The Best Everyday SPF's

There was a time where wearing a daily SPF meant slathering a greasy cream on your face. In addition to blocking pores these SPF’s also left an unnatural white cast on the skin too. I still am haunted by childhood summertime memories and the sunscreen that made me look like a greasy ghost. Luckily for us in 2015 things have changed, SPF’s are more user friendly yet more effective than ever before.  So ladies and gents here are my top 3 daily sunscreens!

Clarins UV Plus HP

This SPF 40 has been my go to for years! If you were looking for something light weight this oil free sunscreen would be right up your alley. In fact this sun screen is so light this doesn’t leave the slightest white cast onto the skin.

I also wanted to point out scent because I know many don’t like the scent of sunscreen.  If you are one of those people I am happy to report this absolutely 100% does not smell like sun screen. Perfect for every skin type this sun screen is my first recommendation to people.

Miracle 10 Sunscreen Lotion 30 SPF

Miracle 10 has a soft spot in my heart, not only are they a local Toronto brand but they do skincare extremely well. This SPF is very different then the Clarins, it’s thicker and takes a little effort to blend in. Rest assured the finish of this sun screen is completely dry, it will not block pores nor will it make the skin greasy. This SPF also has the advantage of being water and sweat proof, which make it my top choices for active days out in the sun.

Aveeno Fresh Essentials Daily Moisturizer

With a SPF of 30 Aveeno’s Fresh Essentials is an excellent budget choice. This oil-free moisturizer spreads over skin with ease, while feeling light on the skin. However will say this has a slight dewy finish, which makes it great for dry to normal skin types (not so much for oily skin types). If you were looking for an inexpensive daily sunscreen the Fresh Essentials is worth checking out.

What are some of your favorite SPF's? Leave me a comment!

No Bake Turtle Cheese Cake

There is a restaurant by our house that has the best Turtle Cheesecake one could ever ask for.  Jay and I love the cakes so much that we even strategized a really crappy plan to try to get the recipe. After realizing that paying off the waiters and hiding cameras around the restaurant wasn’t an option I decided to come up with a recipe of my own. What I created shocked me… not because it resembled the restaurants but because it was so tasty yet so easy. Yes Cheesecake can be super heavy and dense, but this light weight Turtle Cheesecake so light it makes it perfect treat after a summer BBQ.

Crust

1 PKG of Oreo’s

2-4 TBS of butter (room temperature)

Filling

1 PKG of cream cheese (room temperature)

½ cup of sugar

473ml of whipping cream

Melted milk chocolate to taste

Topping

Carmel Sauce (store bought it fine)

Melted Milk Chocolate

1 hand full of Pecans

1.       In a food processer, process entire package of Oreos and two table spoons of room temperature butter. You’re looking for the consistency of wet sand here, if your Oreo “sand” is not wet enough add more butter and process until consistency is just right.

2.       Take crust mixture and press into bottom of spring form pan. Try your best to make things as level as possible.

3.       In a mixer (or by hand) whip, whip cream until it forms stiff peaks. To avoid over mixing I always start my whipping cream in a mixer and finish it by hand. Transfer whipped cream into big mixing bowel.

4.       No need to wash that mixer bowl or attachment for this step! Add cream cheese, melted milk chocolate and half into mixer bowl and mix until combined. You could add more chocolate if you crave a richer Cheesecake. Personally I like my filling quite light, so I add enough chocolate to make my cheese mixture look like weak chocolate milk (about a half of chocolate bar).  

5.       Slowly fold in cream cheese mixture into whip cream. This will ensure your filling is light and fluffy.

6.       Once mixture is combined pour Cheesecake filling over Oreo crust. Smooth top with end of spatula and place in fridge. I let my cheese cake set overnight but 5 hours should do the trick too. Once cheese is firm release for spring form pan.

7.       Now is the time where this becomes a Turtle people… and it couldn’t be and more easy! Sprinkle pecans on cake, I use a handful of roughly chopped pecans. Finally I drizzle caramel and melted chocolate over the cake and I am done!

One Shade Wonders

Smoky eyeshadow looks to perfect shaded pin-up eyes, I love eye shadow. However, as much as I love spending time on my makeup on a day to a basis I enjoy simple and quick one shade looks.  Sounds boring right? My answer to you is it doesn’t have to be, there are some amazing colours that imitate multiple colours with one single swipe. So ladies and gents here are my tried and true one shade wonders.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Mystic Rock   

There is a lot of hype about this product and for one very good reason… it’s just that good! This pinky bronze shade is complex yet is still wearable. Applied opaque Mystic Rock looks pink, however once you start blending the product out it magically transforms to a bronzy colour.

Mystic Rock is the type of shade gives the impression that you spent hours on your makeup, when really it just took you 30 seconds.

MAC Patina

If an antique gold colour had a baby with a cool brown, they would make Patina. While the colour is actually quite subtle itself, the shade is interesting enough to be worn alone. I find the slight gold adds light to the lids while the cool brown tone compliments the crease. Patina is one of my all-time favourites and in my humble option a must try on every makeup lovers list.  

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost

The other shades are here because they have that cool colour transformation thing going on, but Sugar Frost is here simply because it’s pretty. This sparkly champagne colour might look basic, but there is something about shade that adds light to the face. Actually if I can be honest, I love this product so much so that I have worn it every day since I bought it (over a month ago). It might be in the subtle sparkle, or it might be light colour, or both? But every time I reach for this product I have that “damn that looks pretty” moment.

What are some of your favourite one shade wonders? Leave me a comment!

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser Review

I am skincare obsessed. Kind of cat lady surrounded by her feline friends I one day envision myself surrounded by an arsenal of skincare. As a self-proclaimed skincare fanatic when it comes to new skincare saying that I do my research would be an understatement. I mean I really bask in the whole process like reading reviews, researching ingredients and learning about the brand. Accordingly when the new opportunity for an exfoliator arose all roads lead to Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser.

Let’s talk a little about the brand shall we? Tata Harper strives on being natural and non- toxic. Unlike many brands Tata’s follows this rule 100% of the time. Remarkably all of Tata’s products are made in small batches. This small batch philosophy guarantees you get the freshest product possible. The whole range is well thought out and her website is downright beautiful (and informative).  If you were on the market for luxury artisanal skincare, which is both healthy and effective Tata Harper is a collection is worth checking out.

The Regeneration Cleanser is not your typical “microbead” run of the mill exfoliating product. No, no, no this is one of those clever skincare products that has every angle of exfoliation covered. The first about most obvious thing this does is exfoliate dead skin cells. You will notice that this product has a slight grit to it, which really helps you get that beautiful deep clean. Next up is those pesky blackheads. The Regenerating Cleanser boasts pomegranate enzymes which literally melts away blackheads and reduces the look of pores too! Got pimples? This cleanser has got you covered too with the miracle ingredient willow bark extract (think natural salicylic acid). Finally with the addition of french clay this product really helps detoxify the skin and prevents further breakouts. 

This cleanser/exfoliator is seriously some holy grail beauty stuff.  Not only does my skin look better but the texture of my skin actually feels softer too! You could use this product everyday because the formula is both gentle and leaves skin feeling balanced. Personally I like using this product every other day, kind of how you would a with a typical scrub. I don't usually say this about skincare but I noticed results instantly with this product. However after 4 weeks of use and I can truly say that my skin looks smoother, brighter and more glow-y that it ever has ever before. 

May Favourites

 It’s officially the half way mark in the year, which truthfully blows my mind. Where does time go? Philosophical answers aside we are here to talk makeup! This brings me to my next point, if I had to pick a theme for this month it would be along the lines of lazy-girl, yet refined makeup. I’m not sure if we beauty girls are allowed to admit this but, this month I’m all for looking pulled together but with the least amount of effort. So with a handful of easy to use products here are my May favourites.

Diorskin Nude BB Cream

I’ve tried BB creams in the past and never really got along with any particular brand. Dior’s BB cream is different it’s light enough for my fair skin and packs a decent amount of coverage too.  I also love that you can apply this BB Cream with your fingers yet still get a beautiful finish.

If you were looking for a foundation-y product that is light weight, sheer and just generally very easy to use give Diorskin Nude BB Cream a try!

I have a whole review here.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost

In my mind nothing was going to beat the By Terry Ombre Blackstar’s. Yes, I was totally stubborn about the issue and refused to try anything new for years. I am getting off topic here, but what I am getting to is the Caviar Sticks are downright amazing. Just like the Blackstar’s they don’t crease, they are easy to blend and they last all day.  The colour Sugar Frost is an easy one swipe wonder that gives the eyes a slight champagne shimmer but doesn’t look over done (or too frosty).  Excellent product and one I’m sure I will be using every day for months to come. 

Bourjois Silk Edition Powder

I freaking love this powder, so much I had to include it into my favourites this month again. You could wear this powder alone for a natural finish. However I love wearing this over my Dior BB Cream. Not only does it increase the longevity of the BB, but it also adds slightly more coverage.  

Avene Cold Cream

I don’t use Cold Cream every day, but this month was a true testament of why I always keep a tube around.  Sometime around Mother’s Day I started getting really dry, scaly patches on my forehead. I have to say this was one weird occurrence because I don’t tend to have eczema in the summer. After using cold cream for a week  my dry patches were magically gone… Yes you heard me right completely gone! If you are prone to dry skin or eczema having this in your stash is a life saver.

 I did a review way back when here should you want to read more about this miracle product.   

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

After using this product for 3 weeks a can now safely say I am in love! Despite less skincare products this month, this gentle exfoliator has my skin looking better than it’s ever looked before. I don’t want to say too much because this is a product that deserves a review of its own. However I will leave you with this … the Regenerating Cleanser is absolutely incredible.

Lazy makeup to lazy skincare this is my May favourites.

What are some of your monthly favourites leave me a comment!  

The Non-Powdery Powders

My first experience with powder foundation was not a good one. I distinctly remember this tragic incident...I was in high school and I thought that an orange, full coverage, mattifying powder would be a great idea. Was I ever wrong, not only was I an Umpa Lumpa shade of orange, but the texture of my skin looked like the ground of a dry desert. Years went by and I avoided power like the plague.

Maybe it was the internet, friends or magazines but eventually I craved a face powder once again. However unlike the last time I wanted something luminous, lightweight and very natural.  And so I was introduced to the world of non-powdery powders.

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural

I haven’t purchased this powder in a couple of years. With that being said it’s probably one of my most repurchased beauty products ever, so I had to mention it. MAC’s Mineralized Skinfinish Natural is an excellent natural powder that can be used alone or on top of your foundation of choice. The finish of this powder looks like naked skin. So much so I would say this is invisible to naked eye (unless completely caked on). Unlike the other powders in the post this one probably has the most coverage out of the whole lot.

**I personally love this powder over a sheer tinted moisturizer, because it maintains luminosity while giving some extra coverage**

Guerlain Meteorites

To put things simply Meteorites add radiance to the skin while setting makeup. However unlike other glow inducing formulas Meteorites are by far the best I’ve ever encountered. I know that is a bold statement but trust me when I say this, these light weight, sparkle free, pearls make regular skin look like beautiful glowing skin. If you’re looking for a product to set your foundation while giving the illusion of healthy skin try Guerlain Meteorites.

**Meteorites can be worn over any foundation. With that being said I like that this gives an all day glow to fuller coverage foundations**

Chanel Le Beige

This is a powder truly meant for dry skin. It adds glow, a very sheer wash of colour and for those with a heavy hand the formula is impossible to over apply.  I did a whole review on this last year if you care to see it here. On the skin this doesn’t feel like a powder nor does it look like one either. 

** I honestly find this product a little too luminous for the summer. With that being said Le Beige is an excellent choice during the winter, especially when I am suffering from severely dry skin. **

Bourjois Silk Edition Powder  

If Chanel Le Beige and MAC’s Mineralized Skin finish had a baby this would be it. It’s kind of the best of worlds it’s more matte then the Chanel but more luminous then the MAC. On the other hand it’s less coverage then the MAC, yet more than the Chanel. As for the formula it melts into skin with ease and leaves your skin silky smooth. This is the most affordable powder on this list, yet it’s the one I can see many skin types gravitating towards, it’s easy to apply and just looks downright beautiful on.

** Applied with a sponge I love wearing this powder alone. This method is great for a quick natural no makeup, makeup look. However this powder applied with a brush works wonders to set foundation too. **  

What are some of your favourite non powdery powders?

Summer Beauty Favourites

While summer doesn’t officially start until June 21^st I can safely say that it is starting to feel like summer. The trees are lush and green; the days are hotter and longer… I can also say that this is the season that most of us Canadians look forward too.  Without fail every summer I gravitate to some tried and true favourites. So what better time to start sharing these lovely products then now, right? Here are my summer favourites.

Stella Perfume 

I can’t think of a time of the year where I don’t desire the scent of rose. In the winter I like to stick to heavy dark rose scents that are often accompanied by patchouli. In the summer I still love rose but instead of dark I gravitate towards lighter perfumes… the first thing that comes to mind it Stella. Yes, this is a true rose scent but added to the mix is the notes of mandarin and peony. The overall effect of Stella is a youthful, fresh rose scent perfect for those hot summer days.

Clarins UV + HP SPF 40

My knock on most SPFs is that they start feeling greasy after a while. These greasy SPFs also tend to break apart foundation, block pores and be irritating to the skin. Then there is the Clarins! This is a huge claim, but to date this is the best daily sunscreen I’ve ever tried. Clarins UV+ HP is light weight absorbs into the skin with ease and packs a great deal sun protection at the same time. Because it’s light and non-greasy it makes it my go to for day to day wear.

Chanel Glossimer in Happy

Generally speaking Glossimer’s are one of the best lip products money can buy. Out of the bunch I’ve tried this fuchsia jelly gloss is by far the nicest. While this adds a stunning pink tint to the lips, the glossy finish just looks fresh for the summer. Glossy pink tinted lips, beach waves and a light dusting of bronzer… summer here I come.

I did a whole review on this lip gloss here, this item is now permanent and can be found at your local Chanel counter.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Body Wash

Every summer I flock to this range of products. My favourite among them all is the body wash. With the invigorating effects of Rosemary and the refreshing feel of mint nothing feels better on a hot summer’s day. I also like that this soap is mild enough for sensitive skin.

Ice cream, long weekends, campfires and s'mores I am so happy that summer almost among us. What are some of your summer go-to products, leave me a comment!