Hair: Cleansing Conditioners?

To shampoo or not to shampoo that is the question. 

I started my hair journey a few years ago which now entitles me to do 

my own hair 90% of the time.

One thing I can tell about my hair is that loves moisture! There are a lot of talks out there saying that shampoos actually strip your hair moisture and conditioners cannot replace the full amount of moisture that has been lost. I have switched to a cleansing conditioner. Best decision ever! Most cleansing conditioners are really good for the hair because they don't contain harsh chemicals and they really help your hair maintain moisture. I love how soft my hair is after using them.

Click the product below and check some of my favourite cleansing conditioners!

Here is a shot of my natural hair- 

I have combed out my curls after putting in the Pantene damage repair cleansing conditioner ($9.99 CAN).

Do you have a favourite cleansing conditioner?

The Oils of Live Clean this Summer

Oils have definitely become mainstream and have been making a huge impact lately.

I personally think that they are a must have in your hair regime. Not sure what brand to start with? Check out Live Clean’s three amazing hair oils.

Live Clean KERATIN OIL Leave-in Treatment ($11.99 CAN)

Perfect for curly, frizzy and dry hair.

This product repairs hair by using Buriti Oil and Macademia Nut Oil. Plus Wild Flower Honey to help your hair hold onto water molecules. Want that perfect blowout? It also helps to prevent heat damage.

LIVE CLEAN MONOI OIL Leave-in Treatment ($11.99 CAN)

Perfect for brittle, fine and dry hair.

This product contains Tahiti’s native Tiare flower (which known for it's beautiful scent) and Monoi Oil (very rich blend of coconut oil). Plus Bamboo Extract and Jojoba Oil to ensure your hair is fully moisturized. 

LIVE CLEAN AGE RESIST MIRACLE Nutrition Oil ($11.99 CAN)

Perfect for aging/damaged hair.

This product contains Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein which attaches to the hair shaft causing hair to appear fuller. Also contains Jojoba, Rosehip and Avocado Oil. An amazing pre-shampoo treatment.

Benefit Cosmetics Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm Swatches

Last year was all about colour for me. This year, I'm more laid back with tints and balms.

On my radar right now, is Benefit Cosmetics hydrating tinted lip balms ($22.00 CAN).

A hydrating, fruity, tinted lip balm that conditions and glides on sheer.

Let me say this again. The keyword is tinted balm. As a girl with pigmented lips, I'm not looking for colour payoff just hydration. It's a bonus that these lip balms are very conditioning as well. 

They're perfect on their own or over your favourite lipstick.

Colours- According to the swatches below:
1. Lollibalm - candy orchid
2. Benebalm - rose
3. Cha Cha Balm - sheer mango
4. Posiebalm - poppy pink

My favourite balm is of course Lollibalm!

It works amazing with Lollitint which I reviewed back in January.

Do you have a favourite tinted lip balm?

Beauty News: Marc Anthony Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Collection

What if I told you that you can get the treatment of 12 products in 1 product? 

Check out the Marc Anthony Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Collection! 

It's developed with the latest Apple Stem Cell Technology which nurtures healthy hair growth. 

Three carefully targeted products to regenerate hair. The gem of the line for me is the Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Daily Conditioning Treatment. All you have to do is spray it evenly on wet hair from roots to ends. Leave in and comb through and style.

Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Daily Conditioning Treatment ($16.99 CAN)
Versatile, Apple Stem Cell enriched Daily Conditioning Treatment primes your hair for flawless looking hair day in and day out. A leave-in for all hair types.

Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Sulfate Free Shampoo ($14.99 CAN)
Cleanse your way to thicker, stronger, healthier growing hair. Infused with the power of Apple Stem Cells and Biotin. Sulfate Free.

Regenerating 12 Second Miracle Sulfate Free Conditioner ($14.99 CAN)
Nourish and hydrate while promoting thicker, stronger, healthier growing hair. Infused with the power of Apple Stem Cells and Biotin. Sulfate Free.

All these products are available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

New: Schick Intuition Advanced Moisture Razor + Giveaway (20 winners)

Did you know the spring is almost over? 10 more days until Summer! 

Can you believe it? 

Right now I'm in the process of taking out all my summer dresses so I can get see what fits and what doesn't.. so far so good! But that's not going to stop me from shopping hahaha!

You know I always have the 411 on what's new and coming out. 

Check out the Schick Intuition Advanced Moisture razor ($11.99 CAN).

It's a razor that comes with new Moisture Ribbons which lathers/moisturizes your skin. Of course, eliminating the need for shaving gel. Less stuff in the shower is always a good thing. Perfect for anyone who is like me that wants to get in and get out!

Other Cool info:

• Ergonomically designed handle
• Grip to help you while in the shower.
• Pivoting head
• Four blades surrounded by a conditioning solid

Do you want to prepare yourself for summer?

Schick is giving 20 Canadian Spiced Beauty readers their own 

Schick Intuition Advanced Moisture Razor to send out for test and review!

Once you send in your review you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift card!

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Pinks: L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color Rose Symphony

I've been talking about doing this post for so long. While working full-time and attempting to plan a wedding and of course trying to have a life.. I have been taking a bit of a back seat on the blog.

Summer is coming in right now one of the hottest colours out is pink. As a deeper skin woman of color, I feel that I need to be conscious about what pink I wear. Hear me out.. I personally do not want to be walking around with milky Pepto lips because it's not flattering to my skin tone. When When I brought up the idea of doing a pink lip series on Twitter, a lot of women of colour were really happy for me to do it.

This week's summer pink is:
 L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color Rose Symphony ($12.99 CAN)

Formulated with precious micro-oils and rich color pigments, 

Extraordinaire provides the ideal balance of color and care for perfect lips. 

Purchase it here:

Beauty News: Soap and Glory & Palmer's

I find that the best time to shop for makeup is spring/summer.
Think about it- when you're going to a pool party what do you buy?

Nail polish- shaving supplies-sunscreen- DIY pedicure products

The list goes on and on.

Here are two products that may get you on the right path this summer.

Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil for Face ($9.99 CAN)

This Skin Therapy Oil for Face is an age-defying, multipurpose skin perfecting oil.

Daily you battle environmental factors which take a toll on your skin.
What's the outcome?

• Fine lines
• Wrinkles 
• Dark spots
• Sagging skin 
• Uneven skin tone

Palmer’s non-greasy, hypoallergenic facial treatment is formulated with all of the same great ingredients used in our best-selling Skin Therapy Oil but amped up with even more face-loving, anti-aging ingredients.

This product combines 11 different oils to keep your skin looking good while battling the elements. I prefer to use it right before I go to bed. Especially after a day after being in the sun.
 Why not wake up with soft skin?

SOAP & GLORY Heel Genius™ Amazing Foot Cream ($16.99 CAN)

It renovates rough feet in a single overnight session, doubles as a foot cream, and will give even the roughest of cuticles a run for its money. Featuring allantoin, glycerin, macadamia oil, menthol, bilberry, orange and lemon fruit acid smoothers.

Remember when I brought up the pool party?

 What if your friend decides to throw one the next day and you have no time do get a pedicure... 

What do you do? 

I had the opportunity to get some inside info from Marcia Kilgore of Soap & Glory to solve this dilemma.

Which Soap & Glory products would I use to get my feet spring/summer ready?

 Soap and Glory’s Heel Genius is both a moisturizing foot cream and mask that renovates rough feet in a single overnight session, especially if you wear socks after you apply to lock in the moisture.

It's that simple!

Which product do you want to try this Summer?

Early-Harvest Raspberry for the Summer from The Body Shop!

Have you even seen a product and you just had to have it. I mean you don't now it works/smells or performs but you needed it? That's how I felt when The Body Shop put out a tweet with an image of their new Raspberry Collection. One thing about The Body shop is that their scents NEVER disappoint. They never smell artificial! Which is really hard to do for some companies.

I'm so happy to say this collection is everything I thought it would be.
It smells AMAZING!

Start spring in style with our new fruity, indulgent and deeply moisturizing Raspberry Body Collection.

Shop the Body Shop Raspberry Collection!

EARLY-HARVEST RASPBERRY BODY SCRUB ($20.00 CAN)

This body scrub looks like jam! It contains raspberry extract and smells amazing.

 I will admit it can get a little messy- so be cautious in the shower

EARLY-HARVEST RASPBERRY BODY LOTION ($12.00)

This lotion is pretty hydrating. I love using it as a hand lotion after I wash my hands. 

Plus it smells really good!

EARLY-HARVEST RASPBERRY BODY BUTTER ($20 CAN)

This is a very rich and pungent body butter. 

The texture is amazing and it's made with Community Fair Trade shea butter.

Do you have a favourite The Body Shop scent?

Wedding: So what do I wear under my dress?

My title is so honest.. I have no idea what to what would be the best option for my big day. Weddings are THE most popular time to wear shapewear, not only for the bride but for the entire wedding party and don't forget about mom. When there are audiences, forever-lasting photographs and video involved, everyone wants to look their absolute best. 

The types of shapewear depend largely on the bride/bridesmaid's body and the dress style. Since most bridal and wedding party dresses are fitted around the waist and flow out from the hips, waist cinchers are the #1 top pick for brides.

I had the opportunity to get some get information from Leonisa. They are well known for their lingerie but also carry shapewear, menswear, and swimwear. 

They have me a few options for me to keep in mind.

Modern day corset that has side-boning for waist definition and 3 positions for personal control level adjustment.

This cincher has no zipper or hooks and is good for fitted dresses and won't show through your dresses. 

For women who want strong fuller body control, we they have several different styles that will suit your needs depending on the style of her dress - the tummy stays tight and waistline defined.



If it's just a little help with a lot of sensuality, these control panties slim your tummy.

Multi-way straps for versatility and can also be removed.

Hope this post helps someone out there!

Also if you have tried one of these/ have other options let me know below!

*I was given an item from Leonisa for this post.

Where to get Canadian discount codes!

As a Canadian, the worst thing you can see you while shopping online is "We do not ship to Canada". Huh?! I'm always so confused and upset when I see that. 

Especially when the store is USA-based. 

Or when companies do ship to Canada but the shipping cost is tripled. I can't remember what the company was but I had put a $20 worth of items in my checkout and taxes alone was $15. Huh?! I just hit the X and signed right out. No thank you!

These stats maybe a bit out of date but still relevant: In 2012, Canadians spent $18.9 billion online according to Stats Canada. Let me say that again.. $18.9 billion dollars! That's insane!

I'm always looking for discounts/promo codes which work for Canadians. I shouldn't put more effort into tweeting them or putting them into blog post so all Canadians can enjoy.  I was recently introduced to a website called flipit with deals with Canadian only promos/discounts. 

One of the things that I really like about the website is that you can browse by categories. Like fashion and accessories or shoes. My favourite L'Occitane hand cream is almost out and with a promo code it helps my overall online purchase. 

Do you have any funny online shopping stories?

I was sponsored for this post.

Canadian Summer time Giveaway: Veet Natural Inspirations Line

I recently did blog post about Summer time legs prep. Most of the ladies choose shaving as their method of choice because it doesn't hurt. Since I'm very lazy, my main method of removal will always be the hair removal cream. Put it on- do what you have to do for 5 to 7 minutes and then wash it off. Nice, easy, painless and quick if you know what you're doing. 

If you're looking for a new brand to try check out the new Veet Natural Inspirations line. It consists of 100% naturally sourced ingredients (available in Normal & Dry as well as sensitive formulas).

For the ladies who are very sensitive to scents, I want to let you know that it's probably like a 2 out of 10 on the scent meter. A nice change from the past brands which would make your eyes water once you opened the bottle. Horrible memories.. I love this formula because it has good stuff in it for your skin like avocado oil.

Veet wants to prepare one Canadian Spiced Beauty lucky readers with a giveaway that includes the entire Veet Natural Inspirations line valued at approximately $100.

VEET Sugar Wax

VEET Facial Wax Strips

VEET Wax Strips for legs and body

VEET Facial Cream Kit

VEET Hair Removal Cream (sensitive/normal)

Enter Now

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must haves: Easy Makeup Removal

Everyone has their preferred beauty removal method. I've tried them all from foams, cleansing oils and liquid removers. They're all good but nothing can never compare to makeup wipes.

If you're like me and wears up to 4x coats of mascara, it's a good idea to use a wipe to get everything off before you wash your face.

Yes it's an extra step.. but its worth it.

Since I only wear mascara/liner daily, I rip the wipes in half so I don't waste them.

Check out the four.. Yes four wipes that I can't get enough of!

Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes ($6.99 to $9.99 CAN)
Super soft
Works on sensitive skin
Little to no scent
Vitamins in the formula
Removes waterproof mascara

Olay Fresh Effects {As Fresh As New} Exfoliating Wet Cloths ($9.99 CAN)

Two sides- soft/exfoliating
Light scent
Honeysuckle and white tea essence
Dermatologist-tested and won't clog your pores 

Kosmea Australia Facial cleansing wipes ($14.99 CAN)
Super soft
Biodegradable
Rose hip, olive oil and soothing aloe vera

Olay Fresh Effects (S'Wipe Out!) Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths ($9.99 CAN)

Super soft

Little to no scent

Olay moisture and vitamin e 

Removes waterproof mascara

Do you have a favourite brand of makeup wipes?

Are you wearing your right size?

Hope my title got your attention! I was recently contacted by Triumph (lingerie company) with some interesting stats and useful information.

It’s the bra’s 100th anniversary this year, and Triumph discovered 76% of the world’s women are still wearing the wrong size bra.

I believe that percentage. In my opinion, it's hard for some women to find a bra size at times because our bodies are always changing. We gain/lose weight, hormones, pregnancy and after child birth.

I can wear a certain size at H&M and go into The Bay and get a totally different size. It's annoying but we need to come to a realization that something has to change.

Here are 5 sure signs that you're wearing the incorrect bra size:

1. Your underwire is sticking out.
2. You’re overflowing out of your cup.
3. The center of your bra does not rest on your skin.
4. The cups are sagging or baggy.
5. You’re in pain.

Triumph is challenging the world’s women to ‘Stand Up for Fit’ in 2014 to get more out of their inner and outer fashions.

I know that someone who reads this has their head down in shame. I think it's time to visit a Bra Fitting Stylist. Think of them as your fairy God"Bra"mother.

To book a personal fitting with an expert Triumph Bra Stylist at select Hudson’s Bay locations, email: bra.fittings.ca@triumph.com. Please let me know how it goes!

Good Luck!

School Appropriate Makeup (Guest Post)

I love wearing makeup to school, it boosts my confidence and it’s a part of my daily routine. Everyone has their own opinion as to how much makeup you should wear. I believe less is more, but do whatever makes you happy! True beauty comes from within.

Firstly, I like to apply my favourite foundation which is the L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation. I suffer from acne and dark spots throughout my face, and this foundation works perfectly for me. I only wear it once in a while, but you can opt for just concealer if you wish.

Filling in eyebrows is a must for me, and recently I’ve been loving the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Chocolate. I could talk about this product forever! It is very pigmented, waterproof and doesn’t budge. Check out my eyeliner tutorial.

Lastly, add a nude lipstick that compliments your skin tone. This Revlon Lipbutter in Pink Truffle is my favourite!

And there you have it! A simple 15 minute makeup look for every day at school.

How old were you when you started wearing makeup? 

Tell me in the comments!