the Cityline Dave Lackie event in April and it’s absolutely awesome!
Last week I talked about the Philosophy Purity Pore Extractor Mask and how it has really helped diminish the appearance of my blackheads. This week I’m reviewing the Purity Moisturizer as well because yeah the line is that good!
With summer fast approaching I know I am looking to have clear skin and a healthy glow! Philosophy has an amazing mask in their Purity line. The Purity Made Simple Pore Extractor Mask is a white clay exfoliating mask.
With the change in season fast approaching I know I want to keep that summer glow and have lovely hydrated skin. When the weather gets colder, a lot of us dread the dull/dry skin days ahead. But what if I told you keeping your summer glow can be quite easy this year? I’ve recently discovered Oro De Cacay facial oil by MAMO Botanics and I am loving the results! I want to thank MAMO Botanics for sending me this product as it is truly great.
As a beauty blogger I obviously post a lot about makeup and product reviews. These items are used on our outside physical appearance and can give us a confidence boost, but I am a big advocate for feeling beautiful on the inside as well. In my daily routine I incorporate a lot of things that “feed my soul” and make me happy. Some of these are meditation, drinking tea and lots of water, waking up early and making it a point to enjoy the little things. We often get stressed out and feel down because of life’s everyday stress. It’s not easy and the days go by quick between work, running around, family and friends etc. Here are some tips i’d like to share that help me feel beautiful and happy on the inside, which in turn boosts my confidence and makes me feel beautiful on the outside. Being happy on the inside projects itself outwardly, and this creates a very rewarding life!
1. Morning tea ritual
Every single day I look forward to having my morning tea. Whether I have it before I go to work or when I get to work, this is something that makes me happy. Tea is a great drink because it has a lot of health benefits, but the main reason I like doing this is also because of the “act”. By this I mean it is part of my morning “ritual” and you can use these as a form of meditation. For me boiling the water, putting the tea leaves in my steeper and then drinking my tea is an act of meditation. I look forward to this, and doing this means I am bringing mindfulness into my routine.
2. Talk to someone you love
This may seem like an “obvious” one, but when I say talk I mean either in person or over the phone. With texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc. we tend to get caught up in this virtual world. While these social media outlets are great to connect with others, they can also bog you down. I would suggest seeing a friend, family member or significant other in person and having a nice conversation. If you can’t see them in person then avoid the texting for a day and actually give them a call. Hearing someone’s voice and the warmth you get from talking to someone you care about goes a long way, and it eliminates the disconnect texting can cause because it gives you that personal touch.
3. Put something positive out on display
I am a big believer in meditation and the law of attraction. My bedroom is a space I have set up with Buddha’s, incense, salt lamps and my own meditation corner. You can set up an entire room, a little corner or even just have one thing out on display. Whatever it may be, make sure it brings you joy when you look at it. For example, I have a meditation corner set up in my room and a vision board up on my wall. My vision board is a collage of things i’d like to achieve, and every morning when I wake up I look at it and it sets a positive intention for my day. I think it’s a wonderful idea to have something out on display that brings nothing but positive thoughts to you when you look at it. Same applies with anything you may have out already, if it brings you any negative emotions or bad memories then get rid of it – your home should be a positive space and bring you comfort.
4. Be grateful
With social media, pop culture and the standards we set for ourselves, it can be easy to get trapped in an “I wish” frame of mind. I think it’s really important to be mindful and not focus on the “I wish I had this” or “I wish I looked like her/him” or “I wish I had what she/he has”. Instead of beating yourself up and creating these negative perceptions, focus on the things you DO feel you have. Be grateful for what you have and you will start to notice other things turn into positive elements in your life. What you think and feel is what you send out into the universe, and this is what you will attract back- think of this as positive affirmations. Sure sometimes we are unlucky and bad things happen, but it could just be an unfortunate circumstance or a bad day not a bad “life”. I try really hard not to dwell on anything negative that occurs. For example, in the last week I had two tires on my new car go flat because of unavoidable potholes in the road. I was upset at first because it cost me a lot to get two new tires 1 week apart, but in the end I told myself being upset will help nothing. It happened and I needed two new tires. Being upset over that would only cause me more stress and make me anxious. Instead I told myself “It could always be worse, and at least I was not hurt when the tire went flat on two separate occasions.” I did not get into an accident or harm anyone else either. In my opinion there is always a positive side to things, you just have to have an open mind and push yourself to see it.
5. Appreciate nature
I know going for a hike is not everyone’s idea of a fun time. But you don’t have to do intense outside activities to enjoy nature. The earth is our element known for its strength, wisdom and growth. I know not all of you believe in things like this like I do, but I encourage you to try to see it that way. If you can’t then simply appreciate it for what it is. One of my favourite things to do is go for a walk down by the river and take a blanket with me. I love to sit there and listen to the water and take in the sunshine. Breathing in fresh air brings a certain calmness to a chaotic day or week. Even if you don’t like spending time outside, I would even suggest just sitting out on your front steps and letting the rays of sunshine soak in.
Some of these suggestions might seem cliché or perhaps even silly (e.g. my morning tea ritual lol). But I can assure you that you don’t need BIG things to make a change or to feel good on the inside. Sometimes it’s all of the little things that add up and make us happier. We live in a world where physical items and grand gestures are viewed as important so that we can capture it and post it on social media. So I encourage you to embrace and notice the little things and see if it brings you more happiness. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, if you have some tips on how to feel beautiful on the inside please write them below!
Namaste xo
Dark circles? Tired eyes? Fine lines? New York company VIIcode has a wonderful Oxygen Eye Mask product that can help with all of these things! Face masks are one of my favourite things, so I was really intrigued and excited to try out these eye masks. Before we dive in, I would like to thank VIIcode for sending me their product.
I have always been one to take care of my skin, however, since turning 25 (no, I’m not calling myself “old”) I am really interested in how our skin changes with age and really ensure to choose the products I put on it wisely. Our under eye area is so delicate and I am very careful with my makeup application in this area, and I also use a daily night repair eye cream.
VIIcode has created masks specifically for the under eye area. According to the packaging “We want your eye skin to be the best it can be from the inside out. VIIcode oxygen eye mask provide everything your eye skin needs to be healthy- all the essential vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, botanicals, peptides and essential fatty acids. Say goodbye to tired eyes, dark circles, and fine lines- now you can always look refreshed, bright-eyed and lively… Cool gel conform to the shape around the eye, infiltrating the entire area in soothing botanical extracts.” Doesn’t that sound awesome??
Not only does this sound great, but the product actually delivers what is promised. For a course of treatment you must use 3 boxes, and you apply an eye mask 2 or 3 times a week. The eye mask has a gel-like material, and upon application you can feel a cooling sensation. You then leave the mask on for up to 8 hours (no more). This is an overnight treatment which makes it different from other sheet masks on the market. Also, the more treatments you do (i.e. continued use) the better your results.
I have used the eye mask overnight and also during the day. If I know I have a busy day and won’t be at home I wear it overnight. If I know I will be having a relaxed day staying in then I have used it during the day while I am awake. Either way the product is extremely convenient and easy to use. You just peel off the plastic barrier and apply on cleansed skin- it’s so simple!
Here I am wearing the masks:
Here is a shot of the product up close, the side with the plastic is the piece you peel off and this side goes on the skin:
After doing the full treatment I can say that this has made my under eye area look brighter and more awake, which I am told as we get older products that provide this result give you a more youthful appearance. My skin is also a lot more hydrated, and this is the best for your concealer/makeup application. Unfortunately I can’t speak so much to the effect on dark circles as I don’t really have dark circles, however, it has really helped brighten and hydrate my skin, so I imagine the brightening effect would help with dark circles too. My favourite part is that my concealer blends in so well and because the hydration diminishes the look of fine lines the concealer doesn’t sit in there and show up. I am so happy with the results!
You can purchase an individual box for $58.00 here or a full course treatment (3 box set) for $174.00 here.
For additional information on how the product works click here.
You can shop their products here: http://www.viicode.com/
Continuing on with my Winter skin-saver favourites, today I’m reviewing one of my holy-grail products by Lush Cosmetics. I love Lush, I use a lot of their products from head to toe!
Their Bubblegum Lip Scrub is fantastic. It is my favourite lip scrub I have ever used. Winter weather leaves our lips chapped because of the constant change in temperature from hot to cold, interior to exterior, which takes the moisture out of our skin. Chapped lips is one of the most uncomfortable things, as well as it really ruins my lip look when using lipstick or liner, and that just doesn’t fly with me.
READ MORE…
So I did some research on lip scrubs a few years ago and tried out a few different ones, and Lush’s Bubblegum Lip Scrub has been my favourite ever since. You can also purchase the scrub in other flavours:
This scrub is formulated with safe synthetics and natural ingredients:
Lush also classifies this product as Vegan.
I like to use this after my shower but you can use this anytime. The castor sugar gently exfoliates your lips, and the jojoba oil adds moisture back into the lips. When I am done using it my lips feel so soft and smooth. When I purchased this at Lush for C$12.00 the girl working told me that you can lick off the excess scrub and it tastes really good. She definitely is right the scrub tastes amazing, and usually I am not a huge fan of the bubblegum flavour, but I do really like this one. However, I don’t tend to lick off the excess scrub because to me it feels like I am then swallowing the dead skin I just exfoliated off haha but to each his own!
You can see here how the product looks up close, it really makes me feel like I am going to be moisturizing my lips every time I take the product out of the pot because it doesn’t look dry at all. I also love the vibrant pink shade.
One of my other favourite things about Lush products is that you get the date is was made as well as the expiry date on the sticker, usually found on the bottom of the product. It’s also cute how the sticker has who made that specific batch- makes me laugh every time.
The only thing I recommend when using this is to make sure you wash your hands beforehand. If you don’t you could be putting bacteria into the pot if you remove it with your finger with unwashed hands. You can also buy little spatulas or disposable beauty tools at your local beauty supplier to get the product out. This would be the only thing I don’t like about the product because this method is less hygienic compared to other lip scrubs that come in tube or solid lipstick-like form. But I just make sure my hands are washed and clean before taking the product out.
I use this year-round and I am so happy with how well it works!
Have you tried any of the Lush lip scrubs, or any other of their lip products?
So excited to share with you another brand I am absolutely loving: La Roche-Posay. If you have sensitive skin, or just want products that are paraben-free or fragrance-free, you must give them a try.
Here is a little info on the brand who’s products are made in France. I copied this from their website here. “For over 30 years, La Roche-Posay has worked with dermatologists in Canada and throughout the world to invent skincare that meet their needs and requirements. La Roche-Posay also supports them in their training and their role of taking daily care of patients, through a number of actions including educational workshops for patients and awareness campaigns.”
Since the Winter weather has started here in Canada, my skin has been experiencing some changes this year that I had not experienced before. My skin has been very dry, and worst of all I developed some redness on my cheeks.
I wasn’t sure what was going on with my skin as i’ve never experienced this during Winter, usually my skin isn’t sensitive, and I don’t experience many changes year-round regardless of the season. I went to see my doctor to inquire about what I could do. My doctor thought the redness I had developed on my cheeks on my face to be some mild eczema. With the change in temperature, indoor heating and cold winds, the rest of my the skin on my body being dry seemed pretty normal, but the redness on my cheeks was really bothering me.
My doctor recommended I switch my body soap, moisturizer and face products to fragrance-free alternatives. I was reluctant to do this at first, I love my vanilla scented body soap and lotion. I spoke with my Mom and she had been using La Roche-Posay products for her very sensitive skin and she was loving them.
So I took the advice from my doctor and made my way to Shoppers Drug Mart. I purchased the same two products my Mom has which are the Lipikar Fluide and Lipikar Gel Lavant.
Here is a little more info on the brand that I copied form their website “With over 30 years’ research experience and 25 patents, La Roche-Posay has become a leading player in the development of products formulated for sensitive skin ensuring the highest tolerance and safety. In this way La Roche-Posay meets the requirements of over 70% of women who claim to have sensitive skin.* (IPSOS Health & Beauty, France, Pharmacie 2007)” Click here to read more.
Lipikar Fluide
Lipikar Fluide is extremely hydrating. It works better than the body moisturizer I was using before. The formula is great for sensitive and dry skin. It is a soothing, protecting hydrating fluid. The consistency is comparable to any moisturizer you can purchase at a drugstore, and it is white in colour. When I apply this it goes on looking shiny so I find it makes it easy to see where I have applied it. It dries very quickly on the skin, and when it does the shine goes away and it leaves my skin visibly softer looking, as well as to the touch. I use this all over my body and face. I couldn’t get over how nice it felt on my skin and how fast it absorbs. When I applied this to my face it did not make the redness on my cheeks sting at all. The previous moisturizer I was using would give me a burning sensation once the redness on my cheeks was starting to develop. The Lipikar Fluid is made for skin sensitivity and dryness in babies, children and adults.
Lipikar Gel Lavant
The Lipikar Gel Lavant gives a refreshing clean. It gently cleanses skin, and is a soothing, protecting shower gel. It is formulated for sensitive skin in babies, children and adults. The packaging states it also respects the physiological pH of the skin. This gel contains Shea Butter and Niacinamide, which helps restore the cutaneous barrier. Having this barrier in its best state ensures hydrated skin, and protects the skin from infection.
I love to use this in the shower on my face and body. Sometimes when you use drugstore cleansers they can leave your skin feeling dry and tight, which actually isn’t good for your skin contrary to popular belief. The Lipikar Gel Lavant doesn’t strip your skin of it’s natural moisture, therefore, my skin doesn’t feel tight after cleansing- this is exactly what you want!
One of the things I love most is how both products can be used on your face and body. This is not only extremely convenient for your skincare routine, but it also makes both products a 2 in 1. My skin feels much better. I love applying the moisturizer because it really takes away any tightness, dryness or discomfort I had previous to moisturizing. After using these products my skin feels cleaner, it doesn’t feel like I have slathered on anything heavy, and best of all it has not blocked my pores whatsoever.
The redness and dryness on my cheeks has significantly gone down, it is almost completely gone. I am sure with continued use it will go away completely. These products do not aggravate it at all!
My skin feels cleaner, more hydrated and all around much softer. I don’t even mind having to toss my vanilla scented products to the side, because the benefits and results the La Roche-Posay line produces are worth it. My skin health overall feels and looks much better than before. I give both of these products a 10 out of 10.
I will be purchasing some more products from their line shortly, so stay tuned for another review! If you are interested in either of these products I purchased mine at Shoppers Drug Mart. I will include links to the Shopper’s Drug Mart page here: The Lipikar Fluid was C$29.00 and the Lipikar Gel Lavant was C$21.00. Although this may seem expensive for both products, I can assure you it is worth it. When you think about it, seeing as both products are 2 in 1 products you only have 2 things to purchase. Compared to before I would purchase 4 products: a body moisturizer, face moisturizer, body cleanser and face cleanser. So when you think about it it’s not really that expensive, and it comes to basically the same amount of money spent if you were purchasing 4 products before compared to now purchasing only 2.
Have you tried La Roche-Posay products? Let me know in a comment below!
Today I am talking Bella Aura again, because it is THAT good. Since posting my review in September on the entire Bella Aura line, I still can’t get over how truly amazing these products are. I want to focus specifically on the Instant Lifting Eye Contour, because it is my favourite product in the line.
Here is an excerpt from my last Bella Aura post in case you missed it, it gives you a bit of story on the brand and the founder and CEO, Yasmine Jones.
“Proudly made in Canada, Bella Aura’s philosophy is to have you feeling your best, because beauty starts from the inside. They believe “When you’re at your best, the positive spirit within you emanates from the surface of your skin, spreading illuminating energy into the world. At Bella Aura, our mission is simple: to craft pristine natural skincare infused with groundbreaking technology so that your complexion radiates your pure inner glow.”* This is so heart-warming to hear. I love brands that believe in telling women to embrace their natural beauty, and that they are beautiful as they are. I also love when they stress that feeling beautiful inside is where it all starts, this is what Bella Aura believes, and so do I.
I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with founder and CEO, Yasmine Jones. She is a genuinely kind woman and a very spiritual person. Yasmine and I share a lot of the same views, we both believe in meditation and the power of positive thinking, and being happy with yourself as you are. Sometimes companies can make you feel as though you need their products to “fix” or “mask” the “problems” you think you have. I find this so sad, because I think it’s important to support brands like Bella Aura who encourage you to feel you are perfect as you are, and to be happy and secure with yourself and that this is beauty.”
You can read my full review of the entire line by clicking here.
This Instant Lifting Eye Contour is the best eye product I have ever used. I have been using this since September, and notice a visible difference with my under eye area. I can remember trying it for the first time and noticing a change after just the first use!
This product is extremely moisturizing, but it is not greasy- hello best of both worlds! My under eye area is brighter and in turn this makes my eyes look more awake. Even on days when I don’t wear makeup, having this on under my eyes makes me look more awake, and it reduces any puffiness and the visibility of lines. It really does give your eye the lifted effect. Brighter eyes also give a more youthful appearance, because the ingredients in it help it to support the skin’s natural collagen, which reveals a more lifted look.
The Instant Lifting Eye Contour is one of my holy grail products because it truly does work. Everything you find listed on the bottle and website as a promise of how the product performs is what is delivered.
The other wonderful thing is that not only does this luxurious product work, but you don’t have to worry about what you’re putting on your skin because the ingredients are natural- no chemicals. You can find all of Bella Aura’s ingredients listed on their website here, I love how transparent they are, and how they really value informing their customers, and having all information readily available to them. This is a wonderful company with values and philosophies that really touch your heart, and they have phenomenal products.
You can view the Instant Lifting Eye Contour by clicking here. You can also shop all Bella Aura products here.
Bella Aura also offers a great blog section on their website, where you can read some skin care tips, click here to see them.
Follow Bella Aura on their social media channels below:
Continuing with the Winter skin-savers, today’s post is all about oil for skin moisturizing. Eden’s Semilla have sent me their Vitamin E oil and Jojoba oil, and both are fantastic! If you have not tried moisturizing your skin with oil, I highly recommend you start- you can thank me later 😉
I have used many oils as part of my skincare routine, I use them on my face as well as my body. I have tried various different brands oils, and I can assure you that Eden’s Semilla is top of the line. Both the Vitamin E and Jojoba oil are so moisturizing on the skin, they really give you the conditioned skin texture and look we are all after.
Vitamin E oil
This is a special kind of Vitamin E oil, because it is a blend of Organic Rosehip and Jojoba. I really liked using this all over my body and my nails. Using this on my nails really helped to condition my cuticles.
The packaging reads “Topical Vitamin E contains excellent healing properties for damaged or tired looking skin. A rich blend of organic Jojoba and Rosehip delivers a natural carrier oil that is easily absorbed, fast acting and full of natural goodness. Hydrates and nourishes all in one.”
All of these ingredients work wonders on the skin. I even noticed a difference in a small scar I have. Using this oil on it helped to take down the redness and puffiness by conditioning it. Rosehip and Jojoba are both great oils for diminishing the appearance of scars, I have used Rosehip seed oil on its own before, and it really does make a difference.
Benefits listed on the packaging:
Jojoba Oil
The Jojoba oil contains Vitamin C and fatty acids for skin defence.
The packaging reads “Closely resembling a sebum, a substance naturally produced by skin glands to promote a softer, more radiant complexion. Contains Vitamin C and essential fatty acids for all round skin defence. A natural conditioner that leaves hair silky smooth- lasting protection for the skin and scalp.”
Jojoba oil is great because it mimics the natural oil your body produces, that is why it is so effective when used on the skin. It is known to improve dryness and skin texture. I applied this on my body and feet. After doing a foot soak with some epsom salts and lavender essential oil, I applied the Jojoba oil to my feet, and it helped a lot with any dryness I had.
Benefits listed on packaging:
Both oils are 100% natural, and extremely conditioning for the skin, but on top of this they are also fast-absorbing and non-greasy. This is a HUGE plus in my books. Personally, I don’t like it when my skin feels greasy, or like there is residue on it after using a product- especially oils (even though this can be hard to avoid.) Eden’s Semilla oils absorb so well into the skin, and you can barely feel any residue leftover.
Both oils are beneficial for:
After using these oils for about two weeks, I notice a difference in the overall consistency of my skin. By this I mean normally in Winter I have to moisturize my body every single day to avoid getting dry skin, and by the next day I notice my skin already feeling tight and needing to be moisturized again. Yet since I have been using the Eden’s Semilla oils, my skin still feels conditioned by the next day when I go to moisturize again. I really like the texture of these oils as well, they are both not too thick and not too thin. They are very easy to spread on the skin- a little goes a long way, and scent wise they are both very light.
Tip: I like to use these together as well! If you are pressed for time, or you don’t want to wait for the oil to absorb, I suggest mixing this with body moisturizer. I put some drops of each in the palm of my hand and mix it with my favourite body moisturizer. This way it spreads on evenly, and you don’t have to wait as long to get dressed.
In terms of product, Eden’s Semilla offer natural oils, essential oils and facial serums. You can shop their products by clicking here. The Vitamin E oil retails for $18.95 for 60ml and $28.95 for 120ml. The Jojoba oil retails for $19.95 for 60ml and $24.95 for 120ml. Both oils also come with a dropper that conveniently fits on the bottle.
Have you tried natural oils to moisturize your skin? Or have you tried Eden’s Semilla products? Let me know in a comment below!
You can follow Eden’s Semilla on their social media channels below:
Thank you again to Eden’s Semilla for sending me both of these oils! xo
