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 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.

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

Summer might be coming to an end, but I'm not ready to say bye to my tan just yet. Even though I've been religiously applying sunscreen, I still managed to get a tan and I plan on keeping it!

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse (120ml, $54) is a lightweight, easy-to-apply at home tanning mousse that self-adjusts to create a custom tan. It's formulated without parabens, sulfates and phtalates.

"For an iconic, natural, and healthy-looking tan, this newly formulated, lightweight classic mousse tailors to your individual skin tone, for that longest-lasting tan in one application. It’s streak-free, easy to apply, quick-drying, non-sticky with no transfer, and ultra-hydrating. Plus, it has no self tan smell, yet features a new mood-boosting fragrance. " /source/ 

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse is tinted to ensure even application. Although It doesn't smell like DHA when first applied, it's slightly noticeable a few hours after application.

I found it very easy to apply with a tanning mitt and my results were definitely streak-free.  I found that two full compressions of the pump was enough to cover each area of my body (2 for my calves, 2 per thigh, etc). It dries quickly so I was able to dress almost immediately after application.

You're not supposed to get wet for at least 4-8 hours after application so I applied it before bedtime. I found that one application gave me a light, natural looking tan but I'm all about being extra (and really bronzed!) so I decided to apply it again. 

After rinsing my body with water only, I applied a second coat staying away from problem areas (ankles, knees, wrists and elbows). I left it on the whole day and night. When I woke up I was much darker! My upper body was super dark due to the fact that I already had a natural tan. My legs weren't quite as dark as my upper body, so I went ahead and redid them. Although they don't completely match my upper torso, they're close enough!

I've had my tan on for just over a week and it still looks amazing! To help prolong it, I gently exfoliate every few days and moisturize with St. Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Body Lotion (review on that here).

Tomorrow I'll be sharing how I tan my face with St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Face Lotion so stay tuned for that!

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



*This post features press samples sent to me for editorial consideration. 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!