Givenchy Dahlia Divin Eau Initiale Eau de Toilette

This spring we see a new take on Givenchy's modern icon - behold Dahlia Divin Eau Initiale Eau de Toilette.

The Blooming of a divinity

At the root of Eau Initiale is a divine flower, the Magnolia.

Hubert de Givenchy regarded fragrance as the final touch of style and elegance and his perfumes have carried a distinctive and timeless olfactory signature since 1957. The creation of Dahlia Divin in 2014 brought couture to fragrance and this new interpretation brings feelings of pure beginnings.

"Dahlia Divin is a golden fragrance, an elixir of pure sensuality. The fragrance of a modern godess who shines like the sun and captivates by her presence." 

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This fragrance is light but noticeable with an average sillage. It maintains a good balance between fresh, floral and musky without being over the top. The notes shine on their own and together in harmony. Out of all of the Dahlia Divin's I've tried, I have to admit this is my favourite. There's something about it's purity that I love and I think it's perfect for wedding season.

If you like musky scents than you will love this. And if you found the other Dahlia Divin fragrances too intense, you will like this one far better.

You can find Dahlia Divin Eau Initiale Eau de Toilette ($113) in Canada exclusively at Hudson's Bay and thebay.com

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

MAKE UP FOR EVER's Ultra HD Underpainting Color Correction Palette & Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter

Colour correcting, strobing, contouring, highlighting...so many techniques involving so many products. There's no denying that the end result is worth the effort but sometimes time is an issue. In busy mornings I rely on multitasking products to speed up the process. Realistically, if I have to reach for too many different things it's just not happening. Cue MAKE UP FOR EVER's Ultra HD Underpainting Color Correction Palette.

"Each Ultra HD Underpainting Color Correction Palette was developed by MAKE UP FOR EVER’s pro artist teams and tested on a wide range of skin tones to ensure precise and undetectable color correction—ridding skin of unwanted darkness, redness, and dull areas. As with the other Ultra HD products, a signature combination of coated pigments, powders, and a blend of emollient oils provide a second skin, seamless look and feel."

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There are six palettes to choose from based on skin tone. Each palette contains 2 colour correctors to correct discoloration and imperfections. There are also 2 concealers to camouflage the colour correctors. They can be built up to medium or full coverage as desired.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Underpainting Color Correction Palette in 25 Light has become a part of my daily routine. On  days where I haven't slept much (or I slept in) I can use the light peach corrector to conceal darkness under my eyes and then cover it with the concealer. I use the lighter shade (Y215) under my eyes and the darker shade (Y245) to spot conceal. I love how they went with yellow based concealer because it suits my undertone and it helps to mask redness better than cool based ones by cancelling out redness. I haven't had any issues with creasing, but I have had some problems with it moving around on my face. To avoid that, I make sure to set it with foundation or powder - preferably both.

Glowing skin has become my obsession lately and I am LOVING the Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter in 30. It's the most perfect golden hue and it gives all the glow without the sparkles. The only complaint I have is that it's a bit too subtle - I kind of want to bathe in it! Having said that, I can appreciate the fact that not everyone wants to blind people and it can be built up, so I guess there's not much to complain about 😜

You can find these and other fabulous MAKE UP FOR EVER products in-store and online at sephora.com

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

Givenchy Live Irrésistible Blossom Crush EDT

This may come as a surprise to some of you because I rarely blog about it, but I'm a HUGE fan of fragrance. At any given time I will have at least 3 (usually 4 or 5) different perfumes open and I rotate them based on the season and mood I'm in. I don't have a signature scent anymore (it used to be Very Irrésistible in my teens/early twenties). Nowadays I opt to wear fragrances based off of my mood and plans for the day.

I am SO picky when it comes to fragrance and you will never catch me wearing anything that isn't a brand name - no body sprays either. Givenchy has and always will have a special spot in my heart. Naturally I was excited to try Live Irrésistible Blossom Crush.

"Live Irrésistible, Givenchy’s most joyful fragrance, boldly sings the praises of joy in its purest form. Its latest variation, Blossom Crush, is a sparkling and irresistibly charming Eau de Toilette that advocates spontaneity as an asset and freedom as power."

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Live Irrésistible Blossom Crush is a contrast between the freshness of Peonies and the bitterness of Chocolate.  If that sounds different, it is! This fresh - floral -  musky scent is quite  different than your typical spring rose scents. The peonies add a freshness to the rose, while the cocoa adds a bitterness to it that playfully clashes with the floral aspect. It's important to note that the addition of Cocoa Bean does not cause it to cross into the gourmand category. It maintains it's fresh floral start with a base of musk. It has an average sillage and wears for close to 6 hours on hydrated skin.

The packaging stays true to the Irrésistible line and features the Givenchy House trademark studs. The bottle is a gorgeous mauve-y pink shade and it looks stunning on display.

Givenchy Live Irrésistible Blossom Crush EDT is available in Canada exclusively at Beauty Boutique and beautyboutique.ca it retails at $113 for 75mls

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

Kerastasé Densifique and Volumifique ~ Review

Those of you who know me personally or have been following my blog for awhile, know that I'm constantly on the hunt for products to boost volume and thicken my hair.  Permanently or temporarily. I was kindly gifted some Kérastase Paris products not too long ago and I have been loving them!

When you go on the Kérastase website you can take a diagnostic quiz to find out which products will suit you and your hair needs best. With my hair concerns, there are two options available; Densifique and Volumifique.

The Densifique Collection

The science behind this new routine’s formula are three key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, gluco-peptide, and ceramides. Hyaluronic acid, an ingredient naturally present in the skin which can retain up to a thousand times its weight in moisture, serves to address the concern of thinning hair fibers. Simultaneously, the gluco-peptide molecules serve to enhance the present quality of the fiber. Finally, the ceramides offer each hair strand a shot of strength to reduce breakage. The hair is left thicker, fuller, more resistant, and suppler.

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Bain Densité ($45 CAD)

Reviewing shampoo is tricky because it's so hard to tell exactly what it does. Obviously it cleanses, but what sets it apart? The answer is... I don't know. I never just shampoo my hair, it's always a  package deal. So my review of this shampoo is pretty basic - it cleanses well and prepares my hair for the magic of this routine.

Fondant Densité ($48 CAD)

Moving into the conditioner, I will say that it smells a bit funky. When you're used to sweet, fruity or heavily scented products, it kind of throws you off when something isn't. Smell aside, this conditioner leaves my hair feeling soft, silky and definitely thicker.  There's a noticeable plump feeling and I love it!

Mousse Densimorphose ($48 CAD)
The finishing touch in this line is the Mousse Densimorphose. A little goes a long way and beware that too much will not give you better results (learned that the hard and crunchy way). I like to apply a dollar size amount to my hair when its slightly damp and blow dry with a round brush. I get lots of lift, hold and a noticeable thick feeling to my hair. Obviously it's only there until I wash it again, but I'll take it!

The Volumifique line is really good too! This line is perfect for anyone who wants to add noticeable volume to their hair (aka me). It's similar to the Densifique Collection in steps and process, but the difference lays in the feel of the hair. Where Densifique adds the feeling of thickness, Volumifique only adds visual fullness.  My Volumifique routine consists of Bain Volumifique, Gelée Volumifique and Spray Volumifique.

Bain Volumifique ($45 CAD)

As I mentioned earlier, shampoo reviewing is hard! This one definitely got my hair clean but left it feeling a tad dry. You know that feeling that your hair is super tangled and hard to manage, it sort of felt like that. In other words, it definitely needed conditioner after.

Gelée Volumifique ($48 CAD)

I was initially thrown off by how small this tube is - I honestly thought it was a styling product until I read the packaging! It's a conditioner but in a gel form and it has an odd smell to it. It definitely doesn't have the same feel as a creamy conditioner and I have to admit I wasn't impressed when I rinsed my hair out. My hair felt sort of slick and not at all 'conditioned'. Once dry though my hair looked and felt amazingly soft, shiny, lightweight and full of bounce.

Spray Volumifique ($48 CAD)

Spray Volumifique is a fabulous styling product! It works like a root lifting spray but for all of your hair - genius! I spray it all over and then blow dry my hair upside down, ending with a round brush. Talk about volume! This spray is the bees knees - I can't recommend it enough!

If you've never tried Kerastasé products I highly recommend you visit their website and take their diagnostic quiz - it really takes then guess work out!

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

An Introduction to Nude by Nature ~ Review + Swatches

Have you heard of Nude by Nature? Australia's number one mineral makeup brand hit Canadian soil last month, exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart, and so far I am loving them! Nude by Nature is 100% cruelty-free and PETA certified. Nude by Nature believes in supporting skin health, not just covering it up. Their products are formulated with trusted natural ingredients such as Kakudu Plum and Lilly Pilly (antioxidants), Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil (moisturizers) as well as Vitamins A, C and E. Also important to note is that their products are formulated without synthetic ingredients, talc, silicone, phthalates, sulphates, PEGS, siloxanes, triclosans, phenoxyethanol or parabens.

Normally I like to save the best for last, but I'm so hyped about this foundation that I NEED to talk about it first! Radiant Loose Powder ($32 CAD) is an award winning, mineral loose powder foundation with buildable coverage and . If I'm being honest, I was very hesitant to try it because my skin is dry and it's a powder - not the best combination! Obviously I was more than surprised to discover that not only could I pull it off, it looked fucking amazing!

I applied it with Nude by Nature's Flawless Brush ($24 - synthetic, super soft and very effective) and built my coverage to medium. This powder is very pigmented so it didn't take much to get me there. It didn't cling to dry patches and it even looked good over a healing blemish. There was no caking and my face looked matte but radiant. It's so hard to describe the finish but trust me, it's gorgeous! Best part is that it wears for the whole day - no touch up required. I should note that I moisturized very well and applied sunscreen prior to applying it. It's important to do in general, but even more so when your working with powders. The only thing that doesn't impress me about this foundation is the shade range. I'll get into that at the end of my post.

While we're on the topic of foundation, I've been testing out Nude by Nature's Flawless Liquid Foundation ($36 CAD) and sadly, it just isn't working for me. Available in an extended range of 20 (online) this foundation is divided into three tone groups; warm, neutral and cool. The coverage is medium to full and the finish is satin matte. It's oil and fragrance free too!

Unfortunately I found that this foundation clung to dry patches and texture, leaving those areas looking cakey. I didn't find the formula to last very long on my face either. I suspect that my skin being dry is to blame. I do find it strange that the Radiant Loose Powder Foundation worked so well and this didn't. I feel like this one is best suited to normal, combo or oily skin types.

Concealer has become a big part of my routine. I use it to brighten my under eye area when I'm over tired and to conceal redness or pimples. Sometimes I even skip foundation entirely and spot conceal! Nude by Nature has two fabulous concealers available; Flawless Concealer ($24 CAD) and Perfecting Concealer ($24 CAD).

Flawless Concealer is available in 8 shades (all neutral) and is housed in a twist up stick. It's very creamy and long wearing - when set with powder I get long wear out of it. Shade 01 is a great match for my under eye area as it's a touch lighter than my skin tone. I can use it on my face as well for small imperfections, although I would prefer it to be a warm undertone opposed to neutral so I could use it on larger areas of my face.

Perfecting Concealer is available in 8 (neutral) shades. This concealer is a creamy liquid that has hydrating properties and Nude by Nature claims it to be crease proof. For the most part, it is. What I liked most about this concealer is the slightly radiant finish and hydrating feel.

I've been really into Nude by Nature's Moisture Infusion Lipgloss ($21) lately. It's infused with Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil and Kakada Plum. Combined, these ingredients fight free radicals, intensely moisturize, strengthen and repair the lips. These glosses have a slight tackiness to them but they're not sticky and they feel hydrating. Wear time is pretty average - a few hours, less if you're eating or drinking and the finish is slightly sparkly and very shiny. There are 10 shades to choose from and the colour is on the sheer side - perfect for wearing on top of lipstick!

Speaking of lipstick, Nude by Nature's Moisture Shine Lipstick ($23 CAD) has been on repeat for me lately. Moisture Shine Lipstick is intensely hydrating, non-drying and very pigmented. It only takes one swipe to get opaque coverage and the finish is luminous. Although it has a shine finish, it isn't as intense as a gloss. I find wear time similar to a long wearing satin lipstick in that it does wear for awhile but it transfers and can't really hold up to eating and drinking. I don't mind having to reapply lipstick and when the packaging is as gorgeous as Nude by Nature's, I actually enjoy it 😉

I'm happy with the quality of Nude by Nature's products and the price points are reasonable but the shade selection could be improved. When you compare W2 to W4 there is a huge difference! W2 is so fair and W4 is practically medium - there is no warm toned 'light' shade in between.  I can get away with W2 in the winter with lots of bronzer/contour and W4 when I'm faux tanning, but there isn't a perfect match for me.

Shade gripes aside, this brand seems very promising and I hope to try more soon!

You can find Nude by Nature in store at Shoppers Drug Mart and online at nudebynature.ca

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

Gentleman Givenchy Eau de Parfum

Distinguished lines, modern curves, sensual volumes...The Gentleman Givenchy Eau de Parfum bottle is an emblem of authentic coolness.

"A single sliver of light, the bottle's transparent underside makes this fragrance appear as if suspended in glass, reminding us that dawn is never far away... "

Gentleman Givenchy EDP is a rich and eruptive fragrance. Designed for the night owl, this fragrance is bursting with Iris Pallida, Patchouli Essence and Black Vanilla. It's deliberately disturbing and addictive. Very addictive.

Master perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp did an outstanding job with this fragrance. The scent, the bottle - it's so well thought out. Designed for men, yet it appeals to me so much so that I have yet to gift it. I am secretly wearing it and debating just keeping it alllll to myself.

Describing fragrance is so difficult because it really is a personal experience. And this is a cologne - even harder to describe. I will say that it's magnetic, it keeps me coming back for more! It's spicy, slightly exotic and sophisticated.

Do yourself a favour and grab a sample (or for your husband/boyfriend/brother) and give it a try. You will certainly fall for its magnetic charm!

Gentleman Givenchy EDP Will be available May 9th at Hudson's Bay, Sephora  and Shoppers Drug Mart.



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