Guest Post: Clarins Event and Double Serum Review

A couple weeks ago Clarins welcomed a group of Canadian Beauty Bloggers/Toronto Influencers to the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Toronto for the launch of their reformulated iconic Double Serum. The event featured a presentation from Clarins’ brand ambassador. The room was beautifully decorated with elements and ingredients found in the serum such a kiwi, banana and milk thistle. At the event, we were all gifted with a full 50 mL bottle to try. (valued at $120 CDN)

10 Reasons Why you Need to Incorporate Face Masks into Your Life

I know that not everybody is into skin care. I’ve met people who still use bar soap on their face.. no I’m not talking about specially made skin care soap. I’m talking regular bar soap that they also use to wash their.... never mind. I’m not knocking you but I will say that if you do have skincare issues that generic soap is probably not going to get rid of them.

I am a big believer in skin care routines. You target pesky skin care problems such as discolouration, oily skin or even peeling and flaking. Like I know people who swear by homemade scrubs/mask made out of fruit/vegetables. For the ones who don’t have a lot of time or are just downright lazy...package masks are your best bet.

My Fall Beauty Picks from Murale

It’s time to switch up your skin care routine! With the air getting drier- I'm sorry to tell you but your skin is starting to lack moisture. That leads to cracking and peeling skin. 

NOTHING that I’m trying to have in my life! Lol

A few months back I went to a Murale FALL event. For my USA readers, "Murale stores have an offering of prestige products like hair care, fragrance, cosmetics, skincare plus bath & body." I was introduced to some new brands and was reacquainted with some brands that I know and love. I was also sent home with a healthy bag full of products to try out. 

Guest Post: ECOTOOLS Polishing Cleansing Cloths

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to thoroughly cleanse your face every night whether you are a heavy makeup wearer or not. I typically double cleanse. First, I remove my makeup with a makeup wipes followed by a cleansing balm/oil and then a regular cleanser using just my hands.

Regular thorough cleansing:

• Is essential to keeping your skin looking radiant and healthy.
• Helps your treatments (serums, oils, etc) to work properly
• Helps maintain proper pore size
• Encourages proper skin hydration and prevents the production of excess oils

While makeup wipes have been my tried and true tool for removing that first layer oil makeup, oil, dirt of the day, cost wise they can add up and they can be wasteful for the environment - especially when you are using more than one wipe every night (like I do) to get the job done.

Enter my discovery of ECOTOOLS Polishing Cleansing Cloths.

ColourPop No Filter Concealer – Deep Dark Swatches

It's very rare that I give in to makeup hypes. But when I heard that Colourpop was jumping into the colour cosmetics world and launching concealers... I had to get them. Plus I heard that they had a few colours for darker woman of colour. It was a no-brainer. I had to try it out!

Fenty Beauty Advice from Sephora Beauty Advisors

On Friday, my day started out by going to a fully stocked Sephora at 10AM to swatch foundations and highlighters. The best part is EVERYTHING I wanted was in stock! **Pats myself on the back** Man I was overwhelmed but not. I’m my opinion the line is VERY simple at the moment. No red/fuchsia lips, mascara or eyeliners. I wanted to buy something that I didn’t have… don’t laugh.

New HARD CANDY COSMETICS Collection

I know Fall is coming.... and frankly I don't want to speak about it. Let me stay in "Summer".

For the first time in a while, I got my hands on some Hard Candy products. Some are hits and some are misses. I picked the four that would catch your eye if you were in-store.

Lips
Wet Ever lip lacquer $6 USD

Long Weekend Vacation Prep - Body Edition

Where do I start! Preparing yourself for a vacation is truly a serious task. Like within 48 hours before I left for Jamaica: I got lash extensions, brow treading, a Brazilian (insert the tear emoji) plus a manicure and pedicure. But although a lot of this stuff required a salon. That includes wait times. For ladies who have NO time for that- A lot of things can be done at home to save money/time!

Especially if your just doing a long weekend getaway!

Five Housewarming Etiquette Tips + Bleu Lavande

Okay I've reached the age where I get one of three invites. A wedding, a baby shower, or a housewarming. Although a housewarming seems like one of the least important out of all three. It's NOT! Through out the years I've seen some very INTERESTING things.

Here are some tips that I acquired from being the host and a guest.

Host:

Make sure your house is presentable.

It seems logical....but I can't tell you the amount of housewarmings that I've gone to where people have sectioned off a place where my husband and I can't enter.

Guest Post: Why You Need a Tinted Primer

I love a good primer. Some may even call me a little bit of a primer junkie. I have tried all types from drugstore to high end. If you haven’t been using a primer, you are truly missing out. A good primer can make or break the how your makeup look once applied whether you’re keeping it light with a BB cream or doing full face, full coverage glam.

Many people skip out on this step because they don’t believe they need one or don’t think it is worth the investment. For those who don’t believe, you need a primer because:

• It helps makeup to go on smoother
• It conceals your pores
• It helps your makeup last longer
• It helps smooth/blur out imperfections

There are so many primers on the market to address certain skin types. Primers for mature skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, mattifying primers and primers with illuminating properties for that extra glow.

Clore Beauty Recap + Sensationnel EMPIRE hair line

If you're following me on my social networks, you would have seen that a few weeks ago I was promoting an event with myself and a few other Toronto influencers.We were going to be at an in-store event for Clore Beauty Supply. To promote the launch of a Sensationnel EMPIRE hair line at their Customer Appreciation day. Clore Beauty Supply is a leading beauty supply company here in Canada (They even have a salon inside of two locations).

Flashing?!?! Is the DERMAFLASH Facial Exfoliating Device for you?

I cant even begin to tell you how many times an email for an interesting device pops up into my inbox. Then I ask about it and it's USA only. REALLY! 
Flat out.. If it's not available here.... I'm not covering it. 

I don't know if it's me or not but once you hear about a product- it's everywhere! I remember seeing an old video of Taraji P. Henson's MUA using the tool on her before the Grammy's. Guess what?? It was the DERMAFLASH device!  A few weeks ago, I got an email saying the DERMAFLASH was available in Canada.

So I had to do some inquiries about it before I jumped the gun.

Thankfully, I got some answers from DERMAFLASH and I'm sharing them for people like me who have questions!

Three basic video/photography tips that you should know

I'm a firm believer in "Everyone needs a refresher". Sometimes I find myself slipping in the blog world. Basically doing things more sloppy than I'm use to. Which is not a good look but I always bounce back. I often have to reshoot things because I'm not satisfied.

Sometimes you have to go back to a check list.

- Is the image appealing?
- Is it too dark?
- Is there detail in the image?

Hydration is KEY! New Laneige Skin Care

Let's talk skin care! I've really been REALLY into skin care lately. After coming back from Jamaica my skin has totally changed consistency. Now it requires more hydration. I've actually been using a few brands that have my skin looking MUCH better!

Back in 2016, I started my year out with these Laneige classics. 

Now come and see what I upgraded to!

My Spiced Life Contributor: Shauna

I think that it's probably been about a year since I've had a contributor on the blog. I love contributors because not only does it lessen the load for me (I'm just being honest lol). It gives you guys the opportunity to meet other Beauty lovers and hopefully find a new product a try. 

Shauna is a PR professional. I have been actually been emailing with her since 2016. We finally met in 2017! She's a really cool girl who listens to my beauty rants and raves- Soooo I thought she would be a perfect August contributor!

Wearable Pinks for Dark Skin Women + My Favourite Combo at Moment

If you follow me on Twitter: JENNMUA. You know that I speak a lot about wearable soft pinks for dark skin women. Apparently it's hard to find *insert the eye roll emoji*. A true unicorn. Let me start off by saying, it shouldn’t be. Some of us just want a nice pink which is NOT a porn star pink. You know exactly what I’m talking about!!! I'll spare you the imagery.

I know I’m a couple days late for #nationallipstickday but I thought it be great to speak about this combo that I came up with! I love it but I totally wish I could find this all in one bottle/tube. Either way it will due for now.

Arbonne: Smoothed Over Lipstick - SWATCHES

I know that I'm behind on swatches but please forgive me! 

When I heard that Arbonne had some new lipsticks, I really wanted to try them. 

I really LOVED Arbonne's eyebrow basic brow combos so I had high hopes for the new lipsticks.

I'm so used to wearing matte lipsticks that when I get something hydrating- I'm so shook up! These babies have the attributes of a balm but with the power of a lipstick. I know it sounds odd but wait until you see the swatches. One word to describe them: SMOOTH.

Arbonne: Smoothed Over Lipsticks ($29.00 CAN)

Sooo what's going on with Spiced Beauty?

I know that I haven't really and publicly put this out there but I changed my blog name. 

My blog is now called MY SPICED LIFE.

The first question, I got was why....

I started this blog at 23 years old, living with my family having a boyfriend and just finishing college. I was BORED.  Now i'm in my early 30's, living with my husband(same guy I dated for 10+ years) and owning my OWN business. 

My views and likes/dislike have changed drastically. 

I know that some people are asking "Will this still be beauty blog?" 

Beauty is still one of my first loves. It will NEVER go away. I still have had numerous people.. not just WOC come up to me and tell me that I was one of the first Beauty Blogs that they found in Canada. But I want to share other stuff of my life without being confined to just beauty. Like my love of travel, electronics, food, random events.... I could go on and on. 

Also Wedding things. 

I didn't really get to divulge during the time because I took more of a hiatus to plan but there still a lot of things I want to share with you guys! 

Please let me know your thoughts! So being that a lot of blog related info and I don't think I have done a tag in a while! I want to share some info about my life and maybe share some little titbit that you don't know about me.

Why you Should Wash your Brushes + Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Palette & Gel

I once had a friend who told me that she didn't know that you were supposed to clean your make up brushes. Guys.. for three years! She had the same brushes...Mind you she was using those cheap synthetic two dollar packs.... But still! The whole concept took me out. I nicely told her to throw out what she has and start fresh.

For some of you guys who don't see a problem.
Here are three issues that you can get with dirty brushes:
-Staph infections(Yes.. google it)
-Clogged pores (Pimples all over)
-Pink eye (You get the idea...)

Every time you hop on Instagram or Twitter you always see somebody complaining about how much they hate washing their brushes. I'm in the same boat... I hate washing my brushes! And I'm going to tell you the truth I have enough brushes that I can go without washing brushes for a while. I know that's not the reality for everyone... so I'm gonna show you the easiest way to clean your brushes right now.

Yes there are DIY methods. But if you're lazy and on the go like me :) Here is the quickest and easiest way to clean your brushes and make sure that you're free of infection and bacteria.

Get the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette ($19.99 CAN) 

Make Up For Ever: Artist Acrylip + Swatch

One of the first lip products my list to share for the Summer is the Artist Acrylip ($23.00 CAN).
Totally different from your typical matte lip. 

This is a extremely pigmented product.