Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Lipstick Review

There is no better makeup treat then a Guerlain lipstick. Yes, they are luxe, but for the most part there steep price tag is followed by a superior product. So if you saw my new Guerlain haul (see here) you will know I splurged on one of there new La Petite Robe Noire lipsticks. I'm literally busting at the seems because over the past couple of weeks I've been testing and let's just say I have some things to share, so let's begin!

Let's start off with the most obvious the clear acrylic bullet is stunning and sleek. It's classy, eye catching all while remaining to be functional. Why can't all lipstick be packaged like this? The next eye catching trait is the colour, because in the packaging it looks black. However when applied this colour transforms into a flattering sheer shimmery plum. Seriously I whipped this out in front of my makeup loving cousin and she had 'I need that' moment right before my eyes. While the colour looks rather sparkly in the tube I find the texture to be smooth and the finish to be hydrating.

Is this the perfect lipstick? No.

The pitfall of this lipstick is the overwhelming perfume scent. It kind of smells like roses and cherries, which I honestly say I can't mind. However it's definitely something you want to try before purchasing. Futhermore Guerlain claims these can be built up to an intense colour... I'm telling you right now I could rub this lipstick on my lips all day and it won't leave my lips black.

So is this as great as a lipstick treat as I thought, personally yes. I love the hydrating finish, the fancy packaging and the sheer wash of colour. With that being said this isn't the be all, end all of lipstick... or in other words there's nothing revolutionary here. If sheer colour is your deal and you had a few bucks to spend you might want to give this a try. 

Avene Ystheal Cream Review

To date retinol (aka vitamin A) is one of the only scientifially proven way to reverse signs of aging. This miracle ingredient increases cellular turnover which results in smoother, clearer and firmer skin. While retinol is mainly found in anti-aging products it can also be found it a number of acne product too. A fountain of youth and a pimple fighter too? I know this skin care wonder is nothing short of miraculous. However with the good comes the bad and despite taking years off your face retinol can also be hella irritating...

I know all about retinol irritation because at the tender age of 20 I used prescription grade retinol on my face. My 'genius' idea lead me to a face that was dry as the desert, yet as red as the sun. To boot I broke out in small white bumps called mila on my face. I swear it took me 5 or 6 years to get rid of these pesky bumps. Moral of the story never steal your mothers skincare.

Sorry Mom. Now where was I?

Yes retinol it can be irritating, but things are changing. The new wave of retinol's seem to less aggravating and more soothing. There are tons great examples options out there but one of my favouties has to be Avene's Ystheal Cream.

Avene's Ystheal Cream is straightforward. I say this because it doesn't have a gimmicky colour, perfumey scent or any of that nonsense. Instead this cream really focuses on what it's intended to do and that's reduce wrinkles. Which I have to say Ystheal does extremely well. The key ingredient is retinaldehyde, retinol's less irritating sister. As an added measure Avene have also added there soothing thermal water to the mix. The overall effect is a wrinkle fighter that doesn't cause the slightest bit of irritation. 

I have been testing this product over the past four weeks and I can throughly say this has reduced the look of fine lines all while keeping irritation at bay. Furthermore I love that this product comes with a pump, contains zero nasties and is affordable too. If you had sensitive skin, or just wanted a no fuss product this retinol is definitely one to check out. 

Pat McGrath Lust 004 Lipstick Review

I get crazy when it comes to limited edition lipsticks and over the years I have had my fair share of stories. One for instance is when I drove to 3 different MAC stores so that I could get a tube of the limited edition Gem of Roses. Don't even get me started about the Guerlain holiday limited edition lipsticks... With that all being said its been a hell of a long time since I've gone nuts over lipstick. Actually, between you and me I thought those days where a thing of the past! Then world renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath releases limited edition lipsticks, which is shortly followed by a handful of positive review and the next thing you know I've gone back to my insane ways. 

People are claiming this range of lipsticks to be 'the best' and 'life changing' ... but here are two things you should know before purchasing. Now this might be my computer, but the swatches on Sephora.com aren't that accurate. Flesh 2 for instance looks more berry toned online, when in real life its more like a brown toned nude. To combat this I highly recommend looking online for swatches. Also, because these lipsticks are extremely pigmented make sure your lips are exfoliated and moisturized prior to application. Not that these lipsticks are drying, in fact for such a pigmented matte lipstick these wear comfortably. 

With those things clearly communicated I can now begin to sing my praises.

The Pat McGrath 004 Lipstick's are phenomenal. To say these lipsticks apply like butter would be a serious understatement. These bad boys glide effortlessly all while dispersing colour evenly with one single swoop. Eventually the creamy texture drys to a matte finish that is so comfortable it's unlike any other in the market. To make matters better the small slanted tube make application a breeze. So if you were thinking 'lip liner required', I would say you could probably pass. A lipstick  you don't need a lip liner with? I know its crazy, but these are just that good. These are really, really good... I would even go as far as saying they are one of the best on the market. If your a lipstick lover you need these in your collection, likewise if your new to makeup or hate makeup or whatever you need to try these. At $30.00 a tube I can't recommend these limited edition beauties enough. 

Lifestyle Favourites

After doing my August favourites post I thought to myself 'I have so much more to share'. At first I was going to make an extra long favourites post, but given my ramble-y nature I didn't want to drag things out. So today I'm putting my tube of lipstick down and talking about lifestyle favourites. Lets begin...

S'well Water Bottle

These water bottles are pricey. Actually, for the longest time I thought there was some sort of computer chip in them that tracks how much water you drink during the day... because who in there right mind would pay $45.00 for a water bottle? However after hearing nothing but positive reviews I couldn't help but to purchase one.

The honest truth is S'well water bottles are nothing short of amazing. Yes, there soda bottle shaped is adorable and yes, they come in a huge selection of cute colours. However there ability to keep water ice cold for 24 hours makes them better then any other water bottle I've tried. In addition S'wells also keep hot drinks, hot for 12 hours too. If you were looking for a fun water bottle, with excellent build quality give S'well a try.

Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf

This scarf is by far the softest, stretchiest, cuddliest scarf I've ever owned. To make things better the vinyasa scarf can be worn 10 different ways (video here) and its super breathable too. If you were looking for a handy, cozy scarf for the upcoming season I can't recommend this one enough. My love for this scarf so strong I am highly contemplating on purchasing this in black and grey too.

Saje Sleep Well Remedy 

As a new mom I am looking for any tip, trick or treat that well help me get a more restful sleep. Thus far I've tried yoga, lavender essential oil, but nothing has worked as well as Saje's Sleep Well remedy. The very scent of this makes me yawn and before you know I'm on my way to a good nights rest... it's kind of like a natural sleeping pill. If you wake up frequently at night or just have a hard time getting to bed this cocktail of sleep inducing essential oils is a game changer.

Healthy Banana Cookies

I love this recipe for three very important reasons; 1. it's an excellent way to use overly ripe bananas, 2. it's healthy, 3. it's easy. Yes, people with three handy ingredients you can whip up a batch of guilt free, banana oatmeal cookies. In addition to being easy and handy also really like that this recipe is flexible, often times I've added coconut, cinnamon or almonds to the recipe and they turn out each and every time. If you want a healthy cookie breakfast or just wanted a nutritious snack you can find the recipe here. 

Healthy cookies, water bottles and natural sleep remedies this Lifestyle Favourites post surely makes me sound way more health conscious then I actually am. Actually embarrassingly over the past 3 days I've eaten an entire apple pie, over indulged in pizza and ate a bag of Twix Bites... Life is about moderation? Without getting to reflective here I have some amazing posts lined up for you so until next time ladies. 

Guerlain Haul

I love makeup hauls, but the truth is I don't buy much makeup. Actually over the past year I've really made an effort to scale things back and streamlined my collection. Come to think about it my last 'makeup haul' post was almost a year ago. With that all being said this weekend I had an urge to buy some makeup. So I went over to check out some Guerlain makeup and came back with a couple of purchases, lets get started shall we.

Super Aqua SerumBB Hydra Plus 

At $90.00 a pop this is one pricey BB cream. I have to say this is the most amount of money I've ever spent on a base and the truth is I still have slight buyers remorse over it. Guilty feelings aside what drew to this product was the serum base. Guerlain claims that this skincare, makeup hybrid gives 12 hour hydration, improves circulation all while giving a perfected radiant glow. All I know is with it's hefty price tag and promises of beautiful looking skin this has big shoes to fill! I have yet to try this, but I will do a full review soon.  

La Petite Robe Noire Lip Colour in Black Perfecto 

This eye catching black lipstick actually transfers to a sheer plumy once on the lips. So yes it looks intimidating, but once applied its actually very wearable. There is mixed reviews about this lip product, but since tinted balms are my thing I thought I would give it a go. Plus the packaging is just beautiful! 

Royale Honey Nectar Lotion Sample 

The lady who worked at Guerlain gave me a couple of sample sized bottles of this lotion/essence. She  swore this made her skin youthful, smooth and hydrated. A quick look online and this product also has soothing properties too. Since my skin lacks hydration in the cooler months I am definitely excited to give this a try. 

Orchidee Imperiale Eye and Lip Cream Sample

The Orchidee Imperiale range of products is Guerlain's claim to skincare fame, it also happens to be extremely expensive. Guerlain states that this eye cream takes 5 years off your face. In addition they also claim that this removes dark circles and puffiness too. While I'm not the biggest fan of eye creams it will be fun to test nonetheless. 

There we have it my luxe-y Guerlain haul! Should you want to see a review on anything here feel free to comment below and I shall provide. I hope all of you had an excellent long weekend and thank you for reading. 

August Favourites

I have 100% the gift of gab today. For example the first time I wrote this post it started of with a 200 word introduction on how cosmetics reflect life. My second introduction became a discriptive 50 reasons why I love fall essay. For those wondering, no I am not drunk! So ladies and gents for the sake of simplicity here are august favourites.

FaceOff Cloth

A cloth that can remove makeup without soap? I admit I was skeptical about these 'miracle' micro fibre facial clothes. Even if these could somehow remove makeup wouldn't it cause irritation to the skin? If you find yourself with the same questions I am happy to report these REALLY WORK. Not only does the cloth feel gentle on your face, but somehow (almost magically) this removes any trace of makeup too.

If you are a fan of makeup removers or miceller water's the FaceOff Cloth is a game changer. At $12.95 this product is a must try (you can find out more here)

Eminence Firm Skin Acai Cleanser

If you read my review (here) this should come to no surprise to you, I love this stuff. Not only does this berry scented cleanser come with a pump, but it also has great ingredients and feels nourishing on the skin too. With cooler months just around the corner I know my skin will thank me for the extra hydration. 

I'm still testing the Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb rice powder exfoliator. However a little powder mixed in with this cleanser seems to be exfoliation perfection. 

Kat Von D Studded Lipstick in Cathedral 

I went on a hunt for the perfect nude....

Actually the truth is I was at the mall, had one to many drinks at lunch and somehow I ended up at Sephora.
Drinks, Sephora... I know it's a dangerous combination.
After browsing through the skincare department I got the sudden alcohol induced urge to find the perfect nude. After trying over 10 pale nude lipsticks I came to the conclusion that pale nudes just aren't for me. So after lots of help from the Sephora team I settled for Cathedral. Unlike many nudes that wash me out, Cathedral is slightly rosy which makes it that much more flattering. Pretty bullet, long lasting colour and the perfect shade make this lipstick a new favourite.

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment
I am a hand cream lover and my new favourite is the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment. Firstly I love that this leaves my hands moisturized, yet not greasy. Secondly I love the scent! Thirdly and most impressively is this treatment really works wonders in making my nails long, healthy and hard. It's kind of like a manicure in a bottle. If you were looking for a hand cream this fall I highly suggest giving this one a try.

So there we have it, my August favourites. As we all know I'm rather ramble-y today so I to will keep this closing brief and say, thank you for reading. I would also like to say I can't wait for fall to come. I also can't wait for Thanksgiving and Halloween... mini Kit-Kat bars and Candy Corn... pumpkin pie, chai latte... I can go on forever!
Until next time ladies!!