Preventing Visible Signs Of Aging With Vichy's New Idéalia Line ~ Review + Swatches

I started using Vichy products in my 20's to treat breakouts (the Normaderm line) and I still reach for their products now that I'm in my 30's (the Idéalia line).

My skins needs have changed a lot since I hit 30 and so has my skincare. Nowadays I'm looking for products to prevent/manage early signs of aging. Vichy has a bunch of new products in the Idéalia line that do just that!

Vichy Idéalia Radiance Booster Serum (30 ml, $49.95) is the first step in my skincare after cleansing. This serum has been reformulated to absorb into skin straightaway and to reduce stickiness. It also guarantees an optimum hydration rate for 24 hours and is suitable for all skin types.

I love how it's lightly scented and gives my skin an instant boost of hydration with a touch of luminosity. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft. I use this serum day and night and it works wonders on keeping my combo skin radiant.

Vichy Idéalia Anti-Fatigue Eye Care (15 ml, $39.95) is a dual action eye contour cream that is formulated with caffeine to instantly perk up your eye area. It's suitable for all skin types and will help to reduce the appearance of dark shadows and fine lines.

The biggest issue I have with my eye contour area is sensitivity. I'm prone to eczema there and have an extremely hard time finding eye products that will work without causing irritation. After using this eye cream for a few weeks I can safely say that it is suitable for sensitive eyes!

Vichy Idéalia Anti-Fatigue Eye Care has quickly reached HG status for me. Upon waking I have a few small lines under my eyes and this stuff smooths them right out. It also brightens my eye area with light reflecting particles and wears beautifully under makeup. The one and only thing I don't like about it is the rubber spatula applicator. It tugs on my skin and requires too much finesse to not pull on my eyes. To avoid this, I just squeeze it out and apply it with my fingertip.

Vichy Idéalia Smoothness & Glow Mattifying Sorbet-Cream (50 ml, $39.95) contains a complex of natural actives to boost natural glow, even skin tone, refine pores, smooth the skin and provide all day oil control. It's formulated with fermented black tea extract and micro-beads to take care of excess sebum (oil). This cream is recommended for combination-oily skin types.

As someone with combo skin I know the struggle to find a product that will give a glowy finish without ending up looking oily mid afternoon. This cream is it! I apply it after the Radiance Booster Serum and it gives me a gorgeous glow without being too heavy or looking too shiny. My skin is left matte yet glowing. Vichy Idéalia Smoothness & Glow Mattifying Sorbet-Cream is the real deal. If you have combo skin and want the glow without the shine, you need this in your life!

Vichy Idéalia BB Cream (40 ml, $37) is formulated with mineral pigments that blend into the skin to impart a second skin finish. It's formulated with fermented black tea extract to improve skin quality with continual use. This BB Cream is suitable for all skin types and is available in 2 shades (light and medium).

I usually don't wear BB cream, it's typically either foundation or nothing. Having said that, I have been reaching for this when I don't have the time to perfect my base but still want some coverage. It has a light, pleasant scent and it adds subtle luminosity to my skin. The coverage is fairly light but can be built up. It will last a few hours on me as is, but I can extend the wear by setting it with translucent powder.

Vichy Idéalia Radiance Activating Night Peeling Care (100 ml, $39.95) is a gentle peel that can be used nightly to stimulate skin regeneration, fade dark spots & acne scars and to smooth wrinkles. It's suitable for all skin types - even sensitive!

I love to use chemical peels; they tend to cause less damage to the skin (surface tears) and I've found that they produce much better results. This peel contains glycolic acid which is great for cell regeneration and fighting breakouts (something I still occasionally deal with). Vichy Idéalia Radiance Activating Night Peeling Care has a wonderful scent that I love and it is incredibly gentle. I've noticed that my skin looks much more radiant, even and smooth in the morning after using it.

Vichy Smoothness & Glow Energizing Cream (50 ml, $45) gives a boost of nutrients to the skin that's needed to combat signs of stress and to add glow. There are two versions available; normal - combination and dry skin.

I've been using the normal - combination cream in the evenings. Technically it's a day cream, but I find it to be a bit heavy for day use in the summer. Like all of the products in the Idéalia range, it smells amazing! It comes in a beautiful jar with a mirrored top that looks gorgeous atop my vanity. This cream feels great on my skin and adds a lovely, natural glow. The light reflecting particles give the illusion of blurred pores and rested skin. I feel like this would be the perfect day cream for me come late fall/early winter when my skin leans more dry.

You can find Vichy products in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart or online at vichy.ca

Have you tried Vichy before? What are your skin concerns? Lets keep the conversation going in the comments below 👇

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

St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion ~ Review

Long gone are the days of my youth where I would slather myself in oil and bask in the sun chasing the perfect tan. What was I thinking? Nowadays, I bathe in sunscreen and opt for self tanners to achieve a (healthy) summer glow.

St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion is described as an everyday, gradual tanning lotion that will leave your skin hydrated for up to 48hrs. It is available in two shades (light/medium and medium/dark) and boasts that it will give you a beautiful glow in a matter of days. I received the medium/dark shade and dove right in; after thoroughly exfoliating first of course!

I squeezed a quarter sized amount into my palm and noticed two things. It didn't reek of DHA and it was white, like your standard body lotion. The texture was perfect being neither too thick or thin and it applied like a dream. Since it's white and not tinted I found myself really paying attention to where I was applying it. This isn't a bad thing!

My first application of St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion was in the evening, just before bedtime. When I awoke in the morning I noticed that I had quite the healthy glow - close to two shades deeper than my natural colour! I caught a slight whiff of DHA but it wasn't overpowering and it washed away after my shower. Most impressive was that my sheets weren't stained!

After my shower I applied another layer of St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion. Within a few hours I noticed a deepening of my tan. I also noticed that I overdid it near my wrists so I gently exfoliated them so it wasn't as noticeable.

After two applications, I was satisfied with my results so I stopped applying it. After 5 days I decided it might be a good idea to exfoliate again. I was expecting my tan to fade but it didn't; it looked better!

Saying I'm impressed with St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion would be an understatement. Its been over 2 weeks and my tan still looks amazing. It looks natural, isn't streaky and fades evenly (although it hasn't really faded much). I'm obsessed!

You can find St Tropez at Shoppers Drug Mart & beautyBOUTIQUE.ca, Murale, London Drugs & londondrugs.com, Hudson's Bay & thebay.com, Uniprix and Nordstrom

Have you tried any products from St Tropez? What's your ride or die self tanner? Let's get the converation started in the comments below 👇


* A PR sample was provided to me for editorial consideration, but all opinions are my own!

Ardell Mega Volume Lashes in 250 ~ Review + Look

When it comes to false lashes, I'm all about the volume. Since I don't wear them daily, I want them to be as extra as possible. Ardell Mega Volume Lashes in 250 fit the bill - they're long, voluptuous and definitely glam!

"Neverflat™ Curl Technology is multi-layered lashes with tapered tips that blend naturally with your lashes for an enhanced 3D effect. Multi-dimensional lashes that offer maximum lash attraction." /source/ 

As you can see in the photo, these lashes have a beautiful curl to them. The tapered ends blend into my natural lashes giving me the most gorgeous, wide-eyed look.

Ardell Mega Volume Lashes in 250 were surprisingly easy to put on; I didn't even have to trim them! I curled my natural lashes, applied a single coat of Benefits They're Real mascara, added a thin strip of Duo's Dark Tone lash glue to the falsies, let it get tacky (about 30 seconds) and then applied the Mega Volume Lashes.

These lashes not only look amazing, they're also super comfy and light. If you're gentle when you remove them and clean them well, they can be reused. If you're looking for affordable (and beautiful) lashes I suggest you check these out!

You can find Ardell Mega Volume Lashes at Rexall, Lawton's and Walmart nationwide.

*A PR sample was provided for editorial consideration but all opinions are my own!

Shiseido WetForce BB VoxBox ~ Review + Swatches

When it comes to skincare, Shiseido is a brand that I love. So when Influenster sent me the WetForce BB VoxBox complimentary for testing purposes, I knew that I was in for a treat!

"Sunscreen and makeup in one. This ingenious hybrid keeps skin looking undeniably gorgeous and protected, even while you have fun under the sun playing sports and working out. Now in a transfer-resistant BB tinted sunscreen, discover the ultimate sun protection formula with innovative WetForce technology. The super-lightweight formula blends easily into skin and stays put, delivering comfortable natural coverage that camouflages uneven skin texture and tone so you can look your best while you sweat." /source/ 

I received Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50 + WetForce in the medium shade and it's a perfect match for me - at my palest. This product is only available in 3 shades (light, medium and dark) so it may be hard to find a suitable match if you're anything deeper than light-medium. The poor shade selection is a shame because this product is actually amazing!

Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50 + WetForce is tinted enough to cover redness and minor imperfections while still looking natural. It dries to a satin-matte finish in seconds and it has a powdery feel when dry. There's no white cast and it doesn't feel heavy. It lasts all day (the BB coverage; not the sun protection) but it can be tricky to remove. An oil based cleanser works best and luckily enough, one was included in this VoxBox!

"Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil is a specially designed purifying formula quickly and easily removes long-wearing foundation and water-resistant, high-SPF sunscreens. It rinses away quickly leaving no sensation of stickiness." /source/ 

This cleansing oil melts off heavy facial makeup and sunscreen with ease. It emulsifies with water and rinses off clean. I found it worked extremely well at removing my base makeup and sunscreen, however it didn't perform too well on my mascara.

I also received a sample of Shiseido's Urban Environment UV Protection Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 40 For Face/Body.

"This daily shield utilizes advanced sun care technology to protect against dryness, oxidative pollutants, and UVA/UVB rays that cause photo-aging, spots, and wrinkles. " /source/ 

This product was a huge miss for me. Although it feels light on the skin and has a matte, powdery feeling finish that I love, it gives off a major white cast. It doesn't matter how well I rub it in, the white cast is quite noticeable.

Out of the three Shiseido products I was sent, I would definitely purchase Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50 + WetForce and the Ultimate Cleansing Oil.

You can find Shiseido in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora & online at Sephora.ca and beautyBOUTIQUE.ca

If you're not a member of Influenster yet, I highly recommend you sign up! Feel free to use my referral code www.influenster.com/r/1074768

*I received these items complimentary from Influenster, but all opinions are my own!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick In Carina ~ Review + Swatches

As a liquid lipstick junkie, I'm embarrased to admit that I only recently tried Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick. For some reason, Stila is a brand I haven't gravitated towards. After trying their All-In-One Color Correcting Palette (review here) and the Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, that has definitely changed!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (3ml, $31) is a highly-pigmented liquid lipstick that boasts a wear time of up to 6 hours. It's enriched with Vitamin E and Avocado Oil for hydration and is free of parabens, sulfates, phlatates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, GMOs and triclosan.

It's available in 25 shades from bolds to nudes and mattes to shimmers. The shade I'm reviewing is Carina - a matte, vibrant coral!

When it comes to lipstick I'm a sucker for reds, oranges and corals so naturally I was drawn to this shade. The formula is so pigmented, creamy and very opaque - it's a one (swipe) and done lipstick!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick indeed stays in place all day with minimal transfer. It can withhold drinking and light snacking but if you eat anything oily, it will start to break down. I've managed to get close to 8 hours of wear time which is quite impressive considering the amount of coffee I consume in a day! I did find that it will start to feel a bit dry once it passes the 4 hour mark - not uncommon for liquid lipsticks. It definitely helps to exfoliate and moisturize prior to applying it.

If you're a fan of liquid lipstick, I highly recommend you check these out! The pigment is great and not having to constantly reapply is priceless.

You can find Stila in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and Sephora & online at Sephora.ca and beautyBOUTIQUE.ca

*A PR sample was provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own!

Shu Uemura Art Of Hair ~ Review

Thin hair, do care. This post is for those of us who weren't gifted with a perfectly full head of hair. My hair is painfully thin, straight and lifeless. I don't just want volume; I need all the volume!

I've been using some hair products from Shu Uemura Art Of Hair for the last few weeks and I'm impressed! My thin hair has volume, lift and bounce. But what sets this brand apart is how my hair feels. I've found that many products for volume tend to leave my hair feeling filmy and looking dull. With Shu's products my hair feels clean, looks shiny and has volume. Total score!

"Pure lightness shampoo for fine hair with no paraben & no silicone. Gently purifies while respecting the balance of the scalp. With himalayan crystal minerals, the formula provides lightweight conditioning. Hair feels fuller, light and airy. The New Muroto Volume formula fortifies the hair fiber with essential minerals for long-lasting volume without burdening the hair for weightless lift and movement." /source/

Shu Uemura Muroto Volume Pure Lightness Shampoo (300ml, $46) is housed in a sleek looking bottle and it has a very light (almost nonexistent) fragrance to it. This shampoo doesn't create much lather; but it gets my hair clean. It leaves my fine hair feeling hydrated and weightless which is a big deal! After rinsing my hair I apply Shu Uemura's Muroto Volume Pure Lightness Conditioner.

"Conditioner for fine hair with no paraben. With himalayan crystal minerals, the formula provides lightweight conditioning. Hair feels fuller, light and airy. The New Muroto Volume formula fortifies the hair fiber with essential minerals for long-lasting volume without burdening the hair for weightless lift and movement." /source/

Shu Uemura Muroto Volume Pure Lightness Conditioner (250ml, $56) comes with a pump and I love that! It has a light fragrance and a little goes a long way. The texture is thin, yet it coats every strand leaving my hair feeling hydrated. Once rinsed, my hair is conditioned, easy to comb through and not at all weighed down. When dry my hair has so much life, but why stop there? With a little bit of help from Shu Uemura's styling products, I can really amp up the volume! 

"Wonder-Worker Natural look perfector for a flawless touch. Ideal for the on-the-go styling leaving hair treated and protected with an efforless look." /source/

Shu Uemura Wonder-Worker  Air Dry/Blow Dry Perfector (150ml, $42) is a versatile spray that can be used on towel-dried hair that will be air-dried or blow-dried. When I've used it without the blow dryer, my hair has some lift that looks natural. It's bouncy and soft and I love it! When I blow dry my hair I see a lot of volume plus I get some hold as well. I find that with the help of hairspray, it will hold pretty much all day (unless it's humid outside). This multi-tasker is a game changer for me - I will be using it for years to come!

"Invisible Texturizing Powder brush for instant texturized hairstyles : made-to-measure volume, root lift, long-lasting blow-dry" /source/ 

Shu Uemura Volume Maker Invisible Texturizing Powder (2g, $50) is a texturizing powder that comes enclosed in a tube with an attached brush. To use it, you simply push the button on the end so that the powder is released into the brush; then you brush the powder onto your hair. I like the concept, however, I find that the powder gets lost in the bristles. The powder itself is amazing, it adds lots of texture and volume, but I would prefer to have the powder in a shaker-style container to maximize the efficacy and to avoid wastage. The one benefit to having it in this slim brush is that it's easily portable; I can take it with me to touch up my hair should I need to (and since it's summer I need to do that a lot).

This is a side view of my hair after using Shu Uemura Art Of Hair; minus my fading pink ombre, my hair looks pretty darn good!

You can find Shu Uemura Art Of Hair in-store at Sephora and online at sephora.com & shuuemura.ca

Have you tried Shu Uemura Art Of Hair? What are your hair goals? Let's chat in the comment section below 👇

*PR samples were provided for editorial consideration, but all opinions are my own!

Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette ~ Review + Swatches

10 years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of colour correcting; now I welcome it with open arms (and dark shadows). I typically use green, peach and yellow correctors on my face and I find having them together in a palette much more convenient than having them individually in tubes (easier to store and travel with too).

Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette ($59) features 5 sheer-medium colour correcting creams and 2 finishing powders to help conceal skin tone imperfections. It also comes with a handy how-to guide. Before I get into my thoughts on the palette itself, let's refer to that handy how-to guide about what each shade does!

/Source/

So now that we know what the shades in the Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette do, let's talk about the formula. The creams are super creamy and quite sheer (but still very pigmented) when swatched. The Orange Cream is by far the most pigmented; it applies opaque on the first swipe!

Although I'm able to use all of 3 of the cream shades (even the orange!) for my under eye area, I favour the Peach Cream. It hides my shadows, brightens and completely disappears under my concealer. I like to use the Green Cream to correct redness on my nose, cheeks and chin prior to applying my foundation. The Yellow and Pink Creams work great as a highlighter/brightener before or after foundation.

Top-Bottom ~ Yellow Powder, Peach Cream, Pink Cream, Green Cream

Top-Bottom ~ Pink Cream, Green Cream, Yellow Cream, Orange Cream

The powders in the Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette didn't swatch well, which is why they're hard to see in the photos. I did find them to be a bit chalky, but still totally usable to set foundation and concealer. In my opinion, the creams in this palette are the true stars!

You can find Stila in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and Sephora & online at sephora.com and beautyboutique.ca

*A PR sample was provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own!

Creating My Perfect Summer Foundation With MAKE UP FOREVER's Chromatic Mix ~ Review, Swatches and Demo

I've got a very exciting post for you today! I've been working on this for a few weeks now and I'm finally ready to share my latest discovery - MAKE UP FOR EVER Chromatic Mix!

MAKE UP FOR EVER Chromatic Mix ($17, 13ml) are pigment drops that you can add to your liquid makeup to change its tone or shade. Chromatic Mix is available in 6 shades and two formulas (oil or water based).

Every summer I slather my self in self-tanner and I encounter the same dilemma; my face fades quicker than my body. So I always have to purchase a darker shade of foundation for when I tan. Cue MAKE UP FOR EVER Chromatic Mix. Instead of rushing out to buy a new foundation, I can tweak the ones I already have!

Matthew (MAKE UP FOR EVER Talent Relationship Makeup Artist) suggested that I mix half a drop of Chromatic Mix in 02 (yellow) and a full drop of Chromatic Mix 05 (brown) to two full pumps of my Water Blend Foundation (you can read my review of that here).

So is it that straightforward? In a nutshell, yes! The Chromatic Mix is water based and blends into foundation with ease. Once you find out the right amount to mix in to achieve the results you desire you're all set.

I've been mixing and blending Chromatic Mix with quite a few of my foundations and have seen amazing results. I took some photos to show you just how little you need to adjust your foundations.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Chromatic Mix is available online exclusively at www.sephora.com

*PR Samples were provided for editorial consideration, but all opinions are my own!