Product of The Week: Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm

Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm - $65.00 US

I love watching youtube!  Not only do you learn awesome makeup tips but you hear about hidden gem products that just blow your mind.  When a (smart) company first launches, their best bet is to use youtube guru's to promote and display their products because so many of us are subscribers to these channels! Some companies have had their business first "big break" because of these guru's.

One of my favorite youtubers is Nicole Guerriero who a few months back spoke about this wonderful and I mean over the hill product by Collen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm.  Now first, prior to watching that review I had never heard of Colleen let alone a cleansing balm.  But let me tell you I do not regret learning about either.  Colleen is a beauty expert with years of experience in the industry.  After years of working in the business, she decided to "bottle" all she learned into making her own skincare line of beauty products.

So you might be asking what is a cleansing balm and how are they different from normal facial cleansers?  Good question because so was I.  Cleansing balms are formulated with essential oils which are amazing for the skin. Plus they contain some form of either beeswax, paraffin, mud or some  waxy (but in a good way) substance that helps to dissolve and breakdown makeup including waterproof mascara with no problem.  The majority of these cleansing balms come in a jar.  Some come in a squeeze tube which I would NOT recommend.  Because of the waxy substance formulated in these products, these balms are thick.  So just imagine trying to squeeze wax or mud through a tube? Yeah you can't can you!!  Stick to a jar, it works better.  

One thing I hate is taking off my makeup.  I love washing my face at night but I hate the time it takes to remove makeup.  Nonetheless I NEVER no matter how tired I may be will ever go to bed without washing my face let alone with makeup on.  Absolutely not!  The welfare of my skin is to important to leave in that state at night or to just apply any product on it.  Yet I still hate the time it takes to wash off makeup.  However when I heard and saw that this cleansing balm can remove ALL your makeup in no time flat, I knew I had to try it!

When this product arrived to my house OMG I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.   However I had to wait till the next day to use it because I had no makeup on at that moment.  This balm comes in a pretty large jar with a muslin cloth.  The balm is a yellowish light tone in color that looks a bit waxy and has a lovely light smell to it.  I ended up using this balm the next night when I had makeup to remove.  I started off by applying a little bit on to my hands and working it into my dry face.  I found the balm a bit thick though I only used a little, so I applied some water to make it easier to smooth over my face.  I rubbed it in gently all over my face and on my eye area in order to remove my false eyelashes, waterproof mascara and eyeshadow that had not moved all day due to my primer being underneath.  I then grabbed the muslin cloth, ran it under warm water and placed it on my face for a few seconds.  I then started to gently remove this product from my face with the muslin cloth, and ALL of my makeup and I mean eye makeup as well came off with it!! 

I know that reading this blog you don't understand my shock but let me say it again "ALL of my makeup including EYE makeup" (waterproof mascara) came off with no problem.  My lashes came off with no problem and no lash glue left behind.  I had no "raccoon eye" effect left behind from the maraca.  You all know what I am saying here for those who wear mascara.  That is when your mascara comes off during the washing phase and falls underneath and around your eyes and now it takes either more washing or more eye makeup remover to get it off.   Many times our eyes because raw and tender due to having to pass over the eye many times which has very delicate skin and not a good idea to rub hard.  This product took off all my eye makeup with one small simple light pass with the muslin cloth.  I honestly stood their just starting at myself in the mirror looking at my eyes for the first time and seeing no mascara anywhere!  I was in awe as if I had just seen the greatest miracle on earth.  Seriously I know it sounds dramatic, but for a contact lens wearer as myself, this makes a massive and painless difference.  Just for that reason alone I would keep buying this cleansing balm. 

This product also worked wonders in removing the rest of my facial makeup and leaving me with a clean face that didn't feel tight or dry.  At this point I didn't feel the need to use my cream cleanser because this cleansing balm not only removed my makeup but it works to clean your face as well.  Some makeup removers only remove makeup but don't actually offer you that added benefit of cleaning your face thoroughly.  So if you don't use another cleanser then you will be left with residual makeup, dirty and oil behind.  You will notice it once you run your (non alcoholic I hope) toner on your face and see the residue on the cotton pad.  With Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm, I found that it did it all in one shot and my cotton pad was clean!

The muslin cloth that comes with this cleansing balm is so soft and gentle.  I have never used one in fear that it might be to rough on my face.  However I was shocked with just how soft, durable and effective this cloth was.  I have used this muslin cloth many times over and it has not stained, collected a bad odor or falling to pieces after every wash.  However sadly, one of my kids recently went to my bathroom (which is forbidden as I have all my lovely face products there) and found the muslin cloth drying and ran off with it and has not been seen since (the cloth, not the kid).  I am pretty upset about it, but at this point what can I do.  I started using my Clarisonic Aria as an alternative till I can get my hands on this muslin cloth again.  I may have to bite the bullet and just buy one from anywhere :( Eh first world problems I know.  But trust me once you use this cloth you will understand why I miss it.             

Now I will be honest and say I only had two issues with this product which aren't massive but worth noting to the company.  Colleen Rothschild does ship to Canada.  Though I come from NYC I was pretty upset to see that for a balm of this size (which is pretty large but not massive) they wanted almost $20.00 for shipping.  I had this instead shipped to my sister in NYC who shipped it to me for $7.50 US!  Colleen, I think you might want to take a look at that shipping rate.  Canadians here love to use tons of American products, but no one wants to pay that amount of money for shipping when those twenty extra dollars can be spent on your products.  I would ask kindly that you consider re-evaluating the shipping rate or looking into distributors in Canada so that your awesome products can be sold here as well with a lesser shipping rate.

My second issue was the fragrance in this jar.  While it smelled lovely, however I don't personally believe skincare products should have any added fragrances unless they are produced naturally.  For example anything you use with lavender will naturally have a smell, however if its added in, I would not recommend that.   So I would ask the company to clarify if this products fragrance is natural or has been added in.    

With all that being said their customer service is awesome.  My product got lost in the mail and took awhile to reach my sisters' house because when the shipping label was printed, it was printed with half the address missing.  As soon as I noticed that, I contacted their customer service who literally within less then an hour got back to me and located the product.  Since I had the tracking number I was able to see that it was lost based on the info provided by the mail carrier.  So kudos to them for having such an effective customer service operation that was proactive in looking into the shipping issue from me without having me going back and forth by email hundreds of times.

So if you are looking to try a cleansing balm with an awesome muslin cloth, then look no further and check out this product!  I tell you right now you won't regret it!

In memory of my "kidnapped" muslin cloth! I shall miss thee!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana     

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Product of The Week: VoilaVe Argan Oil

VoilaVe Organics Argan Oil - $18.95 US

Recently Everything Beauty and Beyond was given a full size sample of this organic argan oil by the company VoilaVe.  To be honest, when they first contact me I was surprised as I had never heard of them.  However I have found many times that much smaller companies tend to provide better quality products.

This arrived to my house a little over two weeks ago and I was totally surprised by the size of the bottle.  It was a 4 oz size bottle which is considered massive (in my opinion) compared to the other companies that sell argan oil.  It came in a dark opaque glass bottle with a pump which was a first for me!  I actually loved the idea of the pump because it was great in not allowing unnecessary air, light or bacteria into the bottle.  This argan oil is also 100% certified Organic & ECO and USDA Certified.  So you know you are buying the real thing when you purchase this.  

When I first applied this serum, I was impressed by the texture.  This serum was so silky.  This for sure was something I have never felt before.  It didn't feel heavy weight or greasy (though we know its an oil) and adsorb really quick on to the skin.  It didn't have any rancid smell and no settlements so far have come out the bottle.  It was a yellow clearish color (if that makes sense) and wasn't runny or watery.  

I decided first to try this on my hands as a moisturizer because of the pump.  I tell you I was freaking in love with this pump.  I first applied it to my hands, arms and elbows and it really helped with the dryness with no greasy feeling left behind.  I then moved on to my face at night when it was time for night time skin care routine.  I normally use argan oil at night as my final step when I wash my face.  I loved how great it felt on my skin and no heavy or oily residue was left behind.  However I did have one issue.  Since this is a pump; I normally only use 2-3 drops of agran oil on face, neck and chest and this gave me way to much.  I had to rub the rest on my arms and elbows.  In this case I think the pump backfires by giving you more product then what you need if you plan to apply it to your face.  So try pumping it less then half way in order to get the right amount of oil you need for smaller areas of your body.  After that, I applied some more on my hair since I had just washed it in the shower.  I love the fact that it didn't leave it greasy or weighed down and really smelled and looked beautiful when blow dried my hair the next day.

To be honest I am in awe of the size of this bottle and the handy little pump it comes with.  When I first tried argan oil, it was a sample I received from my beloved Sephora from Josie Maran 100% argan oil.  However the price for that 1.5 oz bottle was outrageous and I refused to pay almost $90 for a bottle of that size let alone for a product I was unsure about.  I then went and hit the internet and found what argan oil needs to have in order to be considered 'real' and what the actual price ranges would be and trust me they were way more reasonable then Josie Maran.

So far this company has impressed me and I plan to keep using their product for all my argan oil needs!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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Product of The Week: Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum

Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum - $29.95 US 

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

First let me start by saying I LOVE anything that Poppy Austin makes. So when Poppy Austin contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to try out their Vitamin C serum I literally almost cried. And I am not saying that because they sent me a free bottle of Vitamin C.  Before I was even contacted by them I was already using their Argan Oil for my face and hair and loved it!! I love them because 1. They sell the real deal. Their products (vitamin C and Argan Oil) are all natural with nothing added or taken away.  2. The dollar amount for the size of product you get is amazing!  Their Argan oil for example is priced at $29.00 US versus their competitor which is $85 US for a much smaller bottle! Ok back to the Vitamin C review here!

One thing that I love about this product is that it contains Hyaluronic Acid.  Now I know a bunch of you out there use face serums and creams and have absolutely no clue what you are putting on your face. tsk tsk! You should ALWAYS read the back of the packaging label and google what the main ingredients are before applying it on your face.  Things like witch hazel, alochol, parabens, fragrances and perfume should never be applied to face or found in your facial products.  This are all signs of potential irritants for your skin.

So when I saw that Poppy Austin Vitamin C serum also had hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil I knew I had to try it.  When it arrived to my house I started using it every morning after my skincare routine but before I applied my sunscreen and makeup.  I have to say my skin looks and feels amazing.  I noticed that I was getting fine lines forming on the top of my forehead (gasp!!) and was trying desperately to get rid of them.  When I started using this product, I noticed that they diminished a bit and really looked less noticeable.  While we all know that nothing you do (expect a face lift) will get rid of lines and wrinkles, however there are things we can use like hyaluronic acid that can really help to mask them.  And yes this works like any other product; if you stop using it then your lines will 're-appear'.  So lets talk about the ingredients.  

Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the human body and seen tremendously in babies.   Ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin?  Well its because of hyaluronic acid.  Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this effect.  Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it.  However as we get older we loss a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll.  Hyaluronic Acid  plumps and moisturizes skin as well as it helps to heal and comfort it when its damaged. Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps the skin by retaining moisture and creating a cushion to help plump them out as we age.

Another thing that I love about this product as stated earlier is that it contains jojoba oil.  Jojoba oil is actually not an oil but a wax ester.  Because it is a wax ester it is hypothesized that jojoba oil is very comparable to human skin oil which manipulates the skin into thinking it has produced enough and balances out oil production.  Thus helping to give you only the added oil you need for your face and stopping the over production of sebum.  It is also not an antioxidant so it won't expire or go bad in a few months.  It is stable in that regard.  It also adsorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave it sticky, greasy or just plain nasty. 

Finally, the seller for me here was the Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is used to protect and help the face from wrinkles, sun damage, signs of aging, dark spots and brighten your complexion amongst other great benefits. Vitamin C can also help to prevent or treat hyperigmentation, defend against free radicals and brighten your skin. However with all the advantages of vitamin C, the only draw back is that because it is an antioxidant, it oxidizes itself very quickly and once this happens, it is no longer good. You will be able to tell by the color when this happens to your product. It normally starts off clear and then turns yellow.   

Poppy Austin has created an awesome youtube which clearly explains this products and the benefits of it.  Check out their Vitamin C Serum video on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qfKFHZmIQ.  However, you can also click below and watch directly from this blog!  In any case, it is extremely informative on what to look for when buy vitamin C serum and/or hyaluronic acid!!

Based on all these amazing properties is while I love love this product.  That and the product comes in a serum form in a dark bottle with a droplet in order to help it for oxidizing and bacteria.  Once Vitamin C hits air and light it starts to breakdown, so its good to see that Poppy Austin nailed it by packaging it correctly!

One final note.  When using Vitamin C; though it works great to protect you against sun and free radical cell damage, you MUST wear sunscreen everyday.  Vitamin C makes you skin very sensitive to sun rays. So make sure you are using an SPF 30 and up that is UVA/UVB Board Spectrum protection.  If not, then you will eventually get a "lovely" red sunburn effect look which for sure will hurt.  So keep this mind when using ANY Vitamin C.  Feel free to click here on my blog all about vitamin  C and how to properly care for your skin when using this product.

Lastly (and I swear this time) Vitamin C can be used by men and women.  So go ahead guys...give it a try! You won't regret it!

I just love Poppy Austin and plan to try out more of their products! 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Product of The Week: Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask - $29.44 US

I love mud anything!  Really I do!  As a little girl I use to play with the boys and make mud pies.  When I grew up I stopped playing with the little boys and started playing with the big boys known as "Spas" and never looked back.  I have had mud facials before in my past and loved them.  I always wanted to have a mud bath, however said matter has not happened yet!  Nonetheless when Pure & Essential Minerals contacted everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Dead Sea Mud Mask, I was game! I was so excited that I could hardly contain myself and counted the nights away till it came.  I know, a bit dramatic but did I tell you I love mud?!

When the package arrived I was quite shocked on how big the jar was.  It came in a nice plastic jar with a plastic wrap around it for protection.  It was really easy to open and close.  It smelled like eucalyptus and fresh mint.  I was really taken by the smell.  The texture seemed very spongy and soft.  The color was a dark green.  I was really excepting it to look like dirty old mud.  But then again who would actually put that crap on their face if it looked like the type of mud that kids played in after it rained and cars drive through after a snowstorm?!

It took me almost two weeks before I could use this because I ended up breaking out in a serious rash on my face from allergies to the point that my skin was cracked and bleeding.  After two weeks of torture, the rash has subsided a lot but it left me with nasty dry patchy skin as it healed.  Once I felt that my face was safe to "experiment" on with, I went for it.  

I first washed my faced with my Paula's Choice cleanser.  After washing it and using my Clarisonic, I pat my face dry and applied the Dead Sea Mud Mask.  10 seconds later my face felt like it was on fire!  I swear to God I thought I was going to scream and wash it off immediately.  However I decided to wait it out for a good two minutes.  During this time of intense hell fire burning, I imagined what the flames of hell felt like and decided it was as good as time as ever to say my prayers for the evening and repent of my sins...you know...just in case...

However with all that being said, I can't say if it was product or the fact that my face was still sensitive and healing from the hell of a rash that I had.  Nonetheless as all brave soldiers I push on and after 2-3 minutes the hell burning flames stop.  I decided during the 10-15 minutes that I had the mask on, to google the net to see if anyone else had the same kerosene burn like sensation and realized that no, no, it really was just me and my face getting over the rash.  I probably should of waited another week or two before applying it.  However to late now, eh!?   

Once the burning sensation stopped (after 2-3 mins) and the 10-15 minutes had passed I washed it off.  The mask dried to a dark green color and wasn't concrete hard.  It washed off easily and with no real residue left behind.  I noticed automatically on how soft my face felt. I was actually quite shocked out my head. I have tried other mud masks before and they have ALWAYS left my face feeling Sahara dry to the point that it felt like it was going to crack.  However not this time.  This time my face felt soft, hydrated, moisturized and just plain amazing.  I applied my Paula's Choice toner and Poppy Austin Argan oil and went to bed.  

When I woke up the next morning, it was like angels were singing in my bathroom.  The parts of my face that were healing from the rash that were left with dry scaly skin actually looked better and in some areas were gone altogether.  I was amazed..let me say that again..I WAS AMAZED on how well my skin looked.  The parts of my face that had the dry scaly patches, I was applying creams and oils mornings, afternoons and nights in order to hydrate the skin and nothing was working.  Due to this, I haven't worn make-up in almost 3 weeks because you can see the nasty dryness through the foundation.  However this just totally amazed me on how the dryness was gone in many parts of my face.  I'll be honest I still haven't worn make up (and I won't till next week) nonetheless my skin looks freaking awesome and almost back to its original condition before the biblical plaque came over and took a hold of my face.  This also made the blackheads on my nose look better and came out easier when I used my extraction tool and Paula's Choice BHA 9.  This Dead Sea Mud Mask really helped to get those nasty suckers out!

I did read online from some users that since this product is all natural it can spoil and it was advised to place in the fridge for longer shelf life.  Also, it would feel cool on your face when applied!  

The jar clearly says to only use once a week which is a bummer as I would love to use this 2-3 times a week.  However I plan to use this weekly till it runs out and according to their website you have about 30 plus facials you can get can out of this jar!  That is basically more then half a year if used weekly!

I love this product and would for sure recommend it!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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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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Favorite Product of The Week! Dose of Colors!

Dose of Colors is a new lipstick and lipgloss company that rolled out in 2013.  Since their debut, everyone has been non-stop talking about how awesome their lip products are.  So I decided to try them out!  Unfortunately, due to a back up on their production line, I have not been able to get my hands on them.  Nonetheless, everyone who jumped on that bang wagon and tried them out have been able to provide me with awesome reviews of this brand!

Dose of Colors - Poise - $16.00 CDN

Everyone who knows me, knows I go goo goo for natural colored lip products.  I don't like my lips to be accented since I do that with my eye makeup.  And everyone who knows makeup knows you shouldn't really accent your eyes and lips at the same time as the look might be to overpowering.  So Dose of Colors has this lovely lipstick in the shade "Poise" which is just a prefect blend of what seems to be an undertones of a brown color with peachy pigments in them. 

I am just in love with this shade.  It is vibrant and does not look like a washed out neutral lip color.  The peachy undertone really gives it a power that makes the lipstick stand out without being obnoxious.  The texture is very creamy, glides on well and has good staying power.  This lipstick is also matted so need to worry about shine effect.   

Dose of Colors - Undressed - $15.00 CDN

I won't lie.  I LOVE lipgloss and I love it more then lipstick.  So when I saw this neutral lipgloss color I went crazy.  It  is such a lovely shade that I can't even describe it.   It's a light cream brown with a pale undertone which goes well with pale complexions.  Being that I am very pale (don't let my profile pic fool you, that was taken in a dark ballroom) a lot of neutrals just don't work for me if they have no undertone or slight color to them.   

This color is just a perfect shade of loveliness.  If you are looking for a lipgloss that has good staying power and lacks that waxy, sticky feeling then this is it.  There lipglosses also come in other shades so check them out and see if they are right for you!

keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Favorite Product of the Week! Soleil Tan de Chanel

Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer - $51.00 CDN

Upon my most recent trip to the Fairview Mall I decided to stop by my two favorite stores; Sephora  and The Hudson Bay cosmetic counter.  I visit Sephora monthly (lies more like weekly) to browse and/or buy products that I run out of and need a refill for.  Or just to shop...I mean who am I really kidding!!  However, Sephora in the States seems to carry some products that are not sold in their Canadian Stores.  Hence why I thank God for Holt Renfrew and The Hudson Bay who carry these amazing high end brands.  

However with all that being said, lets get something straight.  Just because a product has a high end name brand on it, doesn't mean it worth the container the product holds. I won't buy high end or low end brands unless the product really gives me something to talk about.  Case and point, mascara.  I have a draw filled of samples and full size maracas and I still find myself only reaching for two out of all of them.  L'oreal's Telescopic Mascara and Perspectives False Eyelash Plush Mascara.  (However I have heard that Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara really gives you a run for your money.  I will review it when I get around to buying it.)

I contour and highlight my face every time I go out.  After learning on how to make your face two and three dimensional, the thought of not doing this and having my makeup look flat is just to much for me to handle.  With the summer coming upon us, I decided when it came to my products I wanted to have two sets; a powder set and a cream set.  For my contouring I have a cream foundation I use to draw the lines and contour my face with.  When it came time to bronzer I was using Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzer which I love.   However I didn't have anything in cream form and realized I need to get one.  

I watch youtube like a lot...like full on addicted to it!  I normally have a day during the week where I binge watch on all the people I am subscribed to for makeup tutorials.  One of the things that I noticed is that a lot of them had Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer for applying on top of their contouring.  So off I went to The Bay in order to find this Chanel counter and buy this product.

When the sales lady showed me the product, I asked her if they had a lighter color as it seemed really dark for my skin tone. She informed me that this color was universal and every skin tone can use and benefit from it.  I was a bit leery about trying something so dark on my ghostly fair pale skin (don't let my profile pic fool you, that was taken in a dark ballroom at night) that I almost walked away on the spot.  However I decided to stop my stupidity and fear of the unknown and give it a shot.  She allowed me to use it to contour the lines on my face and gave me a brush to blend it in with!  As I applied it on my face, I realized that it went on smooth and light and not like a dark rash.  It blended in well and no harsh lines were visible.  This product truly gave me that lovely glowing suntan look just without all the UV ray damage.  It didn't look dirty or to brown and a little goes a long way.  I applied it with a foundation wand brush and then blended it in with their Chanel contouring brush that they recommended getting.  However I have my own contouring brush at home which works just as well and did the job just as great. 

You see the problem with bronzers is that if it is not formulated properly, then the color comes across as mutty and dirty.  Or in some cases worse...you like a girl who fell asleep under the sun tanning bed way to long and now your fake tan looks more like "shake and burnt"!  

So, if you are looking for a new cream bronzer, then I highly recommend this product due to its soft, smooth, velveting texture and blend-ability. 

Chanel Pinceau Poudre Biseaute N2 Angled Powder Brush - $67.00 CDN

 Lastly I have seen and heard all over the youtube community that everyone is looking for this Chanel Angled Powder Brush, however they have not been able to acquire one as it has been sold out.  Yet fear not my makeup brush lovers, The Hudson Bay currently has it on sale and they are in stock!  I am not sure if they ship outside of Canada, however its worth a shot to find out if you really want this brush!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Favorite Product of The Week! Beauty Blender Sponge

Beauty Blender- $26.00 CDN

My first foundation sponge was of course none other then those white wedge sponges that at one point everyone including makeup artist used to apply foundation.  When I realized that Prescriptives was selling a foundation brush, that was the  first time I had ever tried one.  So I bought it and used for over 10 years.  When kabuki brushes came out, I knew I had to try that so I rushed out and got one as well.  I used that one for about a year, but still was never satisfied with how my makeup ever looked with any of those foundation applicator tools.  That is until I heard, bought and tried the beauty blender sponge.

Out of all the tools I have used in my life to apply my foundation and concealer, nothing has worked as well as my beauty blender.  I cannot say enough about this product.  This sponge works like magic. It makes my foundation go on smoothly, leaves no streaks behind and blends so amazingly.  It literally gives you a flawless coverage to the point where if you stipple it, it hide your pores with your foundation that it gives you a porcelain like complexion!  I know the famous makeup artist Wayne Goss says not to over do it with the perfect no pore complexion, but I just love the way it makes my face look.

You can buy this online from the company directly or go to your nearest Sephora and pick one up there. This sponge is very easy to clean and works well when applying concealer and powder foundation or powder in general.  This is my HG tool for foundation.  And yes while I still do have my foundation brush and kabuki brush, this sponge is the first thing I pull out every time!

Keep Smiling!

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Favorite Product of The Week! Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir

On my quest to find a prefect night cream which would leave me looking like a glowing goddess in the morning, I came across a product that I never knew had so much potential. I have been using Olay products since as far as I can remember. Olay was the first face cream I ever used, and no matter how many times I switched it up in my teens and 20’s, I always came back to Olay. However now in my 30’s my skin needed some serious help and a night cream was in order.

After much research I found that Olay has a product called ‘Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir’ which as the name states, is a serum you use at night before going to bed. So after reading tons of review on makeupalley.com and Paula’s Choice, I ran to the drugstore and bought it! $40 later and a tiny bottle, I felt almost robbed before I even started using it because of the size of the bottle. However I was told a very little amount goes a long way, so I decided against returning it and gave it a shot.

Here are the facts:

It contains AHA which is useful to exfoliate your skin.  It comes in a somewhat dark pump style bottle to preserve the serum in it. However, because it is an antioxidant you should store it in a dark place to keep it from deteriorating.  The directions state that after you clean your face at night, you apply it and nothing else as this takes the place of a night cream.  And while this does work as a night cream, it still has AHA in it, so you need a day cream to deal with any sort of dryness you might encounter. Lastly, you NEED TO USE a UVA/UVB Broad-Spectrum Protection SPF 30 and up when using any AHA product.  If not you run the risk of getting a sunburn when expose to the sun.

So after reading all the instructions, I slapped it on and went to bed. The next morning I did notice my face looked decent but nothing to write home about. However after using it steadily for 2 months straight, I must say my face looks amazing! It has really given my skin a nice texture and glow. When I wake up in the morning, my face feels hydrated, soft and looks healthy. After two months of using this product; since only a little is needed and one pump gives you more then enough serum for your face so nothing is wasted, the bottle was nowhere next to being half empty.  After 8 months of using this product the bottle still has plenty of serum in it, and still works wonders on my face when I wake up every morning.  I still don't look like a goddess, however the glowing part I got it down packed thanks to Olay!

I would highly recommend this product for anyone looking for a night cream and can tolerate AHA in their facial care routine. After all, it’s Olay! If your mother used it, probably you can too!

Keep Smiling!

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Favorite Product of The Week! Sigma Extended Wear Eye Liners

Sigma Extended Wear Eye Liners-$9.00 US

One thing I love is eyeliner.  When done right (and not like Elvira Mistress of the Dark) it can really highlight your eyes without needing much else makeup on the rest of the face. Eyeliner has the ability to give you a soft eye look or a very dramatic look to set you apart from the rest.

When I look for eyeliners, I try to make sure I have different types as each one offers a different look. I currently own gel eyeliners, liquid eyeliners, soft pencil eyeliners, crayon eyeliners and kohl eyeliners. Depending on what type of look I am going for will depend which one I pick up.  However it wasn't until this year that I started branching out into colored eyeliners that weren't just black.  With that being said, I am a very neutral kinda of gal when it comes to makeup.  So my current colors are black, brown, white and nude.  I am slowing branching out into other colors, but for right now these will do.

I currently tried a new eyeliner from a company called Sigma Beauty that is stationed out in England. I heard about them after watching a youtube video (yes I am addicted to youtube, I admit it!!) and saw a girl using their brushes.  I decided to google the company and came upon these beauties!

In November, Sigma was offering free shipping for 2 days anywhere in the world! So I decided to jump on that and order their eyeliner in the color 'balance' (brown).  I noticed they had other ones, but I first wanted to try one eyeliner before I committed to them.  You know its kinda like a first date. You first want to take the car out for a spin before you commit to entering into a relationship with them. And no I am not talking about sex here! Geez where is your mind!! Back here!

The day I received this eyeliner, I was actually giving a small talk at a medical seminar that night. So I decided to try this eyeliner out. This eyeliner was easy to apply and went on smooth, creamy and did not smudge.  It  has a fine point which allows you to draw a straight line without much hassle. This eyeliner held out all night while I spoke at the conference when the (emotional) heat was on. 

Their eyeliners come in nine different colors which all seem suitable to wear on a normal everyday occasion. The colors are bright and vibrant without being to over the top.  The eyeliner I bought (balance) was brown with a hint of sparkle to it which I was not too crazy about. However unless you are standing very up close to me (hello personal space!?) you can't see it at all.  This brown eyeliner really emphasized my eyes without making them seem too dramatic.  I generally favor black eyeliner, but I realized with brown eyeliner, it allows you to tone down your look if you don't want it to be to noticeable. 

I highly recommend this company if you are in the market for a new eyeliner!

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Favorite Product of The Week! E.L.F. Stipple Brush

E.L.F. Stipple Brush- $3.00 US

I have never heard of a stippled brush until I saw it on Youtube!  I then realized that E.L.F. was selling one for three dollars and had some awesome reviews.  So I decided that I had to try it.

I currently own a beauty blender, kabuki brush and foundation brush for applying my foundation.  I have to admit, I mostly use my beauty blender due the the amazing coverage and flawless appearance it gives me.  However I wanted to try a stipple brush to see just how it worked.  It took about two weeks to arrive at my home from the E.L.F. store in NYC.  But as soon as it came, I went right to using it.  

At first glance, the brush has a good shape which allows you to hold it fairly easily.  The bristles are nice, soft and fairly long.  I decided I wanted to try it for blending in my contouring and highlighting (C& H) makeup.  I was first concerned because while the brush has some great qualities, I expected the head of the brush to have more bristles in it.  It looks more fuller in pictures then it did in person.  However when I started mixing and blending my C & H makeup, I noticed how nicely it did the job.  Everything blended in together greatly.  There were no lines left behind or streaks.  It worked well all over my face and left me with just the finish I wanted. 

The brush was very easy to clean.  I simply used baby shampoo with lukewarm water and wash it clean in the sink the night before.  I laid it down on a towel to dry and by the next morning it was ready to go again.  I expected some shedding, however I didn't notice any.  

I would recommend this brush for applying your foundation and for C & H. 

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Favorite Product of The Week! Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara

Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plus Mascara $22 US

The first makeup brand I ever used growing up was Prescriptives (PX).  I remember being taken to Bloomingdales by my friend who I worked with at a law firm on Wall Street in NYC.  She wore this brand exclusively and recommended it.  Upon walking into Bloomingdales at my young impressionable age of seventeen years old, I was amazed at the amount of makeup counters that exist from all different brands.  I remember wondering "how does anyone ever really decide on a brand?" Thank goodness I had her to navigate me through this scary world of colors!  This was the place where I received my first ever foundation and was hooked from that moment on.

 PX opened its doors for the first time in 1979 and then closed it doors in 2009.  Many loyal fans, including myself were upset to say the least.  It left us scrambling looking for a new brand when in reality nothing was wrong with the old one.  I felt lost and displaced.  I had used PX since I was 17 years old and in 2009 at the age of 28 I didn't even know where to start. It kinda felt like that person who has been in the same relationship for so many years and now its ended and struggling to get back out there in the scary world of dating.  Needless to say, this truly did feel like a breakup and what made it worse was that it wasn't on my part.  Therefore I felt like I was cheating every time I tried something new!

In 2011 PX relaunched itself exclusively online and brought back the majority of its skincare and makeup products.  I recently ordered their Magic Liquid Powder.  Along with that order came three free samples and one of them was the PX False Eyelashes Plus Mascara.

 

 I had never heard of it and decided to throw it in my sample draw and walk away.  About a week later I was googling the net and read a lot of reviews on this product and heard how great it was.  So I decided to pull it out my sample draw and try it on. Boy was I amazed at the results.  This literally separated each and every one of my lashes.  It made them plump and full and stand out without looking clumpy, flaking or smudging.

However with all that being said, I have worn this mascara two different ways. First, with my Dior lash primer and then without the lash primer and both times my eyelashes were fuller, thicker and nicely separated.  This wand feels like it grabs each lash and coats it nicely, evenly and without allowing them to get stuck together. This mascara comes in two different shades: black and brown.  It comes in a long silver tube with a opaque white handle and easy to handle.  

I normally do not buy maraca that is not L'Oreal.  However this is the first non drugstore mascara that I have ever tried and actually liked. I highly recommend this mascara to anyone who is looking to achieve fuller, thicker lashes that are separated at every strand.  This truly does give the effect that you are wearing false eyelashes just real ones!

The only draw back is that PX is only sold in the USA and will not ship outside the country.  However you can find this mascara on ebay.ca for a good price from other sellers.  This is my new HG for mascara.  

Happy Hunting!

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