Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula ~ Review + IG Giveaway

When it comes to summer skincare I adopt a less is more attitude. I don't want to layer on tons of skincare, so I rely on 'one and done' formulas to give me a healthy glow. When it comes to body care, I adopt the same attitude. I go for a light lotion and then cover myself in sunscreen. I adore summer scents (sunscreen, coconut, monoi oil, light florals) and I will always give preference to summer scented products over wearing perfume as I find my favourites are often too heavy for the heat and humidity of summer.

I was recently given the opportunity to try three NEW product's from Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula and I am just a little bit obsessed! The scents are fabulous and they're so hydrating - a definite win! And if you stick around til the end of my review, it could be a win for you too 😉

These new additions to the Palmer's range drench the skin in rich moisture for dewy, radiant skin that looks lit from within. These products are free of harsh chemicals, contain ethically and sustainability sourced Coconut Oil and Tahitian Monoï Oil, infused with Tiaré Flower Petals. Did I mention they smell like a summer dream?!

My favourite of the three has got to be the Coconut Oil Body Lotion. It's light, fast absorbing and gives my skin 24 hour moisture. It smells like delicious coconut and monoi, without being overpowering, and its formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, gluten, sulfate or dyes. This lotion is the bomb dot com and I can see myself using it year round reminiscing of carefree summers.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Body Oil contains the same hydration benefits as the lotion but in concentrated oil form. This Body Oil doesn't smell quite as strong as the lotion which is a slight let down for me, but it still smells nice. It adds an instant touch of radiance to my skin and I am here for it! This oil sinks in and doesn't feel heavy on but it is an oil and I'm not that into oils in the summer. Having said that, I would wear it if I were going out in the evening because it adds such a lovely glow.

Lastly, Palmer's Coconut Oil Luminous Hydration Facial Oil. I wasn't expecting much from this facial oil and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's really good.

This oil is non-greasy, fast absorbing and very hydrating. It features 10 pure, precious oils to boost hydration, nourish skin and add radiance. These are the miracle working oils you will find in Palmer's Coconut Oil Luminous Hydration Facial Oil (in no particular order)

·Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera)

·Tahitian Monoi Oil (Gardenia Tahitensis Flower)

·Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis)

·Macadamia Oil (Ternifolia)

·Argan Oil (Argonia Spinosa)

·Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera)

·Maracuja (Passionflower) Oil (Passiflora Edulis)

·Sunflower Oil (Helianthus Annuus)

·Apricot Oil (Prunus Armeniaca)

·Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum)

Now I haven't been using this consistently so I can't really say what the long term effects are. I will say that upon application my skin looks glowing (not super dewy - thank goodness) and it feels super smooth. Surprisingly enough it's fast absorbing and my skin is perfectly balanced requiring no additional creams or lotions. I can see myself really getting into this come fall when I want to glow and need the extra boost of hydration. Currently, I'm only using it in the evenings when I need a little pick me up.

Oh, and I should note that it's important to exercise caution when using oils in the summer. Make sure to always apply sunscreen and use oils sparingly - you will burn otherwise. I learned this lesson the hard way many years ago.

TLDR; I am LOVING Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula and I know that you will too! And guess what? I've partnered with Palmer's to give THREE of my Canadian readers the chance to try these three products too! Hurray!!

Entering is simple; find my Palmer's post on Instagram and follow the instructions for your first entry (mandatory). Then come back here and leave a comment to gain a bonus entry. And don't forget to include your Instagram handle with your comment so I can assign you your bonus entry.

I will be drawing 3 winners in a week and the sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Canadians only and absolutely no giveaway accounts.


Good luck!


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

Dior Addict Lacquer Plump ~ My Latest Obsession

After 2 years of wearing almost exclusively matte lips, I'm happy to say I've moved on. I never thought I would see the day that I was excited for glossy lips, but here I am. Even more shocking is that I've basically only been wearing the new Dior Addict Lacquer Plump - specifically 868 J'adior.

I have commitment issues when it comes to makeup, so when I wear the same brand, product and shade for more than a day, you know it's gotta be good great!

"It's a fascinating formula innovation. We have succeeded in pushing the limits of shine and extreme colour in various effects with a comforting lip care formula and an ultra fluid texture that you forget is there. Thanks to a lightweight texture, exactly the right quantity is intuitively applied to the lips in one sweep." 

-Peter Philips

Dior Addict Lacquer Plump is a lacquered lip ink that not only colours the lips with long wearing colour, it plumps the lips too. This miracle in a tube (my term) shapes, smooths, plumps and adds dimensional colour all while caring for my lips. Now you see why I call it a miracle! Plus it's available in 16 shades ranging from classics to neons and glitters.

Before I get into the nitty gritty, I have to fangirl over the packaging a bit. The tube is traditional Dior but the labelling is truly stunning.

"The packaging was designed to give place of pride to colour with a Dior signature that emphasizes each of the sparkling shades."

- Peter Philips

Luxe packaging aside, the formula is where it's at. If you're anything like me, when you hear glossy you automatically think sticky. That is my biggest qualm with glossy lips and I'm so happy that there is no stickiness to Dior Addict Lacquer Plump. Literally none. They have such a unique feel to them that reminds me of vinyl - smooth and surprisingly comfortable. I can feel it on my lips, but not in a bad way. I actually really like the feel of these.

According to Dior, 24 hours after application, lip hydration levels climb by 78% thanks to an oil and water emulsion that's infused with hibiscus extract and hyaluronic acid.

The plumping effect is noticeable immediately. The lines in my lips are filled and they look deliciously full - something I desperately need. I have noticed that these can bleed a bit, although it's not consistent, so I think it has more to do with what other products I'm wearing.

I've basically just started lining my lips with the bolder shades, just in case. Wear time is quite impressive (4-6 hours) and the transfer is minimal. They also leave behind a stain that I really like.

If I'm being honest the glitter shades of Lacquer Plump, although gorgeous, don't perform quite as well. They're not uncomfortable, but I can definitely feel the glitter. And they fade kind of weird and patchy. If I eat or drink, I'm going to need to reapply. After a few hours I need to reapply. A pain in the ass but worth it because they are really pretty.

You can find Dior Addict Lacquer Plump at Sephora, sephora.ca , Hudson's Bay, thebay.com and Dior counters nationwide.

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

Wet n Wild's Limited Edition Flights of Fancy Collection ~ Review + Swatches

The moment I laid eyes on wet n wild's flights of fancy collection on Instagram I knew I had to have it. As luck would have it, I was kindly gifted the collection and I am sooo ready to share it with you!

As you all know, I'm an eyeshadow addict so naturally I have to start with the Color Icon Quads. The LE collection has 3 quads and they all feature neutrals with bold pops of colour. I can't even pick a favourite because they're all equally awesome. The pigment is on point, they're blendable and long wearing. Quality wise they're all the same - two thumbs up! You can't go wrong with any of these quads, and the price point is so right. In other words, you need them all!

I'm currently all about glossy lips right now and hot damn, these wet n wild Color Icon Glosses are bomb af. They have just the right amount of colour with no stickiness and a comfortable wear time. The tubes are also super cute. I'm so glad that wet n wild decided to go with glosses opposed to mattes because I'm so over matte lips. Give me all the shiny, hydrating lippies 🙌

There are also 3 Color Icon Baked Blushes and they're incredibly stunning. Now I will say that I disagree with these being labelled as blushers. I think we can all agree that they have way too much shimmer to be a blush, blush topper maybe. Either way, they're gorgeous. Subtle is not a word to describe these - they're super bold, pigmented plus they satisfy my need for colour and glow. Oh and FYI they also work as eyeshadow - hello monochromatic looks 😉

I'm kind of meh when it comes to eyeliner and it takes a lot to impress me. The 2 MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliners are pretty but they're really nothing special. Gilded Wings applies patchy at times but man does it look pretty. Winged n' Wild is the more practical of the two and it applies much more evenly. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase them on their own, but I'm not mad about them being included in the kit as the contribute to a full 'look'.

I love me a good scrub, and Perfect Pout Lip Scrub in Pecker Up is almost perfect. The scrub itself is good, although fairly dry, meaning it will crumble and fall into the sink if I'm not careful. The scrubbing action is perfect though and it's a shame that it has such a phony scent and taste. Remember Double Bubble Watermelon Gum? It tastes/smells exactly like that, and I don't like it. Ugh I hate candy. I'll still use it, but I wouldn't purchase it individually in the future. If they removed the artificial scent and taste, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Oh, and that name (Pecker Up) kills me everytime. I don't know if it was intentional, but it's funny as hell.

I was really excited to see the Photo Focus Primer Water Spray until I took a look at the ingredient list and saw alcohol denat as the second ingredient. Since I have dry skin, I avoid alcohol in skincare. There's a lot of discussion around the use of alcohol in skincare and I personally try to avoid it. I have dry, acne prone and sensitive skin and I don't need anything to aggravate it. Sadly, I won't be using this, therefore I won't be reviewing it either.

This box contains 14 items at a very reasonable price, making it entirely worth it in my opinion. The products are also sold individually, so you can cherry pick what you like. I highly recommend you try out the Color Icon Quads, Color Icon Baked Blushes and Color Icon Glosses if you can as they're soooo good.

You can find this wet n wild collection online at wetnwildbeauty.com

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

Dior Cool Wave Summer 2018 ~ Review + Swatches

It's been a long time since I fell in love with a makeup collection. The beauty community is saturated with new releases, and rarely are they overly awe inspiring. Obviously I buy into the hype, but I haven't felt any sort of way until Dior released their Glow Addict Collection for spring 2018 (review here). And then came the sneak peaks for their summer collection.

The heat of the sun and an indigo pool, the clash between hot and cold, sensuality fusing with the skin.

Dior's Cool Wave Collection encompasses the best of summer. Beautiful blues tease excitement of early summer dips in the pool, while the bronze hues are reminiscent of late summer drinks on a patio. This seasons 5 Couleurs Palettes features a pattern inspired by the ripple of a drop hitting the surface of the water.

Splashed with Cool Down, a harmonious combination of blues, the eyes show off a free, sun-drenched femininity. Turqoise, midnight-blue, pastel blue and denim tones blend easily together and offer a surprisingly natural contrast with the golden glow of summer skin.

5 Couleurs 367 Cool Down* ($73) is a real beauty! The top two shades are designed for day looks, while the bottom two are reserved for more intense, or evening, looks. Like all 5 Couleurs, the shadow formula is pigmented, long wearing and versatile. To amp up the pigment, I like to apply it wet, over primer. It's important to note that the top right shade is sheer and is more of a highlighter shade. This palette is surprisingly wearable and so different from what we've seen in eyeshadow palettes lately. If you like blue, then you will love this!

On the other side, the sun shines bright on Heat Up, the palette of luminous brown, coral and nude shades.

5 Couleurs 597 Heat Up is a warm toned, summer dream come true! This gorgeous palette is everything - and then some! The shades suit my fair skin now and they will look even better once I get my faux tan on. The shadows are super buttery and the looks I can get out of it are pure love 😍

Diorshow Cooling Stick* ($41) is a splash on the eyes. This waterproof eyeshadow is available in three shades (001 Bronze Wave, 002 Gold Splash and 003 Fresh Pink) and can be used as a liner or allover shadow.

It's hard to describe the feel of this shadow. It's creamy but not so creamy that you couldn't use it as a liner. When applied there is an instant feeling of freshness and coolness - perfect for my tired eyes! I reach for this when I'm low on time and want a simple but beautiful eye look. Freshness aside, the best feature of Diorshow Cooling Stick is how well and long it wears for - I can get a whole days wear without primer! And when it's time to remove, a simple swipe with eye makeup remover is all it takes.

A concentrate of Dior and a palette in summer shades. Standing out from the crowd thanks to its hydra-gel core, Dior Addict Lipstick embraces an epicurean season with essential colours: an effervescent orange, a bronze nude, a sensual coral a graceful pink, a dizzying fuchsia and a blue-toned shimmery shade.

Dior Addict Lipstick in 040 White Splash* ($44)   is such a fun lipstick! It offers the shine of a gloss with the comfort and feel of a lipstick. The blue undertones make my teeth appear whiter and it clashes delightfully with my faux tanned skin. Plus it's super pretty to look at!

Dior's Lip Maximizer* ($42) has been my go to lip plumper for years. It shines like a gloss and fills in my lip lines causing my lips to appear smoother. This is what gives off the appearance of a youthful pout. The Cool Wave collection sees the Lip Maximizer we know and love get an icy blue makeover! Don't worry though - it doesn't look blue on the lips. Sure, it has a slight blue tone when applied, just enough to make my teeth look whiter, but not enough to make my lips look blue. If you want a non-sticky, glossy lip that looks full (sans the burning feeling) then you need to try Dior's Lip Maximizer.

A tattoo finish lip ink with a no-transfer and an extreme 10 hour hold. Highlighting the lips natural colour, Dior Lip Tattoo brings out a luminous smile.

Dior Addict Lip Tattoo* ($37) has been a favourite of mine, so naturally I got excited when I learned that they were adding some summer exclusives. Just like the original, Dior's Lip Tattoo provides a beautiful tint that doesn't dry out my lips. 571 Cranberry is a stunning rosewood shade that looks and smells delightful. Lip Tattoo has a very watery feel to it that just feels good - especially on a hot summer day. I'm all about no-fuss, comfortable lippies these days and I love stains for their ease of use. I definitely don't get 10 hours wear out of these, closer to 5 or 6, but that's totally fine by me!

"For a summer synonymous with playfulness and freedom, I wanted to come out with a collection of bright nail colours that women can use to express their creativity and personality." - Peter Philips

Enriched with a pearly shimmer that catches the sunlight, sexy like a bikini and fun like a pop song. Dior Vernis ($34) rounds out the Cool Wave collection exquisitely. I was able to get my hands on 404 Splash from Beauty Boutique and I am so glad it did - this shade is stunning!

I am so smitten with Dior's Cool Wave Collection and I'm trying so hard not to buy the whole damn thing. If you like what you see, then you need to run (not walk) before it's gone for good.

You can find Dior's Cool Wave Collection in store and online at thebay.com , Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyboutique.com and at Dior counters nationwide.

*This post features a mix of pr samples and products purchased by me. PR samples are marked with an asterisk. As always, all opinions are my own.