Check out BeautySense.ca

I know I’ve been talking about Spring Cleaning A LOT. Especially when it comes to your make up/skin care/body essentials. When I did my search, I was so surprised to see how many products that I had opened and have now expired. PLUS how many products I have actually used up completely. Go me! 

I was so lucky that BEAUTYSENSE.CA reached out to me and gave me the opportunity to shop on their site. Let me tell you that this is the site that you want bookmarked everywhere. 

THEY HAVE EVERYTHING!

Spring is here: Let's talk Mindset, Beauty and Fashion

Spring is here. Although it doesn’t feel like it in Ontario, Canada because we are on a stay-at-home order. BUT it doesn’t mean that you can’t dress up for yourself. I know it’s better said then done! If you see me... six out of seven days... I literally look like I rolled out of bed. 

Perks of working from home! But I am on a mission to change that!  

Glam days at least three times a week LOL... okay let's say two!

Advice on Coping and Getting through the Morning during a Stay at Home Order

Although our new reality with RONA has impacted the world as a whole, this is the best time to focus on yourself aside from working from home, being stuck inside all day, and just being plain bored and depressed. Living in Canada, I can say Ontario is a mess. I feel like I wasted a year BUT I'm also grateful to be alive, grateful to be a Content Creator and grateful that no one in my family got sick. 

So again let me not complain and just be grateful.

Three Tips to Hydrate your Skin with Clayton Shagal

As if the cold winter weather isn’t hard enough on our skin, along came COVID-19 and having spent so much time in the dry-heated indoors, many of us have been left in dire need of a moisture boost. If you’re among those finding your face drier than usual, consider these three top tips from Canadian brand Clayton Shagal to hydrate your skin. 

5 Tips for Working from Home with Toddler/Baby

I know this Pandemic/January has made a lot of us work from home or be completely home-based. I’m going into my 4th exclusive work from home year. 

So trust me when I say- BEEN THERE DONE THAT! 

It can be a roller coaster of emotions. 

3 Ways to Spruce up a Boring Bedroom

My bedroom is one of my favourite rooms in my house. 

It’s where I get to relax after a long day and wind down in a safe space with a big, comfy bed! I always like to make sure my bedroom speaks to my style so that it truly feels like mine because I just hate a boring looking bedroom with no personality. 

This is where decorating comes in! 

It’s so easy to make a bland space look amazing and you can bring your bedroom to life with these 3 ideas. 

 

3 Apps You Need to Step Up your IG game up

 There’s no shame in wanting your IG posts to look bomb, especially if you’re trying to build a following. The benefits of Instagram can be SO amazing for businesses and personal brands and if you aren't taking advantage of social media then you’re really missing out on a great opportunity! 

PLUG: Follow me on IG 

MYSPICEDLIFE

If you want to step up your IG game consider downloading these 3 apps. 

Navigating a Socially Distanced Holiday Season

The Christmas holidays is extremely stressful for people who are already struggling with isolation due to COVID. With more and more Ontario regions going back on lockdown right before Dec 25, it's going to be a difficult few weeks. Many families will not be gathering traditionally for Christmas dinner for the first time in YEARS. 

Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist Erin Wiley, MA, LPC, LPCC has sent me some tips to help people navigate a pandemic holiday season. I hope this helps anyone who is stressing and needs some advice about the stress of this season .

Last Minute stocking stuffers

  I’m trying to figure out if things are going to fast or too slow right now. Either way it all seems like a blur!! More than half the people I polled on Instagram told me that they have their Christmas gift’s already. Personally, I feel like there will be a lot of gift cards being given. Which is good but we all will miss the personable part of wrapping and filling out Christmas cards. But stocking stuffers always good add on! I always make sure that I have a few stocking stuffers personalized for each person! They don’t even have to be super expensive! 

Some you can even pick up from your local drugstore! 

Here is my beauty edition:  

Masks

Gift Guide : Sephora Collection 2020 under $20

This is the 7th annual Sephora gift guide! 

I'm so grateful to be #gifted from Sephora Canada on this one again. 

This year is so cute!!!

There were a few products sent and I chose the best products that could totally work for anyone in your life. There is something for everyone- Young..old and in between!

I’m sharing my top 5 Sephora Collection products that you need to put on your radar either for yourself or for the ones that you love!  **But don't forget about yourself LOL!

Canadian Black Women Owned Business We Need to Support

Small business are hurting now more than ever. Struggling to keep “doors” open online and in real life. This is our time to shop small and highlight companies who need a little boost. I've had the opportunity to play with some products from some Black Canadian women owned businesses for a few weeks now! So many gems out there and I haven't even touched the surface. I know my platform is small but I’m always willing to help! Even if it's just to put a new name out there for awareness!

Today I will be sharing four Black Canadian Women owned businesses 

that you need to put on your radar!  

First up is Unforgivingly Pur

A Beauty and Wellness company is owned sisters Rochelle & Cola Bennett. 

Their goal was to "create a wellness space that will change how people manage stress in their everyday lives, to provide global customers with tools, products, and services that promote a well-balanced life, and to have industry leading products."

On their site you can find quite a bit of high quality products which you can introduce into your daily lives. Such as Natural deodorant, Face/Body scrubs, Hand sanitizers and Body Cremes.

Miss Persona Season 3 is here!

**This post is sponsored by Miss. Persona**

I remember last year when I was flipping through channels and landed on Tree House. Miss Persona was on and the first thing Ava noticed was the cute yellow teddy bear who she screamed “Teddy Bear” every time he popped up on screen! If you’re not aware of Miss Persona... let me give you a quick rundown. Miss Persona and her shy teddy Brandon Bear have fun and solve problems with imaginative play! I mean there is a lot of work that goes into each episode and set. There are 75 new costumes this season! 

Signs That you Might Have Sensitive Skin

Let me tell you that sensitive skin is really common! If you find that you can’t figure out why you keep having skin issues no matter how many products or methods you try, your problem may be that you just have sensitive skin. If you can see a dermatologist or an esthetician- Do that ASAP.

 

But before you do that look for these signs.

Fire Prevention Month with First Alert

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is Fire Prevention Month! Help ensure your home and family are protected by installing smoke & carbon monoxide alarms!

Before this, the last time that I participated in a fire drill, I was in college. That was more than 10 years ago! With October being Fire Prevention Month- this is the time to take fire safety seriously. Especially as a mom to a busy 2-year-old. 

SELF-CARE Reminder for Moms with Toddlers

Moms...Have you ever had a day where you just want to go home slide into bed and pull the covers over your head and maybe IGNORE EVERYONE!!! Well, I have and I'm sure most mamas have gone through some type of moment trying to balance the many hats we have to wear...DAILY. Self-care is so important for moms especially these days when life is changing so drastically and so much is expected from us. 

You must unwind and try new things! 

Plus reconnect with the old! 

These are my top three that I hope will help you!

How To Create the Perfect Web Design To Sell Your Beauty or Skincare Products

You don’t have to be a fashion designer to know that the beauty and cosmetics industry is incredibly competitive, with brands like MAC, L’oreal, Lancome, and others vying for the attention of the masses.

Nonetheless, there is still great potential in the market for new businesses to gain a footing. An essential step in becoming one of those successes is creating an attractive, functional, and easy-to-use website to help you sell beauty products. 

3 Easy Ways to Sneak More Water in Your Life

WATER! 

Literally everybody needs it to live and it's an essential part of our daily lives. If you aren’t drinking enough water, the signs will show up in your body real quick! It can cause a laundry list of issues. List me list a few: bad breath, constipation, frequent illness, fatigue, and poor skin. NONE of what we want or need during this time... well anytime to be honest. But I understand, sometimes it's really easy to forget to drink water everyday! 

If that’s your case, you can try out these three tips to help you get more water in your diet. 

Three Vegan Skincare Brands You Need to Try- Now in Canada

I have something to say- we are two weeks away from  Fall! Depressing- I know! The best thing you can do is to try your best to enjoy this time right now. I’m gonna try to sneak in a few more beach dates, the parks and maybe even dinner on the patio (if we’re all feeling confident enough to go). The time to shift your skincare/body care/cosmetics products!

Let's continue Vegan week with a few that I've put into rotation!

New from Arbonne Canada

For the next few days- I will be profiling vegan products on the blog. 

Let's get started with one of my favourite brands: Arbonne!

 I love their holistic approach to well-being, beauty and overall health. 

How I Do My Acrylic Nails At Home

I just love any excuse to work with my hands and get fully engrossed in little projects for myself that let me be creative and artistic. One of the things I like doing are my own acrylic nails at home! I get full creative freedom to make any design I want and it’s a great way to express myself. Plus, my bank account is so very thankful for all the money I save by not taking monthly trips to the nail salon. Keep in mind though, it takes practice to create flawless designs and know the perfect liquid-to-powder ratio- but you WILL get there in time. Just have fun with it and keep going. Next thing you know your friends will be asking for a seat at the nail salon in your living room!

If you want to get into this hobby and do your own acrylic nails at home, then follow these steps!

Post Grad Depression? How to Get Out of a Rut!

Graduation is often thought of as a wonderful moment in your life. You finally achieved your goal and earned your degree after studying for so many years! You should be happy right? Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, post-grad depression hits with full force and knocks down recent grads who are trying to find their footing in life. They feel lost with no sense of direction because they don’t know what the next step in their life is going to be. They’re having a hard time landing their first entry level position and find themselves back home with mom and dad, feeling like a failure. I went through this after my graduation for about a year. I was unemployed, really depressed, and highly anxious about my future because I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. 

If you find yourself relating to me at all, I want you to keep on reading to find ways you can overcome post-grad depression. 

How to Choose the Best Nude Lipstick for Dark Skin

Nowadays, the beauty industry has come a long way with its inclusivity. It’s gotten easier to find complexion products that fit a range of skin types, and dark skin tones are finally getting the attention it deserves. Finding nude lipstick for my dark skin tone used to be a STRUGGLE. The colours were always way too light and I would end up looking so dry and ashy. I’m talking powdered doughnut looking lips y’all....no ma’am, not cute at all. If you know what I’m talking about, then you have a wider variety of rich colour options available now that will compliment your complexion and make your lips look gorgeous. Follow this ONE tip for choosing the best nude lipstick for your beautiful skin tone!

Know your Undertone...that’s it!

Four Reason Why you Need to Add Sunscreen to your Daily Routine

Growing up, the LAST thing on my mind when the sun would shine on my skin was sunscreen. I never felt the need to use it because I believed my dark skin was resilient to sunburn and it simply wasn’t a priority. This couldn’t be farther from the truth and it left my skin vulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays for so many years. If you’re anything like I was, you should seriously consider using sunscreen and making it a habit to wear on a daily basis, no matter what your skin tone is. 

When it comes to health, my motto is better safe than sorry and I definitely don’t want my black cracking from the sun!