Lush Holidays: Snow Fairy + Christmas Kisses

Lush is definitely a place to be when it's the holiday season.

So many different things to try! I never know where to start!

It's an amazing store for the environmentally conscious shopper.

The items are hand made, natural and they do not test on animals.

I also love how they put stickers with the faces of the person who made it.

Did you know that you can get some of your favourite holiday products boxed and 

wrapped ready for you to put under your tree?

Boyfriends, husbands, fiances, brothers, fathers and uncles!

Did you read that I just wrote?!

Here are two are my favourites this season.

SNOW FAIRY - BOX

$22.95 CAN

Contents:
Angels Delight 70g
A divinely fruity blend of tangerine and orange oils.
Snow Fairy Shower Gel 100ml
An enchanted blend of cotton candy fragrance and silver luster.
Shimmy Shimmy Sparkle Bar 30g
Glitter bar for glowing skin.

Snow Fairy shower gel is one of those scents that you need to stock up on because it's only around the Christmas season. It smells like candy cotton! Along with Snow Fairy comes Angel's Delight soap! Also a Shimmy Shimmy glitter bar. 

CHRISTMAS KISSES

$22.95 CAN

Contents:
Chou Chou... I Love You Toothy Tab 12g
Chou Chou this new Toothy Tab for a sparkling smile.
Santa Baby Lip Tint 8g
Cola-flavored deep red lip tint.
Santa's Lip Scrub 25g
Our new cola-flavored lip scrub for soft, kissable Christmas lips.

It's very important to have soft, healthy lips. Especially, this Christmas! You never know when mistletoe is going to magically appear. Start off by brushing up with Chou Chou... I Love You Toothy Tabs. Then exfoliating cola flavoured Santa's Lip Scrub. Finish up with Santa Baby lip tint.

L’oreal Voluminous Power Collagen mascara

L’oreal claims its Voluminous Power Collagen mascara delivers Volume like never before, dramatic volume that lasts 24 hours. They also claim the volume-building formula delivers up to 15X lash impact.

I was pretty excited to try this mascara as I happen to really like L’oreal mascaras for the most part and volume is the name of the game with my lashes.

I need to be honest here. The first time I used this mascara, I wasn't sure what to think. There is something that makes this mascara thick and wet but not liquid in texture. It’s almost got an elastic quality to it. Which makes sense since the word collagen is in the name. I am all about really testing a product though so I put it through its paces and in the end it turns out I really do like this mascara.
On first swipe of this mascara you may not get a lot of volume, you will probably go back for a 2nd coat, heck maybe even a 3rd. (I always encourage the second mascara coat, actually if truth be told I encourage layering all kinds of mascaras) Once you have added another layer or two you will finally see the volume this mascara is talking about.

I tend to like L’oreal mascaras because they separate and add thickness and this mascara does both of those things. I cant speak to the 24 hour claim but I can say after a good 12 hours of wear incorporating staring at a computer, commuting and standing in front of a hot stove my mascara stayed in place. I also can speak to the 15X lash impact all I know is that my lashes looked way more voluminous after the application and that’s something I can get behind. All in all once I got used to the texture of this mascara I enjoyed it and will definitely keep using it.

You can buy it here:
Canada
USA

Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot

When you go on vacation you can only bring a selected amount of items in your suitcase. I only had 45 pound allowance. One thing I left out was most of my skin care. I made sure to bring makeup wipes, cleanser plus a high spf moisturizer. Although I was only gone for seven days when I came back one side of my face was a mess. It was the perfect time to use my Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot treatment ($21.00 CDN).

Its advanced formula with hyaluronic acid creates an invisible "bandage effect" on the surface to protect against external agents. Salicylic acid and LHA, recognised dermatological ingredients, act at the source of the imperfections.

The consistency is a gel. I have been using it consistently on and off for two weeks and I really like the quick results. It's non-comedogenic and it does not irritate my sensitive skin.
When my blemishes dries up there is no dark marks after.

Apply directly on the imperfections in the morning and at night on cleansed skin or on top of your moisturizer. If you want to apply makeup on top, wait a few minutes until the skin surface is dry.

Products for good: Clinque, Avon + The Body Shop

Here are some possible holiday gifts that give back!

Clinque

Happy Hearts Fund is a non-profit foundation dedicated to rebuilding schools and restoring hope in the lives of children after natural disasters.

The HHF was founded by model and philanthropist Petra Nemcova in 2006.

The Facts:

• HHF has worked in 14 countries.
• Rebuilt over 70 schools. 
• Benefited more than 40,000 children and 337,000 community members.

So far Clinique has donated $250,000.

Happy Heart Fragrance $42.00 CAN
$10 from sale goes to HHF
Nail Enamel in Happy <3 $14.00 CAN
$3 from all sales goes to HHF

Avon

Start Something Rhinestone Bracelet $20.00 CAN

The Start SomethingTM USB Key Bracelet helps to being awareness and empower young women to speak out against bullying and domestic violence.

• 1 GB USB key
• Rhinestone casing on a silicone strap with a buckle closure.

100% of the net proceeds from the sale of each bracelet will benefit equally the Canadian Women's Foundation and Big Sisters mentoring programs across Canada.

The Body Shop

THE JOYFUL GINGERBREAD HOUSE

$20.00 CAN

Give joy with a selection of festive favorites in a delightful gingerbread schoolhouse box. By buying this or any other gift, youre supporting our project to give children around the world better access to an education for a brighter, happier future.

Inside:
Cranberry Shower Gel 60ml
Gingerbread Shower Gel 60ml
Cranberry Body Butter 50ml
Gingerbread Body Butter 50ml
Mini Crinkle Lily – Cream

Did CND Vinylux polishes live up to the hype?

I have seen some of my fellow beauty bloggers trying out the CND Vinylux polishes recently and I was excited to get my hands on the line.

I'm a huge fan of CND shellac polishes. We all know how popular they are in the nail salons. 

I expected the same thing out of the Vinylux line. 

My biggest attraction to the polishes is the fact that they come off like regular polish.

I got the 7 piece The Forbidden mini collection from nailpolishcanada.

Colours:
Blue Rapture, Night Glimmer, Burnt Romance, Steel Gaze, Dark Dahlia and Tinted Love.

When applied with CND Vinylux Topcoat, Vinylux shades lasts for a week on the nails. Vinylux is a simple two step process that requires no base coat and is applied like regular polish. First, apply 2 layers of colour then apply Vinylux Topcoat. With natural light exposure the Vinylux Topcoat gets more durable resulting in a week long manicure.

Formula/consistency.
It's beautiful! So creamy and vibrant.
If I had to score it on just formula, It would get a 10!

Wear
This is where I get baffled. I did everything the bottle said.
Some nails would stay almost chip-free and others would look horrid after day 3.
I have no idea what happened.

I'm still on the fence about this product. 

Has anyone else had the same issue with the CND Vinylux polishes?

Is there a technique that I should be using?