I have previously written about Jouviance before, it is a Canadian skincare company that is developed by dermatologists. This summer, they released their Coconut Melting Balm which I have been using for so many things on both myself and baby! It is an amazing multi-tasking product that can be used as a body moisturizer, baby butter, belly balm, lip moisturizer, hair mask and serum, hydrating night mask and I even use it on my eczema patches on my hand and my dry cuticles. 

All of the methods of use above are pretty self explanatory, but on baby I like to use it as a diaper balm to prevent diaper rashes! It is also suggested that it can be used as a massaging component for the baby. It is safe for use for babies (clearly) as well as pregnant women on their baby bumps to cure any dry and itchy skin from the stretching and to help address or prevent some stretch marks.

As you can see below, the product is housed in a very generous plastic container that holds 220ml of product and is priced at $45.  The ingredients include: Coconut Oil (50% cold pressed, non-hydrogenated, non-deodorized), 50% coconut oil of first pressure and deodorized by steam, essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, Pro-A, B3 and phytosterols. It also includes Hyaluronic Acid which I have constantly raved about on this blog - it is said to give the skin moisture and helps with fine lines and wrinkles by gently plumping it. 

For those who are interested, Coconut Oil is organic, vegan, high-quality and gmo, cruelty and phthalate free. 

The one thing I extremely appreciated was the scent. I really dislike super artificial smelling coconut products or ones that smell too waxy. However, this smells like fresh coconut cream almost - its natural, and has not been messed around with. 

The balm melts really quickly onto the skin and does not leave a thick layer behind. When using it as a moisturizer, I prefer using it at night right after I shower, before I hop into bed. 

This is a highly recommended product to purchase! It is worth every penny considering it is so multipurpose.

Until next time, XO - M.

*product was sent to me for review, all opinions are my own.

Essie has collaborated with bridal and formal occasion designer, Reem Acra to create a collection of six polishes to capture the excitement of the royal wedding. This is in the gel couture formulation and I have swatched them all below. In addition, I have also noted how many layers it took to achieve the swatches below. 

640 - Picture Perfect - three layers ~ this is almost like a translucent formulation, with one layer you could very well pair it with a french tip manicure. 

610 - Handmade of Honor - one layer ~ the perfect metallic rose gold that went on effortlessly.

650 - You're Golden - two layers ~ this is a true gold that goes on streak free.

620 - Getting Intricate - two layers ~ one layer is enough but two gives you that bold baby bird breakfast blue.

630 - Moments to Mrs. - three layers ~ this is a sheer formulation that contains gold flecks within. It almost looks like a jelly finish and is very unique.

660 - Forever Family - one layer ~ this is my favorite shade out of the entire collection. One layer is all it took to give a flawless finish.

I'd love to know which one is your favorite! Mine would have to be Forever Family and Handmade of Honor.

Until next time, XO - M

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

Postpartum hairloss is no joke, just when you thought that the tough part is over, you know the labor, delivery and recovery from the tear or c-section, you have another wave of things to encounter postpartum. For me, it included some minor swelling in my ankles (which is weird because I never had any swelling during pregnancy) and the worst of it for me is the postpartum hair-loss. My friend Jamie from Girl Loves Gloss and I were sharing our journey through this and we both agreed that it was quite traumatizing. CHUNKS of hair would fall out during the shower and my silver drain cover would turn black with hair once done. When you think that you've lost enough in the shower, you go to blowdry your hair and the same amount of hair falls out again, the entire bathroom floor is covered with hair. So all in all you feel like you can create cousin IT (from Addams Family) with the amount of hair you have lost during one shower. What is supposed to be a relaxing shower has now turned into IM GOING BALD frantic moments with a wave of anxiety. Needless to say I was on a hunt to find some products that would help me out through this ordeal and I think I've narrowed it down to the below items that have helped me through the roughest parts.

Lastly, there is the L'Oreal Serioxyl Line that again is a step system that includes a shampoo, conditioner and treatment. For additional assistance, there is the Serioxyl Denser Serum to be applied every evening directly to the scalp. This system is quite similar in terms of steps to the Nioxin above, except that in the kit, the L'Oreal line has a serum as Step 3, and Nioxin has a mousse. It is up to personal preference then to which you prefer. This product worked well, it reduced some hair loss but I found it to be a little drying to the hair shaft itself. 

Out of the four products above, the way I would rank them would be LUSH, OGX, Nioxin and then L'Oreal. My must buys would be LUSH and OGX :)

Do you have any products you use to prevent hairloss? I'd love to hear about them!

Until next time, XO - M.

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

It's been a while since my last favorites post - so I thought I would share with you my newest loves i have been keeping in my rotation for the past few weeks. As always, I narrow it down to 10 items and for convenience I have also seperated them into categories - makeup, skincare/misc & lipsticks. 

MAKEUP:

Clarins - Everlasting Compact Foundation - in the summer, I love to keep my makeup as minimalistic as possible. This Clarins powder foundation has been a godsend. It offers a sheer to medium buildable coverage (I still tend to just do one sweep on the face and keep it to a light layer). It makes my face look flawless and imperfections are diffused. 

Sephora - Bright Future Skin Tint - on days that I want a bit more coverage I will go for this skin tint. It is cooling to the skin and just covers a bit more than the powder above and lasts all day. This also makes my skin look beautiful and airbrushed.

L'Oreal - LUMI Glotion - who doesn't want to look tanned and glowy in the summer? I know I do and this is a great product to use in the summertime and is a great price point too. If you want an overall glow, I like to use half the amount of Glotion mixed with foundation and apply that concoction on the face. In addition, you can of course apply the highlighter to the high points of the cheeks.

Touch in Sol - No Poreblem primer - this has been a saviour for the hot summer months. It keeps my oil control at bay.  It also smooths out my face and allows for a good base for further makeup application. 

Dior - Diorshow On Stage Liquid Eyeliner - it is hard for me to find a liner that delivers an even line with a semi flexible brush tip thats super pigmented. My ride or die has always been the Clio Kill Black liner but this one is a great alternative on the luxury end.

SKINCARE/MISC:

L'Oreal - Micellar Water - I have been telling everyone about this Micellar Water, I apply this to a cotton pad and it removes all traces of makeup with one pad. It is amazing! It is a great duplicate of the Lancome Bi-phase makeup remover. 

Avene - Eau Thermale - I like to use this to refresh my makeup or just to make me feel refreshed throughout the day. Also, my friend told me this is great for eczema prone skin and I have been using it on my hands. 

ThisWorks - Deep Sleep Pillow Spray - To relax in my beauty room,  I love to use - one spritz is all it takes. I wish I could use this in the bedroom but I currently have baby in my bedroom so it says I cannot use it just yet around babies. 

LIPSTICKS:

L'Oreal - Colour Riche Shine Glossy Lipstick - These are AMAZING! If you love lipbalms and want something a bit more pigmented then this is what you need. It delivers beautiful color that keeps your lips looking glossy and moisturized. I literally want these in every color possible!

Givenchy - Le Rouge Lipstick - Couture Edition - this is another gorgeous berry toned lipstick that is a true pigmented buttery one. It's great for summer with my tanned skin, really makes it pop!

Until next time, XO - M.

*this post features products that were sent to me for review, all opinions are my own

I had previously tried and written about Kerastase products before, specifically the Densifique collection made specifically to address fine hair. If you're interested in reading my thoughts on that collection, click here. I was recently sent a few other collections to try and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Réflection items to address colored hair first. For those who don't know I do dye my hair as I inherited greys quite early on so I have to dye my hair every 2-3 months to cover them up. As for my other hair concerns, I have thin hair that is prone to be oily quite easily.

If you're interested in learning my thoughts, then keep on reading below.

Mary Kay has been a company that I have been using for a long while now, if you do a search on my blog you can see that I have been a fan of their make-up and as such, I am excited to try their newest product launch in skincare, called TimeWise. This is a line dedicated to combat early signs of aging and is separated into Normal/Dry and then Oily/Combination so that it can work with everyone.

The products can be purchased separately, or in a set (as featured above), which includes:

1. 4-in-1 Cleanser ~ prepares your skin for the rest of the skincare routine by removing dirt and exfoliating it. A little bit of this product goes a long way, so I recommend a dime size to begin with! It left my skin feeling cool and refreshed and super soft and hydrated. 

2. Day Cream with SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen ~ helps to neutralize free radicals on the skin and leaves your skin moisturized for 12 hours and providing UVA/UVB protection.

3. Night Cream ~ prepares your skin for the stressors of the next day with a boost of bedtime antioxidants and leaves your skin hydrated for the remainder 12 hours.

4. Eye Cream ~ brightens the eye area immediately and moisturizes the eye area for 12 hours. This eye cream is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. 

Each item features their Age Minimize 3D Complex, including encapsulated reservatrol, vitamin B3 and an age-defying peptide - as described on their site. 

What is great about this collection is that it has been dematologist-tested and has been tested and is suitable for those who have skin irritations and allergies. It is also fragrance and oil-free.

Based on their studies, their website indicates that after 4 weeks, users saw a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, and have improved in luminosity, smoothness, softness and overall feel. The set retails for $159.00 Canadian, or again can be purchased separately as well.

Until next time, XO - M

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

I am a huge fan of masking and Avon recently launched three new clay masks from their ANEW line. The three listed from left to right in the above photo include: Anew Calming Clay Mask with Aloe, Anew Purifying Clay Mask with White Charcoal Powder and Anew Brightening Clay Mask with Citrus Peel Extract.  The titles of each mask are pretty self explanatory, and the way I go about multi-masking is to use a specific mask to address different areas of concern on my face. 

What I have loved doing is using a brush to apply the mask on to my face. It feels super luxurious and just takes the mess out of things. It also helps to apply the mask much more evenly for a full coverage. When it comes time to remove the mask, I use a sponge like the one pictured below. I wet it and squeeze dry, leaving it just damp enough to wipe off the mask. The sponge acts as a natural exfoliator to help take off the product from my face. The set above is actually from EcoTools and is called the Facial Mask Mates. I highly suggest you to purchase this product it's a drugstore item but honestly is even comparable to high-end brands.

Here is what my face looks like when multi-masked. I applied the Purifying Mask to my T-Zone and nose, the calming mask to my forehead and chin and then the brightening one to my cheeks and lower jaw line. 

I decided to film a quick 1 minute tutorial below as well if you want to take a look!

Until next time, XO - M.

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

I don't know what took me so long to try these out because I was sent these a few months ago - I was so caught up with motherhood and before that obviously I was pregnant so time just flew by. Anyways, I just started using them and I am in love. It is so lightweight, yet it does a great job cleansing the skin effectively while leaving me feeling moisturized after. 

This is the Deep Moisture Shower Foam from Dove and it is sulphate and paraben free. I found that 3-4 pumps is enough to wash the entire body, which means that this bottle will last a long time. It washes off easily and does not leave behind any residue. It comes also in a variety of fragrances and formulas like Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla that is divine and comforting, Cucumber and Green Tea that is so refreshing, I think that is perfect for summer and there is also one sensitive skin.

This product is a definite must by!

Until next time, XO - M

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

The Spring 2018 Collection from Essie is centered around a Nautical Theme and attached in this post features 5 of the 6 polishes in the collection. What is missing is a bright coral tone named "At the Helm". 

Just a quick review of the shades - Pass-Port to Sail required three coats to achieve the swatch below as it is more of a sheer polish. Bon Boy-Age and Perfect Mate required two coats and Anchor Down and Stripes & Sails only needed one. 

As always, the polishes go on smoothly, and I have been wearing Anchor Down for a few days now and have not had any chips. It's great that the darker shades only require one layer. What's your favorite shade from the collection? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, XO - M

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

The Summer Collection from Wet n Wild is curated and inspired by the feathers of the Allen's and Costa hummingbirds. This collection is vibrant and colorful, perfect for summer. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Los Angeles Audubon Society, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect birds and their habitats. These funds will benefit a habitat restoration project for the Allen's Hummingbird, an endangered California native. 

This collection includes the items listed above, which are:

- 3 Color Icon Eyeshadow Quads: Stop Ruffling My Feathers, Flock Party, Hasta La Costa Baby

- 3 MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliners: You are my Wingman, Winged n' Wild, Gilded Wings

- 4 Color Icon Lip Glosses: Fly Gal, Featherless, Pout of Paradise, Shut the Pluck Up

- 3 Color Icon Baked Blushes: Don't Flutter Yourself, Hummingbird Hype and Dare to Soar

- Perfect Pout Lip Scrub - Watermelon

- Photo Focus Primer Water

The below look is created with my favorite palette of the three, Hasta La Costa Baby, which is the purple and teal one. 

Below are swatches of the liquid liners, blushes and glosses. From top down of :

- The liners, we have: Gilded Wings, Winged n' Wild, You Are My Wingman. 

- The blushes: Don't Flutter Yourself, Hummingbird Hype and Dare To Soar

- The lipglosses: Featherless, Fly Gal, Shut the Pluck Up and Love Bird Affair

All of the products are beautifully pigmented, and I really have nothing negative to say about it - as you can see from the lip swatches below with one swipe you get a very generous delivery of color. 

The shadow palettes below, we have from left to right: Hasta La Costa Baby, Stop Ruffling my Feathers and Flock Party

The shadows are gorgeous and hard to believe are drugstore formulations. The mattes are creamy and finely milled and the metallics as you can see from the picture above packs a punch, especially when layered on top of a cream base. On the lid I preferred putting it on a cream base, but my arm swatches were done with no base or primer at all. 

The only one product I would have to comment on is the spray - it is a bit aggressive if its too close to the face, so you have to spray it from a bit farther than usual to get the mist vs. droplets. 

Products below are what was used to create my featured look in this blog post. 

Here's a quick video of how I used the products to create the look:

Until next time, XO - M.

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