NOTD - OPI Bubble Bath

OPI's Bubble Bath was the first OPI polish I ever purchased.  I bought it a few years back when I loved the french manicure and would use it as a perfect pinky overlay over white tips.

It is a sheer light nude-pink and it has recently come back into my life as a perfect everyday work appropriate colour.  It makes for a classy and polished look without being overly obvious.

I used two coats because I kind of like how a little bit of the tips of my nail show through, but you can get a more opaque look with 3 coats.

Review: Guerlain - Issima Happylogy Glowing Eye Care

Price: around $77.00 - $80.00 

Size: 15ml/0.5oz

What it is:

Action on 1st wrinkles and radiance.  Complete care for the eye contour area: smoothes first wrinkles, provides an anti-dark circle and anti-puffness action. For eyes that sparkle with the glow of youth, Fragrance free. Opthalmologically tested.

My Thoughts:

I have used an eye cream in my daily regime since I was 18, but it wasn't untill I tried the Guerlain Happylogy Glowing Eye Care that I truely appreciated what an eye cream could do for me.  What made me make this realization was actually when I finished the tube (and I used every last drop!) and started using something else.  This cream not only hydrates and completely smooths out the appearance of the fine lines near my eyes, but also helps to brighten and diminish any darkness.  On top of that, it wears beautifully under any makeup. 

Product Usage:

This eye cream is a beautiful light, creamy, texture...somewhat gel-like, but still very much a cream.  It comes out a very light pink.  I use half a pea sized amount for both eyes and work it around the orbital bone and slightly inwards.  It absobs very quickly and feels refreshing.  This eye cream facilitaes makeup application on and under my eyes.  I can use less concealor and powder and it help melts everything into my skin so it looks as though I am not wearing makeup at all.  I also don't experience any creasing or fading throughtout the day.

Packaging:

A very pretty, hygenic, standard tube.

Overall rating:

5/5 <3<3<3<3<3

Will I repurchase?

Its hard for me to drop $80 on something so small.  I definatly think it's worth it and when I have the extra money laying around I will definately repurchase.



Review: DiorShow Masacara

Price:

$31.00 CAD or $24.50 USD at Sephora

$31.00 CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart

Size: 0.38 oz

 

What it is:
A cult-followed mascara that leaves lashes ultra thick, long, and curled.

What it is formulated to do:
DiorShow Mascara is Dior's original, must-have mascara that delivers ultra-glam, catwalk-length lashes. Makeup artists all over the world use this product to create the longest, thickest, curviest lashes ever.

My Thoughts
First of all let me quickly tell you what I look for in my ideal mascara: I like to have a bold look, volume and length, and super black..but importantly it absolutely MUST be able to hold the curl in my straight lashes. I have found that waterproof mascaras are the best way to go for this. Also, I always curl first, apply mascara second.

The description of this mascara sounds like it would be absolutely perfect for me.  I have owned this two times: a couple years ago I received it as a Christmas gift and and liked it, but never felt the need to repurchase. Recently I received this as part of my Dior gratis at my previous job and was excited to give it another try. As much as I WANT to love this, it really doesn't give me what I need..

Pros:
DiorShow has an amazing wand, and the formula is super black and very buildable if you don't let it dry between coats.  You can definitely achieve a bold, dramatic lash look with this mascara.

Cons:
Where this mascara falls short for me is the dry formula and the fact that it weighs down my lashes to point where there become pin straight again.

Product Usage:
This is a very dry formula that tends to get very clumpy if it is not applied slowly from roots to tip.   It is also harder to remove than most non-waterproof mascaras

Packaging:
I love the thick, dense wand and the overall package is very classy looking.

Overall rating:
2/5 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Will I repurchase?
Well, I never actually purchased this in the first place and I'm very glad that I didn't spend my money on this!  I will absolutely not be repurchasing this. I can spend less than $10 at the drugstore on something that gives me everything I want in a mascara.

Review: Ole Henricksen - Three Little Wonders

Price of kit:  $84.00 CAD or $70.00 USD at Sephora

Description: 

This very special triad of products features the award-winning Truth Serum-Collagen Booster, Sheer Transformation-Renewing Creme, and Invigorating Night Gel-Firming Treatment. The results of these three products when used in conjunction with each other daily - are truly amazing. Each formulation is oil-free, light in texture, firming, lifting, pore tightening, and promotes uniform pigmentation. They embrace your skin with protection, comfort, and hydration, without overlooking the importance of providing anti aging and retexturizing benefits. As an added bonus, each product feels sensational and is a pleasure to use every day. Ole Henriksen personally invites you to share his philosophy of healthy skin, abounding vitality, and total well being.

I purchased this set a month ago and have been using it daily since then.  Overall, I am quite impressed with the results. 

This set contains:

- 1 oz Truth Serum

- 1 oz Invigorating Night Gel
- 1 oz Sheer Transformation

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates
- Petro-Chemicals (all except Invigorating Night Gel)
- Phthalates
- GMO
- Triclosan

My Thoughts:

I have combination skin that can can have the tendency to become extremely dehydrated in the winter, and become very oily in summer. 

When I found this trio, I was on the hunt for something that would get me started on an anti-aging skincare regime that wouldn't cause breakouts.  Along with moderate cystic breakouts (I almost always have one or two) and acne scars, I am turning 25 this year and I am starting to notice fine lines developing on the tops of my cheeks. I don't like the feel of heavier creams on my face and they always seem to cause breakouts, so these three products seemed like the perfect solution.

Overall rating:
4/5 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Truth Serum® Collagen Booster

Price (bought separately): $60.00 CAD or $48.00 USD at Sephora

Size: 1 oz

What it is:

A high-potency vitamin C complex that prevents and corrects signs of aging while promoting brightness.

What it is formulated to do:

This amazing ten-percent vitamin C skin booster and anti aging treatment firms and smoothes, delivering more radiant skin. The weightless, fast-absorbing, oil-free formula penetrates to deep layers of the skin, offering instant and long-term hydration, nourishment, and antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors.

My thoughts:

My favourite of the three is the Truth Serum. It adds that extra bit of hydration that I need without being heavy.  I can even use it around my eye area (it does sting if I gets IN my eye though...made that mistake once). I also love that it contains Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid and I definitely feel as though it is helping to plump and even out my skin tone.  

Product usage:
I use this serum once a day, in the morning after cleansing and toning.  It is a very thin watery consistency, is transparent orange in colour, and smells amazing (like orange candy).  It is very slippery when first applied but absorbs quickly into the skin.  It feels slightly sticky once absorbed but that becomes completely undetectable once I apply my my moisturizer or sunscreen over it. 

Packaging:
I like the small glass pump bottle.  Half a pump is more than enough to cover my whole face.

Overall rating:
5/5 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Will I repurchase?: 
Yes.

Invigorating Night Gel

Price (bought separately): $56.00 CAD or $45.00 USD at Sephora

Size: 1.7 oz

What it is:An exceptionally lightweight gel that stimulates cell turnover, exposing a younger, firmer-looking complexion. A soothing moisture barrier instantly seals in essential vitamins and minerals.

My thoughts: I was hoping that the night gel (which exfoliates and heals the skin) would help prevent my monthly breakouts, but that idea was too good to be true. I do like how my skin feels and looks soft and smooth in the morning and that it does kind of help to treat and heal any existing breakouts...thought I wouldn't completely depend on it for a spot treatment.  I think it might be contributing to smaller looking pores but I can't be 100% sure. 

Product usage:This is a really thick and sticky clear gel and it doesn't really do very much to moisturize and hydrate my skin.  It literally feels like a "barrier" that would flake or peel off I don't follow up with a moisturizer.  I apply this to my entire face (avoiding my eye area) every night after cleansing and toning. I then use Sheer Transformation on top. 

Packaging:I hate anything in a jar, especially my skin care.  I feel like dipping my finger in it contaminates the product.   I always feel like the last quarter of anything that comes in a jar is unusable.

Overall rating:3/5 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Will I repurchase?: No.

Sheer Transformation

Price (bought separately): $56.00 CAD or $45.00 USD at Sephora

Size: 1.7 oz

What it is:

An anti aging, skin-perfecting complex.

What it is formulated to do:

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation helps fade skin discolorations—hyperpigmentation, age spots, and sun damage—without the use of chemicals. It instantly nourishes and retexturizes the complexion, smoothing fine lines while providing intense free-radical protection to help prevent further damage. The light, creamy formula leaves skin feeling silky.

My thoughts:

I really love the feel of the Sheer Transformation. it had the perfect balance between feeling light but still moisturizing. I think that this is definitely contributing to lightening my acne scars.  

I am still unsure of how well this wears under makeup.  To be fair, I wear another moisturizer during the day that contains sunscreen so I haven't really given this a fair chance for daytime use...However, the few times I did wear this under makeup for a full day (under Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation)  my pores and fine lines seemed to look more obvious throughout the day.  I have since realized that the foundation was part of the problem, but this cream seemed to make it even worse. 

Product Usage:

This is an absolutely gorgeous light and silky but highly hydrating cream.  It is working perfectly for me right now as my night cream.

Packaging:

Again...another unsanitary jar.

Overall rating:

4/5 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Will I repurchase?:

Not for now.  I might come back to this but I would definitely like to try something new.

Ingredients

Truth Serum® Collagen Booster
Water (Aqua), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Acerbate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euphrasis Offinalis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Oleth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 6 (CI 15985).

Invigorating Night Gel

Water, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Calcium Ascorbate, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Auranium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance.

Sheer Transformation
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Tribehenin, Glycerin, Steareth-20, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Sucrose Dilaureate, Polysorbate 20, Cyclomethicone, Octyldodercanol, Xanthan Gum, Pisum Sativum (Pea Extract), Steareth-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Seed Extract, Sorbitol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Fruit, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Vaccinium Myrtilus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limomum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Calcium Ascorbate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Superoxide Dismutase.

1.7 oz

March 2011 Favourite Products

Since Yesterday was the end of March I thought it would be fitting that my first post be a monthly favourites post.

I feel like this time of year is definitely a time of transition...goings from the cold, snowy, drier months to the warm, sunny, and humid months definitely mark the time to start getting back into brighter colours and lighter skin care.

1.  Ole Henrickson - 3 Little Wonders Kit

With my 25th birthday coming up, I am starting to notice that my skin is not looking quite as young as it did in my teens. I have always had combination skin that had a tendency to become quite oily, especially in the summer months. I am having a harder time keeping my skin from looking dehydrated and my monthly breakouts have taken a toll on my once-even complexion.

This set comes with a the Truth Serum, Invigorating Night Gel, and Sheer Transformation Cream. I have to say that after using this system for about 3 weeks I have noticed a big difference in the overall hydration and plumpness of the surface of my skin. Another plus, is that my acne scars are starting to fade and I am definitely needing less concealer for those spots.


I will be doing a full review on all three products in the near future!

2.  Lise Watier - Sun Smart Universal UV Shield SPF30

I am loving this for daytime. It is so silky smooth and is a fantastic primer (it has the feel of a silicone primer. Wears beautifully all day long under my MUFE HD, doesn't clog my pores. Just love it!


3.  Make Up For Ever - HD Invisible Cover Foundation

I have been wearing Laura Mercier Mineral Loose Powder Foundation for the past couple years but what made me try the MUFE HD was the fact that I would get a white cast in photos. So I basically just bought this to use for when I go out at night.


I will say, that it took me about 2 months of trial and error (I was ready to return it because I felt like it made my skin dry a cakey looking!) before I fell in love with it. But now that I know to apply with my fingers before using my flat top brush to blend out, I am in love!



4.  Make Up For Ever - Super Matte Loose Powder in Medium

I originally wanted to try out the HD powder to go with my HD foundation but after reading about the photography mishaps caused by that powder I decided to try something else. Although I usually dont like to listen to sales associates at Sephora, I was chatting with a girl who seemed very knowledgeable and trust worthy, so I trusted her suggestion in trying out the Super Matte Powder. I think that this is going to come in super handy come summer time when I start to get more oily.  If you have dry skin, I would not recommend this.

4.  Revlon - Super Lustrous Lip Glosses SPF 15


I have three colors in the Super Lustrous gloss line: Coral Reef, Pink Pop, and Pink Pursuit.


These glosses have sheer but buildable colour. I love the Coral Reef and Pink Pop for an extra pop of color...They get me excited for spring! Pink pursuit is my perfect pinky-nude (my-lips-but-better) colour. I wear it alone or with my Revlon Colour Burst lipstick in Blush for a more polished look.


5.  Tarte - Cheek Stain in Tickled

This stain is just so natural looking an long lasting. I apply it with a small Sephora blush brush. You get a huge amount of product..I honestly feel like this will last me forever.