An All Clarins Haul

It should come to no shock to you when I say that I am a Clarins fan.  Clarins products are effective, jam-packed with great ingredients and there makeup line is pretty darn good too. So when The Bay had their gift with purchase I jumped at the opportunity to pick up some of my favourites, some things I’ve always wanted and some new things too!  

Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel

This is a must have for me this gentle gel cleanser is simply perfect. While this produces a good lather it’s not drying in the slightest. For $16.00 a pop it’s great value for money considering the long list of astonishing ingredients and just how mildly effective this is.  

It smells citrus-y and neutralizes hard water too… if you want you can read my whole review here.

Daily Energizer Cream

This is moisturizer features vitamin c, ginkgo biloba and turmeric, which help this skin appear radiant. I needed a basic daily moisturizer and wanted to try something new.  I liked that this moisturizer acts as a primer for your foundation and for $26.00 I thought to myself why not? Next time I might go for the hydra quench line but for now let’s see how this performs.

Beauty Flash Balm

I tried Beauty Flash balm first as a sample and I fell instantly in love. Ever since my brief run-in with this wonder cream I have been completely and utterly obsessed. Literally every time I was close to a Clarins counter I had to talk myself out of buying this. Beauty Flash balm is a miracle product that makes skin look illuminated, younger and moisturized.  Since the busy holiday season is just around the corner I thought this would be a trusty companion for tired skin.

Hydra Quench Gift

This gift came with a cleanser, serum, moisturizer and mask. I am eagerly anticipating trying all of these hydrating products especially with the colder winter months approaching. I have to say I was surprised to see how big the sample sizes are and I definitely plan on putting them through good use on an upcoming trip to Montreal.  

Renew Plus Body Serum

This was the Clarins “step-up” gift. I haven’t tried too many Clarins body products so I am excited to give this full sized moisturizer a try. I’ve read reviews on this and a lot of people swear it makes their skin baby soft. I have so many lotions of the go at the moment so stay tuned it might make it into a future favourites. 

Yes, this post has been a whole lot of Clarins but I gift with purchases are great for stocking up on some of your favourite products or new products. What are some of your favourites Clarins products? Leave me a comment!

A little Bit of Honey

Honey is sort of a miracle product isn’t it? It has both antibacterial and calming properties. Plus even the driest to the oiliest of skin types can seek benefit from this miraculous ingredient. Unlike other wonder ingredients it actually smells good too. This is amazing because some of nature’s magical ingredients stink! Has anyone ever smelt Valerian root? Do yourself a favour and don’t! Sorting through my collection I realized I am sort of honey obsessed so I thought I would share with you all some of my favourite honey products.

NUXE Reve de Miel Hand & Nail Cream

This could be the worst hand cream in the world and I would buy it for just the scent alone. This flowery, honey scent is so beautiful I wish I could make it into a perfume.  Is there a way you can do that?

Likely this isn’t the worst hand cream in the world, its thick texture is actually absorbed instantly. Even after the first use I noticed my hands were much softer. This hand cream features coconut oil, avocado oil, almond oil, shea butter and even contains 89% natural ingredients. Reve de Miel is affordable, smells amazing and is effective!

 I am completely hooked and highly recommend!

NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm

I use this lip balm religiously before bed… it’s such a routine that I don’t think I could fall asleep without it. This balm has a quite the online following so I’m sure many of you have heard about this before. For those of you who haven’t this matte gritty balm it’s partially exfoliating but also a whole lot hydrating.  Totally unique in texture but it works extremely well at keeping lips smooth and moisturized.

LUSH Honey I washed the Kids

This was the very first product I’ve ever bought from Lush and it’s one that I have continued to buy over the years. Honey I Washed the Kids smells like honey and toffee. It smells so good I wish it was edible. It’s not edible so don’t try it, trust me! The gritty honeycomb side as a bonus works well to slough off dead skin. Personally I think Lush soaps are expensive but there is no denying Honey I Washed the Kids is one sweet-smelling indulgence!

I know honey is a favourite among many so leave a comment below I would love to know what some of your favourites are. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Pallet

Being a bad-ass to some might be shoplifting or speeding… to be honest I don’t really know what badass people do.  Drive motorcycles? Wear leather? I don’t know.  I can tell you this bad-ass beauty blogger might have asked for a brand new blush pallet for her birthday even thou she didn’t need more blush. I know what you’re thinking I live a life filled with danger. I am going to get real hazardous to your savings with this review so brace yourself.

The Blush Ambient Lighting Blush Pallet contains three blushes, Luminous Flush ”champagne rose”, Mood Exposure “soft plum” and the limited edition Incandescent Electra “cool peach”. The three blushes are not full sized, but in terms of quantity per pallet you definitely get your money’s worth.

As far as packaging goes this solid compact with big mirror making and a sturdy snap closure is to my liking. It doesn't feel cheap and the rose gold metallic finish looks really pretty too.

Despite the hype I held out on the Hourglass Ambient blush for a long time. Partially because I don’t go into Sephora often and let’s be frank here another part of me knows I don’t need any more blush. Also despite all the positive reviews I thought Ambient Light blushes were just an expensive copy of rather patchy, dry MAC’s Mineralized blushes. 

 I couldn’t have been more wrong

All three of these blushes are buttery. They are so buttery that they almost mystically melt into your skin, leaving you with a natural finish. Honestly I have never met blush that was so pigmented yet so easy to blend in my life! 

As far as finish goes all three shades are luminous. By luminous I mean they give the impression of perky cheek bones but without added frost or glitter. So while these might not look natural in the pan they really are quite convincing on the cheek.

Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes wear long but these wear longer. I think where most blushes

I started off as a skeptic but after 3 weeks of use I can fairly say these are some of the best blushes if not the best blush in my collection.  The only problem is now I have to resist the urge and tell my bad-ass self not to buy more.

Well maybe one more wouldn’t hurt... there is no taming this bad-ass blush addict!

The Beauty Pharmacy

I feel like my life long goal is to inject beauty into peoples lives. So to my fiancé, my father and my fellow male co-works I am sorry for constantly telling you to cleanse, scrub and moisturize, but trust me your skin will thank me for it. 3-step skincare regiments aside there are "beauty" products that I  think every home should have. These are the beauty products belong sandwiched next to a bottle of Advil and a packaging of anti-acids. This people is my beauty pharmacy...

Aveda Active Composition Oil

Last year I went snowboarding. Now to put this into perspective I am not an active person so by the end of day 1 I was sore, but the end of day 4 I couldn't move. Whole heartedly the only thing that got me walking every morning was this oil. With a couple of drops into a hot bath my muscle pain was eliminated.... yes eliminated! And naturally I might add too.

Active composition oil can also be used for arthritis pain, headaches, colds or for general relaxation plus it smells nice too.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

I would say keep this in your pharmacy but truth be told this always lands in my purse. The cult cream aids to calm, protect and hydrate. You can use this as lip balm, on eczema, on burns, on bug bites, on cuticles, on cracked elbows and heals. People have even said this has helped there eyelashes and nails grow and there eczema disappear too. The list is endless! You can use this as a hydration mask and to tame hair frizz too! If you needed an SOS product for everything you can’t go wrong with a tube of 8 Hour Cream.

You can read my whole review here.

Avène Xera Calm A.D Lipid Replenishing Balm

Never put a hyper synthetic vanilla body cream on sunburns or eczema because it makes matters worse. Trust me! Skin irritations happen to all of use, commonly this can be triggered by dry weather, allergic reactions or stress. Having a handy soothing cream that is suitable for even the most fragile skin will not do you harm.  

My favorite is the Avène Replenishing Balm. This thick moisturizer is one part hydrating and one part soothing. I personally love using this to sooth my eczema prone skin but it is also fantastic at comforting and healing sunburns too. Basically it comes down to this is a really good SOS product to keep for any sort of skin irritation. Unlike most creams this can be used on adults, children and infants so it’s perfect for every member of your family!

*as a side note I have recommended this to friends and family and they all swear by this miracle cream

What are some of your beauty pharmacy products? Leave me a comment! 

Skincare Sunday's

Have't we all heard this story before? Half of your face feels and looks dehydrated, while the other is oily with spots. I called this angry skin days and it happens even to the best of us. So ladies take this Sunday I am making it a makeup free day and treating my skin to a little indulgence. 

GLAMGLO Supermud Clearing Treatment 

I don't have acne prone skin but like many women I experience the odd breakout on the chin. 

Usually hormonal or stressed based these breakouts of completely unavoidable, sucks right? 

So for these horrible occasions I always whip out GLAMGLO's Supermud!

This mud mask contains AHA and lactic acid which both help chemically exfoliate the skin. I am a huge fan of chemical exfoliators because they are extremely effecitve yet generally pretty gentle. Next to the ingredient  list is charcoal which helps draw out excess oil. Overall this helps clear out skin and in my experiences helps draw out imperfections yet also helps minimize them.  

I will say this is extremely effective at fighting spots however it is slightly drying. Which means I like to avoid any delicate skin areas and only use this on my chin or where ever I might have a spot.  

Clarins Blue Orchid Oil 

Can you mask an oil? Yes you sure can. 

So over the past week the temperatures have been dropping here in Ontario and we even got snow on Halloween. Weather forecasts aside we put the heat on this week and I am now left with dry, dehydrated forehead. The quickest way to get a dose of hydration is with generous helping of the Clarins Blue Orchid oil. I simply add a thick coat of this on my forehead and let it naturally absorb into the skin and voila skin is left restored. 

Clarins Blue Orchid oil contain's rosewood, pachouli and blue orchid. The three act together to nurture dry skin types. I should also mention to my eczema suffer's out there that this will not anger your sensitive skin. I love this stuff and in the winter I can't and won't be without. 

So that is all for today! 

Off to take advantage of the sunlight for blog pictures, clean the house and to get rid of the halloween decorations. 

Till Tuesday post! 

Avène Micellar Lotion Review

Oh sweet sweet Avène how I adore thee! They are masters of sensitive skin, have their own miracle spring in France, my skin happens to love them and their products are affordable.  So when I got the opportunity to try the new formulation of the Micellar Lotion I jumped. I jumped so far I was anticipating to land in their Avène springs to be honest. In my mind the Avène springs look like a magical pond in the middle of a French forest. Black Truffles would possibly grow there while pixies escort you to these magical waters.  Fairy-like stuff aside here is what I think about the brand new Avène Micellar Lotion. 

Micellar Lotions might possibly one of the biggest skincare trends of the past couple of years. If you’re not familiar here is a quick rundown. Micellar solutions, lotions, waters whatever you want to call them contain tiny molecules oil suspended in water. These oil bubbles are theoretically to burst on contact with skin and cleanse the skin without added water. I would never recommend you don’t wash you face but if you must Micellar solutions are a great second option. Personally, I love these to remove residual makeup after cleansing. 

Avene’s Micellar Lotion is effective. I have been using this for almost 3 weeks now and I can’t get over just how much makeup is on my face (even after washing it).  The actual formula is not stripping in the slightest nor does it leave a greasy film on the face. However, I will say that although this doesn’t aggravate my eczema prone skin it does annoy my eyes ever so slightly. In contrast to the famous Bioderma I would actually say the new Avène version leaves the skin cleaner. Yes you heard me right this out preforms Bioderma.

I am torn about this Micellar Lotion. A part of me can’t dispute that the performance of the product is the best . On the other hand, while this doesn’t irritate my skin I wish the formula was a little more delicate around the eye area. So yes this is something worth trying and based on results I think this product is awesome. I just wish to the Avene's skincare fairies they can make this a touch more milder .

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!