Being by Sanctuary Spa - Review*


Being by Sanctuary Spa is a skincare brand that is against animal testing, is paraben free and does not use any micro-beads in their products. They carry a variety of skincare products that include body wash, lotions, body mists, butters, foams and scrubs. 

To learn more about this line and the scents offered, keep on reading below...

Lise Watier Holiday 2017 Glam Celebration Collection - Review, Swatch & Makeup Look*



Above: Rouge Intense Supreme Glam Celebration Lipsticks - $27 cad each
Left to Right of the lipsticks swatched: Clara, Maya, Grace, Naomi and Sophia
The Holiday Collection contains the colors Naomi, Grace & Sophia - the three darker berry/red tones
the two nude tones - Clara & Maya are part of the regular collection

Below: Smokey Nudes 12-Color Eyeshadow Palette - $65 cad
 

Below: Glam Pigment - Superstar (Gold) and Fireworks (Maroon-Purple) - $28 cad
 

Below: Havana Trio Highlighter - $46cad (not part of holiday collection)
  

Glam Celebration Duo Blush - $38 cad

The purple eye look is created with Nuit Blanche on the brow bone, Guest List on the crease, Fireworks pigment on the lid, Night Club on the outer V and Dance Floor patted on the inner third of the eye.
The above eye look is created with Lounge all over the lid with the Superstar pigment patted gently on top followed by Carbone on the outer V and Smoke on the crease.

Both looks feature: 
Liquid Liner: Feline Eyeliner HD
Mascara: Lise Watier Dramatique Intense
Blush: Glam Celebration  
Highlighter: Havana Trio Highlighter

If I were to recommend my top products that you have to get your hands on, it would be the Smokey Nudes palette and the pigments. The pigments can be applied by patting it on, more of a chunky glitter look, or blended onto the lid with a finger for a metallic wash. Be mindful when opening the jar though becuase it is a loose pigment!

Until next time, XO - M.

*products were sent to me for review, all opinions are my own.

Celebrating the Holidays with Shoppers Drug Mart*


Shoppers Drug Mart, is a Canadian retail pharmacy chain that is not limited to just a place that you go to when you need to pick up something medicinal related. Shoppers Drug Mart has an extensive amount of beauty products - both at drugstore prices and also at the luxury level. They carry brands like Dior, Clarins, Stila, Smashbox, Soap and Glory and much more. In addition to beauty products, they also sell food items and some basic groceries that you may need. It really is a one-stop shop if you ever needed everything at one location. 

Back in September, I was invited to the Shoppers Drug Mart 2017 Holiday Preview Event - I have a re-cap post here. As the holidays are quickly approaching, I decided to share a few more pictures from the event with you as well as some holiday gift ideas that you can get from Shoppers!

From the pictures that you see below, all of the products (minus the props like the trees, tree stumps etc) can be found at Shoppers! As you can see, there are TONS of products you can find there and they are cute, high-quality and thoroughly presentable and gorgeous!

    

The below perfumes can be found at Shoppers and we were spoiled at the event by having a perfume engraved with our names on it. We were to find the bottle with our name and could take it home with us! I had received the Guerlain - Mon Guerlain perfume and it currently sits on my vanity, too pretty to be used!


Below are some examples of the cosmetic products you can get at Shoppers from brands like Quo and Soap & Glory. 


As mentioned above, Shoppers also carries food-related items and if you think creatively you can for e.g. take those delicious giant Ferrero Rocher's as center pieces during the Holidays! What a cute little gift for your guests to take home with them after dinner!


In our Holiday gift bags, we received an assortment of items carried at Shoppers for our consideration and review - it was like Santa came early! I have included a few of the many items below - there was also holiday wallpaper, a fancy water bottle, skincare, makeup and.... who wouldn't enjoy some Lindor chocolates and Maple Fudge?



We had also received in addition to cosmetic items, a Sony Bluetooth speaker (SRS-XB10) that retails for $69.99 cad. This little bad boy, do not judge it by size, seriously - the sound clarity that comes from it is amazing. I will be playing it in on of my bedrooms and I can hear it through the top floor. It has no fizziness to it, the notes come out clear and the sound is gorgeous. This is a great gift for someone who is looking for a bluetooth speaker and is really comparable to similar items that retail for a few hundred dollars. The one great thing also is that this speaker is also waterproof! so take it with you in the shower or to the pool/beach in the summer and one full charge lasts 16 hours.



Until next time, XO - M.

*products were sent to me for review, all opinions are my own.

Keeping moisturized with FRESH this winter*


 For those of you who have been following my blog / social media for the past few years will know that I am a big fan of Fresh products. I have recommended their Seaberry Nourishing Handcream to tons of people who have complained about dry hands, especially ones that get as bad as to being cracked and bleeding in the winter time. I know that the Seaberry Handcream works because every year as the months get colder, the knuckles on my right hand get so dry and because of constant activity, my knuckles will crack the dry skin and then it will bleed and the cycle repeats itself and constantly becomes irritated. The Seaberry Handcream is the only product that has helped to repair my skin and protect it and I constantly repurchase this product!

Anyways, when I received the below goodies from Fresh, I was super excited to try them out! I received the Moisturizing Handcream in Honeysuckle and Citron De Vigne - both retails for $18 cad each. In addition, I received their new Fresh Face Instant Glow Luminzer in Sunset - retails for $60 cad. 




The above two new moisturizers are highly nourishing hand creams that can be applied every day, as often as you would like.

Like the Seaberry lotion, these hand creams absorb quickly as well and do not leave your hands greasy at all. The fragrance is lightly scented, not overwhelming at all. Of the two, I favored the Citron de Vigne scent - it has a really fresh citrus fragrance which has a very light white grape after note that is not too sweet. The hand creams contain Cupuaçu seed butter, sal seed butter, shea butter and Vitamin E which are all ingredients to help moisturize, soften and soothe the skin.  


Lastly, I was sent the FreshFace Instant Glow Luminizer in Sunset, which can be used as both a moisturizer under makeup, or with your make-up routine (mixed with your foundation or patted over it as a highlight). My favorite way of using this is either by mixing it with a more matte foundation that I have, thereby making it look more radiant and natural, giving yourself a lit from within glow. If I want to really amp it up and give myself an even more dewy glow I pat this just on my cheekbones.

This product is very moisturizing without being greasy at all. It contains meadowfoam seed oil to moisturize and cucumber extract to sooth your skin. It also contains Vitamin C to tone the skin and Vitamin E to soften. Lastly, it also has primrose root extract to keep your skin supple and smooth. It is also worth nothing that this product is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

I suggest that you at least pick up one of these hand creams as a stocking stuffer for your friend, family or coworker this holiday season! Who doesn't need one with the amount of work we do with our hands everyday!

Until next time, XO - M.

*products were sent to me for consideration, all opinions are my own.

Mary Kay® Gel Semi-Shine Lipstick Review & Swatches*


I was recently sent a few lipsticks from the Mary Kay Gel Semi-Shine Lipstick to review. They retail for $21 Canadian each and contains 3g of product. 

As per the site, the claims on the product are that they:
- deliver radiant color and luminous shine
- provide long-lasting wear that will not dry the lips
- cushion feeling and comfortable on the lips
- highly pigmented and provides intense, stay true color
- optical enhancers scatter light and blur the appearance of minor imperfections.

My thoughts on the claims above and on the overall product:
- the lipsticks are a gel-like cushion texture, I agree with that.
- It glides effortless on the lips and does not sink into fine lines or dry lips therefore making them look youthful and "blurs any minor imperfections".
- There is a good variety of color offered, something to suit everyone ~ 12 colors
- They are sheer to buildable in color so even the darkest of colors can look like a sheer wash on the lips - perfect for those who are intimidated by bolder colors. 
- These are very comfortable on the lips and I can wear them throughout the day as it is weightless.
- Very light scent to them - not sure why but it smells like earl grey tea to me which I like! I cannot stand perfume like scents.
- This product will not last all day, you will have to re-apply after meals or when it wears off.


I really appreciate the packaging of these lipsticks - They have a sleek black casing that is not bulky and the best part is the clear top where you can see the color inside the packaging and you do not have to open each of the cases. This is just an added touch to a product that makes it more convenient for the user, something I really like.



All of the lipsticks are swatched below - I love all of the shades sent, maybe minus Spiced Ginger only because I am not too much of a fan of copper tones, however the finish of these colors are great. The lipsticks either come in a cream color finish or a bit of a shimmer to them - for e.g. Scarlet Red has a bit of a shimmer and Naturally Buff is cream based.

(I can't seem to find the swatch that I took of Berry Couture, sorry ~ but it is the darkest shade shown up above in the acrylic storage)


As you can see, natural and color lovers will enjoy these lippies ~ there's something for everyone!

What shade is your favorite?

Until next time, XO - M.

*products were sent to me for review/consideration, all opinions are my own

November 2017 Favorites


It has been 2 months since my last favorites post and once again I am bringing you 10 of my favorite products I have been using for the last few months that I am absolutely loving. So let's get started!

Products that I love include:
1. Burberry - Cat Lashes Mascara - $35
2. Burberry - My Burberry Blush 90ml - $130
5. Victoria Beckham Estee Lauder - Eye Ink Matte Eyeliner - $58
6. Giorgio Armani - Ecstasy Shine Lipstick - $43
7. Charlotte Tilbury - Wonderglow: Skin Care Primer - $65
8. Cover FX - Perfect Highlighting Palette - $98 (on sale now for $45 ~ not sure for how long)
*prices listed above are in cad.

Thoughts on the products:

This product works well to keep my oily t-zone at bay for the whole day. I pat this on to my tzone and I do not have to powder or blot the area at all. Love this!

This is a medium coverage foundation, buildable to a full coverage. It makes you look airbrushed and has a satin matte finish that is weightless and leaves you looking flawless. I have recommended this to a few of my friends and coworkers and they love it as well, even those who enjoy a full matte coverage on a regular basis.

Charlotte Tilbury - Wonderglow: Skin Care Primer
I have raved about this product before on the blog and I use it either as highlight on the face, or mixed in with my foundation for a luminous finish. This is a subtle highlight that makes you look lit from within. 

Cover FX knows how to do a highlighter right and this powder palette has all the click enhancers packaged in powder form. One palette on the go provides all the highlighting goodness you would need. I love this so much as I can either get a sheer to ultra glow highlight. Whatever your heart desires.

Burberry - Cat Lashes Mascara*
This plastic wand has bristles that help to separate and lengthen the lashes. It coats the mascara on your lashes and with the shape of it, it can extend the outer edges to create a cat eye look.

Victoria Beckham Estee Lauder - Eye Ink Matte Eyeliner*
I almost feel guilty adding this as my favorite because of the price tag, but if you enjoy an opaque, fully black and pigmented liner I would say that you need this in your life. Seriously, it lasts all day, doesn't budge at all and offers a very precise line. 

Giorgio Armani - Ecstasy Shine Lipstick*
If you like lipsticks with a balmy texture that is sheer to buildable medium coverage then this is for you. It deposits a beautiful wash of color to the lips and keeps it moisturized and a shine.

I had received three of these products for PR and a post will be coming up soon. But before I could even upload my post, I went to purchase 4 more at Sephora and that is so rare. I liked this product so much that I splurged and went all out. The applicator allows for a very precise deposit of product to the lips. The product is buildable and leaves a gloss look to the lips and then finally dries down to matte and after a few hours when it wears off, it leaves a stain to the lips that is not patchy or dry. You HAVE to go get at least one!

Burberry - My Burberry Blush*
This perfume is great for fall and winter - it is a mix of floral and fruit which is my favorite blend. It lasts all day without the need to reapply and smells feminine and sophisticated.

I am always looking for a good micellar wipe that works well to remove my make-up effectively should I perhaps become a bit too tired to go through my entire skincare removing regiment. The price is reasonable and can be picked up at the drugstore. 

What have been some of your favorites the past month and have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Do any of them interest you? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Until next time, XO - M.

*some products were sent for PR, all opinions are my own.

Maintaining your tan all year with Vita Liberata*


For those of you who work hard to develop that gorgeous tan in the summer time, I'm sure when winter rolls around it saddens you to see it slowly fade. I know that I am for sure one of them. While I do not strive to be super tanned in the winter, it would still be nice to have some glow to my skin, some color that wouldn't leave me looking like a gaunt zombie ... pale, and dreary. 

Finding the right self-tanner may have always been intimidating to a majority of us as we surely do not want to come out with blotchy patches or worse yet, looking like an oompa-loompa. I have in the past tried gradual tanners that were incorporated into body lotions and those were great. However, those take a week+ to develop, and I mean do you want to forever use a body lotion with self-tanner in it? Why not just find the right product and use it whenever you need it? 

Vita Liberata has developed an extensive collection of self-tanners in various different formulas that can surely cater to each individual's personal preference. I was sent four of their products in past months and I thought I'd share them with you. 

In the photo above, from left to right we have:
1. Phenomenal 2-3 week tan mousse - $65cad for 125ml
2. 10 minute tan - $49cad for 150ml
3. Self-Tanning anti-age serum - $54cad for 15ml

If you're interested in learning more about these products, then keep on reading below....

TOO FACED - Peach Kiss Moisture Matte Long Wear Lipstick Review and Swatch*


When Too Faced first launched their Peach collection, every body went nuts over it and items flew off the shelves. They had recently launched their second wave of Peach products (exclusive to Sephora) and contains a much more extensive collection of items that includes foundation, setting powder, primer, lipsticks, blushes and more. I was fortunate enough to be sent various items to try out and I thought what better way to showcase their new Peach Kiss Moisture Matte Long Wear Lipsticks, than to do another lip swatch post. This way, you can see what the colors look like on my skintone.

The lipsticks retail for $25 each Canadian and have the following claims
- non-drying, comfortable and creamy matte
- delivers intense matte color and up to 8 hours of wear
- smells like peaches and sweet fig cream

They also advise that you apply the Lip Insurance Primer all over the lips for the perfect base. In addition, they mention that you can create an ombre lip effect by blending multiple lip colors together. 

My thoughts:
I do fully agree that a lip primer needs to be applied prior to the lipstick. When I didn't use a primer or a balm before application, the lipstick went on patchy and clung to all my dry patches. It almost seemed to skip on my lips as well, some parts had lipstick, some parts didn't. You don't have to use the Lip Insurance Primer, I just used any regular balm I had and it worked fine. The balm base also allows the lipstick to look less dry, and it makes it look like a satin finish and then looks gorgeous. I prefer that finish alot more. 

In addition the scent of the lipsticks is quite strong - if you have a sensitive nose, I think you may not enjoy it as the scent does last for a long time. It becomes less pungent with time, but it does linger. 

As for 8 hour wear, I never had the chance to wear it 8 hours straight as I'm always either drinking water, snacking or having my breakfast/lunch or dinner. However, it will last the few hours in between and the pigment does not change. 


The lipsticks are housed in a beautiful and sleek white container with the golden peach logo in the front. I really appreciate the lids of the lipstick that shows the color of the products within. This way, you do not have to uncap each lipstick to find the color you want. 


In the lipstick swatches below - Doll Face and Sunday Funday are applied to the lips without primer/base. Sex on the Peach, Make me Blush have the balm applied as a base. I get that this is supposed to be a matte lipstick, but as mentioned before, when I didn't use a base it seemed to really cling to my dry patches. With the base, I was able to get a better representation of the color. 

My favorite colors are: Sex on the Peach, Make Me Blush, Makeup Me Happy, Peach Beach and Breakfast Club.

Products on my face from the peach collection:
- Foundation: Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation - Natural Beige
- Cheeks - Peach My Cheeks Melting Powder Blush - Spiced Peach


What's your favorite shade above? I think that if you're a Too Faced collector, you definitely should get your hands on one or two of these lippies :) 

Until next time, XO - M. 

*products were sent to me for review, opinions and thoughts are my own.