SEPHORA COLLECTION Skincare Booster - Tired Skin

Earlier this year, my skin was in shambles. I was trying out a new product for the blog which made my skin go haywire( I will not be showing pictures of this). I knew that something wasn't right but I didn't want to stop due to it's "benefits". I know some of y'all are shaking your head right now. Once I stopped using it.. all the impurities came to the top of my skin. It was not cute... I really needed something to get rid of them. That's when I found SEPHORA COLLECTION Skincare Booster - Tired Skin ($26.00 CAN).

I literally went out on a limb with this product. Skin boosters are on the rise. Think of it as a shot of minerals for your skin to improve complexion. I'm in love. This product was extremely gentle for sensitive skin users like me.

One of the main ingredient is  a high concentration of magnesium.
Which can reduce signs of fatigue and brighten your complexion.

How to?

• Use in 14-day cycles at each change of season.
• Using the dropper take five drops- mix it with your cream/makeup or use it on it's own.
  This can be used morning or night. 

The only picture I have on my phone which show cases my skin.

L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Glosses- SWATCHES

The popularity of matte lipsticks aren't going anywhere any time soon. One complain that I hear a lot is how "drying' they are. My recommendation would be the L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Glosses ($13.99 CAN).

Doe foot applicator perfect for sculpting your lips.

These highly pigmented matte glosses have a velvety texture when applied.

They're also long-lasting. Perfect to wear all night!

I received four colours but I swatched the two colours that would flatter my skin tone the best.
**Note: If these are too glossy for you- take a tissue- blot and you have a matte lip without the shine**

Shanghai Scarlet & Forbidden Kiss

Shanghai Scarlet

Forbidden Kiss

Which colour is your favourite?

EOS- Body Lotion Berry Blossom & Delicate Petals

I recently had the opportunity from EOS to attend an afternoon floral workshop at the Bobbette & Belle . I've been obsessed with Bobbette & Belle since my wedding show days: they make amazing cakes & cookies. Plus I'm obsessed with flowers.

I was extremely excited to check out the latest innovations from Eos- Body Lotions!

Two scents:

Berry Blossom & Delicate Petals

Don't you love this sleek bottle? 

This body lotion contains natural shea butter, avocado oil and vitamin E. It applies sheer but it's still moisturizing. Not like some brands which apply light and totally evaporates an hour later. Although both lotions are scented they're dermatologist-tested, paraben-free, petrolatum-free and mineral oil free.

Two sizes:
200 ml which comes with a flip top cap
350 ml which comes with a pump

SHOP

Mary Kay Into the Garden Collection

Last year, this time I was getting ready for my wedding. It was hands down the best day of my life. So much work goes into one day. The preparation part is crucial. The Mary Kay Into the Garden Collection is perfect for the DIY bride. This line is LE "Into the Garden™"collection is a collaboration between Mary Kay Global Makeup Artist Sebastian Correa and Brazilian fashion designer Patricia Bonaldi.

Feet

You will be on them all day! They have to look good. 

The Into the Garden™ Pedicure Set ($35.00 CAN) is perfect for pampering.

You add the foot fizzies to add to your water and soak. Then add the Satin Feet™ Foot Scrub to get off the dead skin cells. I should add that it is a garden-scented.  Once you're done put on the toe separators and file with the emery board. There are also polishes in the line**.

Hands

You will be shaking a lot of hands. Soft hands are needed!

Into the Garden™ Soap Set ($20.00 CAN).

You get three garden-inspired scent soaps individually wrapped in a lovely floral box. This could also be a cute gift for your bridesmaids.

Face

Into the Garden™ Beauty Blotters™ Oil-Absorbing Tissues ($8.50 CAN) 

You have to stay fresh for photos!

Keep theses in your clutch. If you don't have a travelling makeup artist- these will be your best friend. They will help absorb excess oil and shine- so that it doesn't show in photos. 

Into the Garden™ Nail Appliqués ($10.00 CAN)

Break out that accent nail! 

There is a mix of floral and lace designs to play with.

FACE

Into the Garden™ Color Compact ($45.00 CAN)

The colour combinations are endless!

Four garden-inspired eyeshadows plus three sheer glosses. All-in-one compacts are perfect for the lady on the go.

I should add that limited quantities available of this Into the Garden Collection. 

Expires May 15th, 2016.

Clarins Has Perfected Skincare for the Under-35 Set

Last month, Jenn and I headed to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto to see the new launches Clarins was debuting for Spring 2016. It was quite a fete – there was a dessert bar, complete with a cotton candy machine, macaron lollipops and some bubbly! The venue was perfect – the hotel is actually home to the only Clarins spa in the country!

The products also did not disappoint. When the Clarins team walked through the product benefits and allowed us to smell the product and get a feel for their texture, I immediately fell in love and began testing them out that evening!

L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation

Cushion foundations are all the rage lately – French cosmetics brands have perfected the launch, offering sheer, buildable coverage and a trusty compact that is perfect for makeup bags and traveling. I tried L’Oreal Paris’ take on the trend to see if it stacked up to the rave reviews.

APPLICATION
My favourite thing about this foundation is how true to skin tone it is – when I first opened the compact in my shade, I thought that there was no way this would work – it was way too dark. However, upon applying, I noticed it was a perfect match. So perfect that even swatching was difficult, you could barely see the product! What you see in this shot is several coats of foundation applied with a stippling brush.

This product also gives your skin a luminous glow, almost as though you’ve also applied a highlighter. It’s perfect for a fresh-faced look for daytime. At night, I add translucent setting powder to mattify things up a bit.

COVERAGE
The coverage for this product is sheer-to-medium – it takes a few applications to build it up. If you’re looking for additional coverage, add a creamy concealer to blemishes and under eye circles following your foundation applications.

SHADE RANGE
The product range includes 8 shades ranging from “Light Ivory” to “Suntan”. Unfortunately, I don’t think this foundation is a good match for those with darker skins.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation is available in drug stores including Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall, as well as Walmart and Amazon.ca for approximately $24.99.

Swatches: Styli-Style Line & Seal lipliners

Do you use lipliners daily? 

I should know better but I really never spent the time to apply them. 

For my clients, I always do it. I guess I was lazy to add another step to make makeup routine. 

Philosophy: The Micro Exfoliating Treatment Kit

When you think of chemical peels and microdermabrasion, a trip to the spa and a $300+ price tag often come to mind. Luckily, skincare brands are releasing at-home versions of your favourite spa treatments for a fraction of the cost. The best part? These treatments usually include multiple applications.

Over the years I’ve tried several chemical exfoliators, microdermabrasion and peel kits – scrubs, fruit-acid soaked pads, you name it. I’ve noticed results, but not enough results to justify the price tag (skin treatments generally cost significantly more than a cleanser or moisturizer).

Enter the Philosophy Microdelivery Dual Phase Peel – a two-step peel that sells for under $100. After one use, I was hooked. My skin felt smoother than it’s ever helped before, redness was gone and my skin glowed. This is a great product if you suffer from acne or acne scars, aging skin, hyperpigmentation or sun damage.

Four reasons why you need the Microsoft Surface

I love being a beauty blogger. Trying out new products is always exciting. But that's only one side of my life. If you know me, then you know I work with video cameras and computers all day. I love when I find a product that makes my life easier. When I was asked if I wanted to try out the Microsoft Surface for Toronto Fashion week, I accepted without any hesitation.

Five new Revlon mascaras that you must have this season

Have you been to the mascara aisle lately? It’s insane!
So many brands. So many specifications.
Let's break it down!

Do you want length?
How about volume?
What about length and volume?

NUDESTIX Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencils- Royal & Belle

Matte lip products are my FAVOURITE trend. When I was asked if I wanted to try the NUDESTIX Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencils in Royal & Belle ($28.00 CAN), it was a YES. I love Nudestix. 

I love everything the brand stands for and how it caters to all skin tones.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Palette

Although I went to school for makeup, I'm still learning new techniques. Plus discovering products that make life much easier. Sculpting is the craze that is not going way. I blame Kim Kardashian! Although we all can't slay like Kim K, we can try right! MAKE UP FOR EVER’s new Pro Sculpting Palette ($54.00 CAN) is here to help us all slay!

Derek Lam 10 Crosby fragrance collection

This has been the talk of my washroom. I know.. let me explain. My husband and I are finally are having friends over to look at the house. In the my washroom, I have my Derek Lam 10 Crosby fragrance collection ($115.00 CAN) displayed. EVERYONE who sees it needs to know the backstory.

It's a collection of 10 fragrances from experiences on outside of 

Derek Lam’s window at 10 Crosby Street.

10 stories

10 moments

Wedding: Inspiration from Wedluxe

Back in January, I went to the WedLuxe Wedding show.
This was my 3rd time going!

The first time as a married woman. It was totally a different perspective. My time as a bride was amazing...but I don't think I milked it to it's full potential but now it's my time to guide brides into the "light", help them make the best choices and show off awesome ideas.

Rimmel London Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow Swatches

I've been playing with these for months!

I couldn't wait to wait to post these on the blog.

Rimmel London Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadows ($5.99 CAN)

I'm really impressed with the pigmentation of these drug store eyeshadows!

The formula is extremely smooth and blendable.

These new shadows come in three finishes: glitter, matte and shimmer.

SWATCHES:

I should also add that these babies are waterproof & crease-proof!

Go out and get them now!!!

My Olistika Experience

Do you see yourself as a person who is not afraid to try new experiences? 

Do you look at things with an open mind? 

If you answered yes to these questions, you should try Olistika. 

What is Olistika?

A new concept wellness centre (Toronto, Ontario) that combines aromatherapy, reflexology & reiki to deeply but gently balance you mentally, emotionally and physically.

Back in December, I had the opportunity to try a session. I won't lie, I was nervous. But I was really interested in seeing what it's all about. This non-­invasive technique energizes you using  a combination of Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Reiki. It's completely natural. My session was conducted by Filippo Conte- owner of Olistika. He made sure that he explained everything to me in advance before we got started. The most important thing is that he made me feel at ease. The whole concept of accessing your ‘holistic toolkit’ was something totally foreign to me.

What happened in the session?
It was a combination of Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Reiki. Coolest part was that I able to pick my own blends for aromatherapy. Filippo customized it and got it right on the first try. I should add that these essential oils are 100% vegan. The reflexology part was very calming. It involves your feet, hands and head. The main point of reflexology is to get you to relax and on the path of healing. Did you know that points on your feet, hands and head link to different parts in your body? Lastly, the star of the show- Reiki. It is "a natural hands-on energy healing technique that deeply but gently balances you mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually by releasing blockages you carry, removing obstacles and restoring your depleted life force energy." I swear after my session, I felt EXTREMELY peaceful and re-energized!

I also left with three lovely products that I use daily:

Olistika MIST Lavender- Spray
Since I have bad sinus issues, I usually mist it in my face. But it can also be a room spray, sprayed on your pillow (to aid sleep) or on your body. Did you know that lavender is antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-fungal and a anti-inflammatory?

Olistika SPECIAL BLEND Healer- Drops
This is amazing on wounds/scrapes. Just apply one to five drops: "the goal is to apply gently, to cover the entire wound and surrounding area (to .5-1" around), to leave a light (dry) sheen of oil on the surface of the skin". It's important to apply two or three times daily.

Olistika SKIN BODY BLEND Winter- Rollerball
You can apply this lightly on skin your face. My favourite place is under the nose. It can also be placed behind the ears, temples or wrists. Apply day or night.

If you're in Toronto, I'd recommend that you visit Olistika for a unique experience.

New Tangle Teezer brushes that you need

I recently had the opportunity to recently attend an intimate gathering for Tangle Teezer made by Shaun Pulfre. He introduced me to three new products:

• The Thick & Curly detangling hairbrush
• The Compact Styler
• Blow Styling tool brush

Perfect Your Skin with the Perfect All-In-One Compact by Mistura Beauty

I hadn’t heard of Mistura Beauty, however, when I discovered that the company was both based in Canada and offered an assortment of all-in-one makeup, I was excited to try some of their products.

My favourite product of the bunch was the 6-in-1 Beauty Solution® Compact. The powder is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, and promises to mute both rosacea and other blemishes.

You’d apply this like you would a contouring powder – on the outside of your cheeks, on the forehead, down the bridge of your nose. It took a little bit of trial and error for me as the first time I used it, I applied what I normally would when using blush and it was far too dark for me. The best thing to remember is that a little goes a long way – you’ll notice results with just a light dusting of the powder across your whole face.

I saw best results when I used the Mistura Retractable Brush (pictured above) – which along with the compact is perfect for tossing in a purse of carry-on. To complete the look, conceal with the Mistura C-2-P Complexion Corrector and naturally plump your lips with the Mistura Plump & Glow lip gloss.

To find Mistura Beauty retailers near you, use their handy store locator.