Small Haul - Beauty and Fashion

I picked up a few things at the mall the other day and I decided some things were worth mentioning .

I went to three stores: Walmart, Suzy Shier and Sirens (which mind you, I have not visited since High School... lol)

Walmart: Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Cleaners. The kit was 14$ and it was a Christmas Gift Set. This kit includes the oil free acne wash, oil free acne wash micro exfoliator, and the body clear body wash. I also picked up the MEGA PLUSH LASH by Maybelline in very black. I am in LOVE with this mascara, it definitely beats Maybelline Falsies. It gives the most incredible length and volume and does not give you spider lashes. Lastly, I picked up a big size of the Tresemme Tres Two hair spray, and although everyone raves about this hairspray I find it to be average. My hair does not hold a curl well until I sleep in sock curls, this hairspray does its job but still has the stiff feeling. I am still on the hunt for that perfect hairspray that will hold my curls as well as not be stiff.

*** I did have a go at the products in this kit, I did not use the body wash consistently enough to notice any body clarity. I used the oil free acne wash and it really burned my eyes hence I only use it in the shower and I do not use it anywhere near my eyes. In terms of the micro-exfoliator, I prefer my St.Ives blemish and blackhead control scrub, the neutrogena scrub does not have an even dispursment of exfoliating beads. 

From Suzy Shier: I picked up a pair of grey pinstripe pants, that have a slim fit. Feel comfortable and I believe I paid $20.00 for them. 

I next went into Sirens because I feel that stores like Sirens, Forever 21, H&M etc can sometimes have inexpensive trendy pieces. I would not necessarily buy wardrobe essentials from these stores just because I like my essentials to be better quality and more long lasting.

I picked up a pair of purple suede pumps and I purchased them for $5!!! That was a steal!!! These pair of pumps completed my multi-colored pointed show pumps for the most part.

I also stumbled upon some impressions of perfumes which I had been meaning to pick up. I am very picky with scents, fragrances overwhelm me and I have still not stumbled upon my "signature scent" which I do believe everyone has. I picked up the impression of Someday By Justin Beiber and Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift. I had smelt Someday every so briefly at the department store but I do not remember it enough to compare, I however am in LOVE with this impression and lots of people have stopped me to ask me what I was wearing. I picked up both for $5 each. 

October 2012 Favourites :)

The month of October has come and gone, and I really wanted to share some of the things I've been loving this month. I feel that small pleasures such as beauty related items, fashion and other things that bring smiles on our faces serve as a temporary relief of everyday stress.

Here are some of the things that I have been loving this month:

Tresemme Split Remedy Shampoo + Conditioner
Organix Repairing Awapugi Ginger Dry Styling Oil
Pure Petroleum Jelly
Bath and Body Works Eau de Parfum in *Secret Wonderland*
Revlon Lip Bitter in *Pink Truffle*
Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Quad in *249 - Vanity*
Yves Rocher Lipstick in *R117*
Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in *Pink Whisper* (very similar to NARS TURKISH DELISH LIPGLOSS)
Ebay 88 Warm Palette

Mini - Reviews:

Tresemme Split Remedy Shampoo + Conditioner

I had been using the Aussie Shampoo and Conditioner line for quite some time, I'd say around 2-3 years and I felt I needed a change so I bought the tresemme split remedy line. I have not really been much of a tresemme fan but this line is great! I have tried the conditioning serum and split remedy serum as well but I did not like them as much as the Split Remedy Shampoo + Conditioner. I do not really feel that a product can necessary "remedy" split ends but it can definitely prevent them, which I feel that this line does.

Organix Repairing Awapugi Ginger Dry Styling Oil

I have been using the dry styling oils by Organix for around a year or so, I have tried their Argon+Moroccon Oil blend as well but I prefer the Repairing Awapugi Ginger one over it. I feel that it makes my hair feel healthier and shinier and it doesn't contain Silicones, which is great. I really feel that silicone based leave in products such as the CHI SILK INFUSION work great to add shine, they just provide a temporary fix to hair problems. This dry styling oil has help to smooth out my frizzy hair, I apply it on damp as well as dry hair. TIP: apply small amounts of this into your hair at a time, make sure to warm up the oil between your palms so that your hair can soak this goodness up. Also, comb/brush your hair to ensure an even distribution of this product in your hair.

Pure Petroleum Jelly

I have totally been LOVING pure petroleum jelly this month!!! Now I know many of you would say OMG, PETROLEUM JELLY IS SO BAD FOR YOU!! But this month I have found so many uses for this that I am sold. I recently read in a magazine that Jennifer Aniston uses vaseline/petroleum jelly as an eye cream, she uses 1/4 tsp under each eye and I had to try it! What I do is I apply my cetaphil moisturizing cream on my face, I than take some petroleum jelly and warm it up between my palms/fingers really well and apply on my face to lock in all the moisture, I make sure to put a bit more under my eyes and also apply some on my eyelashes to keep them moisturized!! I however, only this at night. I also apply the same method on my feet before bed with a thicker layer of petroleum jelly and put socks on, YOUR FEET WILL BE SO SOFT!!! One more thing, I have been applying this product on my lips to keep them nice and smooth :)

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Quad in *249 - Vanity*

The shimmery colour on the top right is the colour I use 

On my simple no-makeup makeup days, I have been using the shimmery brown bone colour to highlight the inner corners of my eyes ever-so-slightly as well as my brow bone. I just use my fingers and tap it a bit so that it doesn't look so obvious but you suddenly look so much more awake !!

Revlon Lip Bitter in *Pink Truffle*/Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in *Pink Whisper* + Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in *Pink Whisper*

This has been my go to lip combo for the month, I will either apply the lip butter on my lips and top it off with the relvon lip gloss or I 'll put on the yves rocher lipstick and top it off with the relvon lip gloss. The Yves Rocher Lipstick and Revlon Lip Gloss give a more mauvy/purplish shade which looks great whereas the Lip butter + lip gloss gives a more medium pink appearance. Both the lipsticks are super moisturizing and feel great on the lips especially since its getting colder !!

Ebay 88 Warm Palette 

I purchased this eyeshadow palette from Ebay for USD $9.73 and I've heard from many that Coastal Scents and BH Cosmetics use the same palettes but obviously get their company logo stamped on the front. I am not really an eyeshadow person and If i do wear eyeshadow they're probably all neutral colours. This palette is GREAT, it has a lot of neutrals that range from shimmery/matte/satin finish and are really pigmented. The only thing I could say is that they do require you to tap off any excess from your brush to avoid fallout, and I usually just use my maybelline eye tattoos/MAC paint pot/concealer as a primer to make the colours pop a bit more. This palette is described as the Warm Palette on the coastal scents website as well (http://www.coastalscents.com/makeup/palettes/eye-palettes/pl-014.html). This product is called the 88 neutral eyeshadow palete on the bh cosmetic site (http://www.bhcosmetics.com/products/eyes/88-Color-Neutral-Eyeshadow-Palette/) You can also do a search for the 88 warm palette on ebay and results should pop up. For the price, these eyeshadows are great, especially if you need more vibrant colours that you may not use all the time or for experimental puposes!

RANDOM FAVOURITES:
***Loving my Ralph Lauren Boots that I featured in a haul (I checked the Ralph Lauren website and I do not think they make the style I wear), CHECK YOUR LOCAL WINNERS THEY MAY STILL HAVE THEM. They are SO COMFY and go with every outfit
***I'v really been into homemade hummus lately, its so much CHEAPER and you can add your own variations to see what you like. BLOG POST ON A HUMMUS RECIPE COMING SOON!!!
*** Favorite song of the month: Begin Again by Taylor Swift :)

"The Key to to Change... is to Let Go of Fear"

        - Rosanne Cash

What have your favorite products been this month?

This OR That Product Comparison: Face/Bikini Wax Strips

I recently featured Nair's Soft Touch Quick and Easy Wax Strips in a haul and recently tried them and I am TOTALLY IMPRESSED. I have been used mostly Veet's Ready to Use Wax Strips for the Face and Nair's wax strips have won me over.

I find that the wax strips by Nair do not leave a sticky residue and are effective on the shortest hair! Veet on the other hand always tends to leave a sticky residue which only comes off with the finishing wipes provided. The finishing wipes for Nair are suppose to be "moisturizing" but for Veet they are specifically designed to remove residue.

As far as the value is concerned, I find that Nair's wax strips gave more value (I paid $8.99 plus tax for 34 wax strips) whereas I usually buy Veet's wax strips for $7.99 give or take plus tax for 12 wax strips. 

Veet vs Nair (Nair includes 2 different sized wax strips)

All in all I was very satisfied with my purchase, I doubt I will ever use the single Veet wax strip I have left let alone purchase more!

Have a great day Everyone <3

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the FUTURE; it is something you design for the PRESENT"

           - Jim Rohn

Eye Makeup Blog-Through Using UD Naked Palette and WET n WILD Blue Had me at HELLO

I was recently at my sisters house and decided to do her makeup using her makeup collection. I think that this is one of the best ways to not only practice your makeup skills (practise makes perfect!) but also to explore new products without paying for them!

Products Used:

Urban Decay Naked Palette
Wet n' Wild Palette in Blue had me at Hello
Essence Cream Liner in Black
NYX SLIM Eye Pencil in Black
NYC Brow and Eye Liner in Taupe
Maybelline Volume Express in Extreme Black

Method Used:

- I first primed the eyelids with the UD Primer Potion included in the naked palette
- using an eyeliner brush, apply the cream liner on the lid, making sure the edges are smooth and neat
- apply teal and navy color to the lids (mix the two colors on an eye shadow brush), try to keep most of the color on the actual eye lid
- use a blending brush to smooth out any harsh lines
- using the color buck from UD Naked Palette, define the crease using a crease brush
- use the color Virgin from the UD Naked Palette to highlight the brow bone, Use NYC brow and liner pencil in Taupe and  Buck from the Naked Palette to also define the brows
- Apply the cream liner to the lash line and slightly wing it out, apply nyx eyeliner to the waterline
- take a pencil brush and use the teal and navy shades again and apply to the lower lashline

REVIEW:

- I was really impressed with the pigmentation of the Essence Cream Liner, it was really easy to apply to the eyelids as a base
- Really considering purchasing the WnW palette, especially for the darker colors, I was not as impressed with the highlight/brow bone shades
- The NYC brow and eyeliner pencil is just average in my opinion, but for the price it fits!
- I have used the UD Naked Palette before, since I gravitate to matte eye shadows more, I would have liked the UD Naked palette to include more matte eye shadows (a great portion of this palette is shimmery)

Signing off,

"The Measure of Success is how we cope with Disappointment"

         - Unknown

Insanity: The Asylum vs Insanity

I love working out. PERIOD. Sometimes when I am having a rough day, the idea that I will be doing a brand new workout is enough to get me excited. My workout routing usually consists of doing Insanity 2-4 times a week and doing cardio at the gym around 2-4 times a week. I have come to love Insanity, although I feel that it requires one to really push to the limits, and only than will the changes in the body be visible both in the mirror and on the scale. Insanity is definitely not an easy workout program, but it gives results if you stick with it, when it comes to working out I abide by the 'no pain, no gain' rule. lol. I strongly believe that you will get the results that you put in, and one can make any workout easier or difficult depending on what the fitness level is.

I recently wanted to see if there was a way in which I could push my body further and I decided to try the ASYLUM version of Insanity. I started off with the hardest workout that is contained within the program called the Vertical Plyo, and it kicked my butt! I was breathless within the first 5-7 minutes of the workout. The workout itself is 40 minutes long which is shorter than most of the Insanity workouts and a lot of jumping  is required. Some equipment is needed for this workout such as a ladder, a jump rope and resistance bands however they are not necessary. A few of the fitness models in the workout do not use a jump rope of resistance bands but all use the ladder. I personally conducted this workout without any equipment and I still got a really great workout.

I personally liked this workout, I however may like INSANITY a little better because no equipment is needed and that may seem more convenient. I also find that INSANITY can be made harder by putting more power into the movements, but the ASYLUM is great to switch it up and try something new to keep your body guessing.

I will be trying the other sections of the INSANITY ASYLUM and will update and do an in depth review once I do more workouts.

For anyone who is debating about getting either program, buy it, YOUR BODY DESERVES IT :)

One tip that I can give when it comes to working out and living a healthier lifestyle is to be CONSISTENT. The results will come, patience is key. DO NOT GIVE UP :)

Signing off with a quote of the day,

"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the PAST better than it was, the PRESENT worse than it is, and the FUTURE less resolved than it will be"

          - Marcel Pagnol

Drugstore Haul FEAT Curl Boosting Hair Products!!

On my way to return my Ellen Tracy boots I stopped at Shoppers Drug Mart (gotta love Shoppers Drug Mart for carrying ESSENCE :) and was intrigued to pick up some things, here is what I got!

St.Ives Energizing Citrus Moisturizing Body Wash (Made with Natural Ingredients)
Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse
La Coupe Perfect Curls Pumped Up Curl Boosting Spray
Nair Soft Touch Quick & Easy Wax Strips
Essence Long Lasting Eye Liner in 02 Hot Chocolate
Essence Kajal Pencil in 08 Teddy

I picked up the Essence eyeliners because I've recently become really into brown eye liners, I think they offer a great alternative to black eyeliners. Don't get me wrong I love black eyeliner for a more dramatic sultry look but for daytime and school, brown is perfect. I will be comparing both essence eyeliners and will decide which one I prefer, at first glance though, the kajal pencil in teddy has a more metallic finish to it however it is not as pigmented as the long lasting eye liner in hot chocolate which has a more matte texture.

Kajal Eyeliner in TEDDY

Long Lasting Eyeliner in HOT CHOCOLATE

I will also do an extensive review of curl boosting products soon :)

BOOTS FOR FALL HAUL + REVIEW!! ELLEN TRACY/LAUREN RALPH LAUREN

 My Ramble About How Much I Now Love Boots for Fall and How I Ended Up Buying 2 Pairs ... (lol)

I know that high boots for fall have been a staple in most people's wardrobe for years, some of my friends even consider fall a blessing so they can show off their boots! I however, was always against higher boots, one because I usually wore wider leg dress pants (I hate crinkling and forcing them inside boots), and two probably because I never really found a pair that appealed to me. I was at Winners (for those of you outside of Canada, think of Winners like a TJ MAX, Marshalls etc) and I was browsing around and I saw a pair of tan boots which I thought looked really good, the height was great (mid-calf) and since I have started to wear more slim leg dress pants, skinny jeans etc they fit beautifully. When I tried them on I had on a pair of suzy shier slim cut black pants, and a white sweater, the boots LOOKED AMAZING!! I saw that the boots were by Ellen Tracy and were $149.99. I left that day without the boots because I thought the price was way too steep for a pair of Ellen Tracy boots. Like everything else, I thought that there was something better and more economical still out there for me. lol. Anyway, once I got home, I kept thinking about how the boots looked, I convinced my sister to visit the mall with me so we could do some tan-mid calf boot hunting. I visited almost every shoe store that existed in the mall I visited and I really didn't find anything that looked as nice as was cheaper. So I had to go back to WINNERS, my sister didn't find anything X-RATED about the boots I liked :( so we looked at other options (I on the other hand was still holding the ellen tracy boots). We came across a pair of Lauren Ralph Lauren two tone boots, the bottom portion black whilst the top being a dark brown. Gold buckles lined the outermost part of the boots, giving them a very classy feel. I tried them on in a size 9.5 and I just could not decide which ones to get. (story of my life *sigh*) The Ralph Lauren boots were priced at $129.99 but I just could not get over the Ellen Tracy boots. Long story short, Winners mislocated the second shoe of the Ralph Lauren boots so I requested them to call me in after closing to see if they found it, they had no other pair in my size. Anyway I ended up buying both the Ellen Tracy boots and the Ralph Lauren which ended up costing around $316 and some change.

NOW FOR THE ACTUAL REVIEW

I wore the Ellen Tracy tan boots to university the other day and they looked great. After my first class however, my left foot was hurting so much, I just ignored the feeling and went on with my day thinking that I needed to break the boots in. Mid day my feet hurt way too much, walking from one end of the campus to the other I decided to go to a nearby mall and pickup some flats. So I walked into Ardene and picked up a pair of black flats (FYI, Ardene has a great selection in shoes, really inexpensive) I changed into the flats and placed my boots in my locker. When I went home I saw that the skin from my heel was peeling almost, that's how blistered these boots got my feet. I have not worn the Ellen Tracy boots since than and I will probably end up returning them, I have had blistered feet from shoes before but nothing like this !!

I haven't had a chance to try wear the Ralph Lauren boots yet, I'm waiting for my feet to heal :( lol

 Much Love X,

"Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional"
 -Unknown



On a side note, what is your favorite boot style?

DIY Face Scrub and Mask Using CETAPHIL MOISTURIZING CREAM

My newest skincare obsession has become the cetaphil line, both the cleanser and the moisturizing cream are FANTASTIC for keeping your skincare really simple, which sometimes is the key to great skin. Although I have not tried the cetaphil lotion, I have also heard many great things about it as well. Just a little background my skin is hard to describe, I have dry-oily combination skin, where sometimes my skin will be really dry and flaky (even if I exfoliate) and at other times it can get really oily. The cetaphil moisturizing cream has been a God send to combat the flakiness and has left my skin feeling so soft and smooth. Throughout this time I have been trying to find new uses for the moisturizing cream, its honestly that great. I have used the cetaphil cream in conjunction with baby oil gel and a body shop body butter to smooth onto my skin after I shower and it has left my skin extremely soft!

DIY Face Scrub/Mask Using Cetaphil Moisturing Cream FOR SOFT SMOOTH GLOWING SKIN

What you will Need:

a clean spoon/spatula
a clean bowl
cetaphil moisturizing cream
honey
brown sugar

Directions:

In a small clean mixing bowl, combine 1 tsp of cetaphil moisturizing cream, 1 tsp of honey and 2 tsp of brown sugar. Mix until a smooth consistency is achieved.

How to Apply:
Start with a clean face, start to apply the face scrub onto your face and lightly scrub as you would with an exfoliating scrub. Scrub for around 2-4 minutes depending on how sensitive your skin is. Whatever you have left over can be used on the neck or hands (TALK ABOUT SOFT SILKY HANDS). I generally leave this scrub on for another 10 minutes or more, depending on how much time I have before my shower, I feel that for natural ingredients like honey, the longer you leave it on the better. I than get in the shower and start massaging the scrub once again under warm water and rinse my face. You can wash this off in the sink too but remember to PAT DRY and follow up with a moisturizer or serum. This mask is so hydrating that this is the only time I could even say that moisturizer isn't needed but I would still follow up with one.

TIPS and TRICKS -:
- this scrub is best used before BED so all the goodness of the honey and moisturizing cream can sink into the skin
- this scrub can easily be used on the body as well, just add more brown sugar to make it more exfoliating.
- I recommend brown sugar over white sugar because I find white sugar scratches my skin and is much harsher to use than brown sugar
- the ingredients in this scrub can be swapped out, for instance if you dont have any cetaphil cream use olive oil/coconut oil/almond oil/ avacado oil instead. You can add half a tsp of freshly squeezed orange juice to the oil substitution for a brightening mask. the options are ENDLESS.
- if you have extremely dry skin and flaky skin I recommend doing this scrub every 2-3 days, however if you notice any irritation discontinue the use of this immediately.
- for oily skin, revert to this mask every week or so


PLEASE NOTE: I am by no means a dermatologist or an expert, I am just sharing the tips that work for me.

If any of you try this face scrub/mask do let me know how you liked it !!

Signing off with one of my favourite quotes by Marilyn Monroe

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” 


― Marilyn Monroe

Much Love,

Sehr

Essence Eyeliners REVIEW

A while back I was going through the shopping flyers for Shoppers Drug Mart and was quite excited that they were going to start selling Essence makeup products. I had heard a lot about essence, the quality of their makeup as well as their affordability. I finally had a chance to stop by at Shoppers and pick up the Essence Eyeliner Pen (Extra Long Lasting). I have been using this eyeliner pen for about 2 months now and its AMAZING. It has not dried out on me, it stays on all day, its super pigmented and best of all IT WAS ONLY $2 !!!  I have become really into the eyeliner pen style of eyeliners as it makes putting on eyeliner a breeze !!

PROS - cheap, super pigmented, lasts all day, easy to work with, if you make a mistake you can easily use your fingers to wipe it off carefully

CONS - the brand Essence itself is hard to find in Canada :(

I also picked up the Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black Fever and I am EQUALLY IMPRESSED. For the longest time I have been using MAC's eye kohl is smolder and it is great, I heard a lot of people talk about the Maybelline Lasting Drama as being really great as well especially for the waterline but when I saw the essence on sale for $1.49 I didn't hesitate to pick it up. I mean if it was bad I only spent $2 including tax and if it was good that was a steal !! So I decided to do a heavy eyeliner look for a wedding I attended last weekend and I used the essence eyeliner on the top with the eye pencil on the bottom and it lasted the whole evening.

PROS - rich colour, long lasting, twist up design no fussying over a sharpener, glides really easily

If any of you have access to Essence makeup, these two products are definitely worth a try ! 

Signing off with a quote of the Day <3 

"Mistakes in the past do not Define You, they Refine You"

     - Unknown