Uguisu No Fun (Nightingale Poo) Geisha Facial!

Being a beauty writer you tend to end up hearing about products that well...in normal every day life you probably wouldn't of known of.  Nonetheless you try it out anyway just to see what all the fuss is about.  I mean hey, its not everyday where you get to smear poo on your face, write about it and actually have people be interested in reading it.

Don't even ask me how I came upon hearing about this product I am about to review.  I think it was something I read about Victoria Beckham getting one every time she was in NYC to help with her acne issue. What in the world am I talking about you may ask?! Well let me tell you!! Its known as Uguisu No Fun which is made of Nightingale droppings. Yes you read that right...its bird shit.  But not just any type of bird shit...its nightingale bird shit.  As if that is suppose to make it better!

 Its a facial that Geisha's and Japanese women have been using for years to treat their skin and keep it glowing and youthful.  Its known as a "Geisha Facial".  The droppings are treated with UV rays in order to disinfect and kill all bacteria in the poo and the birds are feed a vegan diet.  It claims to help with clearing up acne, lightening skin naturally without bleaching it, adds a natural brilliance to skin due to the iridescent from the Guanine found in the poo and helps sun damaged and aging skin. 

 I was intrigued as disgusting as that may sound to try it out.  I searched the net and realized that you  couldn't actually get a Geisha Facial in Toronto, only in NYC.  So what's a girl to do when you can't find the shit (literally) that you are looking for?!  You order it online of course!!

I headed to Ebay which is the capital of "find anything you need/want" online and found this bottle of Uguisu No Fun facial mask that was being shipped from Japan.  I googled it first before buying it and after realizing that I didn't read Japanese and/or had no idea what I was doing, I bought it! SOLD!  I mean what's the worse that could happen? So what if I was applying literal poo on my face with no English instructions...I mean for the sake of beauty don't we do worse?!

When it arrived to my house 3 weeks later, I put in my beauty cabinet and walked away.  Like I mean come on, who would really apply literal shit on their face...right?  So I hit the net and decided to put my grad school research skills into action and googled away for like weeks.  I mean  come on, I earned two Masters degrees while in grad school.  If anyone could find out how this "shit" worked then it would be me!  After I found all the info I needed I decided the only thing left to do was to put it on my face and see what happens.

Uguisu No Fun comes in a tiny tiny squirt bottle.  Everything is written in Japanese so unless you read the language your best bet is to google the internet for instructions.  The mask comes in a powder form which is a very creamy color.  You add 2-3 squirts of this powder in your hand or a bowl and mix it with 2-3 drops of water.  Once you mix it, it becomes a watery creamy consistency and the color turns to a dark greenish gray.  Still manageable right?!  Well that is until the smell hits you.  Oh sweet baby Jesus, this "shit" smells so bad I swore I was going to do the techno colored yawn.  Keep in mind when I first tried this back in the summer I was pregnant...very pregnant.  So the smell was not helping.  I was only able to use this 2-3 times before I couldn't take it anymore.  I decided it was best to wait till after the baby was born in order to continue using it.

Months later after the baby was born I decided to muster up the courage (and the nose plugs) to try it again. I won't lie this thing still smells bad.  I mean really bad.  However I forged on and applied it all over my face and timed it for 15 minutes.  Its best you breath through your mouth the whole time in order to avoid passing out from the smell and/or the lack of air.  Last thing you want is to try to explain to the paramedic why your face is covered in shit.  I doubt it the psych unit would be very understanding of our quest for beauty. Trust me I should know.  I work in psych remember....we don't take to well to people who do outlandish things.  Smearing poo on your face is one of them!  No matter how beauty related you want to justify it!

After using it a few times (and not throwing up) this is what I have concluded.  First, I don't know if it works on acne or not as I don't suffer for this condition.  Second, I am only 33 years old and don't tan, so I can't tell you if it actually helps with premature aging or sun damage skin.  Third, I already use vitamin C and I am of a very fair complexion.  So I don't know if it actually helps to brighten my skin since the Vitamin c already does that.  The only thing I can vouch for is that after using it, my skin looked very iridescent each time.  Due to the natural Guanine found in the nightingale poo, it did cause this effect on my skin after every use.  You can also use this as a facial wash.  However I am not sure how I feel about using this everyday.  So I will stick to the mask portion use of it.   

So what's my conclusion?  If you are willing smear poo on your face for the sake of beauty then go for it.  The whole thing is treated with UV rays and disinfected.  It will leave a very lovely look on your skin due to the Guanine.  However this is only possible if you can get passed the smell for 15 minutes.

Lastly, this particularly brand is no longer sold.  It's best you google the net and Ebay (of course) to find which ones are out there and worth the buy.  I am not sure if I would buy this again; I mean after all it is poo not for nothing and there are other products out there that can give you that iridescent effect.  Nonetheless there is always something to be learned in the world of beauty and I as a beauty writer am willing to take the challenge! Well that is...to a point!

Keep Smiling

Dayana
   

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Tip Tuesday: How to Fix Broken Eyeshadow or Blush!

I have broken enough eyeshadows and blushes in my time that I could start my own "broke makeup collection".   However it wasn't until I saw a youtuber put up a video about how to fix these broken disasters that I realized that I really didn't have to throw out my makeup.  Below are tips you can use to fix your broken makeup when disaster strikes.  If you follow these instructions accordingly, your makeup will look good as new!  However, I do not recommend you try this on compact foundation or face powder.  Stick to eyeshadow and blush due the high concentration of alcohol needed to correct the issue.

Things You'll Need!

1. Your broken makeup (duh)!

2. A coin about the size of a quarter

3. Rubbing alcohol

4. Tissue

5. Butter knife

6. Medicine squirter

7. Plastic sandwich bag

1. Grab your broken product and place it inside a plastic sandwich bag at the corner of the bag. Then grab the end of a butter knife (or any utensil for that matter) and break up the rest of product inside the bag.  Make sure to break up the product with the butter knife over the bag and secure it tightly so that the product doesn't go all over the place.

 2. Remove your eyeshadow from the bag carefully and add 2-3 drops of rubbing alcohol, 70% or higher with a small medicine squirter.  Be careful not to add to much as you don't want to make your eyeshadow soup either.  The rubbing alochol will cause the eyeshadow or blush to look a bit muddy, but don't worry you want it to look that way for a reason.

3.  Once you are done putting in 2-3 drops of rubbing alcohol, grab a coin (depending on the size of your eyeshadow or blush) and wrap it tightly in tissues.  Once the coin is wrapped, press down firmly on the muddy looking eyeshadow or blush until it starts to compact before your eyes.  Do this for 30 seconds.  Make sure you press firmly in order to help the broken makeup re-create it original shape.

4. After you are done re-shaping your makeup back to its original form, wipe it clean on the sides and set it aside so that it dries overnight for the next 24 hours.  Do not close the lid on it.  Leave it open in a clean, dry, sanitary place so that the shadow or blush dries back to it's original form.  Once the rubbing alochol is dry and the 24 hours have passed by, you can use it again with no problem!

Due to the fact that such a high content of alochol is used in this procedure, I do not recommend this for face powder or compact foundation as stated earlier.

Well there you have it! I have done this many times over and it has worked all the time!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Review of The Week! Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder!

 

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder - $29.00 CDN

About a year ago, I was at Sephora trying out a new concealer.  The SA told me that the best way to avoid your under eye concealer from creasing was to set it with powder.  She had me try Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder and told me it was the best for setting concealer.  However at almost $30 I declined and decided to use my normal setting powder.   Nonetheless what I didn't know then which I wish I knew was that not all powder are made alike.  So when you apply powder to your under eye area, it can make it look powdery and settle into the fine lines if the powder is not milled finely. 

That led me on a hunt to buy finely milled powders not only for my under eye but for my face as well.  I ended up buying Chantecaille White Bengal Tiger face powder and Chanel Universelle Libre Powder due to the powders finely milled properties.  However I kept hearing reviews of LM Secret Brightening Powder, so off to Sephora I go..and go....and go....and go.  Well to my surprise after a month of going every weekend, sadly their powder was out of stock and they had no clue when it coming back in.  So I decided to hit up Sephora online and little did I know they were out of stock as well!!

 

Almost two months later I FINALLY bought the powder online because the Sephora store was still out of stock.  After having to pay for shipping it arrived at my house in less then a week!  In my excitement, I opened it up to find that it had a white sticker on top to avoid the powder from falling out during shipping.  While I was removing the sticker, the top part of the stiffer came unloose and powder went flying everywhere.  I didn't lose a lot of powder, nonetheless I was not happy.  That part should be more tighten down due to the fact that one has to pull the sticker off the holes in order to allow the powder to come out.

This powder is very finely milled.  It also very creamy if I dare say.  I love applying it with my Blank Canvas Cosmetic F15 face brush.  It picks up the powder nicely and distributes it evenly underneath my eye area with its pointed red bristle head.

This powder goes on smoothly and does not settle into the fine lines of your face or eye area.  Some people said that it leaves you with a bit of a glitterly look underneath your eyes.  I beg to differ.  I don't recall seeing any glitter underneath my eyes.  However what I did see was my dark under eye circles almost vanish.   Normally I apply my Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer first and then my Guerlain foundation to hide my dark circles.  After that I applied the LM brightening powder and was so shock to see how my under eye area no longer look dark and dreary.  Instead it looked alive, with color and bright.  

This powder does not leave behind a white cast.  However since my skin color is very fair, I don't know how it would look on darker skin tones.  Nonetheless LM makes this brighten powder a darker white side (if that makes sense) for those of darker skin tone.  Its called LM Secret Brightening Powder II.  

The only con I have with this is the size and prize.  This powder cost $29 CDN and comes in a very very small container.  Don't get me wrong, its not like you need a lot for your under eye area.  However for $29 dollars, I expected a lot more in size.  The only reason I bought this is because it came highly recommended and I figured I might as well give it a try. 

I would highly recommend this powder be used to set your under eye concealer if you are looking for a more alive and bright look which will help to hide the dark circles that your concealer might not be able to fully do!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Tip Tuesday: How to Avoid Breakouts After Waxing!

 

Let's be real, what woman doesn't wax her face, eyebrows or upper/lower lip?! Now for those brave enough to admit, how many don't get that pesky breakout after waxing?! I do!

I use to suffer frpm post wax breakouts on the side of cheeks every time I waxed.  I had to start waxing my side burns and sides of cheeks when my first child was born.  My blonde hair went from...well blonde to black.  So not cool!  I noticed it was also causing difficulty for my foundation to adhere to my skin because the hair not only became black but it also became a bit coarse and more then normal grew in.  Again so not cool or attractive!! I blamed the pregnancy hormones.  Nonetheless after the baby was born it never went away.  However there is hope!

When waxing any part of your face remember these few rules in order to minimize or eliminate post wax breakouts altogether.

1. Wash your hands!

2. Wash your face with your face wash to make sure that the area you are waxing is clean. Make sure to scrub gently the area you are waxing in order to exfoliate the skin so that the hair is easier to grab.

3. Use a good wax and clean sterile wax strips.

4. When heating up the wax (if using a hot wax) please be careful.  You don't want to apply burning wax to your face that can leave you with a burn.

5.  Once you are done waxing, wash your face again to get rid of any wax residue.

6. After washing your face again, use a toner to help disinfect the area and help bring down the swelling.

7. If you use an exfoliant (AHA or BHA) be careful as it might burn the hell out of you if you just waxed.

Steps five and six are ultra important.  The reason why many of us get post wax breakouts is because we don't wash and tone our face after waxing and leave the newly waxed skin and exposed open pores available for bacteria to seep in.  

If you follow these simple steps on any area of your face before and after you wax, the likelihood of of getting a breakout is slim to none.  However if slim happens, at least it will be minimal.  For me it has completely eliminated the breakouts altogether!!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Monday Madness: Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush vs. Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Buffer Brush

I love my Blank Canvas Cosmetics (BCC) makeup brushes!  I actually don't use anything else but them.  I have just about every brush from their collection and talk about them ALL the time!  I first heard of BCC when I was trying to buy Sigma Beauty brushes.  When it came time to cash out, I realized I was being charged a ridiculous amount of money to ship a few brushes to Canada.  So I canceled that order and went on the hunt for new brushes.  One day while watching youtube I saw Sinead from The Makeup Chair talking about their brushes.  So I checked them out and realized that a set of 15 brushes was costing me $6.00 bucks to ship.  SOLD! I bought them right away.  Funny thing was with Sigma I was going to spend $80 bucks till I saw the $30 dollar shipping charge.  With BCC I ended up spending $130 with shipping, taxes and all!

Nonetheless people constantly talk about Sigma's F80 Flat Kabuki Brush.  So being the curious person that I am, I went online to Amazon.com and bought the brush from one of their authorized dealers for the same price you can get it from Sigma's website but with no shipping charge.  SOLD!

So in this blog I am going to compare the two as I know people are always wondering the million dollar question.  Which one is better and/or are they comparable!

BCC F20 Flat Buffer Brush

BCC F20 brush comes in two colors.  Hot pink and black handle.  Some dared to call it a dupe of the Sigma F80 brush.  Let me tell you this is no dupe.  This is a stand alone brush that holds its own weight.   It has a dense head, strong soft bristles and hardly sheds if ever.  The brush retails for $21.30 CDN on their website.  

Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush

The Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush has a shorter handle, big dense bristle head and I haven't seen any shedding so far though I have washed it a few times now. The bristles are very soft to the touch and just like the BCC F20 brush, it doesn't pick up to much product so that it doesn't absorb to much into the brush. This brush retails for $21.00 US on their website.

Comparison

I decided to take an "arial" view of the brushes so you can see how they stack up.  The top one that looks unwashed (but really is clean) is the Sigma F80 and the bottom one is the BCC F20.  If you look closely, the Sigma F80 does have a denser head then the BCC F20 brush.  However after using both time and time again, I saw no difference in the final application of my foundation.  These both brushes are  made with the same Kabuki hair type material which allows you to get that airbrush look that you only see on the cover of a magazine.  While the Sigma brush is shorter then the BCC they both physical feel and handle the same.  While the Sigma bristles are longer then the BCC, nonetheless they both provided the same excellent service of applying foundation evenly and buffed in well.

However with all that being said, I would still buy the BCC F20 and here is why.  Shipping on the Sigma F80 brush cost me $8.00 and that is coming from the USA.  Shipping on the BCC F20 brush cost me $2.28 and that is coming from Ireland.  Come on people!! Somethings not right here when it cost more to ship across the border then it does from around the world!!  At the end of the day, if the price of shipping is going to cost me almost as much as another brush, then I might as well get my money's worth and go with a product that will offer me more for way less!!

Whatever brush you decide to buy will give you the same result, however I am sticking with my BCC F20. I currently own two of these and I have to say I am in love!!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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The Beauty Scenario Tag!

So I have seen all over youtube and the internet everyone posting "The Beauty Scenario" tag!  So I figured....eh...why not!!  Lily Pebbles started this tag and I saw it off Sinead Cady youtube!

So below are my answers to the questions!!

1. You have to get rid of all your foundations and you can only keep one high end and one drugstore, which do you keep?

I currently only wear Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation.  I don't actually have a drugstore foundation, however I have heard that L'oreal True Match is amazing.  So I figured I will pick it up one day and try it and probably keep it.

2. You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

I would ignore it till the ending of the interview. I would pull out the "sisterhood" code card and let her know politely and tell her that I would like someone to tell me if I had the same issue.  However if she was really stiff and a hard up type personality gal...I would say nothing.

3. You're not feeling yourself and need a pick me up. Which lipstick do you put on to make yourself feel beautiful?

None. On days like those I reach for my EOS lip balm which I just LOVE!!

4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair and makeup differently?

Ok for my hair, I would actually style it.  I use to just wash and go.  I would go back in time and buy a straightener instead of spending hours blow drying which was the main reason why I never did my hair in the first place.  For my makeup, I would actually use some.  In High School I never ever wore makeup.  Not even on special occasions.  I would change that and add some nice but neutral color to my face!!

5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott hair cut, but they hear wrong and give you a pixi cut. Do you a) Smile, say thank you, leave and call your mum hysterical b) Cry in the chair and things get awkward or c) Complain to the manager and demand a refund.

My hair is very long.  I would never get a shoulder length pixie lott cut.  However if I ever lost my mind and did and the stylist screwed it up, I would cry like a baby in the chair, ask to speak to a manager and demand that extensions be put in my hair.  If not I would threaten to sue them. What!! I am American...what more can you expect lol

6. Your friend surprises you with a 4 day city break and you have 1 hour to pack. Which 'do it all' palette do you pack in your makeup bag?

My Too Faved Boudoir Shadow Collection.  I love love this palette as it gives you the most prettiest softest looking eyes morning and night!

7. Your house has been robbed, don't worry everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe?

My makeup brushes from Blank Canvas Cosmetics.  If those were stolen I would die!!

8. Your friend borrows your makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you a) Just pretend you haven't noticed b) Ask them to repurchase it or c) Secretly do the same to something of theirs

Oh no, I would ask them to repurchase it.  I would treat it the same way I treat a book when I loan it out.  I give them my "loan speech".  Which is, "you break it, dirty it, bent it, scratch it, ruin it, damage it, you BUY IT!"

There you go!  Happy Easter!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Is Beauty Really Only Skin Deep?

They say that beauty is only skin deep.  Maybe.  However what happens when the color of your own skin is no longer considered beautiful by you.  What happens when we start to equate our beauty not by our intelligence, facial features or character, but instead we base it on just how "white or dark" you can get your skin to be.

In the last few years just about every cosmetic company you can think of, has launch some form of whitening product for their skincare line.  The cosmetic industry is a 50 billion dollar a year industry that only keeps growing.  They push the idea that you need certain products in order to look your best.  However lately the idea is that whiter skin AND these products truly equates to real "beauty".  

 Skin whitening products became very popular in the 1990s.  From then till now, they have rocketed to stardom and are basically used by men and women from every walk and class of life.   These products have taken a life of their own to the point that some individuals are willing to use them regardless if they are proven to be carcinogenic.  The idea that making your skin lighter and whiter is so beautiful and desirable that many women (and men) are willing to go to great lengths regardless of the adverse effects on their health.

Now, lets take this a step further.  What happens when you are raised in a culture where you have been taught to believe that lighter skin is truly beautiful.  In India, fair skin is considered not only beautiful but it plays a part in their cast system.   Marriage and employment in many parts of India are entered into depending on just how "white" the individuals skin really is.  Could you imagine being hired or granted an interview for a job based on the color of your skin?  The idea that whiter skin reflects intelligence and beauty is so ingrained in their country, that you can find in their local store baby whiting oil in order to help your child from birth have a higher chance of moving up the ladder once they reach adulthood by "bleaching" their skin from an early age. 

 I recently spoke to a prominent and well respected psychologist in Toronto who informed me that she wrote her undergrad thesis on this topic.  Does having whiter skin produce higher self esteem and (distorted) sense of beauty in darker or lighter skin individuals.  After collecting data from the survey the results concluded that darker skin women felt less attractive and had lower self esteem then whiter skin ones.   

Now lets flip this.  What happens when whiter skin women decide that they prefer a darker complexion and are willing to unrealistically tan, fake tan and/or take injections in order to reach this "healthy glowing" look?  A new drug has come on the market called Melanoton II also known as the Barbie drug which promises you a tanned complexion.    

   

Melantotan II was developed at the University of Arizona in order to provide individuals with a "safer" way to tan they using tanning beds or exposing themselves to the harsh rays of the sun.  This drug when injected allow your skin to produce a darker pigmentation then your natural one in order to get that glowing tan.  This drug can be found on the internet for sale.  However it is not approved by Health Canada as it has not been tested by them and therefore has no DIN.  The USA has not approved this drug either though it was created in one of their own universities and has been tested in clinical trials.  Nonetheless even with the lack of evidence in regard to its safe of the use of the drug, that hasn't stopped many individuals from using it in order to change their skin color.  This image enhancing drug has become so popular in Britain and British Columbia that they are rampant even in gyms.

Now lets flip this again.  Many people are against whiting creams and see them as a dangerous product for women and men with self esteem issues.  However how is a whitening cream any more or less dangerous (in regard to self esteem) then a tanning cream is?  I have seen people raise their nose at whitening cream products, yet those same people are walking out the door with a tanning product in hand or visiting tanning salons even when they are aware of the harmful UV rays.  So if a whitening cream and a tan creaming will temporarily change the color of your skin and make you feel more "beautiful" then where exactly does the argument lie?  Is either considered acceptable or has it become no different then one dyeing their hair?  Why is one ok and the other one not?  You are still changing your skin color either way you see it.  So what's the big problem, really? 

So this makes me wonder.  Is beauty really only skin deep, or have we reached a whole new level of distorted beauty that now we believe the whiter or darker skin makes us more attractive, intelligence and desirable.  Is beauty really equated to skin color and does it effect how you see and view your role in society and if so, do you believe this to be true or are you perfectly fine with how your skin color looks?  I invite anyone to really consider both sides of the coin and establish a proper argument if both whitening and darkening your skin color plays a role in societies self esteem and view of individuals.   Has this phenomenon distorted our view on beauty or is it just cultural or simply just a thing to do now a days?

Keep Smiling

Dayana     

     

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10 Must Have Beauty Products!

The beauty industry is a $50 billion dollar operation per year and for good reason.  Even up to the simplest girl and most modest man owns some sort of beauty product(s) regardless of the facts.  The truth is everyone wants to look and/or smell good to some extent.  Nobody (or very few people) walk outside without even putting on some sort of beauty or personal hygiene product.  We all have some sort of personal care that we try to achieve and balance out within our crazy busy world.

Being the beauty guru (in my mind) that I am, I decided to follow the recent trend and post 10 of my most covet beauty products that I use and abuse all year long.  Keep in mind that its up to you to decide whatever products you want to use based on your skin texture and issues.  These are only suggests on what I found that works for me!

Skincare

For this category I had to go with two products because acne/pimple/breakout prone skin can truly benefit for using BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) and sun damage/wrinkle/aging skin can benefit for AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid).

Paula's Choice RESIST Skin Resurfacing (AHA) and Smoothing Kit - $52.00 CDN

I normally use BHA on my face to make sure that my skin is exfoliated down to my pores.  However upon a recent conversation with a fellow medical colleague of mine, he mentioned that AHA is still good to use to help resurface the top layer of your skin.  So I gave it a try and truly was amazed by the results on the first use.  I decided to buy this kit from Paula's Choice (PC) and noticed just how even smoother the surface of my skin looked.  Not only were my pores tighter (which is also a result from the BHA) but my skin seemed even and the small texture issues I have around my nose and underneath my eyes are slowly being corrected as well.  I love this product duo and swear by it!

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant - $23.00 CDN

I have been using this product for almost a year now and it has truly helped me clear up any breakout issues, helped with texture issues and gotten rid of the nasty millions of blackheads (literally) that I had growing on my nose that I was able to scrap off with my nail at times.  I use this product every morning and I alternate it at night with my Resist AHA exfoliant.  This product has worked wonders with keeping my normal breakouts under control.  Don't get me wrong, I don't suffer from acne, however I would get breakouts on my chin and nose which would last for days and at times weeks.  This product also helps the pimples and blackheads to surface on my face and banish them once and for all!

Poppy Austin 100% Agran Oil - $26.55 USA 

No matter if your oily, normal or dry skin, everyone needs a moisturizer.  I have always used creams until I was given a sample of Josie Maran 100% Argan oil.  I used the oil every day for a month and saw how my dry patches on my face just floated away into nothing but pure and smooth moisturized skin.  However the price tag on it was just simply stupid.  A 1.7oz of Josie Maran Argan oil cost $58.00 CDN.  People, just in case for those who don't read the label, all this bottle has is 100% pure Agran oil....nothing more and nothing less.  Based on that I went hunting for something cheaper but that was still organic, cold press with no fillers or anything taken away.  I was delighted when I found Poppy Austin Agran oil.  For a bottle of 2oz the price came out to $26.55.  Shipping cost me $7.00 to Canada and I still saved a crap load of money.  I received a bringer bottle that was still the same thing Josie Maran was selling, only more realistic in price.  I would highly recommend this oil be added to your daily skincare routine.  It didn't clog my pores or make my face grease.  All you need is 2-3 drops of this oil to see the magic.  I mix it in with my daily cream moisturizer during the winter for an extra punch and/or with my face serum.  Its worth trying and for the price, you can't go wrong.

Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System - $225.00 CDN

I don't even know where to beginning with this baby!  I love my Clarisonic.  I use it everyday twice a day.  This thing has truly changed the way I clean my face.  I feel since I have started using it, that it has also helped to clear up my complexion.  I won't lie this unit isn't cheap.  However its completely worth every penny.  If I travel I bring this with me everywhere I go.  If I were stranded on an island; sunscreen, chapstick and this baby would be stranded with me! I am so possessive of my baby that if my husband even THINKS of looking at my Clarisonic, I give him the "no you don't" look! 

Haircare

Now Foods 100% Natural Coconut Oil - $6.29 CDN

For everyone who knows me, they know that my hair is pretty long.  It travels down all the way to the small of my back (the lower back portion).  I normally keep it picked up or braided to keep it from getting caught on everything and everyone.  Nonetheless, no matter how long your hair is and no matter if you keep it tied up or loose; nasty, dried, split ended hair never looks good.  I have tried just about every hair conditioner under the sun from very expensive and well known ones (Ojon, which I love) to normal good drugstore ones.   However after watching a youtube video (yes I know I have a problem) I saw a youtuber named Tati who mix coconut oil with Argan Oil and applied it to her hair.  She also said it made for a great body cream.  I left it in overnight, shampooed and conditioned it the next day and OMG was my hair awesome.  I have to admit this is now my go to deep conditioner.  I also went the extra step and mixed it in with olive oil.  Truth is you don't have to spend mad money in order to get a good deep conditioning for your hair.  This is working wonders for me and I just love it!  You can find coconut oil in any health food store.  Just make sure it is 100% coconut oil with no added fillers.   

Makeup Brushes

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Top Buffer Brush - $21.28 CDN

I love makeup brushes and especially the ones made by Blank Canvas Cosmetics (BCC).   The majority of you who follow me on twitter read my previous post on their 15 piece set and on their Kabuki set that I reviewed a few weeks back.  So you all know my (serious) obsession with these brushes!! If I had to recommend two it would be the F20 Flat Top Buffer Brush that works wonder to buff and/or stipple in your foundation.  It literally leaves you a flawless airbrush look like if you have no foundation on at all.

Black Canvas Cosmetics F23 Pointed Tip Face Brush - $21.28 CDN

The second brush I would recommend would be the F23 Pointed Tip Face Brush.  I love this brush to blend in my concealer and/or highlighter makeup.  Due to its pointed tip, it great to angle around your nose, mouth and under eyes.  I use this brush and the F20 on a regular religious bases!!

Sunscreen

Elta MD UVA/UVB Broad-Spectrum Protection 47 - $29.00 CDN

I NEVER leave the house without sunscreen..PERIOD.  No matter if it is winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, sunscreen is always applied on my face.  I won't go over my reasons in this post why this product is so important, however you can click here to read my blog on the dangers of the sun, its UV rays and the importance of sunscreen.  Normally when I don't wear any makeup I will wear my Elta MD sunscreen.  I love this sunscreen because it is made of all natural minerals and safe for the skin.  However I can't wear this with makeup because of the natural minerals it causes my foundation to oxidize.  So when I am wearing makeup, I use a whole different one. 

Clarins Sunscreen Stick For Sun-Sensitive Areas SPF 30 High Protection UVB/UVA - $26.00 CDN

When people apply sunscreen to their face, then tend to forget their eye area.  However the thing about liquid sunscreen is that it can seep into your eyes and cause irritation.  Trust me I should know! I have pulled that off a few times before where I ran around the house throwing cold water in my eyes wishing I had a hot poker to pull out my eyeballs due to the pain...not cool.  Therefore I went on a hunt for a more friendlier sunscreen for the eyes and came across Clarins sunscreen stick for sensitive areas.  This thing is awesome!! After I apply my normal sunscreen, I then glide this underneath my eyes, over the orbital bone and my eyelid.   I have NEVER had this product irritate my eyes or even come close to seeping into it.  If you don't apply sunscreen to your eye area or like me are deathly afraid to get sunscreen in your eye, then this product is right for you!
 
Body 

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself - $22.00 CD

One fabulous thing about this product is it contains AHA which is great for the skin.  AHA helps to exfoliate the skin and helps to get rid of certain issues like brown spots, dry skin, eczema, and keratosis pilaris to name a few.  However there needs to be a certain percentage of AHA in order to see a difference.  This product does not state how much AHA is in it.  This cream has a lovely smell and buttery feeling that it feels like silk on your body! I bought this back in February and it still seems as if I haven't even cracked it open.  There is so much product in there that it might be months before I go through this jar. 

Well there you have it. My 10 favorite products that I use on a regular bases that I can't do without!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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March Favorites!

So this took me awhile to decide what were my favorites products for the month of March as I had so many things to pick from.  However at last I narrowed it down to four awesome products!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - $27.00 CDN

Ok so I am like totally obsessed with my eyebrows to the point that I actually measure them when I pluck them to make sure they are of even angle.  I also pluck them just about everyday to avoid stray hairs and I NEVER let anyone touch them who is not me!!  However I recently went to Sephora and an Anastasia worker gave me this pencil and told me it would work well to fill in any gaps in my eyebrows! I love how natural and easy this is to use.  It comes in different colors so that there is one to for just about every person's eyebrow color.  It looks so awesome I even had guys, fellow co-workers compliment me on my eyebrows!  Love this pencil and the spoolie attached to it!

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre - $59.38 CDN

Face powder and I have a love/hate relationship.  That is until I found this Chanel powder!  What I hate about face powder is...well....how it makes you look powdery after applied.  However this powder is so finely milled that it leaves behind no trace of a powdery finish.  The jar it comes in is pretty big and there is enough powder to last you for a year if used on a regular basis! I love this powder. I truly don't know how I have survived the last years without it!

 

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Buffer Brush - $21.28 CDN

BCC makes this beautiful Kabuki brush that is great for stippling and/or buffering your foundation.  It comes in two colors, pink or black handle.  It is made of kabuki material so it doesn't allow the product to soak into the hairs of the brush and delivers a flawless look. I love this brush and can't say enough about it!

Mac Fix+ - $25.00 CDN

While people use this as a setting spray, this works more as a spray to help mattify your makeup and great rid of that powdery look.  This has no alcohol in it which is great and really refreshes your face and makeup when its been a long day and you need a pick me up for your makeup without having to re-apply it.

So those are my March favorites! Let me know what are yours!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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Can You Wear Nude?!

Nude seems to be on the lips of every woman (literally) now-a-days.  I remember 13 years ago looking for a nude colored lipstick and not being able to find one!!!  Nude is a great color to wear if you want to draw more attentions to your eye makeup and less on your lip area.  Or if you just want a natural look for the day. For a while the most you could get was brown colored lip shades.  However those aren't very flattering and tend to make you look off.  Nude is a great shade as for many it closely resemblance their lip color and adds a dash of style and sophistication.

The only issue with nude color lip shades is that it doesn't look good on everyone. Depending on your skin tone and undertone, you need to experiment with different nude shades to find the right one for you.  For many, nude shades tend to wash them out and or make them look like dead zombies walking.  Its important to find shades that work with your skin tone and flatter you instead of making you look like the undertaker did your makeup.   

On my most recent trips to Shoppers, I went looking for a nude lip liner.  Now for everyone who knows me, they know certain makeup items I will not blow money on at Sephora and liner (of any type) is one of them.  The sales lady was great and gave me an awesome Rimmel liner that finally didn't have a red undertone in it!  However as I walked away, I realized that L'oreal, Maybelline and others are heading up a campaign on Nude lipcolor's for the season and I must say it did grab my attention!

L'oreal's new nude lip campaign is called 'L'oreal Colour Riche Made for Me Naturals'.  They show on their website that they have nine colors in total, however when you go to Shoppers it seems like 10-12 colors actually exist in the collection.

Maybelline new line is called 'Maybelline Color Sensational The Buff' which offers 10 lip shades in different nude variation colors.  They actually seem quite pretty and some of them while on the dark side, still carry a nude undertone needed in order to be in the Buff collection.

While M.A.C. is not drugstore brand, however it also have great nude shades available.  M.A.C. for the longest has had a beautiful nude selection of lipsticks to go with just about everyone's skin and preference.  They also range from a very light nude to a very dark shade.  

If you go to Sephora you will see a giant selection on nude lip products, lip liners and even eyeliners.

So, will you be wearing a nude lip shade this season?

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Favorite Product of The Week! Soap & Glory Butter Yourself!

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself - $22.00 CDN

Butter yourself?! Don't mind if I do!! And trust me, I really do everyday after my regular (twice a day) shower! I love this body butter.  It goes on extra smooth and creamy and really leaves me feeling soft, smelling great and all buttery!! 

I found this in my local Shoppers Drugmart as I was looking for a new and good smelling body lotion.  At first I was put off by the $22 buck price tag.  However once I opened it and sniffed it I knew I had to have it.  This smells like a bunch of tropical fruits crawled into this jar and just decided to nest in their.  Every time I apply this on my body, I swear I am transported to Hawaii (though I have never been there).  That and the bottle was pretty large and had a lot of product in it.  I bought this back in February and it still seems as if I haven't even cracked it open.  There is so much product in there that it might be months before I go through this jar.

One fabulous thing about this product is it contains AHA which is great for the skin.  AHA helps to exfoliate the skin and helps to get rid of certain issues like brown spots, dry skin, eczema, and keratosis pilaris to name a few.  However there needs to be a certain percentage of AHA in order to see a difference.  This product does not state how much AHA is in it.  So I guess I will have to use this cream for its lovely smell and buttery feeling unless I see changes to my keratosis pilaris on my arm. 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Keep It or Toss It! Makeup Products!

Ah yes the age old question (literally) when it comes to makeup.  When to keep it and when to straight up toss it! Now I know a lot of you out there (yes I'm talking to you!!) have a hard time letting go of that YSL mascara from the year two thousand and god knows when you bought it.  But come now, you got to admit wearing five year old mascara is not only bad for your eye hygiene but it down right gross and stupid.  The truth is, if, IF your mascara even still works after a year, then what you really have there is a bottle built up of bacteria.  Nothing like having the CDC living in your drawers, eh!?

So for the rest of your who are willing to work with your separation anxiety and toss out that nasty old makeup, here is a list about when to keep or when to toss!    

Mascara

Mascara has a shelf life of 4-6 months before it becomes a septic tank for your eyes.  Though mascara has preservatives in it to help it from going rouge, it doesn't change the fact that the wand is being exposed to air and then to your eye fluid which falls naturally on your lashes.  So while yes, technically you can keep mascara for longer, question is do you want to risk it?  I know some people spend $30 dollars and up on expensive mascara.  However no matter how you cut it, slice it or dice it, mascara is mascara and has the same formula the majority of the time.  So save your money and buy inexpensive mascara that you won't be hiding from yourself when it comes time to chuck it.   

Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow has a shelf life of anywhere between 2-4 years depending on the product.  The cheaper quality the eyeshadow is (not the brand) the quicker it goes bad.  So if your eyeshadow looks dirty, crumbles to easily or smells weird then toss it out in the incinerated ASAP.  Using old makeup on your eyes can cause you an eye infection due to bacteria build up.  So be wise, remember its your eyes.  Don't mess around with stuff that you know your own Barbie doll wouldn't want applied to her own fake plastic face.

Blush/Bronzer

Blush and bronzers can last up to two year as long as you keep it out of your hot, sweaty, moist, steaming bathroom and in a dry climate control space like your bedroom drawers.  Also, don't be nasty and clean your blush brushes at least once a week if not monthly.  Your makeup brushes touch your face and transfer oil and bacteria back into your products.  By not cleaning your brushes regularly you are just sweeping more nasty old facial oil and dirt on your face over and over again.  While makeup bacteria might seem invisible, it doesn't stop it from being there.  Remember makeup lies on your face for a better portion of the day.  So keeping proper hygiene is important for skincare.  The last thing you want is acne skin due to makeup related issues.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner comes in many different forms.  You can get it in either liquid, gel, kohl pencil and soft crayon like pencil.  Liquid and gel eyeliner dry up fast.  So anywhere between 3-5 months you may want to consider tossing it out or replacing it due to it no longer working.  Kohl pencils and soft (crayon) pencils last longer as long as you are constantly sharpening them.   You know once you reached the end with these pencils when you actually reach the end and have nothing left to sharpen.  However if you lost the caps on these pencils, then throw them out.  It is never a good idea to apply eyeliner to your eyes if the protective cap is missing and now the tip of the pencil eyeliner is touching everything and then being transported back to your eyes.  Don't be nasty and buy a new one.  Eyeliner is eyeliner so don't spend too much money on expensive ones when you can get the same thing at a drugstore.

Foundation/Concealer/Highlighter

 

When it comes to this category, a lot of people are hesitant to part with these products because lets be real a good bottle of non drug store foundation can go anywhere from $40-$100 dollars.  However with all that being said, a price tag should never be the deciding factor when it comes to your skincare hygiene.

Foundation, concealer and cream highlighters should be tossed anywhere between nine months to one year.  However if they start smelling funny, separating in the bottle or making you look orange, then you need to depart with it sooner.  When buying foundation, try to buy it with a pump.  It last longer, doesn't allow much air into the bottle and prevents you from sticking your fingers (which I know many of you don't wash your hands before applying your makeup) into the product in order to avoid bacteria built up.

Lipstick/Lipgloss

Lipstick and lipgloss have a 1-2 year shelf life before you need to toss it.  However with that being said, if it starts to smell funky, smear nasty on your lips or it melted in your purse from the hot summer Sunday; get real.  Toss it and buy a new one.  I know many of you like your YSL shades.  Hell so do I. But that doesn't justify it staying around in my drawer for 4 years.  YSL or not, bacteria breeds!

So there you have it.  Go through your drawers and toss whatever nasty products you know need to go!

Keep smiling!

Dayana

         

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