Tag: beauty

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day, everyone! I will be celebrating July 14th when #BiteBeauty releases their exclusive Canadian-inspired lipsticks!

Canada Wins with Bite Beauty's exclusive Maple Collection.
Canada Wins with Bite Beauty’s exclusive Maple Collection.

Bite has created five Canadian Maple Matte Creme Lipstick shades ($28, Sephora.com) and a Maple Agave Lip Mask ($30), all with a delicious maple scent.

The Maple Collection from left to right: Maple Agave Lip Mask, Warmed Maple, Candied Maple, Braised Maple, Sugared Maple, Mulled Maple.

The Maple Collection from left to right: Maple Agave Lip Mask, Warmed Maple, Candied Maple, Braised Maple, Sugared Maple, Mulled Maple.

Earlier this year I fell in love with Bite. Their highly pigmented hues and wearable reds guarantee a smooth application and are flattering on everyone. How will I choose one or two shades from this collection?  It is like deciding between a St. Lawrence market Canadian bacon sandwich, or maple syrup pancakes for breakfast – the choice is nearly impossible!

My New Favourite Beauty Mecca

When travelling outside of North America, I rarely purchase beauty products. It seems like every thing from Cover Girl mascara to MAC lipstick costs at least twice as much as back home. Fortunately, I discovered the Australian beauty chain, Mecca, in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall.

The store has a great selection of trusted cosmetics, skincare, and hair care brands like Bobbi Brown, GlamGlow, and Bumble and Bumble, as well as Australian brands. I was especially excited to see a wide assortment of Korres products – one of my favourite beauty brands from Greece.

The best part about Mecca: they have converted US pricing on their exclusive lines, into $AUD. That means brands like Josie Maran, NARS, Mario Badescu, and Korres are as close to US pricing as possible (only you are paying $AUD instead of $USD)

I had a great time shopping in Maxima Wintergarden thanks to the helpful staff, beautiful store, extensive selection. and my new Korres Water Lily body butter.

If you find yourself in Australia, I highly recommend checking it out.  http://mecca.com.au

The Australian cosmetics superstore, Mecca Maxima.

The Australian cosmetics superstore, Mecca.

The Best Travel Accessory: My Clarisonic

The stress of travelling always takes a toll on my skin. Between all the sunscreen, sweat, and environmental pollution, even if I feel completely relaxed, my skin would look tired and rough. I have been using the Clarisonic Aria for more than one year, and my skin has showed  huge improvements as a result (especially when travelling!) Since using the device, moisturizer and sunscreen glides on with ease, and foundation application is especially smooth. The Clarisonic is definitely an investment, but it has improved my skins’ texture and help minimize noticeable breakouts.

What is a Clarisonic?

The Clarisonic device will give you the most effective and gentle one minute face wash. It combines sonic pulses with unique brush heads to cleanse pores and remove impurities without damaging your skin. Their standard brushes are designed for all types of skin including delicate, sensitive, normal, deep pore, acne prone, and radiance. The company also makes specialty brushes for the face, body, and feet. Play around with the brushes and device speeds to find the perfect combination for your skin.

How I use it:

All Clarisonic models feature a one minute timer with three mini beeps to help time cleaning your face. It is important not to use your Clarisonic more than one time per day so you do not strip the natural oils from your skin. I use mine every evening to remove makeup build up, but use it less often if your skin is too sensitive.

I start by washing off any eye make up since you should not use the Clarisonic too close to your eye area. Try using an Aveeno moisturizing bar – it is gentle and removes all traces of eye makeup.

Dampen your face and the brush head with warm water, and then spread a quarter-sized amount of cleanser on your face. Find a cleanser that works for your skin, and that the texture works with your device. I use Murad Acne Cleanser with 1.5% salicylic acid and the deep pore brush head.

With a thin layer of cleanser on your face, start the Clarisonic and make small, slow circles on the different segments of your face. I divide my face up into 4 different segments to work on between beeps: left cheek, right cheek, nose and chin, and forehead.

When your minute timer is finished, you Clarisonic will automatically shut off. Rinse it well and store standing up to allow the brush to completely dry. The device is completely waterproof and can be fully submerged in water, so you can even use it in the shower.

Once your skin is fresh and clean, it is time to apply your moisturizer. Since you removed most of the impurities from your skin, it will absorb your products better and give you a fresh, youthful glow. Try using Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil – it will leave your skin feeling like silk.

Brush Care:

Like your toothbrush, your Clarisonic brush will eventually wear down and start to gather bacteria. The company recommends changing them every three months, but I have found, with good care, brush life can be extended to about four months. After that, the bristles lose their tension and there is too much bacteria gathering.

Happy Earth Day! Pass the Olive Oil…

As you know, I am always looking for natural cosmetics and moisturizers. In the spirit of Earth Day, I am shining a light on the cosmetic applications of olive oil.

Many people use olive oil for cooking because it is rich in vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and can even help lower cholesterol. It is also found in many cosmetics and hair products because its ability to hydrate, cleanse, condition, and protect hair and skin.

Here are some of my favourite cosmetic applications for olive oil.

  • Olive Oil as Makeup Remover
    • Add a few drops of olive oil to a cotton ball. Gently remove make up and rinse face with warm water.
  • Olive Oil and Honey Hair Mask and Scalp Treatment
    • A healthy scalp is important to healthy hair. In addition to promoting hair growth, having a moisturized scalp will help reduce oil buildup on your hair. A weekly hair and scalp treatment will help your scalp and hair feel and look better.
    • Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, and the oil from 3 Vitamin E capsules together. If mixture is too sticky, add some more olive oil.
    • Use a paint brush or basting brush to distribute the mixture over damp hair.
    • Wrap hair in a plastic bag. Leave for 90 mins before rinsing with warm water. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner.
    • Hair will feel smooth and supple.
    • Depending on your hair texture, too much olive oil on your scalp may weigh your hair down. Try adding a few drops on the crown of your head and spreading it with your fingers. Leave on for 90 minutes, and shampoo as needed.
  • Olive Oil “Cuticle Cream”
    • Gently massage nails and cuticles with a  few drops of olive oil.
  • Olive Oil Bath
    • The fastest way to smooth, supple skin is with an olive oil bath.
    • Add 5 tablespoons of olive oil to a warm bath, and soak.
    • The warm water will open your pores and allow you to absorb the moisturizing oil.
    • Indulge your skin  post-bath by using a light application of olive oil as a full body moisturizer.
  • Olive Oil on Salad
    • To get all the benefits of olive oil, make sure you take it internally, as well. Use it in raw applications such as on salads or finishing a pasta dish. Having olive oil raw ensures you are getting all the good nutrients that can otherwise be destroyed when oil is heated during cooking.

I hope this inspires you to incorporate olive oil into your beauty routine. Your skin will love you for it.

Switch up your regular moisturizer with olive oil! Your skin is drinking up the products you use - what better than something you eat?

Switch up your regular moisturizer with olive oil! Your skin is drinking up the products you use – what better than something you eat?

 

Bite Beauty: Good Enough to Eat

I recently became a VIB Rouge member at Sephora (meaning I spent way too much money there throughout 2014). When my new card arrived, it was accompanied by a delightful deluxe sample of Bite Beauty’s Luminous Creme Lipstick in a custom brick red VIB Rouge shade.

Bite Beauty's exclusive lipstick for Sephora VIP Rouge customers. Luminous Creme Lipstick in the perfect shade of brick red.

Bite Beauty’s exclusive lipstick for Sephora VIP Rouge customers. Luminous Creme Lipstick in the perfect shade of brick red.

The lipstick was made in Canada, has a fruity yet non-overpowering aroma, and a wonderful smooth application. The creamy consistency moisturizes, has the perfect matte finish, and great staying-power.

Bite uses all food grade, non-GMO ingredients, no synthetic fragrances (great for those with sensitive skin), and no synthetic dyes. This lipstick also contains trans-resveratrol – the antioxidant-rich ingredient in red wine that helps reduce the appearance of lines.

Bite Beauty's Smashed Agave Lip Mask is a new favourite: hydrating and has sheer, buildable colour. A must-have.

Bite Beauty’s Smashed Agave Lip Mask is a new favourite: hydrating and has sheer, buildable colour. A must-have.

I was so impressed by the lipstick that I had to try another Bite product. During the day, I am very minimal with my make up and like using tinted lip balms. They are also especially useful at the gym where I do not wear any make up. I saw that Bite’s Agave Lip Mask had great reviews and decided to try the newest colour, Smashed Agave.

The balm, also made in Canada, smells like real vanilla bean and has a slightly sticky texture. On a cold day in Toronto, it may take a little warming it between your hands to get it to squeeze out of the tube easily, but that just means there are no synthetic stabilizers to maintain the texture (think about the difference of butter vs. margarine when they are kept in the refrigerator. Synthetic margarine is easily spreadable, whereas natural butter has to come to room temperature).

Demonstrating the buildable colour of Bite Smashed Agave Lip Mask: One, two, and three sheer coats lets you determine the colour intensity while always delivering incredible hydration.

Demonstrating the buildable colour of Bite Smashed Agave Lip Mask: One, two, and three sheer coats lets you determine the colour intensity while always delivering incredible hydration.

A little goes a long way with this mask. It is incredibly hydrating and long-wearing, and has a sheer wash of natural pink colour. For more colour, layer on one or two more sheer coats, or use your favourite lipstick on top. It is a great product for year-round, daily use. I am excited to try more products from Bite.

wen sweet almond mint cleansing conditioner

Is “Wen” Worth the Hype?

Infomercial-junkies everywhere have thought about trying Wen products at least once. The cleansing conditioner system replaces your shampoo and conditioner, and should provide exceptional results when used with their own styling products.

I have been using the original Sweet Almond Mint formula for more than three months and am constantly confused and conflicted about its performance.

You should read and follow the instructions before your first use, but you will quickly figure out what works best for your hair. For long hair, they recommend using 24 – 32 pumps of cleansing conditioner. They suggest using half the pumps (12 – 16) for the first wash, and repeating with the rest. I always wash and repeat, but instead of pumping all the product into my hand at once, I use 5 pumps to distribute over the sides of my scalp, another 5 pumps on the crown, add a little water to disperse the product, and then the final 5 pumps to clean the back of my head and pull through the ends (15 pumps total for the first wash). I rinse and repeat with 4 pumps for the sides, 4 pumps on the crown, and 4 underneath and through the ends (12 pumps for the second wash).

The most important thing I discovered when using Wen is that you cannot rush the final rinse. After trying to rinse the product out of my hair while standing upright, I flip my head over and rinse it again with cool water, focusing on the scalp. It is very important to wash all the product off the scalp and finish with cool water, otherwise it will leave your hair flat with an oily residue. They recommend applying one pump of product to the ends of your hair as a leave in, but I find that makes my hair look too heavy and needs to be washed sooner.

It takes some getting used to the feeling of applying conditioner to your scalp, especially when using so much product for one wash. The first time I used Wen, I pumped the full 12 pumps into my hand and felt like I had used most of the bottle. If you follow their directions, you will go through the bottles fairly quickly (around one bottle per month), but you will probably find that you can go an extra day or two without washing your hair.

I am conflicted about Wen because, while my hair feels very soft and has great shine, if you are in a rush and do not rinse everything perfectly, or do not rinse with cool water, you have to wash your hair sooner. I also feel like their styling products leave my hair feeling dry and brittle. Despite the rave reviews I have heard about Wen over the years, the cost does not justify the results, for me. I will stick to my all time favourite shampoo and conditioner, Pureology for colour treated hair.

wen sweet almond mint cleansing conditioner

Is Wen worth the hype? The original Sweet Almond Mint formula does not perform as well as it smells.

Oscar 2015 Fashion Recap

The Oscars are one of my favourite events of the year. They showcase new trends in fashion and beauty, introduce us to up and coming actors and actresses, and celebrate major moments in film history.

There were too many beautiful fashion and beauty moments from the evening. Here are some of my favourite trends.

Blushing Belles

Blush is one of my favourite tones. It is flattering on all skin tones, and always looks clean and elegant. Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Anna Kendrick, and Jennifer Lopez were among my favourite looks on the red carpet in the blush trend.

jennifer aniston, oprah winfrey, anna kendrick, jennifer lopez, oscar 2015, oscar, academy awards

Jennifer Aniston (in Atelier Versace), Oprah Winfrey (in Vera Wang), Anna Kendrick (in custom Thakoon), and Jennifer Lopez (in Elie Saab) wearing  blush at the 2015 Academy Awards.

 

Winter White

White was a prominent colour on the red carpet both for women and men. There was a truly magical quality about the icy sparkle on Best Actress winner Julianne Moore, Jena Dewan, and Anna Faris.

Julianne Moore (in Chanel), Jena Dewan (in Zuhair Murad), and Anna Faris (in Zuhair Murad) are white hot at the 2015 Academy Awards.

Julianne Moore (in Chanel), Jena Dewan (in Zuhair Murad), and Anna Faris (in Zuhair Murad) are white hot at the 2015 Academy Awards.

 

Red Hot

Red was not my preferred colour on the red carpet, but Rosamund Pike and Dakota Johnson definitely changed my mind. They stand out on the carpet and in the crowd like true break out stars.

Rosamund Pike (in Givenchy) and Dakota Johnson (in custom YSL) sizzle at the 2015 Academy Awards.

Rosamund Pike (in Givenchy) and Dakota Johnson (in custom YSL) sizzle at the 2015 Academy Awards.

 

Honourable Mention

Emma Stone is one of those remarkable women who is incredibly beautiful, funny, and talented. Like most people, I would love for her to be my best friend. Shout out to her for embodying the epitome of old Hollywood glamour in her sparkly custom gown.

Emma Stone stuns in her chartreuse Elie Saab gown at the 2015 Academy Awards.

Emma Stone stuns in her chartreuse Elie Saab gown at the 2015 Academy Awards.

 

One of my favourite actresses and style icons, Jennifer Lawrence, was noticeably absent from the red carpet. With a handful of movies coming out in 2015, she will surely be back next year.

Jennifer Lawrence as the face of Dior in an upcoming campaign.

Jennifer Lawrence as the face of Dior in an upcoming campaign.

Blog

I am always on the lookout for new beauty trends, products, and even natural cosmetic alternatives. Beauty, however, starts on the inside, and what you put into your body is just as important as what you use on the outside.

Here is a collection of some of my favourite products, tips, and tricks to looking and feeling your best!