October Favorites

October is my favorite month in the whole year. From the changing leaves, my birthday, Halloween, thanksgiving, October is truly a month of celebration. I can ramble on about my love for October, but we are here to talk about one thing only today… favorites. So people here are some beauty things I’ve loved over the past month.

N Spa Hot Cloth Cleanser

I got this back in September and somewhere between here and there I’ve forgotten to mention this. Bad blogger! With a review coming in the upcoming weeks I don’t want to spoil it but this is darn good. The scent is beautiful but most of all my skin loves this. For under $13.00 I don’t think you can go wrong with this bargain. 

Reve De Miel Hand and Nail Cream

With coconut oil, avocado oil and almond oil this is one hydrating hand cream. However unlike other hand creams I’ve tried this doesn’t leave a greasy residue in the slightest. In fact it actually absorbs quite quickly and immediately leaves your hands feeling softer. As far as the scent this has a honey, floral thing going on and it is absolutely wonderful. NUXE really does some amazing stuff. Come to think about it I have rarely been disappointed with this brand.

Revlon Parfumerie Polish in Bordeaux

Wine lovers out will be happy to know this does not smell anything like week old sour red wine. In its place it kind of smells like candy, which I’m sure both wine connoisseurs and non-drinkers would appreciate. Revlon Parfumerie polishes are simply amazing. In terms of longevity, application and pigmentation the have to be some of the best in my collection and Bordeaux has to be my favorite out of the bunch. This pretty burgundy color goes well with just about any outfit and it looks really beautiful on too. I highly recommend Bordeaux it is just all around a winner!

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

I know tons of people who swear by this and now I understand why! This lip balm is hydrating, minty, has no nasty ingredients and it’s inexpensive too. I can safely say that this has to be one of my top three lip balms right now. You can read my whole review here if you want.

Klorane Leave- In Cream with Date

Greasy, stringy hair, leave in cream conditioning products terrify me. All I am saying is I’ve tried some really bad product’s out there and I’ve had some horrible looking greasy hair in return. Klorane’s Leave in cream sounds frightening but trust me it is far from it. This chai scented cream actually hydrates the hair from the inside out so it doesn’t leave the slightest greasiness. I love using leave in conditioners on wet hair out but this also helps smooth out flyways in dry hair too. Plus you heard me right it smells like a chai latte, which makes it a festive yet effective choice for the fall and winter.  

Tom Ford Black Orchid
It was love at first smell with Black Orchid. Okay this might be TMI but we are all friends here right? I got really car sick last summer and while holding down my food all I could smell was this fragrance. Honestly the scent of Black Orchid would make my stomach turn, so we had to take a long break. Fragrances can really trigger some messed up memories may I add. JLO Miami Glow will forever remind me of …

Where am I going with this?

 After my long break with Black Orchid I have a newly found appreciation for it. This is starts off with a large hit of patchouli and chocolate.  Then eventually blooms into a dark floral with undertones of vanilla.  This kind of sweet, sort of spicy, very woodsy fragrance is a must have to any fall fragrance wardrobe.

What have you been loving this month, leave me a comment!

Halloween for the Working Professional

I use to have a naive idea of Halloween. I remember graduating from college landing my first job and thinking it was completely normal to go to work fully dressed up as a lumber jack. Yes suspenders, fake axe and all! To my surprise I was one of two people dressed up. The other girl also new to the workforce dressed up like a princess. We were in our early twenties we looked cute but completely misplaced. Well-found workplace Halloween awkwardness I made a vow to myself to have a more subtle approach to in-office Halloween. So here are my tips to looking festive without crossing that line.

Black Nail Polish

I particularly love black nail polish all year. However during the Halloween I seem to be particularly drawn to the dark vampy shade. I think the classiest way to wear a black nail polish is to keep your nails short and maintained.

I love the Revlon Parfumerie polish in Espresso. In terms of longevity I have yet to encounter a true black that wears this long. The pigmentation is nice on this one as well. I have to admit it doesn’t have the greatest scent, but the bottom line is it’s affordable and wears beautifully.

Bold Lip Colour

I don’t wear a bold lip colors as often as I wish I did. With that being said I love to whip out a great bold lipstick on Halloween, it’s surprisingly festive yet doesn’t look over the top.  My favorite bold lip is Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon. Dragon not only does it wear for hours but the blacken red is so darn sexy.

Halloween-isk scarf (which is the background for the post) 

I am not a fashion blogger, but I think the easiest way to inject festive clothing into your outfit is with a scarf. There great because you can be festive but also have the luxury of taking of your scarf should you have a client call, meeting or whatever that day. In my dream world I would throw on an Alexander McQueen skull scarf and call it a day! However in reality I will just wear my non-designer but very cute bargain scarf I picked up from Ardene last spring.  I also happen to like the way this scarf has just a touch of red in it. It ties into the lipstick shade quite well if you ask me! 

Yes this Halloween inspired post is not a crazy one. I know some people’s work places go all out for Halloween, but this is for the people who have a more understated celebration. Either way I wish each and every one of you have a safe and fun Halloween.

A Much Needed Sunday Pamper

I don't drink often for the fear of feeling like death the next day. With that being said I woke up on my friends couch this morning smelling like a wine cellar. Yes people I have a hang over from hell today. So what does a beauty fanatic do in these unwelcoming events? A sunday night pamper, clearly.

Facial Message

My skin is particularly dry and dull today. In stead of a mask, a facial message seemed to be the perfect way to get some hydration and circulation into my lacklustre cheeks. 

I know some people do facial message with cleanser, however I particularly like doing them with facial oils. With that in mind I used the Glamtox oil serum, its hydrating, smells nice and quite frankly my skin just eats it up. 

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Hannah

Is a sunday night pamper ever complete with out painting your nails? 

The answer is no! 

I perfect colour for this season is the Girls edition Deborah Lippmann polish in Hannah. Not only do happen to really like the show I also love this surprisingly wearable but totally unique shade hunter green shade. 

Dr Hauschka Rose Bath Essence

I have yet to try this, however I can tell you that this smells absolutely amazing. Dr. Hauschka website claims this harmonizes and nourishes, and lets just say I need all the help I can get. 

I will report on how this product goes! 

Well that is all for today. 

I hope all of you had a fantastic weekend and a great Sunday night!

In A Rush!

My personal favorite rush is the morning rush. You've never heard of it? That’s the one where you realized you've hit snooze 4 times and now you only have 10 min to get ready. There is also the evening rush.  This is usually occurs after immersing yourself into a television series when you realize it’s 8:00pm and your dinner reservations were at 7:30pm.  Life is filled with such joyous opportunities to quickly slap makeup on your face and still look presentable. So ladies here are some of my favorites to use when in a pitch.

When you don’t have time to wash your face- Bioderma Sensibio

I wash my face before bed but once in a blue moon I don’t.

Gasp! I know!

I’m never one to recommend you don’t wash your face but if you are sick (or drunk or whatever) and in a rush to get some sleep Bioderma can really be your best friend. Without water, face clothes or any of that Bioderma along with a cotton pad leaves skin perfectly clean. Unlike other makeup removers Bioderma doesn’t leave any nasty greasy residue behind, making it the perfect in a pinch product.

When you don’t have time to wash your hair- Klorane Dry Shampoo

Let’s face it we sometimes run into situations where we don’t have time to wash our hair. For these situations I think every woman should own a bottle of dry shampoo. With a quick spritz your hair looks clean, voluminous and freshly washed. My all-time favorite dry shampoo just got better! Yes, ladies and gent’s they have now released a tinted version of the cult classic Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk. Perfect for brunettes its effective light weight formula stands true to the classic un-tinted version.

When you don’t have time for eye makeup- By Terry Ombre Black Star

I have foundation and concealer mastered into a quick routine that lasts less than a minute. Eye’s however are my downfall. Between selecting a lid shade, choosing a crease color, application and then blending a good 10 minutes just seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. So for days where I need to look polished yet don’t have much time I always choose my By Terry Ombre Blackstar’s. These creamy stick shadows are bendable for a good 30 seconds then set for the whole day. Both colors I own look absolutely stunning paired with a good coat of mascara. I apply these by carelessly filling my lid then blending through my crease with a MAC 217 brush. By the time everything is said and done it’s a look that takes less than a minute.

When you don’t have time for highlighting – NARS Multiple in Copacabana

I love a good highlight, but between all the glitter, powders, brushes, and blending it’s something I usually saved for special occasions. Then Copacabana happened and I’ve never encountered an easier way to highlight my life.  My application method of choice, from the tube draw where you want to highlight and pat in with finger tips.  NARS Multiples have a cream to powder formula. The formula makes them so easy to blend you can do it in the dark. As for the color Copacabana looks dewy and captures the light in a convincingly natural way. If you have a couple of seconds to spare in the morning Copacabana might just be your highlighting BFF.

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

I have been a fan of the Tinted Burt’s Bees lip balm for years. Come to think about it over the years I have tried a few things from Burt’s Bees skincare line and body care line too. There Coconut Foot Cream and Rose Water Toner are great products that I highly recommend. Strangely despite Burt’s Bee’s lip balm cult like status I can honestly say I’ve never tried it. 

A Bee’s wax lip balm… I’m not going to lie the first thing that comes to mind is a rock hard non moisturizing product that slightly resembles the texture of a Bee’s Wax candle. Was I ever wrong! In reality Burt’s Bees Lip Balm is hydrating and the perfect cross of being slick but not too greasy. 

With its yellow, honey comb and bumble bee packaging call me crazy when I say I was expecting a honey flavored product. Maybe I could have even foreseen a citrusy product but mint! I never thought in a million years this was a minty lip balm. I am not even kidding I had an out loud “OMG IT’S MINTY” moment when I first tried this, I even called my mom. Yes, I can’t act cool especially if there is a mint lip balm in the room. With the added touch of mint this took a good balm and put it in the likings of one of my new all-time favourites. 

I just love the soothing minty tingle! 

I'm not the first one to say this but Burt’s Bees has a really good thing going on here.  There Classic lip balm is 100% natural, hydrating and affordable too. With fewer than ten ingredients Burt’s Bees Lip Balm is simplicity at its finest.

Pomegranate Noir Room Spray

I never knew the luxurious Shiseido facial cotton could be so good, nor was I expecting to love Guerlain’s $53.00 Rouge G’s as much as I do. Sometimes luxurious products are so good that they are revolutionary. So ladies put that bottle of Febreze down here is my escapade into the fancy world of fine room fragrance.

My first experience in the world of luxury home fragrance was with Dyptique. Out of the two pristinely packaged candles I bought one was a hit and the other was a horrible miss. On the fence about Dyptique and quite happy with BBW’s Leaves I was not looking into purchasing another lavish candle, home scent diffuser or anything like that.  

Then Jo Malone happened!

Let’s keep it real, $60.00 for a room spray is absolutely crazy. I don’t live a life of luxury, I don’t own a private jet nor do have a closet full of Louis Vuitton… I am a normal girl. Sure I have nice things, but the nice things I do have I save up for. However, I am not kidding you Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir room spray is worth saving your nickels and dimes.

Pomegranate Noir smells like tart pomegranate meets the heady patchouli. The overall effect is sweet yet masculine, combined with a whole lot of sexy. Wholeheartedly the Room Spray stands up to the regular perfume. There’s none of that watered down-ness or strong chemical filler it’s just full on Pomegranate Noir. 

The most surprising part is the longevity of this.

 This is going to sound a little sales pitchy but …

With only a couple of spray’s you can enjoy a 3 hour scent journey with Pomegranate Noir.

Yes 3 hours!  So while this is expensive you need so little that in reality one of these huge bottle will last you a long time. I have been using this in our bedroom and living room almost every day and the bottle barely looks touched.

For me this is one of those pricey items that is so revolutionary it's worth the price tag. If you enjoy Pomegranate Noir you will go mad for this. Jo Malone also has an assortment of other famous scents done for their room spray line. The quality of fragrance, the amount or product and the longevity really make this worth its money.  It’s like your favorite perfume in the comfort of your living room!

Birthday Haul

With a handful of anti-aging products and the other handful of white wine I am another year older today. Well it’s more like yesterday but you know what I mean. Always being the one to love a good haul I thought I should do a birthday haul, after all this is a beauty blog. So all bragging aside I thought I would share some goodies I got/ I bought for my birthday.

Caudalie Grape Water

Surprisingly I have not tried much from Caudalie, which is strange because there product’s seem to be right up my alley. Good ingredients , yup… Sensitive skin friendly, yup…
Made from at a vineyard some where in France … yup! 

So my first dabble with the brand is this Grape Water spray. I’ve tried it a few times and it feels pretty darn amazing on the skin.  

Hourglass Ambient Blush Pallet

When these were first released I made a promise not to read any reviews or even swatch them in the store. If you’ve read my blush tag (here) you will know I have too many blushes. I’m pretty much a blush addict. Then the pallet came out and my heart stopped, the clouds parted and I got it for my birthday. I really want to do some more testing before giving this a detailed review but damn these are some bewilderingly breath-taking blushes.

Sephora Birthday Gift

I love mascara samples! Not only do they last for a long time but they truly give you feel if you’re going to like the product or not. Also added to the gift was pretty Makeup Forever mini lipstick. I have yet to try any Makeup Forever lip products so I am excited to try this out too!

On a side note they should really start selling lipstick mini’s, it’s a perfect way to try a lipstick shade without committing to a whole tube. 

Karma Bubble Bar

I love Lush and use to actually use a lot of their products. Granted at the time I use to live by a Lush store and at the moment the closest one to me is almost an hour away. So like most long distance love affairs Lush and I grew apart.  Sad... I know!

So when I passed a Lush store this weekend I knew I needed to pick up some old favorites of mine. First favorite is the Karma Bubble bar. Second to my love of bubble bath’s is my love for the Karma scent. If your into patchouli and citrus this might be a scent for you.

 I love this stuff but can some of you lush addict’s answer me this did the prices go up recently on these? And did these get smaller?

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap

The first thing I ever tried from Lush was this very soap and to this day I still find it just as yummy. Honey I Washed the Kids smells like honey and toffee and you might be tempted to eat it. You shouldn’t eat it because I have and it still tastes like soap.

I also got a new pajamas for my Birthday and I know we are all friends here but ... I don't think your ready for that side of me. Also not pictured is my table runner. I know what your thinking nothing screams out 27 like a new runner. I'm sure the runner will be featured in many posts in the future as a background to a beauty product so fear not!

Three Things to Try- Guerlain

Guerlain is one of the world’s oldest perfume houses. So it should come to no shock when I state that they are masters in the world of beauty. From Marilyn Monroe’s infamous lipstick shade to creating a perfume that inspired the flappers in the 20’s with every product I purchase not only am I getting a truly luxurious product but I feel like buying a piece of history too.

When deciding to do the “three things to try” posts I knew Guerlain was a brand I needed to touch on. I don’t want you to think I’m sipping Don Paragon in a cashmere dressing robe while applying a Rouge G. Personally Guerlain’s products are definitely ones that are I save up for therefore cherish them greatly. They are also ones I research the heck out of and take my time buying because this girl doesn’t want duds. So here are my top three things to try from Guerlain.

Meteorites

Could a Guerlain top product list be complete without this? I don’t think so!

The original Meteorites was first released in 1987 and it was the first of its kind. The multicoloured pearls work to perfect the complexion while giving a subtle glow.  For me Meteorites are that product that you don’t initially see on the skin, and then almost magically your skin just looks better.
 I apply this by swirling a large fluffy brush and applying it over foundation, kind of like a setting powder. They literally take seconds to put on yet make all the world of difference.

It goes without saying but the packaging is unquestionably exquisite too!

I also have the pressed limited edition version. This version took me forever to track down, I love it but I won’t go too much into it because it was limited edition.

What I am getting to is if they ever decide to re-release this do yourself a favor and purchase it, it’s the same Meteorites finish but travel friendly.

Shine Automatique Rose Pompon

I feel downright classy when I say this but Guerlain’s Rose Pompon is my signature colour. You know how people say you will know your perfect lipstick shade because it gives the face life? This is that shade for me! This pinky mauve is wearable with just about any look and for any occasion.

Although this is lipstick is slightly shimmery it is not gritty in the slightest. Instead the formula is amazing, buttery, perfectly sheer, yet still pigmented, shiny, hydrating and smells great too. What more can you ask for? Oh the push up packaging is not only beautiful and cool but it’s extremely handy too.

For me Rose Pompon has it all… 

Terracotta Mineral Bronzer

I really do love NARS Laguna and I’m not trying to cheat on her here but I also love my Guerlain Terracotta Mineral Bronzer. The whole Terracotta line was established in 1984 and claims to make one instantly healthy while capturing that healthy glow.

I am not cheating on you Laguna, but Guerlain is on to something here. This matte bronzer is the perfect shade for my winter skin. I know it’s hard for us pale gals to find bronzer shades but this one is perfectly pale and pretty darn amazing! While it is not shimmery I will say it’s not deathly mattifying either. It’s like glowly but in that healthy skin kind of way.

“I hate loose powders” I know, I know loose powders can be scary, messy and a carpet catastrophe waiting to happen. I think Guerlain really thought this through because this has a mesh protector that prevents product from flying out and also makes application easier. For me this is that perfect colour, easy to blend, great to travel with and just an amazing all-rounder bronzer.

I think Guerlain is a great line. For the most part there products are always spot on trend, luxury and quality. I also love there Rouge G’s as well as there blushes, just saying. So yes ladies there you have it my 3 products to try from Guerlain.  What are some of your favorites leave me a comment?