Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream

I love browsing the drugstore looking for new cutting edge skincare. For years you could only find typical anti-aging creams, followed by the same old acne products. Boring right? However there is a revolution going on in your local drugstore skincare department, because things are changing.  In addition to new cutting edge brands popping up, more established drugstore brands are bringing there A game to the table too. For the skincare obsessed its exciting thing. Adding to the excitement is brand new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream.

Dehydrated skin is often confused with dry skin, but the two are very different. Dry skin lacks oil as where dehydrated skin lacks water. So yes you can have oily dehydrated skin, dry dehydrated skin, maturing dehydrated skin … you get the idea! The answer to dehydration is the miracle ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring, moisture binding acid leaves skin hydrated, plump, youthful and radiant.  For years getting a dose of hyaluronic acid was reserved for high end skincare brands, but like I said earlier things are changing.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream features a healthy helping of hyaluronic acid.  The first thing I noticed about Hydro Boost is just how refreshing and light texture is. It’s the kind of like drinking cold water on a hot summer’s day, but for your skin. In addition to feeling downright amazing Hydro Boost Gel absorbs into the skin instantly, making this an excellent choice for even the most oily skin types.

This is what I call a loveable moisturizer; it feels nice on the skin, smells amazing and hydrates almost instantly. If you had normal to oily skin type I highly recommend this gel. Drier skin types (aka me in the winter) might want to try to the "Extra Dry Version". Hydro Boost leaves my skin hydrated, plump and glowing. For just under $20.00 a pop I can’t recommend this enough.

CoverGirl Stay Luminous Foundation Review

I use to be quite the foundation snob and my favourite brand of all time was Chanel. My elitist foundation ways were cut short when my favourite foundation was discontinued. This need for a very pale, moisturizing, medium coverage foundation lead me very comparable but much more affordable Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not about to jump ship I love the Bourjois, but recently I have been itching for something new and something cheap!

On a recent trip to Walmart and somewhere between purchasing Q-tips and dog food I ended up in the makeup department. Why does this always happen to me? With its claims of hydration and long lasting radiant skin I was drawn to the Stay Luminous display. However once I saw the brilliantly pale shade Classic Ivory and the affordable price of $12.95 I was sold.

With its weighted glass bottle, handy pump and travel friendly lid CoverGirl’s Stay Luminous feels expensive. Dare I even say the packaging of this is better than foundations 5 times its price! I am looking at you NARS Sheer Glow.

The non-glittery, yet luminous formula is where the magic happens. This weightless foundation has a light to medium coverage. As the ads suggest this foundation is both radiant and long wearing. On me it makes my dry skin look instantly renewed and glow-y. It’s the kind of foundation that you have that “damn, my skin looks amazing” moment with every time you look into a mirror.  The results are so beautiful that I’ve convinced my immediate friends and family this is my natural pregnancy glow.

This foundation is a serious drugstore gem! I’ve had no problems with caking, fading, oxidizing or any of that funny business. If you have dry skin or more mature skin and are looking for a good dose of natural glow I highly suggest CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation.

Hello, Lovely Lip Balm!

My purse like so many of us contains a constant flow of lip products. Some days I channel my inner tom boy and wear only lip balm, while other days I crave a sultry dark red. However even with the constant circulation of products there is one product that always remains constant… Dior Addict Lip Glow. This balmy product hydrates the lips while leaving the prettiest natural pink colour. I’ve often thought that if I had one lip product to use for the rest of my life that Lip Glow might be it. 

Yes we are here to talk about Clarins but hear me out, because there is a problem in this lipstick paradise. My biggest dilemma with the Dior is the price. Usually I would say the perfect lipstick is worth the investment, but I can easily go through one of these once a month and at $37.00 a pop Dior Lip Glow is one expensive balm habit. With no similar products on the market Dior had me buying there Lip Glow for years… Until now! 

Coming in the kick Dior’s butt is the Clarins Lovely Lip Balm. 

Hydrating, smoothing and lip colour enhancing… this is what lip product dreams are made out of. Clarins Lovely Lip Balm is the kind of product that you don’t need a mirror to apply yet it gives the lips a stunning, but natural pink flush. With shea oil and coco butter this hydrating lip balm leaves lips smooth in kissable. To make matters even lovelier the people at Clarins have packaged this perfect lip product in cute eco-friendly packaging and gave it a beautiful peach scent too. 

There are so many great things about this lip balm an outstanding formula, a beautiful finish, a fruity scent, cute packaging... I am in love! If you’re a lip balm addict I highly recommend for every purse, pocket, bedside table, gym bag you own! Basically what I’m saying is for $15.00 a pop, good bye Lip Glow and hello Lovely Lip Balm.

Skincare Products for an Amazing Glow

Strobing might be the hot new makeup trend right now. However nothing looks better then natural luminous glow of healthy skin. So ladies put that Becca highlighter down, because today it’s all about skincare. Here are my favourite skincare products for an amazing glow.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner

Healthy glow-y skin starts with exfoliation. Why you ask? Well it comes down getting all those dead skin cells of the face and showing the healthy fresh skin underneath. Now there are two ways to combat dead skin physical exfoliation and chemical. Whatever path you choose keep in mind there are aggressive products out there. With that being said the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator is not aggressive in the slightest. In fact this fruit acid based toner is gentle it makes it a great introductory product into the chemical exfoliator world. While the formula is mild it does a fantastic job eliminating dead skin cells while tightening pores too. The overall effect is flawless healthy looking skin, but with no irritation.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads

 If you’re craving a more aggressive style chemical exfoliation these peel pads might be right up your alley. Boasting lactic acid and glycolic acid these pads support a healthy cellular turnover. Also added to the acid cocktail is the oil controlling miracle ingredient salicylic acid. By utilizing both alpha and beta hydroxide acids these will leave your skin noticeably radiant even with one use.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

Using both physical and chemical exfoliation the Regenerating Cleanser is a product worth checking out. This cleanser/exfoliator is so effective that I noticed a difference the very first time I used this. If you were looking for a gentle, well thought out product give the Tata a try.

I have a whole in depth review of this beauty here!

Yes, highlighters are amazing, but nothing beats the glow of good skin. What are some of your favourite glow inducing products?

Highlighters for an Amazing Glow

Strobing, orbing, blorbing (okay I made that one up)… I feel old when I say this, but back in my day this use to be called highlighting. This whole rebranding kind of ticks me off to be honest. I can already see “revolutionary strobing” products being the new it thing beauty companies will be pumping out in the upcoming months. Well if that wasn’t a pregnancy hormone infused vent, I’m not sure what is! In all seriousness ladies the truth is you don’t need a “strobing” product, nope you need a good highlighter. So if you want to get on this trend here are some of my all-time highlighting favourites.

NARS Multiple in Copacabana 

As far as I’m concerned Copacabana is natural good looking skin in a tube… which is why I love this product. I also love this product because it’s easy to apply. With a single swipe and a quick blend in (using your fingers) you’re left with a convincing healthy glow. I would say this is my most used highlighter at of the lot, I absolutely love this stuff.

NARS Albatross

This is the most dramatic highlighter I own and one I solely reserve for nights out, weddings or when I feeling really fancy. While this might look seemingly white and boring in the pan, but Albatross on the checks looks like a radiant golden sheen on. Swatches don't do this product justice so you'll have to trust me when I say this it is simply magical. If you see this powder, swatch it and prepare to be amazed! The overall effect is a stunning dramatic golden glow.

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

I have to be honest with you and say the packaging is not really my cup of tea. With that being said this pearly pink highlight is my cup of tea, because the overall finish of this is beautiful. The formula itself is very hydrating making it perfect for drier or mature skin types. Girl Meets Pearl blends into the skin with ease so there is no need to worry about streaky highlighter lines. If your someone who craves a dramatic highlight this offers a stunning pearly punch. Applied with a light hand this product works well for more natural looks too. 

So ladies now that we are all on on strobbing game what are some of your favourite highlighters? 

Leave me a comment I would love to hear! 

July Favourites

I love the summer, I love the heat but I have to be honest with you I can’t stand the sun. Dare I even say I am craving fall? Is that crazy talk? Anyways this month’s favourites are all about summer, staying cool and sun protection. I also have some new discoveries excited to share. So without further ado here are my monthly favourites.

Fresh Lemon Sugar Body Lotion

This was in my last month’s favourites so I will keep this short and sweet… this light lotion kicks some serious butt. In addition to being lightweight the lemony fragrance is the perfect zingy scent for a hot summer’s day. I love the scent of this so much I am seriously considering on purchasing the perfume, the shower gel and whatever else Lemon Sugar scented I can get my hands on.

Bioderma Photoderm SPF 40     

I don’t know about you but I hate body sun screens that are tacky. Yes this might be an over share but tacky SPF + heat= a day of feeling dirty. I’m not into it!

Photoderm on the other hand is not sticky in the slightest. Instead this sweat-resistant formula is lightweight and works like a charm. I also really happen to love the spray applicator because it makes application a breeze. For just under $30.00 and for such a big effective bottle of sunscreen this product is well worth checking out.

Caudalie Grape Water

I can’t help myself this fine mist feels so refreshing after a cleansing my face. To be honest this mist feels good any time of the day, especially in the heat. These sorts of sprays are kind of a princess product, but I honestly look forward to using this everyday.

Clarins Lovely Lip Balm             

I am so excited about this lip balm that I am at a total loss for words. If you love Dior Rosy Glow Balm you will love the Lovely Lip balm. Although the finishes of these two products are similar the formulas are slightly different. With that being said this product deserves a full review so be sure to check back soon.

What products are you loving this month leave me a comment! 

My Thoughts on Parabens

The topic of parabens is a tricky, sensitive issue. While working in cosmetics I usually encountered two people, the Paraben Lover and the Paraben Activist. On one extreme the paraben lover clams that parabens help preserve the integrity of their beauty products (and they do). Once I had a lady that told me parabens helped ‘preserve her face’. Which was followed by her telling me not to believe any of the ‘hype’ and get on the paraben train myself.

On the hand is the activist. I am terrified of the Paraben Activist, not because I don’t respect their opinions but because I had a bottle of Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar once thrown at my head. This gentleman then told me that I was selling cancer and I was killing people. It can be hard for a girl working in the beauty industry I tell you! As he was ready to throw another bottle of moisturizer in my direction he was removed by security at and told never to come back.  Lucky I was able to dodge every bottle that came my way, but this dude was horrifying! So while I try my best to avoid parabens, I don’t see myself tossing goods at sales associates anytime in the future either. Consequently I consider myself somewhere in the middle.

Parabens are a preservative found in beauty products. Paraben’s can be also found in nature such as in strawberries. However, since food contains so little of this ingredient is nothing to worry about (nor nothing to pass a slice of strawberry shortcake for). In beauty Parabens are used as a preservative. So yes Paraben Lover lady is right they will keep your moisturizer fresh, but no they will not preserve your face. The down side of this miracle product is that they can interfere with hormone function. Parabens imitate estrogen and have been found in human breast cancer tissues. In addition there are also studies that suggest methylparben in combination with a little sun can lead to increased sun damage, which results in premature aging.

So where does that leave us? Well if you choose to use parabens or not it’s completely up to you! I won’t judge you, nor will bash your beloved eye cream or moisturizer.  My philosophy has been to use the best ingredients I can possibly find, so I try my best to avoid parabens. For me there are healthier preservatives out there that offer better results and without all the negative consequences.

What is your stance on parabens? Leave me a comment.