Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Saje Wellness

Last fall I got pulled out of a conference call to take a phone call. Usually these types of urgent phone calls are indicate some sort of family emergency. However there is one other women who is just as obsessed with beauty as me... my mom. I kid you not on the other end of the phone my mom is belligerently chanting "Saje Wellness", "open", "skincare" and "yoga mat spray". The normal reaction would be to be mad, but as a beauty junkie myself I sprung out of my chair and yelled "there opening a Saje at the mall" and then we proceeded to talk about yoga mat sprays, natural skincare and aroma therapy for the next half an hour.
I wish this story was an over exaggeration, embarrassingly this actually happened.

 Saje Natural Wellness specializes in natural healing and healthy living. There range of products include everything from skincare and hand wash to things like natural headache remedies and aromatherapy oils. What I like about Saje is there high quality products and excellent customer service. I also really happen to like there Canadian roots too.

I have tried a few things from Saje like there Peppermint Halo natural headache remedy and there yoga mat spray (you can use to refresh your running shoes). However my favourite thing among the bunch has been there Nebulizers and diffuser blends.  Basically Nebulizers are a heat free essential oil diffusers. These compact machines create a thin stream of water vapour that also help aid allergies and purify air. Now I'm sort of a low maintenance candle burning kind of girl, so I was slightly intimated by using this diffuser. With that being said its a super easy to use machine, add water, a few drops of essential oil, turn on the on button and the next thing you know you've transformed your bedroom to a spa. As for the Diffuser Blends I really like woodsy invigorating Mountain High during the day and soothing lavender Stress Release for night.

There are still so many things I want to try from this brand including there skincare and "Sleep" range of products. Actually I would like to try some of there candles and deodorants too... this might be the start to a slight Saje obsession. I've noticed these stores popping up everywhere in the Toronto area so if you have any recommendations I am open to suggestions.

For more information on Saje click here.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Hard Candy Facial Mist Review

If you haven't noticed I have been having a love affair with facial sprays recently. From adding a quick dose of moisture to just generally feeling refreshing these sprtiz's have been a must have product for me as of late. Although I have ventured into the world of skincare mists, I have to admit I am kind of late to make up setting spray party. New to the primer mist game is Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Hydrating Primer. So at less then $10.00 a pop I thought why not give this primer mist a whirl?

I'm not going to beat around the bush here, because really love this primer. A paraben and alcohol free, coconut water infused setting spray at a drugstore price. Yes ladies you heard me right. This primer also doesn't contain alcohol or silicones making it perfect for sensitive skin or even oily skin types. As far as hydration goes this primer works well as a hydrating mist alone. I also like that this primer mist contains aloe, because it instantly helps knock down redness or irritation (should you have any). Skincare meets makeup packaged at an affordable price, yes please!

I am getting carried away with skincare benefits here... pardon my obsession and on to the million dollar questions, does this work as a primer?

Yes ladies I am happy report this product makes my makeup last, and last, and last. Applied before makeup Sheer Envy Hydrating primer creates a really smooth base. It's the kind of base that makes even the most challenging foundation a breeze to blend in. If you spritz this over your makeup not only does it eliminate excess powder, but it also creates a beautiful natural glow too. 

I'm glad I picked up the Sheer Envy Hydrating Primer. Not only does this bargain beauty product make my makeup last, but it also hydrates the skin and creates a beautiful glow too. At just under $10.00 a pop I can't recommend this product enough. 

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Newborn Must Haves

As someone who had no baby expereince "Newborn Must-Have" lists were one of my most researched things while pregnant. What do these new babies need? What will make life easier? What products where over hyped? What products where under hyped? Where just among the few questions among the 100's I had. So with a baby thats just over two months old I thought I would share with you our must haves... literally these are things that we use everyday we couldn't be without.
Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets 
Everyone talks about these blankets, so one of the first things I bought for baby were a pack of these swaddles. They are amazing! If you plan on swaddling your baby they are by far the softest, easy to use swaddles I've tried. However even if you don't plan on swaddling you can use these as a light weight blanket, a play yard mattress cover, a burp cloth, a stroller cover, a surface for tummy time, a breast feeding cover or an emergency change pad. I've tried other brands but nothing compares to the Aden and Anais. We now have a total of 12 of these handy blankies I can't recommend them enough. 

Comfort & Harmony Peanut Swaddle 
A few weeks ago Everleigh found out she had arms and since then she has not stopped moving them... including in her sleep. Eventually our girl would end up hitting her self in the head and enviably wake her self up. To combat this arm issue I invested in these Peanut Swaddle. I don't want to sound dramatic and I realize that every baby is different, but these are worth there weight in gold. The first night Everleigh used these she slept for 7 hours straight. If you have a squirmy baby or just aren't into traditional swaddle blankets these are a must try. 

WubbaNub Pacifier 
From bad teeth to nipple confusion you hear horror stories about pacifiers. Actually before baby I would have slotted me into an anti-pacifier category. The next thing baby is here and all the rules go out the window. Parenting lesson: 1. take everything you know and throw it out the window. 
Everleigh loves her pacifiers but mostly she loves her Hippo WubbaNub. Unlike other pacifiers the weighted toy helps her not shoot it out of her mouth. We have a total of three WubbaNub's, the Hippo (aka Bing Bong) is the best because his big nose makes it easy for Everleigh to hold. 

Mustela PhysiObebe
Let me start by saying ... Forget what you know about babies smelling amazing, because these little monsters have the tendency to smell like sour milk (especially through the neck). Our solution to this cheesy problem is Mustela's PhysiObebe. This no rise cleanser is the perfect easy way to keep baby clean and smelling fresh. Not only do I love the scent of this I also love that products contains no nasty ingredients too. This has to be one of my favourite baby "beauty" products thus far.

So there we have it those are my newborn must haves! If you have any recommendations feel free to leave me a comment below. 

Friday, March 11, 2016

Skincare Hacks

If you haven't noticed by now I love skincare. Dare I even say I am obsessed? However with a baby now in the picture I must confess at times I have been incredibly lazy with my skincare routine. But as we all know life throws you obstacles where sometimes you don't have time to sit down and pamper you face... students, working women, new mothers or mothers of 6 it's still possible to have great skin even with the least amount of effort. So today lets dabble in the world of skincare hacks.

When you crave a purifying mask.
Shortcut- Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser (review here)
Purifying masks can help combat pimples and unblock pores. Between application to letting the product dry these facial treatments can take up to 20 minutes or longer. So my shortcut of choice is Tata's Purifying Cleanser. Instead taking a long 20 minutes this miracle product has the same purifying effect but only takes minutes... Literally all you have to do is wash you face!
Along with unblocking pores and fighting spots, Tata's Purifying Face also leaves your skin radiant, clear and hydrated.
When your skin needs moisture.
Shortcut- Clinique Moisture Surge Facial Mist (review here)
There are times during the day where it's impractical to moisturize your face. For me when noon hits my skin begins to feel slightly dry, but who really has time to remove there makeup, hydrate then reapply? My answer to instant hydration is Clinique's Moisture Surge spray! Apart from adding instant moisture and been suited for all skin types, the fine mist won't disturb makeup that you might be wearing. Seriously this is one of my favourite lazy skincare cheats!

When you want to cheat on your serum and moisturizer.
Shortcut - Facial oil best suited for your skin type.
Double cleanse, exfoliate, oil, serum, moisturize and treat! One thing I love about skincare is the routine, with that being said sometimes even skincare lovers like myself get busy, tired or simply lazy. So when you want a break from the routine I highly recommend a facial oil. Apart from hydrating oils can offer a slew of different treatments.
Some of my all time favourites are:
For oily skin- Clarins Lotus Treatment Oil
For really dry, sensitive or eczema prone skin- Clarins Blue Orchid Oil (review here)
For anti aging- Jacynthe's Serum (review here)

When you crave a Hydration Sheet Mask, but don't have time
Shortcut - First Aid Beauty Hydra Beauty Sleeping Cream (here)
Sheet masks, gel masks, cream masks ... I am a mask enthusiast.
My problem with masks is generally they take time, time that I sometimes don't have. My shortcut to a hydration mask is the First Aid Beauty Sleeping Cream. All you do is apply, sleep and you wake up with beautiful hydrated skin, its literally that simple. Despite having a thicker texture this cream doesn't feel greasy or slimy on the skin. I highly recommend this one it's one of the best lazy girl products out there.

So before you think theres no time for a mask, there is! And if your skin feels dry at noon, there is way to get instant moisture! Basically, what I'm saying is no matter how crazy life gets there is a amazing skincare shortcut for you out there. 
What are some of your favourite skincare cheats? 

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball Review

When the Maybelline Baby Lips came out I was addicted to say the least. The orginal collection of Baby Lips were fun, hydrating and offered everything from sheer to tinted lip balms. Even today Cherry Me the 'I just ate a popsicle' red still is one of my all-time favourites. So when I encountered the new Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball one thing went through my head... Could this be the convenient shape of EOS lip balm, meets formula of a Baby Lips? Positive I discovered lip balm perfection I went home with Bit of Berry.

Let's start with the good, shall we?
The highlight of this lip balm is the formula, its thin, slick and feels comfortable on the lips. It doesn't last incredibly long, but it doesn't magically disappear either. The berry tint although really sheer is nice too. Personally I find it a great lip to wear on a 'no makeup' kind of day. Even the berry scent is enjoyable and overall I find the Baby Lips Balm Ball a joy to use.

I use the word overall because the packaging... the packaging of this lip balm is ridiculous.
There is something about the tapered edge in combination with the slippery plastic that makes me drop the Balm Ball every time I use it. Maybe it's just a issue of me having large fingers? Maybe this was indeed designed for a baby to hold? I'm not sure, but if this balm was completely rounded (like an EOS) this would have been one step closer to perfection.

So where does that leave us? The Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Ball is not a bad. It's hydrating and the berry tint is really pretty on the lips. However, because I keep dropping this darn lip balm I can't shake the feeling that there are better out there. So ladies, with my carpet covered in berry toned lip balm and my lip balm covered in cat hair my search for excellence continues.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Product Fails

I very rarely feature product disappointments. In fact I like to keep my blog a pretty positive space. But let's get real here with the good comes the bad. So lets dabble in the negative today and talk about all the disappointing products I've encountered recently.
La Vanilla Lavender Vanilla Deodorant 
To this date La Vanilla's, Pure Vanilla deodorant is the only natural deodorant I've tried that actually works. Getting a little daring one day I decided to try the Lavender scent... I mean how different could the two actually be? Totally different, because the Lavender scent doesn't work. Basically what I'm getting to is this deodorant leaves me stinky, to the point where I stink less if I just whore nothing. So ladies, take it from my experiences avoid the Lavender scent by all means!

Chanel Bronze Universal
This product is so hyped up that when I purchased it I was instantly in love. Even the sales lady told me this bronzer "suits" everyone because it's so "blend-able". People it's taken me years to admit this, but this doesn't look flattering on my pale skin. In fact this makes me look an ill shade of orange... Umpa Lumpa to be exact! Looking back I should have tried this before purchasing, surely I would have noticed just how orange I looked.
I'm sorry Chanel not all bonzer's are universal.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara
This was my holy grail mascara, this was even in my last months favourites! So what are we doing here you ask? I changed my mind about this, not that its bad but it's just not as good as I remember. In comparison to some drugstore mascara's I've tried recently I would rather save myself the money.
I think I'm a converted drugstore mascara girl now!

Palladio Liquid Concealer
It was our Christmas lunch at work and this beauty girl forgot to put on makeup... gasp! I know, so the first thing I did was head to the local Sally's Beauty Supply and pick up mascara and concealer. The mascara was pretty good but this concealer is really, really bad. Apart from being sheer this concealer sits on the skin, leaving you with a cakey looking under eye. Totally unflattering and ineffective I highly recommend steering clear of this concealer! 

I'm still kind of pissed about the Bronze Universal... Not only could have saved myself $50 but I could have saved myself from looking like an Umpa Lumpa too. Oh well... with the good comes the bad and overall there are more good then bad out there. 
Until next time ladies! If you've tried any of these products feel free to leave me a comment.