Around the Home: Affordable Spring Touches

Lately I’ve been looking around the home and thinking “damn it sure is dark in here”. Granted our home doesn’t boast too much colour, but at the same time it needs a little spring pick me up. Staying true to our style and without breaking the bank, here are my some of my favourite inexpensive spring touches for the home.

Fresh Tulips

I love fresh flowers, but the bottom line is most of time they can be expensive. Then there are tulips! In my humble option nothing screams spring more than tulips and at $5.00 a bundle they are cost-effective too.

Kitchen Towels

Not only are dish towels practical, but can also add the perfect touch of color to your kitchen. Unable to rock a full-on Easter themed kitchen I settled for two pastel towels. A set 5 of the green cost me $7.00 and the blue and white was $1.99 for one.

Plants

Most of us have house plants and most the time house plants sit in the background of our homes. To make things more spring-y I have taken my house plants and brought them forward. For example my ivy plant which now sits on my coffee table. Cost free!!

Random thought… Mini Eggs also make a great inexpensive Easter themed decoration. Unfortunately Jay and I are unable to resist eating them all! 

These are inexpensive ways to spruce of the house for spring. Totally different post for me today, let me know if you would like more design themed posts.

What are some of your favourite ways to decorate for spring, leave me a comment!

The Best Beauty Oil’s

If you would have told me 10 years ago that putting oil on your face, body or hair was a good idea, I would have thought you were crazy. These days I am an oil advocate and I use at least one kind of beauty oil every day. So with a handful different beauty oils I thought I would share with you some of my favorites.

Aveda Composition Oil's

I have two of these the Beautifying and Active, both are brilliant and for two very different reasons.
Beautifying Oil is a perfect bedside product because it smells relaxing and it’s amazingly multitasking. Actually, out of the two oils I can say I use the Beautifying more. This does-just-about-everything oil has more than 8 different uses such as, a bath soak, aromatherapy oil, skin oil, body oil, message oil, cuticle oil, food moisturizer and scalp conditioner. 

Active Oil is a minty oil that is perfect at soothing sore muscles. I went on a snowboarding trip last year and this oil was my saving grace. Recently I have discovered that this oil helps decongest colds too.

NUXE Oil Prodigieuse

NUXE Oil Prodigieuse is a fantastic multipurpose oil, perfect for the face, skin and hair. Unlike other oils this one has beautiful dry texture to it, which means all the nourishment you need but without that greasy texture. I personally love this oil used as a body moisturizer because of its dry, non-sticky finish. For more information click here!

Clarins Rebalancing Oils

Clarins Blue Orchid Oil is a fantastic choice for dry skin, sensitive or aging skin. If I ever have severely dry, chapped/winter skin this is one of my must haves. Fear not ladies Clarins has Rebalancing Oil’s for every skin types, so its definitely worth checking out.

 Plamers Skin Therapy Oil
With anti-aging, hydration and brightening benefits you would think this oil would cost a fortune.

Not only are the ingredients good, the actual product itself feels amazing on the skin. I have an depth review here. Palmers has my pick for being one of the best drugstore options out there.

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil
This cult shower oil was something I wanted to try for years and now that I have I am hooked. This leaves my skin more hydrated and more soft then any other shower product I've ever tried, plus it has the added benefit of smelling delicious too.
Works better then anything I've tried ever as a shaving gel too!

Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
Shower oil, aromatherapy oils, facial oils, body oils and now lip oils... With its huge applicator and hydrating properties Clarins lip comfort oil is addictive. Again I have a whole review dedicated to this gem right here.

What are some of your favourite oils? leave me a comment! 

Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture Review

Maybe it’s the whole 90’s makeup trend, but I have been itching for nude eye shadow pallet as of late. At first I was looking at the Viseart, but with its high price and “out of stock” status I was on the market for something else. Eventually looking for dupes and reading online reviews led me to this Sonia Kashuk pallet. With its low price pint and wide variety of nude mattes I thought it be an affordable option for those who are seeking something similar.

So many brands have tried but only a few brands have perfected the elusive matte eye shadow. I’m not sure why, but most matte’s out there are patchy, powdery and lack pigment. Blame it on my past experiences, but I did not have good expectations for this drugstore pallet… 

I was so wrong, because all of the shades are exquisitely pigmented. Even the black shadow in this pallet is seriously remarkable. Dare I say it’s probably the one best quality black shadows in my entire collection? I will say that the three lightest shades are so similar that they look alike on the eye. This might be a plus if you love pale nude shades, but a negative if you like more variation.  The real magic in these eye shadows is there blend-ability. Eye on Neutral can make even the most novice apply there makeup like a pro. 

Fun fact: I happen to be so pale at the moment you can't see the three lightest shades on me. 

Matte eye shadows can be a girl’s best friend. They are great worn alone and work well to blend out more shimmery shades. The Sonia Kashuk is small, convenient and boasts some of the best matte shadows I’ve ever tired. Totally worth checking this one out ladies!

*My Target (Canada) has 100’s of these all marked down to $12.60* 

Bed Time Essentials

I was one of those kids who hid dolls under their bed and a Game Boy under their pillow, I dreaded bedtime. These days bedtime is my favorite time.  Personally, not only is it a great time to unwind, but it’s also a great time to sneak in a quick (or long) pamper. Whatever pamper style I might choose these are my tried and true bedtime essentials.

Bath and Body Works Sleep Lotion

If you were a fan of Johnson Johnson’s bed time bath you will love this. Partly sweet, the other part lavender scented this lotion is soothing and comforting. With its lightweight texture, I find that this lotion is hydrating but doesn’t leave you or your bedsheets tacky.

Aveda Beautifying Composition Oil  

With a base of lavender, bergamot and rosemary you can bet this smells like tranquility in a bottle. Beautifying oil is more than just a pretty scent this bedside favorite is a mulch-tasking wonder. You can use this as hydrating cuticle oil, a foot moisturizer, a bath soak, a body moisturizer, a facial oil, a scalp conditioner, a message oil (brilliant for facial massage too) and last but not least sleep inducing aroma therapy treatment. With 8 different uses and for only $30 per bottle I think this is a bargain.  

Lip Balm

Although I don’t have a picture, I use lip balm religiously before bed. I use to use NUXE’s Reve De Miel exclusively, but now I pretty much use anything. Currently beside my bed is Nivea Kiss of Milk and Honey lip balm and Avene Cold Cream lip balm. Both are exceptional nourishing choices for really dry lips.

Night Time Tea

I’m not loyal to any particular brand, because every time I find a sleepy tea I love it gets discontinued. At the moment I am using Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night Tea. I’m not sure if this tea makes me sleepy but its minty flavor sure is soothing. I also love Yogi’s Calming Tea and Restful Sleep before bed too!

First Aid Beauty Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream

There are a lot of great overnight products, but this cream is among the best. This moisturizer-mask hybrid is light but still nourishing. I think many skin types can benefit from this beauty, you can read my full depth review here.

I use to dread going to bed as a kid and now it's one of my favorite places to be. What are some of your favorite bed time essentials? Leave me a comment!

FAB Sleeping Cream Review

Overnight facials oils, sleeping creams and even nightly hair treatments interest me. Some might view these as lazy-girl products, but I personally consider these efficient! New to my list over overnight goodies is the First Aid Beauty Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream.

Targeted for the aging skin types this cream aims to sooth, deeply dehydrated skin. Don’t be alarmed young in’s this is good for all ages. Come to think about it this cream is an excellent choice for many. Using the same base as there Ultra Repair cream the sleeping cream at a core nourishes and hydrates itchy, dry skin. Also, just like Ultra repair this cream also contains Collodial Oatmeal, again great for soothing irritated skin and reducing redness.

I know what you’re thinking, what’s the difference?

If these moisturizers were …cars (am I really doing this now?) Ultra Repair would be the trusty base model and Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream would be the upgraded version.  So you’re getting all the soothing hydration, but in addition you’re also getting peptides, anti-oxidants and niacinamide. Without getting too science-y niacinamide is prevents the skin from losing water, while stimulating circulation at the same time. Interestingly it can also eliminate those pesky red spots left over from previous spots.   

I don’t think that there is a one size fits all moisturizer out there. With that being said I think a lot of skin types can seek benefit from this. Dare I say it? I find this moisturizer quite addictive and something I genuinely look forward to using each night. Yes it’s has a balmy, emollient texture, but at the same time it’s not greasy in the slightest. With a long list of great ingredients and at an affordable price I think the Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream is something worth checking out.

Klorane Dry Shampoo Reivew

Klorane’s dry shampoo was the first dry shampoo I’ve ever tried. A recommendation from a magazine, I thought this would be the ultimate lazy girl product. Despite always having a bottle kicking around, I was never able to break the habit of washing my hair daily. Yes, I have the horrible habit of washing my hair daily. Before I start getting hate mail let’s not focus on the past, because this girl has changed her ways.

Originally formulated for the hospital environment Klorane’s dry shampoo has been around for 40 years.  Word quickly spread about this miracle product all the way to the fashion industry and that’s where the cult status dry shampoo was born. Today there are three different variations of the dry shampoo, Oil Absorbing with nettle, Gentle with Oat extract and Natural Shade with Oat Milk.

Over the past few years I have tried all three versions. The Natural Shade is a great one for brunettes or redheads. While the product itself is tinted, it doesn’t transfer on to clothes nor does it run down your face.  The Oil Absorbing version is great for those who have really oily hair. However, it’s also great for reviving after workout hair. Last and my favourite is the Gentle Dry shampoo with oat extract. I find this version gives me the cleanest hair, with extra benefit of adding volume and texture too. This product does produce a slight white cast, but it absorbs so quickly it’s really nothing to fear.

Last week I was invited to a Klorane hair care event. Good food and great company aside, one of the highlights was my hair consultation with Caroline Bufalini. Despite having bedhead and feeling slightly intimidating Caroline made me feel at ease instantly. My consultation started off pretty straight forward, what do you with your hair? have you tried Klorane? … Then out of nowhere I was hit with this revelation, I don’t my hair every day because I wash it every day. Into which Caroline, casually stated “who has time for all that, that is why we have dry shampoo”

I’m not sure why I needed to be told this out loud, but after one week I can thoroughly say I am a changed woman.

Be kind, because I'm about to unwind!

 Today has been a day of boring-ass choirs. Between cleaning the house to getting a new headlights (yawn), today has flown by in a hot second. Which means only one thing to us beauty obsessed  ... a relaxing spa retreat in the comfort my own bathrooms! So ladies (and gents) here are some of the pampering products I am throwing into my spa retreat. 

Deborah Lippmann La Vie En Rose 

Confession: Im not a pink nail polish kind of girl, but I happen to love this colour. If you looking for an opaque baby pink polish this might not be for you. This sheer pink gives the illusion of perfect manacured nails.  Unlike other sheer pink colours, the copper shimmer make this pretty special colour. 

Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

I love this mask and I was delighted to scored a mini of these at Sephora. This mask almost magically makes my skin look abnormally flawless. Plus it also makes my skin look glowy and radiant too! Really good stuff, which reminds me I really need to invest in a bottle.

Fresh Sugar Lemon Sugarbath 

I once said this was too citrusy for me and I would like the contract that statement, because these lemon bath cubes are beautiful. Since the weather as been brighter and warmer I have been craving the lemony scent of this. If you're a fan of lemon desserts this is kind of like bathing in lemon lemon meringue pie. 

Well that is it for today. I hope all of you had a great weekend and are throughly enjoying your Sunday night. What are some of your favourite pampering products? Leave me a comment!  

Jumping for Spring

I am thrilled that spring seems to be here. I say "seems" because here in Canada it can get really bad, really quick. Let’s not focus on the negatives, the days are longer, the snow is melting and I will take it, even if Mother Nature is just teasing us. So it’s time to pack away the vampy lip colors and smoky eye shadows and get back to "fresh" spring makeup.  Without further ado, here are my top spring makeup picks.

NARS Alhambra

If you always wanted to purchase a NARS eye shadow I highly suggest you start with this. Come to think about it I highly suggest this for everyone! Alhambra has amazing color payoff and a buttery long wearing formula. But the bottom line is both shades are extremely wearable, both alone and together. The pink shade magically brightens the entire face, while the gold is a perfect complement to the warmer weather.

Urban Decay Flushed Streak Pallet
I love quick makeup and this is my kind of one-stop-shop product. The bright coral matte blush is the perfect pop of color for the warm weather. I also really love the contrast between the matte blush and the shimmery highlight and dewy bronzer. Flushed Streak is a well thought out product that you could use any time of the year.

**Pale friends Sephora’s pictures of this make it out to look so dark. Trust me it’s not and has my pale girl stamp of approval. **

Stella McCartney Stella Perfume

It’s like as the weather warms up I just flock to this fragrance. It’s rosy, yet unbelievably fresh and modern too! I have a couple of variations of this scent but the original has to be my hands down favorite.

If you interested I did a review here on Stella last spring.

Dior Lip Glow

I have a lot of lipsticks and lip balms that I love, but don’t go through anything as quick as Dior’s lip glow. Dior Lip’s Glow is one of those colour changing lip balms, which aims to give you your “perfect” colour. Despite sounding gimmicky this product does transform my lips to perfect pinky colour. The addictive part however lays in hydrating, lip balm formula. I know many of us love lip glow, and find it just as addictive as I do. However, for those of you who haven’t tried this you really NEED to.

I am thrilled the days are getting longer and the temperature is getting higher…. And for my spring essentials too! What are you spring essentials? Leave me a comment.