Monday, November 28, 2016

Everleigh Update & Freshly Picked Cyber Monday Sale

Let's start with the update, Everleigh is walking! She took her first steps last month, but has now come up with the courage to walk all on her own. People told me that life itself get's busier once there children start walking, but the truth is I didn't realize just how busy things were about to get. My girl now has the desire to chase the cat around the house, explore every nook and cranny and of course play with everything she isn't suppose to play with. Apart of keeping her out of trouble my new passion is baby shoes, more specially Freshly Picked! 

For those who don't know Freshly Picked are pint sized moccasins. Unlike so many other brands these moccasins are durable, well designed, fashionable and ... drumroll please...STAY ON YOUR CHILD'S FEET. Actually I'm so obsessed with these these that I bought Everleigh a set as soon as her feet hit the floor. The funny part is Sak's didn't have her size so I ended up buying a pair that should fit her in well over a year (or more). I'll be the first to admit, yes I know I'm crazy. However the pretty pink moccasins melted my heart. 

Back to the topic on hand... I've teamed up with Freshly Picked and there people have told me that today (November 28th 2016) they are having a Cyber Monday Sale. The sale starts 10 am MST and all of there seasonal styles will be 25% off. So if you have a little one in your life this is the perfect time to spoil there tiny feet. For me this means Everleigh shoe collection will be expanding. She now owns Cardigan (here), but I have my eyes on the Lemonade (here) too.
Happy shopping ladies! 

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide (under $50.00)

The tree is up, the decorations are hung and the lights are out... so it's safe to say I went a little Christmas crazy this year. Personally Christmas is a new obsession of mine. Since having a little one I feel as if though it's my responsibility to make this season as magical for her as possible. Considering the tree has been up for almost two weeks now I've been taken my newly founded role very, very seriously. The only thing missing in this holiday magic is my Christmas Beauty Guide. I'm sure many of you are starting your shopping so I thought I would get this up early. Here we go!

For Organic Beauty Lover- Acure's Moroccan Argan Oil Set $24.99 (here)
I love Acure but most importantly I would love to receive this set as a Christmas gift. This gift set comes with three full sized oils in three different scents (citrus ginger, coconut, rose). These Argan oils can be used as facial serum, a leave in hair treatment, body oil, cuticle oil... basically anywhere you need extra hydration these have got your back. Like all Acure products these are vegan, sulfate free, paraben free and cruelty free. You can break this kit down as stocking stuffers or you can give the full set to any natural beauty lover you know.

For Mrs. Fancy Pants- Chanel Coco Shine Lipstick $43.00 (here)
Chanel Coco Shines have to one of my favourite lipstick formulas ever. They are sheer, easy to wear and the sleek Chanel bullet makes you feel extra special within every application. If you have a lipstick lover, Chanel lover or a fancy pants on your Chirstmas list they will without a doubt love a tube of Chanel. As for colours my personal favourite is the pinky berry toned Antigone. With that being said the universally flattering pinky-nude Boy is an excellent choice too.

For Your Always Traveling Mom -Paula'a Choice Resistant Anti-Aging Travel Kit $39.00 (here)
My mom seems to be booking a new vacation every time I see her, so when I saw this set I thought it was the perfect little addition to her Christmas gift. This set contains a cleanser, exfoliator, daily moisturizer (with an SPF 35) and a night cream. Each mini is a generous size perfect for any travel lover on your list. Likewise this would also be a great set if you have someone on your list that likes to experiment with skincare.

For The Perfume Fein- Sephora's Roller Balls Prices Very (here)
Perfumes can be super expensive, so the perfect budget friendly gift for your perfume loving friend is a rollerball. These small sized bottles usually range around the $20-$40 dollar mark and have the added benefit of being super portable too. Some of my favourites on the Sephora website include the sexy Lady Vengeance (here), the sweet and cozy Pure Vanilla (here) and finally the fresh and floral Stella (here). With tons of different options I think these make a perfect gift.

For Your Man - PC4 Men Travel Kit $30.00 (here)
I am obsessed by these mini skincare kits and this one makes an excellent choice for the man in your life. This kit includes a cleanser, shaving foam, exfoliator, daytime cream and night time cream. Like the Anti-aging kit, this kit features generous sizes and quality skincare. So if your husband, boyfriend, father or roommate with benefits travels, plays sports, or deserves a pamper this is an excellent pick.

So ladies and gents thank you all for reading. To all my American readers I hope of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Let me know what some of your favourite beauty gifts are in the comment section below. 




Monday, November 21, 2016

Men's Skincare - The Moisturizers

Let me start out with a contradicting opening statement... In my humble opinion mens skin care ranges (excluding shaving items) are marketing gimmicks. These items are usually packaged in more masculine packaging and are fragranced with cologne-y type scents. In addition I find most mens skin care ranges are loaded with unnecessary chemicals, alcohol and fragrance too. And since a moisturizer can't determine if you have penis or a vagina I highly suggest getting the man in your life to jumping ship and trying one of these moisturizers.
Dry Skin- Clarins Daily Energizer Cream
While us women love to bask in a emollient facial oils I find men typically prefer something light weight. So if your partner is a dry skin sufferer I can't recommend Claris Daily Energizer Cream enough. It's oil free, lightweight all while being quite moisturizing too. Also at $28.00 a pop this cream comes with all the Clarins skincare technology, but at a bargain of a price.

Normal Skin - Clinique Moisture Surge
Most men have normal to oily skin. I hate use sound so mater of fact, but the truth is after puberty males just produce more sebum the us. An excellent moisture for normal combination skin types is Clinique's Moisture Surge. With it's gel texture it's slightly more lightweight then the Clarins, but still does an excellent job at hydrating the skin. This also comes highly reccomended because the instant cooling sensation is perfect for post shaved skin. 

* I also wanted to point out you can use this as a hydration mask. So if you wanted to treat yourself to a mask it's always handy to have a hidden gem in your partners stash. HA, I'm so sneaky!

Oily Skin- Stone Crop Hydrating Gel
In comparison to the other moisturizers here by far Stone Crop has the lightest finish. In addition to having a completely matte finish, this gel also corrects uneven skin tone, boasts of handful of antioxidants and has anti-aging properties too. If you have oily skin I can't recommend this moisturizer enough, it's ingredients list and the convienvent pump packaging are all terrific.

I hope all of you found this post helpful! As mentioned before skincare holds no gender so these are all excellent choices for you ladies too (especially if your into light weight moisture). If you were hesitant to purchase these for partner, don't be! In my experience even the most manliest of men love a good pamper. Likewise if your a man reading this and you wanted some more male posts leave me a comment below. Until next time ladies (and gents)! 

Monday, November 14, 2016

Acure The Magical Wonderfluff Review

I'm always on the lookout for a good face mask, more specifically a good hydrating mask. Yes we all know I love radiance inducing masks and purifying masks, but as a dry skin sufferer I have a huge soft spot for everything hydration. New to my hydration collection is Acure's Magical Wonderfluff, so lets begin!

Let me first say, I don't see a lot of reviews for Acure products. With that being said I absolutely love this brand. This company prides itself on it's family operated roots, sustainability and cruelty free business practices. Also there products contain no harsh chemicals and considering the quality there products are extremely affordable too. Thus far I have tried a few things from there baby range and a couple things from there skincare line as well, each and every item has blown me away. I swear I can go on for ages... now let's actually start this review. 

Sometimes I start reviews by going on about scent or packaging, but for The Magical Wonderfluff it's all about the ingredients. With the addition of Acai extract, Black Berry extract and Rosehip oil this mask is a powerhouse of antioxidants. These antioxidants can help battle early signs of aging as well as help fight signs of aging by repairing damaged skin cells. The next notable ingredients are  calendula and camomile. These two work together to sooth and nourish irritated skin. Finally this mask closes with a cocktail of hydrating oils which is what really packs in the moisture. No kidding they call this 'Magical' because skin looks more even toned and luminous instantly. 

As for application I prefer to apply this an hour before bed. That way I give the mask a fair amount of time to soak in before my head hits the pillow. You could however slap this on right before bed and enjoy while sleeping. Whatever way you decide to apply this mask, at $20.00 a pop this mask is an excellent addition to a any winter skincare routine. If you were looking for something hydrating, nourishing, calming and easy to use I can't recommend The Magical Wonderfluff enough. 

Monday, November 7, 2016

Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil Review

"What is a good product for my skin" is the most common skincare question I get asked. This question is usually followed by "I don't want to use 10 things on my face". After explaining the importance of a good skin fcare routine my most recommend lazy girl product of choice is one of the Clarins Treatment Oils. The range consists of three different oils all tailored for each and every skin type. While all three oils are excellent my favourite/most reccomended oil is the Clarins Blue Orchid Oil. However despite my love for this oil, it has not been in my collection for years.
Would this live up to my expectations? Has the formula changed? The truth is because I talk about this so often I had to find out. Let's dive in shall we!

From what I remember Blue Orchid Oil smelt like a fancy spa and I'm happy to report this totally lives up to what I remember. Blue Orchid contains essential oils such as rosewood and patchouli so it has that woodsy, herbal thing going. It seriously invokes tranquility within every application! I don't recommend you purchase a product based on scent, but for me the scent elevates the skincare experience. However unlike so many skin care products that are loaded with perfumes Blue Orchid Oil contains natural essential oils only. So if you crave a little spa ... this has got you! 

Blue Orchid also has you (like in a really big way) based on the ingredients. Firstly this Blue Orchid uses hazelnut oil as a carrier. Which means your getting a large dose of hydration and anti oxidants. Interestingly this oil regulates oil production which means yes oily skin types can use this too. The next of the notable ingredients is patchouli. This ancient ingredient has been used in skin care for hundrad's of years as a soothing, anti-inflammatory. In addition patchouli oil can also aid in fighting eczema as well as dermatitis. Finally my favourite ingredient Blue Orchid! This wonder ingredient hydrates your skin by holding on to water. So if you were looking for that luminous glow this oil has got you too. 

Perfect for most skin types theres no wonder why I recommend this product to just about everyone I know. If you were still wondering, yes this oil is amazing and totally lives up to the hype. After a few weeks of use my skin looks hydrated, even toned and luminous. The best thing is even days where I feel lazy I can quickly slap this on my face and be done... why did I ever forget about you Blue Orchid Oil? So ladies just like I've recommend to so many of my friends and family you need to try Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil too!