Being by Sanctuary Spa ~ Part 1

Christmas is only a few short days away and I'm sure by now most of you have finished (or almost finished) your shopping. If not, this post could be helpful to you, too!

Although I love the holiday season, it can get quite stressful. Its important to take time for yourself and relax. I love to surround myself in beautiful scents because I find they really help me unwind. Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on some deliciously scented products that I'm absolutely loving!

Being by Sanctuary Spa is a new-ish addition to Shoppers Drug Mart's bath & body section. There are 4 lines to choose from, and the price points are very affordable. The scents are amazing and the packaging is way too cute!

Salted Caramel & Macadamia Body Butter ($20, 300 ml) is easily my favourite of the bunch. The scent is rich and scrumpious - just like a batch of fresh baked cookies! Formulated with shea and cocoa butter, this body butter is thick and super nourishing -a must have for winter!

The Hibiscus & Coconut Water Body Lotion ($16, 300 ml) reminds me of the summer and I'm definitely not mad about it! It has a tropical scent and a very light texture. It absorbs almost instantly and leaves my skin feeling super smooth. I personally don't think that it will be hydrating enough for the winter months, but once spring rolls around I'll be reaching for this one a lot.

Cloudberry & Lychee Blossom Body Mist ($10, 100 ml) surprised the hell out of me! I usually shy away from body mists/sprays from the drugstore because they often smell like alcohol. This does not. It smells like a tropical island paradise and I love it! For $10 you can't go wrong, it's like a vacation in a bottle.

I was so impressed by these Being By Sanctuary Spa products, that I out and bought 2 of the bubble baths plus a body scrub! My daughter's and I will be testing them out after Christmas, so keep your eyes out for a review 😉

You can find Being By Sanctuary Spa in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart and online at beautyboutique.ca

Have you tried anything from Being By Sanctuary Spa? What scent calls out to you? Lets chat in the comment section below 👇

This post features press samples sent to me for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own

Give The Gift Of Youthful Skin This Holiday ~ Robin McGraw Revelation

Last month I featured some amazing products from Robin McGraw Revelation (read here) and today I'm back with some more awesome products from Robin's line that would make fabulous stocking stuffers!

"This antioxidant foaming gel cleanser gently and thoroughly removes all traces of makeup, dirt and oil, leaving skin soft, supple, and glowing. The balanced formula contains hydrating and purifying ingredients to cleanse without stripping skin." 

/source/ 

Foaming Joy! Purifying Facial Cleanser ($22, 120 ml) contains Chamomile Extract for its anti-inflammatory, soothing and astringent properties as well as Green Tea Oil for its anti-aging and antioxidant properties. There's even Apple Fruit Extract, a natural AHA, to exfoliate and encourage cell renewal.

This cleanser is actually a gel, not a foam as its name would suggest. It does foam up though and it cleanses without stripping. I use a dime sized amount after removing my makeup, and It leaves my skin refreshed.

"Achieve a refreshed, relaxed, and younger-looking complexion with this advanced formulation. An innovative blend of four unique peptides relaxes and smooths the appearance of expression lines to help diminish the visible signs of aging." 

/source/ 

Face It, You Look Amazing! Revitalizing Serum ($38, 15 ml) contains three key ingredients to assist in preventing visible signs of aging by reducing expression lines.

Ginseng Root Extract

Valued as an anti-aging ingredient, due to the many phytonutrients found in the plant, with anti-aging and energy-supporting properties that help to tone and brighten the skin.

Purslane Extract

This cute little plant is also loaded with antioxidants like Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Omega 3 Fatty Acids. It has long been used to treat skin disorders and wounds.

Gotu Kola Extract

An ancient healing plant, modern science has recognized it’s calming and healing properties. Rich in amino acids and Beta Carotene, it helps stimulate new cell growth and build collagen.

I've only been using this serum for slightly over a week, so I can't comment on its long term effects (yet). I can say that a little goes a long way, and it feels so hydrating on my skin. I've just started to develop some expression lines on my forehead, so fingers crossed I see some results! FYI, this serum is for expression lines (not all over your face). Apply it to your forehead, between the brows and crows feet.

"Wake up to a repaired, refreshed complexion! This unique nightly treatment addresses multiple visible signs of aging while protecting skin from future damage. Increase firmness and elasticity, balance skin tone, and restore skin’s moisture all while you sleep." 

/source/ 

Hydra Qwench Moisturizing Night Cream ($42, 30 ml) contains a healthy dose of Squalane - an antioxidant that feeds skin cells to promote cell growth, Hyaluronic Acid to promote collagen production and to plump skin, as well as Caprylic Acid.

This night cream is so rich and hydrating! I apply this as the final step in my skincare routine and I'm so impressed. I wake up to skin that looks even, rested and hydrated. Perfect for Canadian winters!

I have yet to try a product from Robin McGraw that I don't like, so yes, I totally recommend them!

To learn more and purchase these products, visit robinmcgrawrevelation.com

Press samples were generously provided to me for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Sephora Collection Holiday 2017

Are you ready for the holidays? Christmas is exactly 2 weeks away, and if you're looking for some last minute gift ideas, you've come to the right place!

Sephora Collection always releases the cutest sets around the holidays, and I was fortunate enough to be sent two of them to review!

Sephora Collection Holiday 2017 : Once Upon A Look Palette ($35) contains 15 neutral to cool toned eye shadows in a glamorous rose gold clutch. There's a good mix of mattes and shimmers and the included mirror makes it travel friendly. The shimmer shades are beautiful and pigmented, however some of the mattes are a bit chalky. Luckily they can be built up and the use of a primer will help. This palette would be perfect for the budding makeup artist in your life.

Sephora Collection Holiday 2017 : The Dark Rainbow Ready In Five Brush Set ($28) is a great travelling companion. You get 5 travel sized brushes (powder, crease, shadow and angled liner) in a gorgeous clutch-style case. The brushes are soft and durable, and the case is sturdy - perfect for on the go touch ups Functionality aside, this set is stunning!

Sephora Collection has a ton of other items available and some of them look incredible (I'm looking at you Vault Pro Brush Set). So if you find yourself in Sephora, take a look at the fun, functional and affordable Sephora Collection.

The Sephora Collection is available exclusively in store and online at sephora.com

This post features press samples sent for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

MAKE UP FOR EVER's Lustrous Brush Set

MAKE UP FOR EVER has released some really great holiday sets, and today I'm sharing my thoughts on the Lustrous Brush Set.

The Lustrous Brush Set contains 5 full size brushes and a handy, mesh case for travelling. The value is insane; for only $95 CAD you get $188 worth of brushes. There's a mix of eye and face brushes, and you can tell they were carefully selected.

If you haven't tried any brushes from MAKE UP FOR EVER, now's the time! They're soft, fluffy and perform so well. Plus they hold their shape after washing and don't shed - what more could you ask for?

156 Blush Brush

"After five years in development with makeup artists and fiber experts, MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes are a revolution in brush craftsmanship. The 100-percent fiber brushes are available in a range of 76 handcrafted styles, each with the perfect balance of straight and wavy fibers that replicate natural hairs. Beveled tips create a two-in-one makeup brush and tool, while innovative hair density and brush head shapes optimize every stroke for ideal makeup application. To achieve the ultimate collection, every brush has gone through 25 production stages by 30 craftsmen and has been checked for quality 50 times."

 /source/ 

These are the brushes you get in the Lustrous Brush Set..

108 Foundation Brush ($43)

This is a large, flat and rounded brush for applying foundation. It applies liquid foundation quickly and evenly without streaking.

156 Blush Brush ($44)

Exclusive to Sephora, this brush is flat and rounded for light powder and blush. It features both straight and wavy fibers, so it can be used with loose and compact powders. 

140 Small Highlighter Brush ($41)

Not only is this brush perfect for highlighting, it can be used to set your under-eye concealer. It has soft, wavy fibers that are firm enough to blend as well as apply.

226 Shader Brush ($30)

This flat brush with tapered edges was created for applying a variety of eye shadows (cream, loose and compact). With its medium size and straight fibers, this brush is ideal for applying and blending eye shadow. It allows for moderate to intense colour payoff and it's tapered edge allows for precision.

216 Precision Blender Brush ($30)

You can never have enough blending brushes, and you need to own at least one of these! This medium sized brush is ideal for blending in the crease as well as smudging along the lash line. It's soft yet dense and so perfect! You can use it with loose powders, pressed eyeshadow and pencil eye liner.

Unfortunately, this set isn't available in Canada online at sephora.com anymore, but it is available on the US site! It could still be in Sephora stores in Canada though. I highly recommend checking in store on your next Sephora visit 😉

This post features press samples sent to me for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Fresh Holiday Gift Sets

If you've browsed the aisles of Sephora, Hudson's Bay or Nordstrom lately you've likely seen tons of beautiful holiday gift sets. So many choices, so little time! Today, I'm sharing two awesome sets from Fresh that will be certain to make someone on your list happy (or yourself, because you're special too!)

Fresh Sugar Lip Prep 'N' Paint ($47 CAD) is a great gift for skincare and makeup lovers alike. This set contains everything you need to get your lips looking their best and the value is incredible (you get $82 worth of products for only $47). This set contains 5 cult classic products that are hard not to love. Here's what's inside!

Sugar Lip Polish (8g) is a gentle, conditioning lip exfoliant that will smooth and soften your lips. It's perfect for prepping the lips prior to applying lipstick or before bed (followed by a lip treatment).

Sugar Lip Advanced Lip Serum Therapy (5 ml) is an age-defying lip serum that leaves lips smooth and soft. You can wear this alone, under your favourite lipsticlips with lip balm. I love to put this on before bedtime so that it can work it's magic while I sleep.

Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment (2.2 g) is a bestseller for a reason - it's amazing! This lip treatment moisturizes, protects and smooths lips with the added bonus of a sheer, rosy tint. It also an SPF of 15 🙌

Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy (2.2 g) is an advanced treatment that hydrates for up to 24 hours, enhances volume and smooths the look of wrinkles. If you're a fan of long-wearing, matte lipstick you need this in your life.

Sugar Cream Lip Treatment in Buff (5 ml) is a creamy, nourishing lip treatment that adds a gorgeous, nude shimmer to your lips

The Picture Perfect Mask Set ($61) is sure to please! Containing 3 fan favourites, this set will have you hashtagging #nofilter on all your selfies in no time. For $61 you get $94 worth of Fresh masks; now that is a great deal!

Rose Face Mask (30 ml) is a hydrating gel mask that's infused with real rose petals and rose water to soothe and tone skin. This mask feels cooling and helps to calm redness. What's really neat is that it has a 'smart' algae to deliver moisture to areas that need it most. This mask is great to have for the fall and winter season!

Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask (30 ml) can be used as a purifying mask, deep cleanser or spot treatment. It's noncomedogenic and suitable for all skin types. This mask will minimize the appearance of pores and mattify skin, without drying it out. This mask is good on its own or as part of a 'multi masking' session.

Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (30 ml) is just what you need to glow this holiday season! It contains fermented kombucha, black tea extract, blackberry leaf extract, and lychee seed extract to fight free radical damage. This mask helps fight the signs of aging and leaves your face feeling fresh.

Fresh has quite a few holiday sets available and they all sound amazing! These sets are sure to sell fast though, so if you see one you want, grab it!

You can find these and other Fresh sets at Sephora or online at sephora.com

This post features press samples. As always, all opinions are my own.

Holiday Gift Guide Featuring Paul & Joe

Keeping with my holiday theme, I thought I'd share two cute products from Paul & Joe that would make perfect stocking stuffers. The packaging is too cute and they're perfectly sized for stockings and purses alike.

"Give the gift of hands of silk this holiday season with the Paul & Joe Silky Hand Cream. Naturally fragrant ingredients in the formula include citrus notes such as lemon, orange, mandarin and ginger, providing a bright and refreshing scent." /source/ 

Paul & Joe Silky Hand Cream ($17, 14g) is housed in a beautiful blue tube that's just so pretty to look at. It has a pleasant scent that isn't too strong and it doesn't linger for long. It feels silky upon applcation and it leaves my hands feeling hydrated.  This cream is perfect for winter!

Paul & Joe Eye Color CS in Caprice Girl 110 ($30) is a limited edition, two-toned neutral eyeshadow duo. It comes in a cute vintage style box with an applicator that's lightweight and portable. These two shadows look stunning together and swatch beautifully, however, they don't apply the same way on the eyes. I had to build them up a lot for them to show up (especially the lighter shade). Once on, they look stunning and wear for the whole day without creasing or fading. Since these shades are quite light, I like to pair them with a bold red lip for a look that wows.

You can find these and other Paul & Joe products online at beautyboutique.ca and in-store at select Shoppers Drug Mart's.

This post features press samples that were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Dior Precious Rocks Holiday 2017

Each year, the house of Dior releases a limited edition Holiday Collection that you can't help but fall in love with. This year, Dior took inspiration from precious gems and teamed it with the rock attitude of the modern Dior woman. The result? Precious Rocks Holiday 2017

The Precious Rocks Collection features two 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes, one Nude Air Luminizer, 4 Diorific Matte Fluid Lip & Cheek Tints, 5 Diorific Rouge Khôl, a Dior Vernis Liner and 4 Dior Vernis. Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the Diorific Matte Fluids, Diorific Khôl and Dior Vernis.

"The sparkling, vibrant tones of Diorific Vernis nail polishes reflect the brilliance of precious rocks." /source/ 

Dior Vernis 745 Grenat

I've never used Dior Vernis (nail polish), so I immediately dove right in! The bottles are incredibly gorgeous and have a vintage flare that I seriously love. I do find the wand a bit awkward to hold, which in turn makes me slow down and focus more while I'm painting my nails. That's not necessarily a bad thing - I end up with a super clean mani because of it! The brush on the other hand, is fabulous! It's wide and rounded which is perfect for my naturally long nail beds. One coat is enough for opaque coverage and I get a solid 3 to 4 days before it starts to show signs of wear. What's more impressive is that I applied it completely solo; no base and no top coat!

"A Dior essential, Diorific Matte Fluid tints lips and cheeks with a matte texture in four exclusive shades." /source/ 

Diorific Matte Fluid Lip & Cheek Tints ($47) is, as the name suggests, a lip and cheek tint. It's available in 4 shades and today I'm talking about Charm #005 and Intensity #008. The bottles are so elegant and add a touch of class to my vanity. They're not ideal to travel with, but thankfully they wear long enough that that's not necessary!

Charm #005

This is a neutral shade that looks great on my lips, but even better on my cheeks! It has a typical doe foot applicator that makes lining and filling my lips an easy task. The finish is matte and it feels like a liquid lipstick opposed to a tint. It does cling to dry patches a bit, but a scrub and some lip balm will stop it from being obvious. Wear time is decent; a good 4-5 hours including eating and drinking.

I love to use it as a blush. I put a dab on my finger and blend it in gently. It dries quickly and leaves an incredibly natural looking flush. The amount of time it wears depends on what base makeup I'm using. To prolong its longevity, I reach for full coverage foundation as my base and set it with powder.

Intensity #008

This shade is a deep purple that reminds me of rich velvet. I found it took a few swipes to get even coverage on my lips. The finish is matte and it feels much like a stain - slightly drying, but nothing prepping with lip balm can't fix. It wears for quite a few hours before fading and it does transfer slightly. I didn't try this shade on my cheeks because it's a bit too avant garde for my liking, but that's just my personal taste.

Top-Bottom
Diorific Khol #991, Diorific Matte Fluid #008, Diorific Matte Fluid #005

"For the first time ever, Diorific is now available as a kohl for lips. Delivers intense color with a powdery, matte finish. 

Simply irresistible. Pure glamour. The faceted bullet makes applying lipstick almost magical." /source/ 

Diorific Rouge Khôl ($46) is available in 5 shades and I'm sharing my thoughts on Bold Amethyst #991 This shade is way prettier on than it is in the tube. It's a vampy, dark purple that looks almost blackened in certain lighting. I love the unique shape of the lipstick; it reminds me of a pencil and it applies so precisely. It feels creamy on my lips and not at all drying. I need more of these lipsticks. Seriously!

You can find these and other Dior products nationwide at Sephora, Hudson's Bay and Nordstrom.

Press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Ready. Set. Holidays! Shoppers Drug Mart Holiday Gift Guide

One of my favourite things to do is browse the aisles at Shoppers Drug Mart during the holiday season. I can always find something for everyone on my wishlist (myself included) and even better, the gifts are affordable!

Every year Quo releases a selection of gift sets with varied tastes in mind. From lipstick to brow products and brushes, there's something for every beauty lover!

The Matte Lipstick Bar ($20 CAD) is sure to be a hit with lipstick lovers! You get 8 deluxe-sized samples of liquid lipstick, ranging from nudes to bolds with a matte finish. The lipsticks are pigmented and long wearing, however, they're not transfer proof. They do feel a bit sticky until they dry down, so it's a good idea to blot after application. Alternatively, you can dust your lips with translucent powder.

Quo Beauty On The Go ($35) is perfect for the traveller in your life. This set contains 3 palettes that cover all the basics! You get an eyeshadow palette with 6 neutral shadows in shimmer and matte finishes, a palette with two highlight shades plus a blush, and a lip gloss palette containing 6 pigmented lip glosses ranging from nude to bolder. The only thing missing from this set is applicators. It would have been nice to get a brush for the gloss, but I'm sure we all have tons of those already 😜

The Quo All About Eyes Shadow Palette ($22) contains two matte base shades, 7 mattes and 5 shimmery shades. This palette is great for day-to-day looks as well as smokey eyes. This palette pairs very well with a nice bold lip. I recommend pairing it with the red liquid lipstick from the Matte Lipstick Bar for a classic Christmas look.

Contouring isn't going anywhere, so why not gift someone a chiseled complexion this year. The Quo Face Sculpting Palette ($22) has 3 highlighting shades and 3 sculpting shades in a mix of warm and cool tones. The powders are creamy, pigmented and blendable. I personally find it hard to get a contour palette that isn't too dark for my fair complexion, so I'm happy to see that this one is quite light. I'm also glad that it's a completely matte palette. If you're fair to light skinned, you're seriously going to loooove this palette!

Another fabulous stocking stuffer is the Quo Brow Essentials Kit ($10). It contains a dual ended pencil to shape and fill in sparse brows, a highlighting pencil and a brow gel. I am absolutely, positively, smitten with this set! The pencils are sooo creamy, pigmented and they blend so well! The shades are perfect in every way possible and look really natural (well the Brow pencil does lol). I'm seriously considering clearing out the stock at my local SDM 💸

Quo by ORLY Breathable 12 Days Of Colorful Healthy Nails Advent Calendar ($40) is a must-have for any beauty lover. This grown-up version of an advent calendar features 11 polishes and 1 treatment product. This is my first beauty advent calendar, and I want to savour it. Which means no spoilers! If you want to see what's inside, be sure to keep an eye on my insta stories in December 😉

If you're looking for a stocking stuffer, you should check out Quo by ORLY Marvelous Minis ($16). You get 4 colours that compliment each other beautifully. When you do the math, it works out to cost only $4 per polish which is a great deal. Fairy Godmother is such a gorgeous shade and I seriously can't get enough!

Last, but certainly not least, is the Quo Lip Gloss Ornament ($5). This cute little lip gloss comes housed in a small box that you can hang off of your tree (or put in a stocking). I'm seriously considering decorating my tree with makeup and this would be a great start 😉

Quo has 30 limited edition holiday items this year, so you're sure to find something to appease the makeup lover in your life. And don't forget, Shoppers carries all sorts of products ranging from food to electronics. You might just be surprised at how much of your holiday shopping you can get done there.

Have you picked up anything from Quo's Holiday Collection? Which items tickle your fancy? Lets chat in the comment section below 👇



*Press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.