Endless Summer Fun With Sun Bum

If you only use one product, it should be sunscreen. It's been proven that UVA rays  age skin cells and damage their DNA, which in turn leads to premature aging (i.e. wrinkles). UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and are thought to be the cause of most skin cancers. Having a good offence is your best defence when it comes to sun protection and luckily, there are many options available.

Sun Bum is a lifestyle brand located in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Their products are cruelty free, paraben free and made in the US (with the exception of Baby Bum which is manufactured in Australia). I've been putting some of their products to the test for the past few weeks and I'm so impressed!

Sun Bum Face Cream contains an SPF of 50 and is water resistant for 80 minutes. The packaging claims that it's clear, however, the cream itself is white. If applied heavily, it can give a white cast. When applied sparingly and massaged in, you can't see it all. It feels hydrating, not heavy and it doesn't cause my tzone to turn into an oil slick. It's also 100% vegan, gluten free, alcohol free and it smells like bananas!

Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion offers an SPF of 30, water resistance of 80 minutes and smells like a banana smoothie. It contains Vitamin E (an antioxidant) to neutralize free radicals, which are said to be the main cause of premature aging. It feels light, moisturizing and it absorbs into my skin rather than sitting on top. If I could bathe in this stuff I would. Seriously, it's that good!

When I'm out and about, I love the convenience of aerosol sunscreens. They make reapplying sunscreen a breeze and allow you to get to those hard to reach places like your back. Sun Bum Continuous Spray Sunscreen has an SPF of 50 and a water resistance of 80 minutes. The high SPF is perfect for days when the UV index hits 7 or greater. It's a clear formula so it doesn't leave a white cast, it's easy to use and feels great on my skin. Just be wary of wind when spraying; it can cause the sunscreen to go into the air instead of on your skin!

Sun Bum also has a  natural line of sunscreen for children, aptly named Baby Bum. Baby Bum is a mineral-based sunscreen and it contains an SPF of 30 and water resistance of 80 minutes. It has the typical mineral sunscreen scent with a hint of vanilla, yum! It's non-greasy, blends easily and the packaging is adorable. Although Baby Bum is geared towards children, it's a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin or those looking for a mineral based sunscreen.

After a long day in the sun, Sun Bum Cool Down After Sun Continuous Spray is a must have. This dry touch body oil contains Aloe, Cucumber Extract and Vitamin E to restore the skins natural moisture balance after sun exposure. You can use it to soothe sunburns, wind burns, dehydrated/dry skin and chapped skin. It smells heavenly and since its a dry oil, it won't leave your skin feeling oily. You definitely want to keep this in your beach bag!


You can find Sun Bum at Shoppers Drug Mart or online at www.well.ca


Have you tried Sun Bum before? Are you team sunscreen lotion or spray? Let's get the conversation started in the comment section below!



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

Spring Vibes VoxBox

If you follow me on Instagram (if you don't you should - hint, hint giveaway) you will likely have seen that I was chosen to receive *Influenster's Spring Vibes Voxbox. This was the first Canadian co-op voxbox and it was packed full of some amazing items!

Since my thing is beauty, let's talk about those items first!

Nivea's Q10 Firming Body Oil is amazing! Unlike a lot of other body oils I've used in the past, this one actually absorbs (unless you overdue it). It has a light, botanical scent and it's deeply nourishing. It's comparable to Bio-Oil (review on that here) and I can't recommend it enough!

The imPRESS Press-On Manicure Kit was fun to try but sadly it didn't work out too well for me. The nails were absolutely gorgeous, however, my natural nail beds are quite long and the length of these were too short. I had a hard time covering my natural nails with them. I did the best I could, and wore them for two days before removing them. They were beautiful from a far, but up close looked very fake. I think I'll stick with my natural nails.

We received a popsocket from ebates and it's probably the coolest cell phone gadget I've ever used. It makes taking photos easier and holding my phone is much more comfortable. If you're not a member of ebates, I highly recommend you sign up. You can earn cash back on your online purchases and special, member only discounts. If you use my referral, we both get a $5 bonus added to our accounts! How cool is that? Thanks in advance if you use my link 😊 https://www.ebates.ca/referrer?referrerid=yUYKp39XchY%3D%0D%0A

There were 3 packets of Nescafe's Sweet & Creamy Coffee and let me tell you, it's good! I rarely drink instant coffee but I'll make an exception for this stuff. I chose to drink mine prior to cleansing my makeup brushes 😝

Quaker Harvest Fruit & Nut bars were gone in no time, which is why I don't have an individual photo of them to show you 😂 they taste great; no artificial flavour taste and sized perfectly for on the go. I've already purchased them as snacks for my girls.

I discovered Annie's Homegrown last year and I was happy to see a box of the Shells with Real Aged Cheddar included in this voxbox. These shells are one of my favourite pre-packaged mac and cheese products for a reason; they taste like real cheese. My only gripe is that there isn't enough mac and cheese-y goodness in one box.

Last but certainly not least was a FPC for Arm & Hammer. I redeemed my coupon for the Cold Water 3 in 1 Power Packs. Now when it comes to laundry detergent I am super picky, I always use Tide. I was pleasantly surprised by how well these laundry packs work! They didn't remove all the stains from my laundry, but did a good job nonetheless.

Thank you Influenster Canada for including me in this voxbox! It was a lot of fun testing out these products. If you're not a member of Influenster, what are you waiting for?! Join now using my referral link to get in on scoring awesome voxboxes like this just for sharing your honest opinion. Yup, it's that simple!


*I received these products complimentary for testing purposes but all opinions are my own!

Purequosa ~ Review

Hello beauties! I decided to take a mini blogging vacation but I'm back now with lots to share! I've got a some exciting posts coming this week so stay tuned (and don't forget to enter my giveaway on Instagram). I'm starting the week off with an interesting new product - Purequosa!

Purequosa is a plant based, natural cleanser for skin. Designed for people on the go, Purequosa will keep you feeling fresh and smelling clean. These cleansers contain plant hydrosols, plant essential oils and colloidal silver. Colloidal silver is an effective anti-bacterial that has been used for centuries, and is still used today in hospitals for things such as wound care bandages and breathing tubes.

There are three different formulas of Purequosa and each one contains unique ingredients with varying benefits.

Purequosa's Rain contains:

• Colloidial Silver
• Plant Hydrosols - Cucumber (softens skin, helps to heal wounds and sunburns), Aloe (burn and acne relief) and Tea Tree (antibacterial and rash relief)
• Plant Essential Oil - Cleary Sage (antibacterial antiseptic, deodorizing and skin moisturizing)

Rain is my favourite of the three because it has a very light scent that reminds me of fresh laundry! 

Purequosa's Coastal contains:

• Colloidal silver
• Plant Hydrosols - Yucca (heals wounds and prevents skin damage), Aloe (burn and acne relief) and Eucalyptus (antibacterial and deodorizing)
• Plant Essential Oil - Sage (disinfectant and skin restoring)

Coastal smells like sage and I like it a lot more than I thought I would. It smells like sage but it's not overpowering and it doesn't linger for too long.

Purequosa's Desert contains

• Colloidal Silver
• Plant Hydrosols - Yucca (heals wounds and prevents skin damage) and Eucalyptus (antibacterial and deodorizing)
• Plant essential Oil - Cistus/Rock Flower (helps heal wounds and restores skin)

I personally don't love this scent, It's quite potent and masculine. Luckily, the scent doesn't last for too long. I will likely pass this one on to a friend.

It's important to note that Purequosa is free from alcohol and chemicals that are harmful to people and the planet. It's small batched and handmade with no mass production in big factories; which means it's not sitting on shelves in a warehouse for long periods of time. I personally love the convenience of these and how well they work. They definitely leave my skin feeling fresh and clean - I can see myself reaching for them often this summer.

For more information or to purchase Purequosa, visit https://www.purequosa.com

Have you tried Purequosa before? Does it sound like something you would like? Let's chat in the comment section below

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

Shake Up Your Routine With Rimmel London ~ Review + Swatches

Can mascara be kept fresh by something as simple as a little shake? Rimmel thinks so! Shake It Fresh is a revolutionary new mascara that can be shaken cocktail-shaker-style to keep the formula fresh and clump free. The tube sort of resembles a cocktail shaker and it has some weight to it. When you shake it, you can feel the inner tube move and it's such a satisfying feeling/sound (think metal balls in nail polish).

The wand is fairly standard as is the brush. The texture of the mascara on the other hand is quite different than what I'm used to. The formula is very thin and watery. You can see in the photo above how viscous it is. It applies super wet but dries fairly quickly. I find it gives my lashes quite a bit of length but not very much volume. It doesn't curl my lashes, so I have to pull out the eyelash curler if I want my lashes to have a bit of curl to them. Thankfully, it doesn't clump!

If you're looking for a mascara to darken, separate and lengthen your lashes, you will probably like Rimmel London's Shake It Fresh. It's also really easy to remove with makeup remover too which is a major bonus!

Rimmel London has also released a shake-able brow powder! Meet Brow Shake Filling Powder. Available in 4 shades, Brow Shake Filling Powder is fade-proof, smudge-proof and waterproof. You can also wear it as an eyeliner!

I have the shade 003 Dark Brown and it's a deep, chocolate brown. The powder is very pigmented and a little goes a long way. You definitely want to use a light-hand when you apply it, otherwise it will look too harsh. With my current hair colour (light brown to blonde ombre) I feel like this shade is a touch too dark for me. I think it will be perfect for fall/winter when I darken my hair though!

Last but certainly not least, Rimmel London's Brow This Way Fibre Pencil. I am really picky about brow pencils and I'm surprised that this one performed so well! The pencil is waxy enough to shape and draw hairs, yet creamy enough to blend with a spoolie. 

There are currently 3 shades available and I have the shade 002 medium. It's a mid-range brown and it matches my brown to blonde ombre hair. I like to lightly shape my brows, fill them in and then set with a brow mascara for a very natural look.

Top swatch is Brow This Way Pencil, bottom swatch is Brow Shake Powder

You can find Rimmel London products at most drugstores and mass retailers such as Walmart.


Have you tried Shake It Fresh? What's your go-to brow product? Let's talk in the comment section below 👇

*PR samples sent for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own!

Have You Been To Shoppers Drug Mart Lately?

Hey beauties! Today I'm sharing some new additions to Shoppers Drug Mart that you don't want to miss out on. From skincare to sun care to sweet treats; these are some seriously awesome products you should check out the next time you pop into Shoppers Drug Mart!


Hair Care

Round brushes are one of my haircare must-haves. Although my hair is straight, there's always that one piece of hair that wants to rebel and stick out. Stylize Lightweight Hair Brushes ($16.99) ensure that my hair falls straight and curves into my chin, just the way I like it. The round barrel allows you to control the way your hair falls (outward, inward or straight) and it adds volume into your hair. These brushes get bonus points for being lightweight and super cute; just check out that handle!

Stylize Ponytailers ($8.99) are available in so many fun colours and styles. These cord-shaped hair ties not only look unique but serve a seriously amazing purpose! Designed with summer swimming in mind, these ponytailers won't absorb water and can be easily removed from wet hair. They stretch to accommodate different lengths and thicknesses of hair, and they don't get stuck in curly hair. I tested them on my oldest daughter who has very long ringlets and they were a breeze to put in and remove. They also look pretty neat worn around your wrist!

Sun Bum 3 In 1 Leave In Hair Treatment ($19.99) protects, detangles and conditions hair all while enhancing it's natural body. It also helps to control frizz, repair split ends and slow down colour fading. Like all Sun Bum products, it smells like a tropical paradise! It's also lightweight and doesn't weigh my fine hair down. You need this in your life, trust me!

Sun Care

Sun care is so important! Not only does sunscreen help to prevent sunburns and skin cancer, it prevents premature aging as well. Life Brand's Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 ($11.49) offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection and is water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes. It doesn't feel oily like a lot of aerosol sunscreens do and it has a light, pleasant scent. Just don't forget to reapply it after swimming!

Our lips need to be protected from the sun too and I can't think of a better lip balm for sun protection than Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30 in Coconut ($5.99). First of all this lip balm smells ahhmazing! It smells like the tropics and it tastes fantastic (I couldn't help myself - I had to). It feels very smooth and the hydrating effect is long lasting. If you're going to buy only one lip balm this summer, it's got to be this one!

Makeup

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump Lip Gloss in Pinkwell ($24.99) is seriously good. It comes housed in a squeezable tube and has a sweet smell to it that reminds me of chocolate. It applies and feels like a gloss until...bzzz..hello plumped up lips! It gives a very noticeable buzzing/tingling sensation that I love and it leaves my lips looking fuller. Major love!

Quo Matte Liquid Liner ($12) eyeliners add the perfect pop of colour to your eye looks. I have the shade Denim and it's the most gorgeous blue. The felt tip applicator is thin and very easy to use. It applies opaque and dries down matte. If you want to experiment with bold colours this summer, these eyeliners are a great place to start!

Quo Brow Sculpting Pencil & Powder ($14) is a dual ended brow product that has a pencil on one end and powder on the other. It's available in three shades (blonde, taupe and brunette) and there's a definite learning curve when it comes to using the pencil end. The pencil is a triangular shape that is somewhat similar to Benefits Goof Proof pencil. The idea is that you can use the pointed end to draw in hairs and the wider base to fill your brows.  The powder on the end is dispersed by a sponge tip and applies lightly which I like. I personally find the brunette shade to be a bit too cool and dark for me though (It's closer to black than it is brown).

Skincare

Yes To Cotton Comforting Facial Wipes (25 for $9.99) are made with recycled cotton and are very gentle on sensitive/allergy prone skin. They have a mild scent and feel refreshing on my face. Although they did a decent job at removing my facial makeup, they were no match against my long wearing and waterproof eye products. These are best at removing light makeup and/or refreshing after a workout.

Masque Bar Sleeping Facial Mask ($19.99) is designed to work it's magic overnight. First of all, this mask smells heavenly! The lavender scent is super relaxing and combined with a gentle facial massage, will have you ready for sleep in no time! It does feel slightly sticky like a lot of sleep packs/masks do, however, it won't leave you stuck to your pillow. When I wake up my face feels smooth and hydrated.

Sweet Treats

No trip to Shoppers Drug Mart is complete without a sweet treat! PC Maple Fudge ($5.99) is a tasty way to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday; and let me tell you, it's just as good as it sounds! Rich, buttery and full of maple flavour. The only problem is sticking to the recommended serving size. I literally polished these off in a day 🙈

What are your summer essentials? Will you be picking any of these products? Let's chat in the comment section below 👇