Exfoliation for Reactive Skin

Exfoliation help’s promote healthy looking skin. Everyone needs a good exfoliation not only does it slough of dry skin, but it helps everything from makeup apply more evenly to your moisturizer moisturize better.

And about 50 other things! 

For years I used exfoliating products that weren’t right for my skin. Most of them featured harsh acids, rough particles… particles? Scrubbies? You know what I mean!

The worst were the ones that had a combination of the both.

I am happy to report there is a new generation of great products out there for girls with sensitive skin. Both of these are perfect for people with acne as well, because both are gentle enough to not aggravate already angry skin.

  

Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub 

The Purifying Scrub is a gel like consistency that again is made for all skin types. While the Clarins scrub is creamier this one is more purifying. Purifying, but don’t get me wrong it doesn’t make you skin feel striped either. While many products only offer a physical exfoliation this one offer’s both physical and chemical.

I know right, chemical exfoliation safe for sensitive skin? 

Yes, you heard me right.

 Avene have also added their famous soothing thermal water to this scrub to make your skin feel instantly conformable.

For more information click here

Clarins Gentle Refiner

The Gentle Refiner is a cream based exfoliator with mimosa extract. The beads in the baby are pleasant but still effective. Trust me you will feel a difference to your skin right away! This doesn’t leave you skin feeling striped nor does it leave is too oily. But the winning ingredient is the soothing mimosa extract which helps instantly eliminate irritation.

  

Exfoliating is a critical part to healthy looking skin.

However!

Coming from my own personal experience exfoliation doesn’t have to mean painful.

So put that sadistic scrub down ladies and get on the peaceful exfoliation train with one of these amazing products!

*this post features pr samples

Thank You

Let’s get a little personal today.

It’s been a little over 6 months since I’ve been blogging.

You may or may not know this but I started blogging because I worked with all men. 

In an industry comprised of mainly men!

While I like joking with the guys, there are only so many fart jokes one women can hear…

Kidding kidding, where was I?

While I love my 9 to 5 job I miss being girly. I mean they just can’t handle hearing about blush, correctors, mascaras or moisturizers.

 So I want to sincerely thank you for all your support.

All your comments, likes, tweets put a smile onto my face literally each and every time.

It means so much to me and I want to just take some time to say Thank You!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for posts. 

I would love to hear what you think.

Tanya

Makeup Removal is a Process

My whole skin care philosophy is your stuck with the skin you have so you might as well take care of it. So why shouldn’t it be a process?

Yes, that’s right I have a skincare philosophy. For those of you who don’t ‘get it’ you probably think I have way too much time on my hands too!

Truth is I love taking off my makeup, putting on a pair of pj’s and then snuggling up to a warm bed.

So to keep reading to find out my makeup removal routine…

Part 1: Cleanse

The cleanser I am using right now is the NUXE Comfort Cleansing Milk. This smells great, its non-irritating and perfect for my dry sensitive skin. Overall I really like this, but one side of me thinks it’s been perfect at soothing my irritated skin.But another side feels it should remove my makeup better. Like many NUXE products this is loaded with great ingredients like coconut oil and macadamia oil.

Philosophy’s purity is also another great product to use and a go to of mine.

Part 2:Bioderma

Here is a product that needs no introduction. I don’t tone my skin but I do use Bioderma everyday after cleansing my skin. This magical water ensures I get all my facial makeup off. What I like about Bioderma is it feels like water, yet it’s very effective. Bioderma is such a cult product but for good reason, this stuff is great.

Part 3:Eye Makeup Remover

Holy Klorane! I thought this company only did hair products so I was shocked to find out they did skincare too. Firstly I avoided using eye makeup removers for years. Most of them I found burnt my eyes and the others left oily residue around my eyes. Klorane’s is the complete opposite super effective, non-greasy and has the same ph balance as tears. Which means even people with extremely sensitive eyes can use this. I have thoroughly been loving this, even the scent of this is beautiful!

For my Canadian ladies you can find Klorane’s skincare range at Rexall Pharmacies.

Seems like a lot I promise this takes no longer then a couple of minutes.

I would love to hear what some of your favorites are so don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Now back to work to go. Wishing I could take off my makeup but that would be downright crazy! 

Yup, I lead a very wild life.

*this post contains PR samples

Night In With the Girls

I love a girl’s night in! Honestly, between having a chill wine and cheese or just staying in and watching TV it has to be my favourite way to hang out with friends.

There’s something about taking off you makeup, wearing yoga pants, eating pizza and drinking a glass of wine that puts me at ease.

You can consider the girl’s night in the polar opposite as the girl’s night out. So ladies get your scrunchy ready these are my essentials for a ladies night in.

Bioderma

Yes, it’s time to take it all off.

But keep your clothes on because I’m talking about makeup you pervert. 

I love taking of my makeup almost as much as I love putting it on. While I’m at home I have a three step cleansing routine, which in all honesty isn’t a realistic régime when traveling. So when I am on the go I bring my Bioderma and my Bioderma only.

It’s a perfect product to quickly remove makeup and it’s as gentle as water.

*Don’t forget to bring cotton rounds or cotton squares!

Mask? Maybe not!

We all have different skin types, sensitivities or preferences. So to avoid any breakout or irritations I avoid masks at girl’s night. Years ago I bought a drug mask which left both my guests and I with very irritated skin. Lesson learnt I just avoid masks all together!

Hand and Nail

What is a girl’s night without a bottle of wine or a bottle nail polish?

While I skimp out of facial treatments I love painting my nails with my friends. It’s the kind of activity we’ve all been doing for years yet never gets old.

Another fun thing to add to the mix is hand cream; it’s a nice little treat for the hands to get some extra love. I mean you can really run with this theme and so scrubs and cuticle treatments too!

I have to say most girls night spent in usually require take-out and an episode (or two of) Beverly Hills Housewives. For me a girl’s night in is a great time for good conversation and relaxation. Which is just my kind of evening!

A Badass Night Out with the Girls

I am a homebody, I love staying in, having a good face mask while wearing oversized pj’s. I just don’t feel like me wearing a mini skirt, low cut shirt, heals, and a pound of makeup. Do you know what I mean?

So while others do sexy I depend on my inner rock goddess to make me look chic on the ladies night out. 

So if your like me… a house cat that is not the slightest badass but likes to look like one from time to time. Ladies night out is the perfect time to do so.

Silvery and Creased Shadow 

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Epatant is perfect for this look. So I know Chanel isn’t the first thing you think of when you think of rock and roll. And yes, I don’t particularly like this cream shadow… it creases like crazy and it’s a bit too sparkly for day-to-day usage. But lived in eye silvery lame eye shadow that looks like it’s been slept in works for this look.

To keep things flattering I apply this only to the lid and blend though my crease with a MAC 217 brush.

Glossy Smudgy Black liner

I love that lived in eyeliner look! The perfect product for this look is the Stila Eye Kajal. Truth is told I avoid this liner for everyday use. I find by the end of the day I look like I’ve consumed way too much tequila and maybe have even taken a snooze.

Way to build this product up!

What the eye Kajal is great for is for that rocker lived in look. To avoid looking crazy I apply this close to the lash line (like any pencil) and blend it out with a pencil brush.

Highlight

Nars Albatross is my go to highlighter when going out. While this might be a little too much during the day in pictures this looks stunning. This looks white in the pan I promise you it shows up gold on the skin. Amazing highlight for darker skin tones too!

Mattifying Powder

Especially when being photographed you don’t want to overly shiny. While my skin is especially dry my chin is usually the area that gets greasy first. So to keep the oils down and my makeup lasting longer I like to use the BECCA Blotting Powder Perfector. For long time I hesitated using any blotting/mattifying powder because they have always emphases my dry skin. BECCA Blotting Powder doesn’t its lightweight, translucent, travel friendly and non cakey. While this product is perfect for dry skin ladies, it also contains no oil for those of you who have oily skin.

All that’s missing is my spiked belt I wore in high school and a pair of chuck tailors!

I hope you are all having a happy Saturday!

Thank you for reading,

Tanya

Product’s I WILL Use Up

While fashionistas have dresses with tags on them us beauty aficionados have product we love but don’t use. These are the products that sit in your collection and it isn’t until you run into them months after you ask your self ‘why haven’t I used this yet’?

So here are my products not that I want to use, but that I will use.

MAC Modern Pewter Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

In all honesty I gravitate toward pallets in the morning. Which means a lot of my single MAC eye shadows go unloved. Modern Pewter is a prime example of this! The color is a stunning cool gold, with silver and green undertones. The pigmentation of this is incredible and the color is distinctive but wearable I have no idea why this has sat in my collection for so long.

Guerlain’s Mineral Bronzing Powder

It’s the perfect color for my pale skin and blends in effortlessly. Why don’t I use this?

I think the black container blends into where I store my makeup so I always forget it’s there. But I am now using this and loving this!

  

BECCA Eye Tint in Lapis

Lapis is a purple grey color, which looks very neutral with a touch of color. Very flattering if you ask me! BECCA’s eye tints are just that they are a sheer wash of color. I have ever had creasing issues with this product and it lasts all day. Why don’t I wear this every day, no idea.

Chanel’s Coco Shine in Aventure

This is one of my favorite pinks, which I have blogged about on numerous occasions. I have no idea how this always ends up being put away. This stunning color is pink with golden mirco-glitter. While it looks like a gloss on the lip it actually feels more like a lip balm. I love the formula of the Rouge Coco Shines; I’m not sure how this one got left in the dark.

I hate when products you love don’t get used.

If you have product’s that you love that you just forget/misplace/blends into your makeup area and can’t find, leave a comment below.

Adventures with NUXE

My adventure truly starts with the Reve De Meil. This cult classic lip balm was a discovery I made last year. Which was first brought to my attention by the fairy godmother of makeup, the incredible, Lisa Eldridge. Later my purchase was confirmed when I saw everyone talking about this miracle product. So I gave in and bought a pot of these for myself and fell in love. Without adding any shine or slime to the lips this nourishes the lips amazingly.

While doing a little research on this I found out this was in fact tested in harsh Canadian winters. I’m no test subject but with the polar vortex, ice storms and cold weather this has never done my lips wrong.

Because I loved this lip balm is peaked my curiosity to explore more of NUXE. So my adventure begins…

In a nutshell, NUXE is a French skincare brand that is based on nature. Many of their products hold patented formulas, all are made to smell and feel amazing and the brad focuses on being affordable yet effective. What’s not to love?

My next journey into the brand was using the Merveillance Serum and Moisturizer. Both of these product’s work against soothing fine lines and plumping up the skin. Yes, I don’t have many wrinkles but when I read these both contain hyaluronic acid I knew it would out well for my skin. After using both of these I can tell you it does a great job and hydrating my dry skin. Both smell like mimosa and it’s been a pleasure using them over the winter months.

Comfort Cleansing Milk with Rose smells absolutely divine, feels soothing and hydrating. However to be honest with you I wish it removed my eye makeup a little better. Personally I love a cleanser that is a one-stop shop, cleanser and makeup remover while still being hydrating and soothing. So while I don’t hate this I can’t say it’s my favorite cleanser ever.

My final stop (for now) on this NUXE voyage was the infamous Huile Prodigieuse. This smells like heaven and feels amazing on the skin. While some oils leave you greasy this one dries instantly. In addition if you use this on your hair the results are smooth, shiny and healthy looking hair. Now NUXE’s website recommend’s you use this on your face. The treatment they suggest is adding ten drops into the palm of your hand and messaging it into your face. I haven’t tried this on my face yet but this treatment seems like a good place to start.

Overall my experiences with NUXE have been amazing. The scent, packaging and quality of these products are incredible. While some might not be my favorites I have found new holy grails that I can’t live without, like the lip balm and the Huile Prodigieuse.

Did you know there’s a Reve De Miel moisturizer and hand cream?

These might have to be in the part two of this NUXE adventure.

I would love to hear your thoughts of NUXE so feel free to leave a comment below!

Tarte Exposed

I never thought I would like this blush, the colour looked way too brown. So to avoid looking like an omp lumpa I avoided this product. If you read blogs and reviews online people go crazy about it, saying how good it is, how amazing is last’s and how perfect this is in general.

I was left with inner turmoil to say the least, how can I be called Tarte Tanya with out this Tarte blush? So, I caved in and bought it.

If I had to name this blush it would be called The Game Changer. First off don’t let the packaging scare you this blush is actually a dusty rose that isn’t too brown nor too pink. While this doesn’t add a pop of color to the check it adds subtle definition.  The kind of definition that blushes don’t bring. It’s like a contour and blush all in one … its amazing and possibly magical.

Since purchasing this I have not put it down.

Now I’m left will internal chaos again, but on a whole new level.

Will I ever go back to my other blushes again?

Bath and Body Care For Achy Bodies

  I am not an athlete to say the least by my third day of snowboarding I am feeling sore. Extremely store! So like any beauty junkie I’ve hit my stash and in search of a cocktail of appealing remedies to use. 

Massage

I have such a love for body oils. While I love them for there pretty scents combined with their ultra moisturizing properties, I sometimes almost forget that they’re meant for messages. The first thing in my bag for this weekend was the Aveda Active Oil. The Aveda Active oil smells like sweet mint, moisturizes like nobody’s business and is great for sore muscles. I must admit I have been using this ‘active’ oil for my very inactive life, but this does a great job at soothing muscles. 

*Tip on message, start off by lightly messaging legs and arms then gradually apply pressure. I am no expert but I read this online so I thought I would pass it along!

 Bath

There are bath salts, bombs, floating islands, melts, bubbles, oils, and so much more. If you are in pain, get in a tub bottom line! The heat helps with circulation, which helps reduce muscle pain. I’m no doctor and can’t give medical advice but this works! To make my bath experience a little more luxurious I added some Eco Pure bath salts to the tub and enjoyed. I like this bath salt because it smells like almonds and leaves your skin buttery.

 Mask

Okay so my face has been completely exposed to the elements for 3 days now! I must say my dry skin has had a nice break from the constant heat. On the other hand throwing yourself against cold winds isn’t exactly gentle either. I have been using the Avene’s Soothing Moisture Mask as an emergency product for months now. While I have been using this sample sparingly I think its time to invest in the real thing. The Soothing Moisture Mask is a perfect product for irritated, red and even sun burnt skin. What I like most about it you can fall asleep with it on and wake up the next day with glowy healthy skin.

Yes you heard that right… you can sleep with it on.

This mask saved my butt from a skincare catastrophe last fall so I’m confident in its soothing abilities. Remove this mask with the Avene’s thermal water … instant spa!

Ice Bath

I read online that ice baths are essential. While I don’t deny there muscle repairing abilities I will leave this one up to you. Unwinding in an ice bath after being in the frigid cold does not seem like my cup of tea.

Which reminds me a cup of tea is just a nice touch to any Saturday evening!

And on that note I will wish you all a happy Sunday.

To my friends in Canada and US I hope your having a great long weekend!

Thank you for reading,

Tanya

Hill Top Essentials

This weekend I am going to Quebec with Jay. As this might sound like a romantic holiday, be assured that it not. Accompanied with 6 of his friends, we are hitting the slopes. So what does a beauty addict bring on a trip that consists of beer, 7 dudes and snowboarding, well keep reading to find out.

Concealer

My every day essential! For this trip in particular I want to bring something low coverage and easy to use as possible, which leaves me with my new purchase L’Oreal CC eye concealer. While the coverage is sheer it actually does a good job and brightening the under eye area. I’ve only had this for a couple of weeks, but so far is a nice bendable, brightening, semi-transparent concealer.

Shadow Pencils

While I don’t think I will be getting use out of this over the weekend, its nice to bring just incase. I might want to look sultry on my snowboard? Options are good right?

Shadow pencils are great to pack because they are slim, light, and very travel friendly. The one I am packing along with me is the By Terry Blackstar in Bronze Moon. By far this is the longest wearing cream eye shadow product I’ve encountered. This is the kind of product that makes me wonder why I own ay other eye products. Yes, these are a pain in the butt to locate in Canada but if you can find them they are well worth the money.

Mascara

Just because I’m going to be wearing goggles does not mean I can’t have great lashes, right? This product needs to introduction or explanation because I’ve you’ve read my blog you will know I talk about this every other week. Essence Extreme Crazy Volume will be coming along for the ride!

SPF

When my mom told me to pack an SPF with me on my first snowboarding trip I thought she was crazy. Logic tells us hot weather = sun burns, right? Wrong! When you come of the hill with goggle burn lines across your face be assured it’s not a cute look. I’m talking from personal experience! I am bringing my favorite sunscreen La Vanilla Baby Block. Not only is this a very effective SPF 40 sun block, but it’s also great for people with sensitive skin issues.

Heavy Duty Lip Balm

Last but maybe most important lip balm. Cracked chapped lips are hell! So while there are 100’s of cute options to bring with you I like to bring my heavy duty Cold Cream Lip Balm. Not only is this intensely hydrating the large tube makes for easy application even with bulky gloves. Because it’s also sheer it’s very scarf friendly too!

Well ladies I'm off to the slopes. 

I hope your all enjoying your week and hope you have a great weekend. 

The NARS Narsissist Palette

Did I need it? No, but did I want it? Absolutely! I’m such a sucker for neutral pallets, but when I passed up the Naked 3 for something “better” I knew that this pallet was the one.

First off I love NARS eye shadows, not only are they usually pigmented, but they blend incredibly well.

As for this pallet there is a great mix of matte colors, shimmery glitters, and metallic sheens. While the lighter colors are on the powdery side the darks are highly pigmented and smooth. 

I love wearing matte colors may I add just randomly to this little rant!

So enough with the chit-chat and on the question everyone wants to know. Is it worth it?

The pallet is almost $90.00 Canadian, so yes it’s more then the Urban Decay pallet. The pans are a bit small; to be honest these shadows were kind of hard to swatch.

Some of the lighter colors are kind of chalky, its true.

But some how NARS you have done it!

This has every possibly eye shadow I could ever want, smoky blues to a coppery bronze and everything in-between. It’s an extremely smart pallet, easy to travel with and for the most part extremely pigmented. This is the kind of pallet I can’t wait to use every morning and the kind of pallet that makes me excited about playing with makeup.

So yes, ladies this pallet is worth it!

The Real Girls Guide to Valentines Day Makeup

You might be on a romantic first date, you might be staying in with your husband. However, if you’re like me you’re not about to spend 3 hours doing your makeup no matter whom your dating/where you’re going.

So ladies for you I went right to the source and asked all the men closest to me, like my Fiancé, my uncle, my dad and my three little cousins’ “what makes a women pretty?”. 

Jay said cleanliness; my uncle insisted that the trampy look was not pretty, my dad said as long as she did argue she was pretty right off the bat. As for my 13-year-old cousin after telling him big boobs and Megan Fox weren’t acceptable answers. He confessed as long as she looked feminine that is pretty.

 One thing kept on coming up in conversation was confidence. Confidence is beautiful. So while this was suppose to be a red lip with a cat liner look, I will leave this up to you. Wear what ever makes you feel amazing. From the multi color glitter looks to just wearing lip balm do what works for you.

So here are my favorites and the products I feel the most confident wearing.

I like to start every look with a little bit of Avene’s Cold Cream applied on my forehead. As an eczema sufferer the last thing I want is an itchy forehead, especially on a date. Next I apply Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum to the center of my face and blend outwards. Now for my makeup must have concealer.  I feel the best using my concealer dream team. Which consists of a touch of Bobbi Brown’s Corrector with Clinique’s Airbrush concealer applied on top. As for the eyes I keep things easy and relaxed. I apply a touch of MAC’s Shroom to the lid and blend in Le Metier de Beaute’s Tamarack into the crease. Both colors give an incredible natural feel but give you a little extra definition. Finishing up the eye I add Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara to the lashes. I know this mascara doesn’t clump or flake throughout the day. The eyes are now complete! For blush I use Tarte’s Exposed Blush. Not only does that look incredibly natural but lasts for hours too! For lips I go to one of my favorite pink’s Dior’s Addict Lipstick in Dior Kiss. I know this lipstick requires little maintenance and feels really comfortable too! I finish the whole look up by dusting Meteorites to the face, not because it’s a must, but because it makes me feel pretty!

No matter who your valentine is pick products that you feel amazing in.

Feel free to leave a comment below I would love to know what your makeup picks are this Valentines Day. 

Thanks for reading and hope you are having a terrific weekend.

Oh, and for all you Canadians suffering with eczema Avene has a Canadian page where you can read more about there line up.

I’m not getting paid to do this but just from one sufferer to another it’s helped me gain my confidence back into my skin. 

http://www.eau-thermale-avene.ca/fr_CA

Okay now I’m done!

Have a great weekend.

Think Pink

Tis the season of love! February is here and Valentines Day is around the corner.

Which means if you’re a beauty junkie like me you like matching your makeup to upcoming Holiday’s. If you’re not a beauty junkie pinks an easy color to wear so not to worry. 

Pink Eye Shadow

Hot pinks can be hard to work with and to be honest my makeup skills at 6:00am rely on easy slap on your face looks. The easiest product to achieve this fresh romantic look is Rose Tulle base by Shiseido. Rose Tulle is a light pink with subtle shimmer running through it. I’ve worn the heck out of mine and I can honestly say it’s never creased.

I love this color it looks stunning alone.

Pink Lipstick

Goodness there is tons out there! One that is a simple go to is Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine in Confidence. It’s not too dark, it’s not too light, it has some shimmer but feels like a balm. I don’t need a mirror to apply it either, which I really like. 

Revlon’s Lip Butters have a ton of cute shades too! One of my favorites is Sweet Tart.

Pink Gloss

Lancôme’s Gloss In Love in Pink Carat has stunning, breathtaking, jaw dropping pink glitter in it. The best part is it doesn’t feel gritty on your lips. I love this color alone but it looks stunning layered on top of lipstick too.

Pink Blush

Pink blush just magically awakens the face. A great drug store find and a favorite is the ELF blush in Tickled Pink. This blush has great pigmentation and a great color to wear everyday. Honestly I am shocked how well ELF blushes perform. Ticked Pink unparticular the rivals any department store pink blush.

Pink Nail Polish

I hate pink nail polish. I have no idea why, but it just looks strange on my fingers. Emprise on the other hand looks a little peach-esh, which makes it so much more wearable then the other pink offerings out there. There’s also a lovely white shimmer that run’s through this which is really pretty too.

There you have it a whole pink toned makeup look!

As a tip I would recommend you switch up different shades of pink, or the whole look might look a little scary. But then again, makeup is suppose to be fun so play around with what you have.

A Thing For Spring

Dearest winter can you please be on your way! I’m not sure if it’s the constant driving in crap weather or the minus 40-degree weather we’ve been experiencing, but I’m getting over it. It’s not even enjoyable cold its literally gut wrenchingly cold outside. So with spring just being around the corner I thought I would share some of my top springy makeup picks.

Essie Nice is Nice

There are pastel pinks and cute mint greens but nothing screams more spring to me then Essie’s Nice is Nice. This pastel lavender is a color that I gravitate to, it reminds me of cute Easter eggs and just looks absolutely adorable on.

Illamasqua Fragile

I contract my previous statement there’s another nail polish that screams spring to me and it’s Illamasqua Fragile. The cute pale blue and black dots look like a robins egg, its absolutely adorable! It also kind of reminds me of Cadbury Mini Eggs, which remind me of Easter chocolate baskets.

Now I’m hungry for chocolate!

Usually I tend to stay away from glitter polishes mainly because I hate taking them off. But Fragile is so cute and unique it’s worth the 10 min removal process.

Stilla’s Convertible color in Peony

It’s almost cream blush season! I will be kicking up the start with this blush. Peony is a dusty rose color; it blends into your cheeks like a breeze and lasts all day. It’s one of those products that look’s like a natural blush even on fair skin girls!

I got this cute, portable mini from Sephora (100 point perk) so keep your eye out for these.

Lancôme’s French Touch Lipstick

I don’t think you can get these anymore. But basically I’m excited to start wearing orange again. While I still lack the confidence to rock a full on orange lipstick, Lancôme’s provides sheer color with an orange tint.

Not going to lie the packaging of this lipstick is stunning!

Bourjois Poudre de Riz

A soft sheen powder with an ever so slight rosy undertone! While I’ve worn this in the winter I might get a little nuts over the spring and set my makeup with this.

I promise this will be my last rant on the freezing weather.

I’m sure the Canadians out there can agree the minus 30’s are painful!

I hope you lovely ladies are having a wonderful start of the week.