Empties #6

The one thing I like about empties... well there actually a few things.

I love reading people empties because I love the speedy on point reviews.

I love using these as a cross reference of things to things I loved or things I hated.

But most of all I find it so rewarding throwing everything into the garbage once I'm done.

So I thought what better time to get some instant gratification?

Note to self... Tanya you need to go out more!

Dove Dry Shampoo

Here is the thing with this one it leaves a white residue and I'm not the biggest fan of the scent. With that being said it works and since it works I tolerate the temporary white residue. Would I buy again?? I think there are better but pricier choices out there. However if I quickly need a refresh before jolting out to grocery store this is my top, budget friendly pick.

Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo

I LOVE the scent of this shampoo and over the past years I have probably gone through over 20 of these. Not only does it smell nice but it leaves my hair soft, nourished and incredibly light. Will I buy this again? Absolutely it's one of my favourite budget friendly shampoos of all time.

Klorane Floral Lotion Eye Makeup Remover

This is an effective, non-irritating eye makeup remover that made makeup removal easy. If your a fan of the water like feel of Bioderma I think this will be up your alley. I can't say how well this removes waterproof mascara but I had no problems with this. I will absolutely be purchasing this again, I just have a bottle of Bioderma to use first.

NUXE Creme Merveillance

This rich, hylauronic acid based cream made my parched skin so happy. Even the scent of this was something I looked forward to every morning! This unfortunately has been discontinued, but if it hadn't have been I would have purchased by now.

NUXE Oil Prodigieuse

This has to be one of the best multitasking product's I own. You can use this on your hair, body and face, I also recommend using this in the bath too! This light weight oil absorbs instantly leaving you with hydrated, soft skin. Oh and it smells pretty darn mind blowing too! I have already opened a fresh bottle of this and will continue to repurhcase.

Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub

If you were looking for a really effective scrub for sensitive skin this scrub is for you. I think a lot of scrubs designed for sensitive skin simply don’t work, this one does both as a chemical scrub and a physical scrub. I did a in depth review here, should you care to find out more.

At the moment I have a couple of scrubs to get through but I will be going back to this in the future.

REN Bio Retinoid Eye Cream

Bio Retinoid is an eye cream for sensitive skin sufferers who want a little anti-aging in their routine.

While this didn’t do anything remarkable for fine lines it was pleasant enough to use. I will probably not repurchase, but was it wasn’t a bad eye cream in the slightest.

Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shower Gel

This shower gel also happens to be a bubble bath and shampoo too! I love these because they make your shower routine a one stop shop and they have tons of really fun flavours too. There are tons of body washes I love and Philosophy 3 in 1’s are among my favorites. I will repurchase another one most likely something fun and fruity during the summer.

L'occitane Almond Shower Oil

This is really, really hydrating with the added benefit of smelling yummy too! If you someone who suffers from seasonally dry skin, love the scent of almond or both I have a whole write up about this here. I have already repurchased another mini of this and highly recommend it to you.

Substitute this for your normal shaving gel and it will blow you away!

What have you finished lately? Leave me a comment!

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil Review

Lets be frank here, for years drugstore skincare has been a little of a let down. I have always felt drugstore skincare has favorited oily skin types and mature skin types and left everyone else out. Not only did it leave us out but product innovation didn't seem like a high point either. BUT things are changing, so when I was offered to try a drug store facial oil you can bet I was all over that.

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil is a blend of sesame, coconut, grape seed, sweet almond, rose hip, sun sunflower, apricot and Argan oils.Although the Palmers Skin Therapy is nutrient heavy it feels ever so light on the skin. Personally I use this oil as a serum and follow with a moisturizer on top. Actually the formula is so light it reminds me of some famous high end brands I've tried over the years. Could this be a dupe for Caudalie Polyphenol?

The bottom line is it doesn't matter Palmers holds it's own.

Another bell this oil boasts it the addition of Retinol. Retinol is a form of vitamin A and one of the only proven ways to reverse signs of aging. In addition to combating fine line retinol can also be used to erase sunspots and acne scarring.  In a nutshell Retinol speeds up cellular turnover, which for us means newer fresher looking skin faster. The problem with retinol is it can be irritating and can also lead sun damage. Luckily for me the Palmers did not lead to any irritation to my skin, instead it left my skin hydrated and bright.

As for the sun damage I can't stress how import it is to wear sun screen daily... but that is another post.

As for the whistle Palmers also contains Vitamin E. Again another magical skincare ingredient that brightens up the face and works beautifully with the retinol. Actually I like that this contains both retinol and vitamin e, because it makes it a one stop shop to my routine.

Basically, if you haven't noticed the Palmers Skin Therapy Oil has got it going on. If this bottle was unmarked I would have bet this cost a small fortune. Luckily Skin Therapy doesn't cost a fortune. Nope people this dream oil costs around the $10.00 mark at you can get it at your local Walmart. In addition to being a great product this oil also contains no parabens, phthalates and it's dermatologist tested. 

3 Things Sephora

Happy Sunday! Today has been a pretty lazy day, I have to admit. I would like to give my self credit for baking, however since its 5:00pm and I'm already in bed all that productive credit some how disappears. So while lurking Sephora's website. I use the work lurking because my obsession is just that creepy. Basically I have noticed 3 products in my cart that I have been meaning to buy, but have never got around to it. Since I know a lot of you love beauty too I thought I would share and you can give me your opinion. 

Here we go!

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask 

I got a little sample of this 2 years ago and I fell head over heals. This made my skin clear, bright and luminous... pretty much everything you would want from a mask. Unlike other acid heavy masks I've tried this one doesn't irritate my sensitive skin nor does it have a painful tingle.

I'm looking at you GlamGlo!

Why haven't I bought this yet? Beats me but I have to get this. 

NARS Creamy Radient Concealer 

 Right now I use a combination of two concealers and at first I loved the results but now I find it takes to long to apply. So once my concealers are done I will be on the lookout for a new one. 

Which brings me to the NARS... I have heard nothing but great things about this concealer. People claim it to pack a lot of coverage but doesn't settle into fine lines.

Have any of you guys tried this? What are your suggestions of a high coverage, under eye concealer? 

Caudalie Beauty Elixer 

I really like the sounds of this spritz. I think why I have been so reluctant to purchase this is the mixed reviews. On one hand people claim this to be a miracle worker, but on the other people claim this to be all hype no action. I'm still on the fence about this and was wondering if any of you ladies have tried it?

Those are the products I have been tossing and turning over. 

Feel free to leave me a comment! If you recommend another product I would love to hear your  thoughts!

January Favorites

It is that time of month again… favorite time. Usually I reflect about how busy I was but whole heartedly I was not that busy this month. Come to think about it I spent most of the month just hanging out at home and I am completely okay with that. So while some months feature exciting red lipsticks or brand new bright pink blush this month favorites really reflect my laid back life style.  If you’re looking for an eye popping favorites this might not be it, but nonetheless these are the tried and tested goodies I have loved this month.

NUXE Reve De Miel Moisturizing Stick

The original Reve De Miel is a gritty, matte lip balm loved by so many of us. While it is nourishing, due to its gritty texture I find it best used as a treatment before bed. Don’t get it confused with the stick version because the two are very different. The stick version is just as hydrating as the original however the texture is smoother and thinner. In terms of fishing the Moisture Stick leave a subtle natural shine to the lips. Personally I love the stick version better for day time use. Not only is it more sanitary then the original but the texture is more day time friendly.

Chanel Beige De Chanel

This month I have been really focusing on lightweight powders that give the illusion of healthy glowy skin. The first powder is the Chanel Le Beige. Personally I like using this to set my tinted moisturizer, because while it does set my makeup it also helps bring a natural glow to the skin and has the added benefit of having an SPF. If you were looking for a full coverage powder    this might not be for you, however if you were of something perfecting yet bare skin looking I totally think this would be right up your alley.

                         

Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Pressed Powder    

This is was a limited edition, but Guerlain does have the tendency to re-release things so I thought I would mention it. I use this translucent powder to give my face a glow too. Unlike the Chanel, the Meteorites is completely colorless but is more luminous. If you had the regular Meteorites Pearls this version gives the same glowy effect.  I love using both powders over my tinted moisturizer the Chanel perfects and sets, while the Guerlain has that beautiful glow.

Two powders might seem like a lot but trust me they look like beautiful radiant healthy skin.

MAC Plumful

The plummy lipstick is a winner! I bought this around Christmas time and I instantly fell in love.For myself I love bright lipsticks, but at while work I like to tone things down. I always like a little colour on my lips but I don't want to hit people over the head with it either. Plumful is really great at this because it's  bright yet not too punchy. I have a strange feeling that I am going to be getting some good really use out of this colour. 

Aveeno Fresh Essentials  Daily Exfoliating Scrub

All I can say about this daily scrub is it's so good! It's gentle, not drying but it doesn't leave your skin greasy either, kind of making it perfect for every skin type. Considering this scrub is around $10.00 and you get more then 4 times more product then the average scrub it's a bargain considering the quality.

Prepare to hear more about this scrub in the near future.

What have you been loving this January? Leave me a comment. 

Actual No Makeup, Makeup

 A new trend this upcoming spring season has to be the no makeup look, seen at shows like Alexander Wang and Mark Jacobs. The no makeup look has been done time and time again, but not like what we’ve seen for the upcoming spring. Literally these fresh faced models look like they’re not wearing an ounce of makeup. As easy as no-makeup looks it’s a hard one to master. So here are my tips and tricks to looking mastering the bare face yet steering clear from that disheveled “I just woke up” look.

A Non-Makeup Base

There are a wack of perfecting bases out there that are impeccable at mattifying skin and others that work wonders at hydration. Oily skinned girls I highly recommend using your favorite mattifying primer to blur out pores and to control oil production. For my dry skin sisters my favorite option is the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. This creamy skin perfector not only hydrates, but it naturally illuminates, tightens and diminishes redness. If you were looking for a makeup free base Beauty Flash Balm is your girl!

Concealer

There is a difference between no makeup and looking like you just woke up. Basically what I am saying is if you want to look bare skinned but still pulled together concealer is your best friend. For me my area of concern is my dark circles. A great natural brightening, light-weight concealer is the Clinique Air Brush Concealer.  Unlike other concealers this one looks like skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines too.

If you have spots I would suggest using concealer sparingly where you need it.

Facial Mist

How do models get luminous dewy looking skin? Facial Mists!

I love keeping a facial mist handy to freshen up my skin. While they physically add a glow to the skin many are packed with great ingredients to help nourish the skin. The one I am using right now is the Caudalie Grape Water mist. Made from 100% plant water this mist soothes, refreshes and hydrates all at the same time.

Don’t have a facial mist, no worries! Use your favorite toner in a spray bottle and mist as you go. Not only does this give you that dewy look but also has great skincare benefits.

Mascara

I didn’t see any of the models wear an ounce of mascara, which is fine and dandy. However, I am not a model and I don’t treat life like a runway, well I wish I did, but what I am saying is give me the freaken mascara.  The mascara I happen to be using right now is the Guerlain Maxi Lash. 
I think it’s important when replicating any makeup trend to stay true to your beauty roots. If this means eye lashes, do it!

Lip Balm

What looks more natural on the lips then lip balm? My personal favorite at the moment is the NUXE Reve De Miel moisturizing stick. I love the potted Reve De Miel before bed however I love the convenience of the tube during the day. There are a ton of great lip balms out there and a no makeup look is a perfect excuse to give your lips a little TLC throughout the day.

There we have 5 products to achieving that barely there makeup look. What is great about this actual no makeup look is 1. It’s on trend, 2. It takes barely any makeup ability and 3. It’s perfect for rushed mornings. Quick, easy simple makeup is totally up my alley now I just have the ability to call it “on trend”.

What are some of your favorite beauty trends leave me a comment!  

New Hair = New Hair Things

I can honestly say my everyday hair routine started with a wash and ended in a ponytail or maybe a bun if I was feeling fancy. In all serious my belly button length hair took hours to dry and decades to curl. For me it just made the upkeep boring and not enjoyable. Why grow my hair so long you ask? My goal has always been to donate it and with the New Year here I thought what better time than now. So with over 12 inches off and a fun new look I wanted to get some new hair products to help me with my new do.

Milk Shake Leave in Conditioner

Perfect for all hair types, I thought this leave in spray would help me maintain my new soft locks. It also has the added bonus of smelling mind blowing-ly amazing. I haven’t tried it enough to contest to its quality as of yet but in terms of scent the Milk Shake leave in has it going on.

Is this safe to drink?

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Last year the whole beauty industry was raving about this product. Personally I think the full sized Oribe is crazy expensive to just try on a whim. So I settled for the mini, yes it was still expensive but I thought it would be fun to try with my new haircut. 

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Oleo 

I am a drugstore hair care girl through and through. Sure I have a passion for the Klorane Oat Milk shampoo, but even that is more on the affordable side of things. Kerastase on the other hand is not affordable in the slightest. There shampoos start at $40.00, which is great if you can afford it but a little crazy for me! 

So why do I have this luxe product you ask? I picked it up for $3.00! Again I have yet to use this but I am interested to see what makes this luxury shampoo so luxury. 

Totally not like me to do a hair care haul, but I was just so excited about my hair I couldn't help my self. On the other hand chopping off my hair feels great, not only is it less maintenance but knowing it can potentially help someone makes me really happy. 

What are some of your favourite haircare products, leave me a comment! 

If you in Canada and have been thinking about donating your hair look here for more information. 

3 Things to Try NARS

Founded in 1996 by infamous makeup artist François Nars, NARS has to be one of my favourite makeup brands ever. Not only is it a favourite but I reach for NARS products more than any other makeup brand in my collection. So when I was thinking about my “3 Things to Try” posts I knew NARS was a brand I really needed to touch on. Honestly, I could do a top 10 from NARS because there products are just that amazing. So with a lot of thought and consideration here are my 3 products to try from NARS.

Laguna Bronzer

So many people love this and for good reason, it kicks some serious bronzing butt! As a pale girl finding the perfect bronzer can be tough as most of them turn orange or muddy on me. Laguna on me looks like a natural sun kissed bronze that adds definition and warmth to my pale face. While this works wonders for my pale skin I’ve seen women much darker then me swear by Laguna too. Laguna is super blendable, pigmented and I love the glow it gives too.

I’ve gone through well over 10 Laguna’s over the years and can’t be without.

It’s is my every day, always flattering, go-to, fail safe bronzer.  

Multiple Copacabana

This champagne-y highlighter gives the illusion of healthy skin. I love using this on the highest point of my cheek bones, on my eyes and in the center of the lips (gives you that pouty look). I think what separates Copacabana from other highlighters is finish. Some highlighters leave you slightly streaky, frosty or a combination of both, Copacabana simply looks natural. It’s the kind of highlight that tricks the eye to thinking you have a brighter healthy complexion.  As far as texture goes I draw on Copacabana straight from the tube and pat it in with my fingers. Unlike others Copacabana’s dry texture doesn’t interfere with your foundation, it just kind of magically melts into your skin.

Natural looking and easy to apply Copacabana is a must have.

Orgasm Blush

Last but definitely not least is the cult classic blush Orgasm. I think I’ve seen this featured in just about every magazine, blog, YouTube, newspapers …literally everywhere! Actually even people who aren’t into makeup know about NARS Orgasm blusher. The thing is  Orgasm blush is well worth the hype, it’s universally flattering, brightening and simply beautifying. There are tons of dupes for Orgasm but none of them have the depth of color, pigmentation or blend-ability as the original. 

(Orgasm being the coral shade out of the two) 

Was that 3 already? I think, I can talk about NARS all day.

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