GABY'S BEAUTY BLOG

Marcelle BB Cream - The First Canadian-Made BB Cream

2012-02-14T10:25:00.000-05:00

The 8 in 1 multi-benefits BB Cream that does it all for you, instantly!

Your ultimate skin care enhancer for all ages and skin types, this multi-purpose skin care cream is more than a tinted moisturizer or simple make-up base. It perfects the skin to reveal a more even epidermis and well-hydrated, flawless complexion, all in one. Use it alone as a tinted moisturizer; over your moisturizer to unify your complexion and reduce the appearance of blemishes, apply as a make-up base under foundation for total coverage and improved stay-on power.

Hypo-allergenic and perfume free. Suitable for all ages and skin types.

I don't know if you remember me mentionning the big surprise at the Marcelle/Annabelle #Avant1reBeauté event... but it was the BB Cream! Yes, Marcelle came up with the first Canadian-made BB Cream formulated specially for Canadian women in pharmacies as well as mass retail stores!

If you don't know what is a BB Cream - I'll admit it, despite seeing these all over the blogosphere, I was confused before being finally able to try one for myself - well, "BB" stands for Beauty Balm and it's designed to perfects the skin to reveal a more even epidermis and well-hydrated, flawless complexion, all in one. Ideal for any age and any skin type, the Marcelle BB Cream comes in two shades and is suitable for a wide variety of carnations thanks to its self-adjusting pigments that transform and adapt to skin tone.

Marcelle BB Cream claims to be the ultimate skin enhancer as this Beauty Balm with self-adjusting pigments, powerful antioxidants, aloe and chamomile does it all for your skin:

Minimizes the appearance of imperfections and pores
Evens out skin tone
Provides an excellent make-up base and replaces primers
Matifies skin and controls shine
Offers immediate and long-term hydrating benefits
Soothes and calms skins
Protects from premature aging and environmental stresses
Promotes skin regeneration

I think this product is amazing for girls who are on the go or/and who can't bother with foundation - like me - as it does everything at once! I personally use it instead of foundation because I have found that it unifies my skin tone incredibly well and it's also great to minimize my huge pores. I would say this BB Cream provides light coverage as I had to use concealer on top of it to properly hide the redness around my eyes (damn you eczema!) and conceal pimples or blemishes. That's perfect with me as I can't stand heavy-duty and mask-like foundations anyway.

Because of my dry skin, I can't use this BB Cream as a tinted moisturizer in the winter but I'm sure it would be great in the summer because it does leave my skin soooo soft and smooth. The only thing is that it doesn't contain SPF, so if you are a lazy gal - like me, again - you will be disappointed to have to apply sunscreen on top of it.

Marcelle BB Cream in Light to Medium (indirect sunlight)

I assume I was sent the shade Light to Medium to try because I can't find the name of the shade anywhere on the tube, and at first sight I thought it looked way too dark and yellowish for my skintone, but it blends surprisingly well and just disappear to an almost matte finish with just the right amount of glow to make you look healthy,

I think the packaging is amazing - light, mess-proof and sanitary. A pump is all I need to cover my whole face - OK, I won't lie, I don't apply it on my forehead as it's covered by my bangs anyway - and that's it! No need to worry about bacteria or anything.

Marcelle BB Cream is available at pharmacies and mass retail stores across Canada for $22.95 for 1.5 OZ / 45 mL. You can also order it on Marcelle website!

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

My VIP Weekend At Toronto!

2012-02-13T09:27:00.001-05:00

I won't write a detailed and picture-heavy post about my trip because most of the pictures will be in my February in Pictures post anyway, but I will sum it up for those of you who are curious.

François and I in the plane

My boyfriend, my friends Yanick and Fred and me flew from Montreal to Toronto at 1:00 on Friday the 3th with Porter and we arrived at the Billy Bishop Airport around 2:10, where Tiffany from the Just Dance team and the very lovely Monique from Bravery Productions were waiting for us to do a quick interview in the limo on the way to the hotel. I was sooooo nervous, it was insane!

Yanick and I partying on the bed! Drunk? Nooooo...

Then they dropped us off at Hyatt Regency Toronto and we were free for the night so we ate at a random sushi place and brought some alcohol back to the hotel to party before going clubbing at XS Nigthclub. It was not the best club we have been to but I guess we chose the wrong night because we've been told that Friday are Asian Night and we felt sooooo out of place LOL!

Saturday morning, the limo picked me up at 8:45 at the hotel to drop me at H&M for a shopping spree with my personal stylist Darren and Monique and her cameraman. It was a very unique experience and what made it even more special is that I had never stepped foot in a H&M before!

At the CN Tower

The limo brought me back at the hotel at around 11:00, then my friends and I spent the day wandering around the downtown and we went to the CN Tower (I did not enjoy that, I was scared LOL!).

Partying at This Is London

At night, we went to This Is London (which has been recommended to me by the very lovely Cheryl) where we had a private booth right on the dancefloor with bottle service - it was awesome! Sadly, we were already back to Montreal at around 2:10 on Sunday.

I know lots of you lovely ladies were quite impatient to see what I bought at Toronto but the truth is that I have not really been shopping except for my shopping spree at H&M. I guess you know what it is to shop with guys... But of course I could not resist having a peek at LUSH in the Eaton Centre.

I'm really getting more and more interested in LUSH products, but I try to refrain myself from buying too many things because my LUSH stash is overflowing. However, I think their bubble bars is among my favorite items from them, and you know, I had to spend some of my prize money!

Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar $5.95 for 100g This is the only Valentine's Day product that really interested me because I'm a sucker for sweet and fruity smells, and this strawberry and vanilla scented cutie is a perfect mix of the two!

Ma Bar Bubble Bar $7.95 for 100g Chocolate and honey, yum! Yes, the brown sugary thing in the centre is really a lump of brown sugar - I tasted it!

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar $7.25 for 100g I have been recommend this product numerous time because I have dry skin, and I was delighted to learn that this is actually a combination of bath melt and bubble bar! It contains chunks of coca butter to moisturize and it smells divine!

No Drought Dry Shampoo Free sample It's actually the first time I received a free sample with purchase at LUSH and I'm glad I get to try their dry shampoo! At $12.95 for 130g, it seems a little pricey to me for a dry shampoo that comes in a simple squeezable bottle which is surely not the most convenient to use so I was not sure if it was worth it, but I can't way to try this sample!

And here's what the very lovely Monique and Darren helped me pick out during my shopping spree at H&M:

Cropped jacket $24.95 I fell in love with the color as soon as I saw this jacket, and I love how stretchy it is. I think it wil be great to brighten up any dull outfit.

Blouse $14.95 I've been a blouse like this for some time. I love how it is loose at the top yet a little more cinched at the hips.

Leopard print dress $29.95 When Monique spotted this leopard print tunique/dress, I knew I had to have it! In fact, I even wore it the same night to go clubbing at This Is London!

&Sqin Jeans $49.95 I have always wanted destroyed jeans, and I was actually surprised at how well these fit because I usually go for skinnies and these are slim legs. I also love the dark wash - it was definitely missing in my wardrobe.

Another thing I was firmly decided to get was the whole Chocomania range from The Body Shop but I was incredibly disappointed by the fake chemical scent of the body butter - not the quality I'm used to from The Body Shop! Very disappointing indeed ):

It was a wicked weekend, thank you so much Ubisoft and Just Dance! =D

Mail of the Week (January 30 - February 10)

2012-02-10T09:24:00.000-05:00

Instead of showing you what I got in the mail last week, I chose to show you what I brought to Toronto for my VIP week-end courtesy of Ubisoft and Just Dance 3, so here is what I received last week and this week.

LASHEM products I have been given the opportunity to try some samples from this eyecare brand which carries beauty innovations that give you glowing and tantalizing eyes. I have started seeing some reviews on these products on blogs and most were positive so I thought, why not? I was sent the Measurable Difference Lash Gel (I can't say no to products that are claimed to make my short, sparse and invisible lashes grow fuller and thicker!) and the Double Trouble Mascara (volume wand on a side and length wand on the other).

Get Creamy Body products Get Creamed is an all-Canadian, Vancouver-based company and all of their products are made fresh on a regular basis to provide customers with the freshest and highest quality products available. Get Creamed Body products are a truly all-natural alternative to the chemical-laden formulas currently found on most store shelves. I was sent a great selection of some of their products:

Coconut Cream Pie 100% Natural Whipped Body Cream
Macha Grapefruit Moisturizing & Detoxifying Spa Body Scrub
The Balm Extra Creamy Moisturizing Balm For Dry Skin And Hair

I can already tell you that I am absolutely in love with The Balm after around 5 days of use because it immediately soothes my dry and irritated skin and it calms down any eczema flare-up in an instant! The Whipped Body Cream as a perfect texture, it could be called a butter easily as it's so thick and smooth, and it's rteally moisturizing. I like to use The Balm on extremely dry areas of my body and then apply the body cream on the rest of my body. As for the scrub, the sea salt makes my skin burn ):

Schick Hydro Silk gift basket I was invited to participate in Schick Hydro Silk razor review program, where I can offer free samples of the new razor to my readers for review (stay tuned, more details to come!). I was sent a Schick Hydro Silk gift basket, including a new Schick Hydro Silk razor (launching February 2012) and many more goodies I was not expecting!

Upper Canada Soap Lavender & White Tea Diffuser Kit
purple spa wrap
purple spa slippers
pedicure file
toe separators
nail brush
cuticle sticks

Roots Only hair color applicator comb Roots Only is a one-of-a-kind hair color applicator tool that makes the home hair coloring process a breeze. With Roots Only, solution is applied directly to the scalp and roots trough hollow teeth. It's also great for applying medicated shampoos, conditioning growth oils, hair conditioners, lice medication and other hair treatments solutions needed to get down to the scalp and roots. This is perfect for me as I always dye my hair the darkest brown available so there's no need to apply the hair all over my hair again.

February Canadian GLOSSYBOX I know, I might be the only one who is still not convinced of the amazingness of those beauty boxes, but I still think it's great that more of them are coming to Canada, starting with the renowned GLOSSYBOX. No, I'm not showing you what I got just yet =P

Coffee USB warmer I bought this on a whim on eBay after seeing someone rave about it on Twitter - I never knew such a thing existed and as a coffee addict, I knew I needed this! It cost me only $3.72 with free shipping and I received it almost a month later, which usually happens when I purchase something that ships from Hong Kong.

March 2012 issue of Cosmopolitan Is it wrong to have a crush on Selena Gomez? I think she is sooooo gorgeous and her voice, wow! Anyway, I think this will be my last issue because I have chose to not renew my subscription for the only reason that I prefer reading blogs (:

♫ We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris

Giveaway: Win A Julep Maven Intro Box Of Your Choice!

2012-02-09T10:48:00.002-05:00

If you appreciated my review of the Julep Maven Classic With A Twist Intro Box, now here is your chance to win it for yourself, or if you prefer, you could also take the Julep Maven Style Quiz and receive the according Intro Box - it's up to you!

Rules:

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only
You have to follow Gaby's Beauty Blog via GFC (you don't need to have a blog)
Giveaway/freebie "hunters" or blogs made solely for giveaways will be disqualified (my giveaways are to thank the lovely ladies who truly read my blog!)
Do not fill out the Rafflecopter form more than once (I have your IP address)
This giveaway ends on February 23 at 12:01 am.

To enter (mandatory):

Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post (when asked for your GFC or any other extra info, you MUST provide them in the according field or else you will be disqualified! I thought it was common sense but apparently, some people did not understand!)

Good luck!!!

Please wait for the Rafflecopter form to load!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Julep Maven.

Julep Maven Classic With A Twist Intro Box

2012-02-08T10:38:00.001-05:00

Welcome to VIP treatment - because your opinion matters to us.
YOU are our favorite beauty editor!

Become a Julep Maven to get beauty editor treatment and style!

Being a Maven, gives you exclusive access to COLOR! You get it first, and YOU decide how often you want to receive your beauty editor Sneak Peek Box.

For just $19.99 a month, you'll receive over $40 worth of trendsetting polish colors and cutting-edge treatment products each month customized in a gift-able Sneak Peek Box. Each Sneak Peek Box features new, never before released colors and treatments FIRST to you, before anyone else. Your box also includes hits and cult favorites - the products we like to keep on the top of editors' minds .

Which magazine beauty editor's style are you most like? Take our Julep Maven Style Quiz to find out!

I was not familiar with Julep Maven before being offered to be sent an introductory box and even though there's tons of those subscription services on the market already, I like that this one focuses on nail polishes - no to mention they are free of DBP, toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin!

Here's what my Classic With A Twist Intro Box contained:

Julep "Facial For Hands" Glycolic Hand Scrub
Nicole Julep Nail Vernis (shimmery brick red)
Whitney Julep Nail Vernis (mushroom greige, the perfect neutral)
Glitter pot for nails
Julep Everyday SPF SPF 30 Han Cream sample
Julep Glow On Age Defying Hand Brightener sample

Facial For Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub $32 for 89mL / 3 FL OZ

Unique double-exfoliating action of glycolic acid and apricot seeds reveal noticeably softer and younger looking hands after just one use. Gentle, non-sudsing natural esters whisk away dirt and excess oil while comabtting flakiness. Radically boosts effectiveness of hands cream.

Because of my eczema, I have to be super careful regarding what I use on my hands and I must that, as delicious as this hand scrub smelled (orange, yum!), I was hesitant to use it on my hands because the slightest touch can trigger severe eczema flare-ups. I decided that I had to give it a try - the truth is that I just could not resist to the smell - and wow, I was amazed at the texture and at how soft my hands were left after only one use!

I love that this scrub is non foaming, so you really get a good exfoliation because the beads take more time to "vanish". I think they are quite abrasive, just like I like them! Julep says that Facial For Hands can be used to cleanse and exfoliate your hands, and also that it is gentle enough to be used every time you wash your hands, which I'm not sure applies to my eczema-prone hands, but I decided that I will use it a few times a week on my hands and one time a week on my body.

Nicole and Whitney Julep Nail Vernis $14 for 8mL / .27 FL OZ

Professional quality “4-free” nail polish formulation, developed without carcinogens such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. Shine on! $1 will be donated to organizations that support women through our Powered by Girlfriends program.

Nicole is very pretty in the bottle, it looks like a very dark red, almost burgundy, with a hint of shimmer - however, on the nails, it's more like a blood red and I have found that it applies quite unevenly - I was not able to get the opacity I was hoping for after 2 coats. It's still pretty, but I have tons of red nail polishes already, and this one is nothing special. Also, I prefer creme finish for nail polishes but I'm glad this one is not overly shimmery.

Whitney, on the other side, is LOVE! I'm seriously a sucker for greige nail polish and this one is just perfect. It's a cream, the formula is thick and easy to apply and it's perfectly opaque and pigmented. I have found Whitney chips less quickly than Nicole - Whitney lasts about 3 - 4 days while Nicole tends to chip after the second day.

What I personally like with Julep Maven compared to most of the other subscription box services out there is that you can see what you are going to get each month, so you can choose to skip a month if you are not fond of the products. I know some people prefer surprises, but I would be too afraid to be disappointed and for my $19.99 to go to waste.

Honestly, I'm not sure this Julep Maven is for me because I already have too many nail polishes in my collection and none of the shades that Julep currently offer are very unique nor really appeal to me, but please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion. I know there are a lot of nail polish junkies out there and I'm sure you will be over the moon with this service!

I was kindly confirmed that Julep does not test on animals - Julep employees are animal lovers and they would never approve of animal testing. In fact, Patti, Julep's Product Director, would rather test on herself before anything else. Julep also has four Julep Nail Parlor locations in the greater Seattle area and they perform their secondary testing there on amazing customers who let them try and test our products all the time! I was also assured you that all of Julep products are vegan - animal products or by products are never used for anything that Julep makes.

Julep is comitted to creating vibrant nail color and the most effective mani and pedi care products. All products follow their Girlfriend's Oath to pack in lots of good stuff without any of the toxins and carcinogens. Julep is serious about supporting girlfriends everywhere, that's why they donate $1 from every nail color sold to organizations that support women through their Power by Girlfriends progam.

I have a little surprise for you lovely ladies! Feel free to use the code GABYSBEAUTYBLOG at checkout to receive your first Julep Maven Sneak Peek Box for just $5! (valued over $40).

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

January in Pictures

2012-02-07T11:16:00.000-05:00

Peach, my 8 weeks old Yorkshire Terrier ♥ / vegetarian pizza / hot chocolate w/ marshmallows / The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword / My gerbil, Guyimauve / Falafel veggie burger with chips, yum! / LUSH stuff my boyfriend got me for Christmas / My first Slatkin & Co. candles from bath & Body Works / Spaghetti w/ beans / I Love... Strawberried & Milkshakes products / my new bangs! / frozen fruits topped w/ whipped cream / Nesquik, my new addiction! / yummy salad / MAC High-Light Powder I won from Shaylee Anne / eating Kraft Dinner and reading blogs (: / Stop the Canadian seal slaughter! / grilled cheese w/ chips and pickles /

Grateful Body - Skin Care That Strenghtens Your Skin!

2012-02-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

Since 1998, Grateful Body's mission has been to bring you 100% natural skin care that is nourishing, effective and luxurious while supporting the health of your skin, your body, and your planet.

Our Dream

Why not dream big? We dream of the day when all skin care products improve the long-term health of the skin as well as its immediate appearance; the day when the body care industry supports organic agriculture instead of the chemical industry. We dream of people everywhere being nurtured every day by coming "face-to-face with nature" thanks to healthy botanical body care.

I was given the opportunity to try some products from this all natural and vegan skincare company that I've never heard of before. Their approach is through organic plants, food and herbs that come together to create entirely luxurious and effective skin care. The people from Grateful Body formulates all of their products to heal and strengthen damaged or ailing skin – they have helped a lot of people through eczema, that's why I was excited to try the products I was sent, Aphrodite's Feast Restorative Serum and Midnight Oil.

I received both products in a super cute tube package that is eco-friendly and recyclabe. I have never seen anything like that before and I think it's awesome, I will definitely re-use them!

Aphrodite's Feast Restorative Serum $40.00 for 1 oz / 30 ml

Filled to the brim with a profusion of whole plant phytonutrients, Aphrodite's Feast provides a bountiful fullness of biological essentials for smoothing and beautifying the skin. The ingredients in this super-rich meal for the skin nourish the blood, replenish deficiency, stimulate circulation and remove congestion. This all-inclusive formula covers all the bases and can give any skin type or condition much needed support.

This is truly miracle in a bottle! Every time I used this, I could feel my skin being smoother, softer and moisturized. When I first used it, I was sceptical because of the thin texture, but I should not have underestimated it!

It's the first time I used a serum that has such a milky texture but it sinks right into the skin and I did not feel the need to wait a bit before applying my night cream - exactly what I'm expecting from a serum!

I like the pump dispenser although sometimes too much much product is dispensed, but I never had to use more than one pump of product to cover my whole face. This product has a slight herbal scent to it which is not bothering and does not linger on the skin at all.

Midnight Oil $22.00 for 4 oz / 120 ml

Our incomparably nourishing Midnight Oil is a blend of the most pure, transcendent plant oils that contributes to silky, healthy skin while providing a comforting antidote to the effects of stress and hurry. The soothing, subtle scent is popular with both men and women, and has a relaxing, grounding effect on the mind and emotions.

Let me be honest from the start - I have never been a big fan of oily body products, I simply can't stand the mess, from makeup remover to body oil! When I first used it right after the shower, I found that it took such a long time to get absorbed into the skin and I don't have that time to waste when all I wanted to do is go to bed without staining the sheets. I continued to use it though, and I think that maybe I used too much product at once, but still, I have to be careful and really rub the product into my skin for it to be properly absorbed. For this reason, I would not use this product in the day before getting dressed.

What I like with this body oil is that I have the feeling that it really locks in the moisture into the skin, like a protective layer. However, I still need to applya body lotion in the morning to keep my skin moisturized through the day but please keep in my mind that I have extremely dry skin that is prone to eczema very easily.

Do I really have to talk about the texture? It's an oil so of course it's oily and runny and well, a mess! I like that it comes in a pump bottle too but still, my bottle was left all oily after each use.

L - R: Midnight Oil and Aphrodite's Feast

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

What Am I Bringing To Toronto?

2012-02-03T09:37:00.002-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you may know that I was incredibly fortunated to win Ubisoft Just Dance Superstar Contest! The prize consists of a trip up to four people and includes two nights stay in a luxury downtown Toronto hotel (Hyatt Regency Toronto), limo service, $500 spending money, four tickets to a concert or a show and four copies of Just Dance 3 Ubisoft video game. There was no concert or show available on the dates I could go (damn you school!) but instead, they have set up a VIP treatment for my friends and I in a nightclub - complete bottle service and a private booth! I can't wait!

I thought it would be interesting to show you what I bring with me to Toronto. Normally, I would not even have bothered with makeup and all that stuff but the thing is that we will be interviewed and the Just Dance camera crew will follow us around while we shop on Queen Street West so hey, a girl gotta look good!

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Single in Night Sky, NYX Eyeshadow in Sensual, e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler, Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pout, Marcelle Power Volume Mascara, Joe Fresh Style Duo Concealer in Light, Wet 'n Wild Brow & Eye Liner Pencil in Taupe, Sigma E55, Sigma E40, EcoTools Angled Eyeliner Brush.

Marcelle Concealer Palette in Universal Beige, Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit, Marcelle BB Cream, Leopard Gold Color Retractable Makeup Brush from BornPrettyStore.com

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo, CHI Silk Infusion, Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria Fragrance roller ball sample, Carmex Original Jar, Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, Elemish Freshskin Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash, Elemis Freshskin Softly Softly Daily Moisturizer, Elemish Freshskin Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturizer, KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream, Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Water (in a Klorane travel bottle)

Everything goes in that super cute makeup bag (:

I realized that I don't have many travel size products because I tend to use them up first instead of having them laying around because I don't travel much and when I do, I don't bring tons of stuff with me. I don't have any mini format body cream, and this is the only really important product to me, so I'm stuck with that jumbo The Body Shop Shea Butter LOL! I also tried to bring multi-tasking products such as Too Faced Leopard Love and Marcelle BB Cream but overall I think I did great as I stuck mainly with essentials.

I can't wait to go shopping, spending money that you didn't work for feels so good, doesn't it? Instead of making a list of things I want, I made a list of places to shop at and I'll see! I was thinking maybe some MAC lipsticks even though there's none in particular I really want and some LUSH Valentine's Day stuff! I know I will be given a $250 gift card to shop at H&M with a personal stylist and that's where the Just Dance camera crew will follow me around (so exciting!) but I will have $250 left to spend however I want (:

My friends and I will fly to Toronto today at 1:00 and I'm so excited! I will be sure to take tons of pictures =D

Montagne Jeunesse Apricot Face Scrub

2012-02-02T10:30:00.001-05:00

Exfoliate with our Apricot Scrub as part of your beauty regime for a radiant, glowing complexion. Bursting with sweet mango this rich facial scrub deep cleanses & revitalises. Crushed Apricot Kernels removes dead skin cells whilst Aloe Vera softens & soothes leaving skin super soft.

Tired, dull looking skin will be radically transformed to smooth, bright looking healthier skin.

In the winter, my dry skin definitely needs to be pampered more often if I want to keep eczema at bay. I always hear everyone raving about St.Ives Fresh Skin Exfoliating Apricot Scrub but the one time I gave it a try, it felt way too rough for my poor damaged skin and it left my face feeling sore and irritated, which never happened with any other face scrubs before. I still don't understand what happened because I always tend to go for the most abrasive face scrubs I can find, so I thought maybe I had an allergy to apricot, which felt strange because I'm OK when I eat some.

When I was sent this Apricot face scrub from Farleyco, I decided to give apricot another try. I mean, how can you say no to such a yummy packaging? I think Montagne Jeunesse products packagings always look so unique and eye-catching and their products look good enough to eat! Not to mention the delicious smell... I advise you - do not use these masques if you are hungry!

The texture is great - very thick and the exfoliating beads (which are really apricot kernels) are a good size and there are a lot of them, unlike some other cheap foaming scrubs. Because it's a scrub and not a mask, you need to apply a super thick layer of product on your face - please don't use all of the sachet in one time! I bet this will last me for around five more scrubs. The only negative things about Montagne Jeunesse packaging is that it's messy and not resealable, so I like to pour the leftover product in a little pot so it doesn't dry up and it's easier to scoop with your fingers.

I'm sexy and I know it... LOL

I thouroughly cleaned my face and then applied the scrub. It is advised to apply the product evenly over face and neck, massage and then let it sit for 5-10 minutes or until dry, which I thought was strange because usually, scrubs are meant to be washed away, but this is no ordinary face scrub because it contains clay so it will harden on your face and deeply exfoliate and clean your skin.

I usually tend to avoid clay masks because some tend to be drying. This Montagne Jeunesse face scrub left my dry skin feeling super tight and uncomfortable when I washed it off - like most clay masks I previously used - but it was OK when I applied my moisturizer. The day after, I noticed that my skin was not drier because of the scrub, but also that it was more glowy - what a nice surprise! I truly think this Apricot face scrub is of great quality for the price ($1.99 for 12g / 0.4oz).

All Montagne Jeunesse products are Vegetarian Society approved, not tested on animals and cruelty-free (BUAV Approved). Canadian residents can get them at Farleyco.ca for $1.99 or at selected drugstores.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Shopping: Walmart

2012-02-01T09:58:00.001-05:00

I went to Walmart in search of some dog food for my 8 weeks old Yorkshire Terrier puppy but that was a waste of time because I was already aware they didn't have a huge selection, but it has been a long time since I last checked so I figured out I had nothing to lose. I had a clear idea in my mind of what I wanted to feed Peach (as in Princess Peach, from Super Mario!):

food that isn't owned by a company that conducts cruel tests on animals (companies to avoid: IAMS/Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet, Purina, Pedigree and their divisions)
food that contains chicken as the main ingredient (yes, dogs are carnivore; no, I won't feed her vegetarian food because I'm vegetarian myself)
food that contains no by-products
food that is affordable

I figured out the only alternative was Walmart store brand but after a quick look at the ingredients, I quickly realized they were all crap (would you feed your dog food with corn as the main ingredient? WTF?). I finally decided to have a look at Mondou (why didn't I think of that sooner?) and the super nice SA pointed me two brands (exclusive to Mondou and without cruel animal tests) that would fulfill all of my demands (I finally opted for Vetdiet). Mondou is great because they don't sell animals in their stores and they even have a cool rewards program that lets you exchange points for cash rewards (:

In the meantime, I figured out I would have a look around while I was in Walmart...

Original Carmex Jar $1.98 I keep hearing so many great things about this lip balm and being a lip balm junkie, I just had to try it. At $1.98 at Walmart, it was pretty hard to resist! I think I withheld for so long because I was afraid that camphor and phenol could make my lips react (what usually happen with lip-tingling formulas), but so far, I have nothing to report except that this is an amazing lipbalm and I'm so glad I finally decided to give it a try! Now I'm lusting after the cherry version... Oh, and do I really have to mention that Carmex is not tested on animals? (:

g21 by George long sleeves striped pulls on sale $9 each (instead of $14) I know, I should not have a look at the clothes everytime I'm in Walmart because I always find something interesting and affordable! Can you believe there was only one XS of the black and grey shirt left? But hey, I really needed long sleeves tops because I'm always freezing! Oh yes, you may have noticed that I have a thing for stripes =P

Giveaway: Kick Off 2012 With A Colour Consultation From Tints Of Nature - Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Color That Doesn't Damage Hair

2012-01-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

Tints of Nature offers 24 different shades of permanent hair color in their line. Using an ammonia-free formula, Tints of Nature softens the cuticle, allowing the color to work at a lower pH. This method results in effective hair colouring that leaves hair in far healthier conditioner. Our aim is to maintain the balance of hair's protein and moisture to keep hair healthy.

You don't need ammonia or harsh chemicals to color your hair. Our products contain certified organic ingredients and will NOT damage your hair!

Our carton is made from 100% reclaimed material and can be readily recycled. Our products are never tested on animals and contain no animal by-products.

New year, new you! Tints of Nature wants to treat one lucky reader of Gaby's Beauty Blog to a specialized hair color consultation and send them their perfect shade to help ring in the new year. Once the winner has been selected, they can submit an up to date headshot of themselves and Tints of Nature's certified sylist will help recommend the best color from their line for the winner to try. Aftewards, of course, they will send you the color!

Rules:

This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only
You have to follow Gaby's Beauty Blog via GFC (you don't need to have a blog)
Blogs made solely for giveaways will be disqualified
This giveaway ends on February 14 at 12:01 am.

To enter (mandatory):

Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post

Good luck!!!

Please wait for the Rafflecopter form to load!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Tints of Nature.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

2012-01-30T06:33:00.000-05:00

The Body Shop® difference: Our Body Butter is the original and in our humble opinion, the world’s best. But we aren’t the only ones who think so. Our Shea Body Butter is a hit with celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez, Victoria and David Beckham, and Reese Witherspoon. So you are in good company when you indulge in the luxurious, 24-hour, non-stop moisturizing formula, packed with Community Trade ingredients. And you can feel good when you use it, knowing that you are helping to provide a community of women in Ghana with regular work and income.

Best if you want to: Treat your skin to non-stop moisturization with a rich, intensive cream featuring the clean scent of shea.

Best for: very dry skin

How it works: Community Trade shea butter has antioxidant vitamins A and E to help protect and nourish skin. Community Trade cocoa butter is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving skin soft and silky smooth.

Yes, until very recently, I was a Body Shop virgin because as much as I've wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200ml body butter that I can find at Wal-Mart for only $6 (I'm talking about SPAresource body butters)? I've always been happy with those drugstore body butters but I ran out of them and my eczema always seems to worsen in the winter and there's no way I will use a body lotion instead, it's just not enough moisturizing.

So at the beginning of December, I stumbled accross The Body Shop's 3 for $30 offer on their whole website, and I figured out it was the perfect time to give those mystical butters a try as they would cost only $10 each with free shipping. To see what I have ordered and to read what I thought of their customer service, you can click here to be brought to my shopping post.

The first butter I decided to try was the Shea Body Butter as it's designed for very dry skin and from what I have heard, it is claimed to be the thickest and most moisturizing of all The Body Shop body butters, which is exactly what my parched and eczema-prone skin needed!

L - R: 200mL and 400mL body butters

I ordered this body butter in the jumbo format (400ml) because it was included in the 3 for $30 offer, but otherwise, it retails at $25 (!!!) Even though I was warned, let me confirm that yes, the jumbo size is really jumbo! At first I was worried I wouldn't be able to go through this humongous tub before the end of the winter (I don't use body butters in the summer, they are just too heavy) and I only hoped it wouldn't go bad too soon, but I have been using this butter since the beginning of December and I'm already half way through it (I use it every night after showering all over my body).

As soon as I started using the Shea body butter, I fell in love with its amazing texture. The consistency is dreamy - rich, creamy and perfectly thick - exactly what I'm expecting in a body butter! Some say it's greasy, but hey, this stuff has been designed for very dry skin for a reason! If you have extremely dry, dehydrated skin, like me, it soaks it all up in a matter of seconds without leaving greasy residue behind.

In the tub, the butter looks hard and solid but it really melts as soon as it comes in contact with the skin.

It's a little hard to describe what Shea smells like but I would say it's a sort of neutral clean and fresh smell that is slightly earthy and nutty, with a hint of floral. I think it's a very creamy, cozy and comforting smell that is not overpowering but I would not say it's very light either. I also doesn't linger on the skin very long, which is disappointing in my opinion.

At first, I must say I wasn't blown away by this butter. I mean, I have tried quite a few body butters in the past and I always went back to the ones from SPAresources because they were inexpensive, did the job quite well and had that perfectly buttery texture. However, I have realized that with continuous use, The Body Shop Shea Body Butter soothed my irritated skin and I haven't experienced any eczema flare-ups since I started using it. Sure, my skin still ocasionally itches and sometimes I have to apply moisturizer in the morning to get me through the day, but I haven't feel the need to reach for my steroid cream and this is a big step forward in my book.

Of course, the main issue for me with these butters is the price: mini (50 ml / 1.7 oz) for $6.00, regular (200 ml / 7.0 oz) for $18.00 and jumbo (400 ml / 13.5 oz) for $25.00. I won't need to buy these full-price anytime soon because I guess it will take me a long time to get through the six butters I ordered in December, but The Body Shop always has some kind of deals going on such as buy 1 get 1 50% off, buy 3 get 2 free, etc. But still, I'm not convinced these body butters are a must have if you don't have problem skin that requires heavy-duty moisture.

The body butters are available on The Body Shop website and you get free shipping with any purchase of $75 (be sure to check out RetailMeNot for coupons before ordering!)

Mail of the Week (January 23 - 27)

2012-01-27T10:49:00.001-05:00

I Love... Strawberries & Milkshake products to review I was given the wonderful opportunity to test and review some I Love... products in the flavor I wanted and even thought I had a hard time making my mind, I finally decided to go with Strawberries & Milkshake. I was sent a Body Butter, a Bubble Bath & Shower Gel and a Shower Smoothie. These products actually smell more like Strawberry Daiquiri or an alcoholic drink of the like to me, but it's still yummy! Stay tuend for my ucpoming review... as well as a little surprise for you guys (:

My prize from Shaylee Anne I was lucky enough to win a MAC High-Light Powder in Golden Nectar from the Naked Honey collection, which is a muted golden tan with gold shimmer. This powder features a beautiful embossed honeycomb pattern. It is super fine, impeccably pearlized and it creates soft high lights on cheek, brow, shoulders – anywhere on the body. I usually don't bother with highlight powders on a daily basis becaux I don't know, I'm not convinced they really do somethin, and honestly, I'm just too lazy =P But for this one, I will definitely make an exception, it's just too pretty not to to use! Thanks Shaylee! =D

ShaToBu High Waist Get Fit Tight ShaToBu has come up with a revolutionary shaper that helps women shape, tone and burn more calories during everyday activities. Yes, the benefits go beyond ordinary shapewear - ShaToBu instantly gives a sleeker silhouette, but women can also see and feel a difference in their bodies with regular use over time. By incorporating resistance bands right into the garment, muscles work a little harder and more calories are burned during daily activities. This just sounds too amazing not to give it a try!

My 1¢ Julep Maven Intro Box They recently had a wicked deal for a 1¢ intro box so of course, I had to take advantage of it! I'm not telling you which one I chose yet, I want to dedicate a complete post to this box =P

♫ Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj

e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color

2012-01-26T09:51:00.000-05:00

L - R: Day 2 Night, Butternut

Luxuriously smooth, pigmented formula provides your eyes with a bright and beautiful sweep of rich color. The formula blends into skin for a long lasting, beautiful effect. Each quad is comprised of 4 coordinating shades that allow for both natural and dramatic looks. Built-in mirror and applicator included.

I was lucky enough to win these two eyeshadow quads, Butternut and Day 2 Night, from Heidi's giveaway in September and I was super excited because they are actually the first e.l.f. makeup product I tried (I had only used their mechanical eyelash curler before). I didn't know what to expect from a $1 eyeshadow but I have heard mainly good things about e.l.f. so I was very eager to give these a try.

L - R: Day 2 Night, Butternut

Yes the packaging is cheap - plastic, flimsy, writing wears off easily - but I was surprised to find a little mirror in there, nestled behind the foam applicator! It's a little awkward to use because it's so small but it's not completely useless as I'm perfectly able to see both of my eyes at once. It's actually great for touch-ups through the day. As with most drugstore eyeshadows, these quads come with foam applicators that I won't use on a regular basis but I like to keep them in case I don't have access to my makeup brushes if I'm staying over at a friend's house or something.

The thing that absolutely wowed me about these quads is the pigmentation - it's incredible for only $1, it's way better than some Lancôme and high end brands eyeshadows I have tried! Of course, this doesn't apply to all the shades - in both quads, the highlight shades are super chalky, sheer and completely useless, but the darker shades are really dark, super buttery and smooth! Seriously, I couldn't believe it! These eyeshadow blend really easily and they are also easy to remove.

Day 2 Night

Butternut

I don't wear eye primer on a daily because I don't usually have a problem with creasing eyeshadow except maybe if I'm doing an intense activity like sport or something, but these eyeshadows lasted all day on me without losing their vibrancy. I'm not sure what they mean by "brightening eye color" though because I didn't notice my eyes being more awake or anything.

These Brightening Eye Colors definitely sold me to e.l.f! If the shipping fees weren't that awful (it was around $16 to ship in Canada the last time I checked) I would definitely stock up on a couple of items. I think these eyeshadows are amazing if you are on a budget or if you are a begginner in makeup because they offer a wide variety of shade - at this price, you can definitely grab them all!

However, I would advise you to be careful because, as I say, the quality doesn't seem to be consistency in every shades, and I guess it will be the same thing with most of e.l.f. products.

e.l.f. Brightening Eye Colors retail for $1 on the e.l.f. website.

Guest Post: Budget Beauty Buys – Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

2012-01-25T11:23:00.000-05:00

This post was written by Sian Townsend who is a fashion and beauty writer for Café La Moda, she believes that even those on a budget can commit to only using cruelty-free cosmetics.

(image: weheartit)

So you want to make sure you don’t use any beauty products that have been tested on animals. But you’re not quite sure how to go about it and you’re not sure you can afford to pay more. These days plenty of brands boast about their ethics but how can you be sure?

Here’s the factual bit. In 2009 the EU sales ban stopped most animal tested products being sold in the UK. However it was not an outright ban, certain ingredients and tests are still permitted. The plan is for there to be a complete ban by 2013 but in the meantime concerned beauty buyers still need to be careful. We should count ourselves lucky though – in China cosmetics are required to be tested on animals to prove they’re safe before they can be sold there.

The best way to be sure that the cosmetics you use are completely cruelty free is to look for the Leaping Bunny logo on the packaging. In order to get this stamp of approval the product and the company that makes it must conduct no animal testing or purchase any ingredients from companies that do test on animals. So basically a bunny means the product is completely animal friendly.

(image: weheartit)

But don’t fret that your morals will mean a dent in your finances. Cruelty-free does not have to mean a large price tag. Take high street brands Lush or Body Shop, both follow strict codes of conduct but neither will break the bank.

Large household brands such as Marks & Spencer and Tesco also make sure all their own-brand products are not tested on animals or contain any ingredients that are. Both do great own-brand skincare ranges that are fantastic beauty bargains.

Neal’s Yard is another skincare brand that follows a no testing policy but is affordable, plus all its products are completely natural so the chance of an allergic reaction is unlikely.

For those who like to indulge in more luxurious brands Dermalogica, Arbonne and Liz Earle are all endorsed with the leaping bunny logo and all would fit in the ‘pay-day treat category’.

When it comes to makeup there’s also lots of brands that are all completely cruelty free. These include Barry M, MAC cosmetics and Urban Decay.

Search the full list of Leaping Bunny endorsed brands at www.gocrueltyfree.org.

(image: weheartit)

Interested in being a guest blogger? Please let me know!

LUSH NEW! Shampoo Bar

2012-01-24T10:02:00.000-05:00

Clove and peppermint oils to motivate tired scalps.
Help treat hair loss with cinnamon, clove and bay oils. When stress or life goes to your head, this shampoo will encourage hair growth and stimulate scalps. It's intense, but works a treat on irritated scalps or hair that's thinning.

Herbs for softness.
Rejuvenate hair with rosemary and nettle to make hair shiny and soft.

Nettle and peppermint
Nettle and peppermint stimulate the scalp and the hair follicles.

I'm not a regular LUSH shopper because all of their products seem too expensive for what they really are - $6.95 for a one time use bath bomb, really? - but I must admit I have made a mental whishlist of things that truly interest me, that are original and that can't be found elsewhere, but I keep saying to myself that I don't really need those things... I probably wouldn't have tried any of their shampoo bars if I hadn't let the sale assistant explain me in details what they are, how they work, what are their benefits, etc. I must admit, I didn't even listen to what she was saying at first as I came there for Boxing Day specials, wandering around and emitting random "huh-huh" when I thought it was appropriate... but when she mentioned "oily roots" somewhere in her monologue, I froze in place. I interrupted her, amazingly excited and full of hope: "Did you say one of these things is especially designed to control greasy hair?"

OK, I new they had a solid shampoo designed for oily hair and I would have initally gone for Jumping Juniper if I really wanted to try one, but the sale assistant told me this shampoo did nothing for her oily roots but that NEW! worked awesome for her, and that, as an added bonus, it was also great to stimulate hair growth. I was still a little hesitant because I thought that $10.95 was crazy for a shampoo - especially a strange-looking shampoo like this one - but then I rembered that I had read somewhere that one LUSH shampoo bar was the equivalent of three bottles of liquid shampoo, minus the nasty things such as silicone and the not-so-green packaging. So curiosity won me over and I came home with this cute little thing. I couldn't wait to try this and now I'm excited to share my thoughts with you!

Another thing that made me hesitant to try those solid shampoos is that I was afraid it would be hard to use and that it would not lather well - I know we have to get over the idea that a product has to lather to properly clean, but still, it's hard to say where I have put shampoo if I can't feel it! - but the sale assistant assured me it lathers really well, even better than most liquid shampoos! As soon as I came home with NEW!, I hopped in the shower, ready to put it to the test and let me tell you, the lady was right - it really does lather like crazy! It produces such a nice, luxurious and silky foam that I have never experienced with liquid shampoos - I never want to stop rubbing it onto my hair!

Because of its strange shape much like a hockey puck, I had no idea how I was supposed to rub NEW! onto my hair, but I went at it anyway and surprisingly, it does the job almost on its own! It glides well on the hair, making sure to cover all of it and leaving a trail of luxurious foam behind it. When I rinse the foam away, I can feel my hair being squeaky clean.

Size comparison with my hand

NEW! may seem small but just like solid soaps that seem to last forever compared to shower gels, it should last a great deal of time if it's true that it's the equivalent of three bottles of shampoo and honestly I do believe it is. I makes sure to let NEW! dry in a area free of humidity to keep it from melting before storing it in a little container I re-used (instead of the stupid-useless-waste-of-money tin they will try to sell you).

I personally love the cinnamon smell, yes it's strong but it's very pleasant and refreshing to me. It's not everyday that you find a shampoo that smells like that! I didn't notice it lingering into my hair but I think it would have been quite pleasant.

From the reviews I have read on the LUSH website, many people say this shampoo is drying but I didn't notice my hair being dry and I really don't care as I use conditioner and leave-in conditioner everytime I wash my hair, and honestly, I would rather have dry than greasy hair! After each wash with NEW!, my hair is left perfectly clean, really shiny - something I don't think I have experienced with any liquid shampoo - and also touchably soft.

After this great experience with NEW! Shampoo Bar, I'm seriously contemplating getting rid of all of my liquid shampoos because when I think of it, none of them really did something for my hair and they sure don't work as well as NEW!. Maybe I'll use them up and then stick to solid shampoos?

Oh yes, NEW! is safe for colored-treated hair, like all of LUSH shampoo bars except Seanik because it contains sea salt which can roughen up the hair and easily strip color from the hair.

You can get NEW! Shampoo Bar for $10.95 for 55g at LUSH.ca and be sure to have a look at their wide variety of solid shampoos!

CLOSED - Giveaway: Konad Starter Kit From Nail Polish Canada

2012-01-23T08:49:00.001-05:00

Nail Polish Canada just started carrying Konad Stamping Nail Art in the fall and would love to get the word out to the readers of Gaby's Beauty Blog so I was kindly offered the opportunity to give away a Konad Starter Kit to of my readers!

The Konad Starter Kit (over a $32 value) includes 2 plates (M2 and M3), 3 polishes (white, blue and red) and a stamp and scraper.

But the best part is that a few other beauty bloggers are also running the giveaway and each giveaway winner will be entered to win $200 worth of Konad products from Nail Polish Canada! So the winner of the Konad Kit from my blog will be entered, along with about 10 others, to win $200 worth of Konad products. Isn't it amazing?

Rules:

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only
You have to follow Gaby's Beauty Blog via GFC (you don't need to have a blog)
Blogs made solely for giveaways will be disqualified
This giveaway ends on February 6 at 12:01 am.

To enter (mandatory):

Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post

Good luck!!!

Please wait for the Rafflecopter form to load!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Nail Polish Canada.

Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water

2012-01-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

A refreshing take on beautiful skin.

A soothing refreshing water that gently cleanses and tones skin while removing eye make-up, just what you wished for. Introducing Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water make-up cleanser, a rinse-free formula that micro-emulsifies impurities and waterproof make-up without irritating skin, gentle for even the driest and most sensitive complexions. Skin feels clean, refreshed, and revitalized.

That's it, I'm done - I refuse to touch another makeup remover than this one. I still can't believe I haven't reviewed this stuff already because it's definitely my HG makeup remover! Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water is all I ever wanted - it's just so gentle yet it melts everything away effortlessly, without leaving annoying greasy residues behind. But it's not only a makeup remover - it's also an eye make-up remover, facial cleanser and tonifying lotion all at once and the best of all - it requires no rinsing, which is perfect for lazy girls like me! Another bonus? No nasty things such as parabens, silicones, or SLS!

Because of my dry skin, I tend to get eczema flare-ups very easily, especially around my eyes - if I rub a little too hard to remove my makeup, I will wake up the next morning with a swollen, red, itchy and irritated eye - very annoying. With Marcelle Cleansing Water, I never had this problem because it just melts everything away so easily!

I think you get a good quantity of product for the price ($14.50 for 6.7 FL OZ / 200 mL) because I've had my first bottle since mid-February and I only recently used it up, but if you live near Montreal, you can grab it for around $8 if I remember well at the Marcelle warehouse sales that happen twice a year (I go to those sales solely to stock up on this item!)

My babies... OK, maybe I do have a problem

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

To Bangs Or Not To Bangs, That Is The Question!

2012-01-19T10:05:00.002-05:00

The last time I tried bangs was in September 2010 and I absolutely hated it. I went to the hairdresser and asked for something that would make my face seem shorter and my hair more volumized, so she cut straight bangs, which I think don't suit my face shape at all. I don't know if it's just me, but it looked weird, maybe too "perfect" for my taste - I had in mind more dishevelled and textured bangs.

This time, after watching too many movies and TV shows featuring Zooey Deschanel (Our Idiot Brother and New Girl), I got an intense craving for thick, dishevelled and effortless bangs like her - have you notice how her bangs look different yet in every picture of her? Isn't it amazing?

(source: Google Images)

I must say I've been getting more and more bored of my hair recently but I wasn't ready to commit to a new hair color or anything so I figured out an easy way to update my look was bangs - I told myself that if I didn't like the results, I could always just swipe the bangs aside in a frange and let it grow, but I actually really like it!

I didn't go to the hairdresser for this - who goes to the hairdresser just to get bangs anyway? - and cut it myself. WARNING: If you plan to cut your own bangs, be sure your hair is dry! Wet hair stretches and because of that, you are more likely to cut your bangs shorter than you had planned - thrust me on that, I did this mistake once.

I personally think it's easier to start to cut your bangs in the center and work your way out, but it may be the other way around for you. I make sure to comb my hair down and I cut a little longer than where I want them because it's always better to cut longer then take more off. Because I was aiming for textured bangs, I used the scissors pointing at the hair and cut straight into it, that way my bangs are slightly uneven and they look more voluminous.

L - R: before and after

I will admit that I was very hesitant to get bangs at first for various reasons - here they are:

Bangs can get greasy really fast. I personally have dry skin but my t-zone often gets oily when it's hot outside so naturally, bangs suck up all the oil, which cause them to be greasy and limp. On top of that, my hair already gets oily pretty fast, so to counteract this, I have realized it's necessary to carry dry shampoo or baby powder in my bag at all time. If you have time, you can also wash only your bangs in the shower or in the sink. Also be sure to clip your bangs away from your face when you apply your face cream and allow it to properly dry, otherwise your hair will soak it all up! I like to use this hair pad thingy to keep my bangs away from my face.

Bangs need to be trimmed regularly. I cut mine so they fall slightly under my eyebrows so it doesn't take much time before they grow and fall in my eyes, which is insanely annoying. Bangs have to be trimmed every month but it personally takes me only around five minutes so I really don't mind.

Bangs can be super annoying and take some times to get used to. In 2010, when I chose to get bangs, I swept them aside after two days because the minute I got hot, they would make my forehead itch and trigger eczema flare-ups. Also, if you aren't used to bangs and usually part your hair on the side for example, you will maybe have the reflex to always try to swipe them on the side, but you will get use to it.

Bangs don't suit everybody. If you have a round face, don't go for bangs because they will only emphasize your roundness. Bangs can also make you look younger - I have a friend with a baby face who sports bangs and it only makes her look like a 7 years old, which is not cute - but you will have to experiment with them to know.

(source: weheartit 1 2 3)

But there's also a positive side to bangs, which won me over!

Bangs are relatively low maintenance. OK, this seems to contradict the second point above but what I mean is that my bangs fall in place by themselves when I wake up in the morning and because I don't want them to look too perfect, I don't flat iron them everyday, that way they look more volumized, textured and natural. I couldn't do that with my fringe because it would always look strange if I didn't flat iron it.

Bangs can conceal a huge forehead and makes your face appear shorter. This is the main reason why I finally decided to go for bangs! I'm really craving long hair but with my super long face, straight long hair doesn't really suit me and because I'm too lazy to blow dry it or curl it everyday to infuse some volume in it, this is the only other solution for me.

Bangs emphasize your eyes. Eye grazing bangs will bring out the color of your eyes!

Bangs instantly update your haircut. As I said above, I went for it because it was the easiest solution to beat hair dorebom. If I don't like them, I can also grow them out, which you can't do if your hair color is a disaster, for example.

Bangs allow you to sport a simple haircut because the spotlight is on your bangs. I don't feel the need to layer my hair as much as before because I think my bangs add enough texture and volume by themselves.

Bangs can be styled how you like. The possibilities are endless! If you get bored of straight bangs, just swipe them aside in a side fringe, do a center part, clip them back, braid them, etc.

Bangs allow you to wear less makeup. Because your bangs conceal your forehead, you don't even need to bother with concealing that humongous zit anymore! Also, there's no need for foundation or bronzer up there. Personally, I don't even bother filling in my brows anymore because they are covered by my bangs anyway.

I'm still not sure I'm getting used to bangs but I want to allow myself more time before giving up on them - that's how bored I am! I want to experience with different hairstyle and all - I have found that a ponytail with thick bangs suit me way better than before, for example.

Shielo Hair

2012-01-18T09:14:00.000-05:00

Our philosophy is to create products with integrity and ensure that we preserve the future well-being of our environment. Shielo is against animal cruelty and proud to use post-consumer recycled and recyclable packaging.

Vegan & Natural Base

Our products contain the highest quality ingredients from nature, combined with advances in haircare research to ensure desired performance and ultimate results. As an organization, we have committed to developing naturally-based formulas infused with organic botanicals harvested from plants grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or chemicals.

Do you ladies remember my Made from Earth product review? Well the same product formulators have made some organic and chemical free hair products for Shielo and I was given the opportunity to try these products as well. I realise I almost never feature hair products on my blog and I don't really know why - I guess it's because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to review a shampoo? I must say I'm not very adventurous or picky when it comes to shampoos and conditioners either. Well I'll be happy to try my best to review these vegan and cruelty free products. I've been sent their Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner as well as their #1 seller, Antioxidant Leave-in Protectant.

Volume Volumizing Shampoo $28.49 for 8oz / 237ml

This modern volumizing shampoo is designed to remove residue and product styling build-up, without stripping hair or fading color to provide an optimum environment for thicker hair. Fights free radicals that damage and weaken hair. The results are thicker, healthier, more beautiful hair.

I think it's hard to say whether a shampoo protects hair color from fading or not - I dye my hair dark brown which is a relatively easy color to maintain, unlike red or something like that, and yes, brown will fade, but it's not as much noticeable. I try to wash my hair only twice a week to prevent it from becoming oily too fast but also in an attempt to preserve the shine the hair dye provided to my hair.

I can't say I feel Shielo Volumizing Shampoo really did something for my hair. Yes, it left it squeaky clean, but I hate to have to use a crazy amount of product to get just a little foam - I know we have to get over the idea that a product has to lather to properly clean, but still, it's hard to say where I have put shampoo if I can't feel it!

Another thing I find hard to tell is if a product truly leaves hair more volumized or not. I don't think my hair are naturally voluminous but they aren't super flat either, and this shampoo doesn't seem to have changed its condition, but I must say I didn't know what to expect because I never had amazing results from any volumizing shampoo before.

My hair wasn't left smoother or shinier either. I would say this shampoo does the cleaning job very well, but for this price, I was expecting more.

Volume Volumizing Conditioner $24.99 for 8oz / 237ml

This must-have conditioner for full thick hair is enriched with nanofilaments designed to thicken each hair shaft. The conditioner is featherweight and detangles fine or limp hair with ultra light silk fibers that separates strands to create a fuller look. The results are thicker, healthier, more beautiful hair.

The first thing I look for in a conditionner is a thick texture. I won't bother with a super runny and watery conditioner that will only glide on my hair and do nothing. I want to be able to feel it and I want it to properly coat and penetrate my hair. Shielo Volumizing Conditioner didn't disappoint - sure it's not as thick as a hair mask, but it's just what I expected! It's not a runny mess to use and I could really feel my hair being softer and it was also left super shiny.

As for the volumizing claims, I didn't really notice my hair being thicker but I don't really understand how a conditioner can volumize hair - don't you want your volume at the roots to have truly bigger hair?

Both the shampoo and the conditioner smells like green apple to me, which I absolutely love!

L -R: Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner

Antioxidant Leave-In Protectant $19.99 for 4oz / 188ml

This antioxidant rich leave in protectant is designed to fortify every strand of hair, creating texture, as well as protect your color-treated hair from the elements. Our unique protective complex with pro-vitamins, proteins and amino acids infuse hair with vitamins while providing UV protection. For deeper natural and color-treated hair color. Excellent in eliminating frizz and protecting hair from styling tools.

Leave-in protectant is something I can't leave without. It has litteraly saved my hair in the past, and now, even thought I haven't touch bleach in a long time, I'm afraid to go without one! It just complements conditioner so well and it never fails to leave my hair super soft and gives it that extra shine.

It's the first time I used a leave-in protectant in spray form and I must say I had the impression that it did nothing at first because it's advised to mist it throughout clean, towel-dried hair, and I guess because I wasn't able to "feel" the product, I thought it would not work. Honestly, I didn't notice extra texture in my hair after use or anything special but I don't think this is the kind of product that you can "see" working, I think you will notice if it works or not in the long term.

I think the spray makes it less messy to use but I don't like that I can't see where I put the product - I don't want to miss a spot! I love the smell, it's kind of slight banana-y and it does perfume my hair a little but sadly, the smell won't linger.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

December Empties

2012-01-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

☑ Secret Scent Expressions Ooh-La-La Lavender Antiperspirant/Deodorant* It's been a long time since I lasted used gel antiperspirant/deodorant because they usually take forever to dry or, for some reason, I feel they work less than their stick/solid counterpart, but I must say I was impressed with this one. Not one time did it let me down and it dried in seconds! Seriously, who has time to walk around the house with arms in the air, waiting for their armpits to dry?

Repurchase? no, P&G tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: Mitchum PowerGel Flower Fresh antiperspirant/deodorant

☑ Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream with royal jelly I guess that from the state of the jar, you can tell how long I've had this cream, and I must say I'm super happy to be finally done with it! I can't remember if the texture has changed since the first time I started using it but now it's just so thick and sticky, it's a nightmare to spread on your face - I felt like I was applying thick layers of collagen all over my face! This isn't moisturizing enough for my dry skin, and I always prefer my night cream to be extra moisturizing.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream

☑ Fruits & Passion Orange Cantaloup Rich Hand Cream It seems I'm always complaining about Fruits & Passion but what can I say, this hand cream is far from being rich, in fact it's super light and it's not moisturizing at all for my super dry hands. I can't remember how much it cost because I can't find this size on their website but I think I got this in a gift set, but still, their products are always overpriced anyway.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream (sample)

☑ Elemis FreshSkin Magical Moisture Quenching Face Mask See my review here.

Repurchase: no because as far as I know, you can't purchase this mask separately (it comes in a duo with the Deep Clean Purifying Face Mask , which did nothing for my dry skin)

What I'm currently using to replace it: other face masks

☑ Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation FPS 15 - Bisque* I received this a long time ago when I used to be active on Meg's Makeup and I chose to redeem my hard-earned 250 points for the "Most Fab Gift". I never really used it until recently because I don't usually wear foundation on a daily basis but I decided I wanted to get rid of it without throwing it away. I can't tell if it's a good foundation or not because honestly, I don't think I have the worst skin and I don't really have blemish, pimple or scars to hide.

Repurchase: no because their answer to "Does Sheer Cover test on animals?" is "No. Sheer Cover finished products are not tested on animals." I guess you know what that means.

What I'm currently using to replace it: I'm switching foundation everyday

☑ Spa0² Pebble & Shells Refreshing Bath & Shower Gel I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a shower gel or a bubble bath but because I have tons of soaps and shower gels to use, I decided to use this one as a bubble bath, and to get some slight bubbles, I had to pour the entire bottle in the bath! Talk about a crappy product!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random - and hopefully more interesting - bath treats

*These products are NOT cruelty-free

KORRES Natural Products

2012-01-16T06:37:00.000-05:00

Two decades ago, George Korres, pursuing his passion for natural homeopathic remedies, embarked on a journey that within a few years led to the founding of the KORRES brand.

Today, Korres Natural Products is Greece’s fastest-growing natural skincare company. It features over 400 natural and/or certified organic products in over 30 countries around the world. With products that are both serious and sensuous, Korres is the most sought-after natural skincare by consumers, celebrities, and beauty insiders alike.

In a world facing ever-growing problems including limited natural resources and the increase in pollution levels, Korres Natural Products considers its fundamental responsibility towards nature and the environment as an essential effort that should be executed by all of us, for the protection of our planet.

Can you imagine my surprise when I was approached by Melissa with the opportunity to try some KORRES products? I never knew these were available in Canada, but yes, you can actually find them in selected Shoppers Drug Mart. I was very kindly sent a assortment of best seller products that I have been testing for the past month or so and I must say, I am absolutely impressed!

Basil Lemon Extra Moisturizing Body Butter for dry skin $29.00 for 7.95 FL. OZ

Rich, luxurious cream enriched with shea butter to soften, smooth, and nourish the skin with a scent of green spice, dazzling freshness with a vibrant lemon zest touch.

When I first tried this one, I must say I was sceptical because come on, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube? To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, and because of this, to me this product is definitely not a body butter.

It still has a nice texture, but it's really more of a cream to me. It's not the thickest cream I have used but it's decent, it moisturizes well and it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I don't have a lot of citrusy products because I usually go for sweeter scents, but I was really surprised by this one! It smells really fresh yet sweet at the same time. I wish the smell would linger longer on the skin though!

Because of my dry and itchy skin - damn you eczema! - I had to re-apply this body cream in the morning to ensure a proper level of moisture through the day, but it's really not a con to me as I'm used to do so with most of my body products.

Wild Rose Face and Eye Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum $41.00 for 1.01 FL. OZ.

An ultra-concentrated vitamin C serum that brightens and smoothes the look of fine lines of face and eyes.Reduces the appearance of fine lines and skin discolorations.Baobab-tree polysaccharide, in combination with a wheat proteins agent, provides a line-smoothing effect, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

I'm not really struggling with fine lines and skin discolorations yet so I can't tell you how well this product perform regarding these issues, but appart from that, I can say that I like the smell - I'm not talking a cheap synthetic rose scent here, it's the real thing! - and that I'm impressed at how well this serum keeps my skin moisturized.

I don't usually use a serum in the day because it's another extra step to include in my morning routine, not to mention that most serums I've tried where heavy and oily and took too long to get absorbed into the skin, but I haven't experience these issues with this one.

One pump dispense the exact right amount of product I need to cover my whole face and as soon as I'm finished applying the serum, it is already absorbed and I'm ready to follow with my day cream! I like how this serum leaves my face slightly tightened and feeling fresh.

My only gripe with this product is the packaging - doesn't it just look cheap for $41 or is it just me? I love the pump dispenser but come on, why the cheap plastic packaging?

Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream $52.00 for 1.35 FL. OZ.

Provides intense nourishment throughout the night. Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. Improves skin firmness and elasticity.

Can I just say OMG?! This was love at first sight - it's everything I ever wanted in a night cream! It comes in a cute pot with a nice weight behind it, it's amazingly thick and rich, it's not greasy and it's absorbed quickly into the skin, and lastly, the smell... delicious! I didn't know what to expect quercetin and oak to smell like - I didn't even know what was quercetin before - but it's far from the boring and sometimes sickly herbal scent... I'm not even able to describe it, but it's very pleasant and calming.

Now obviously I don't need antiageing product yet but the secret reason why I love them is that they tend to be thicker in texture and more moisturizing than other products, and I wasn't disappointed with this one.

I can't stand a light texture in a night cream - I want to be able to feel it on my skin and honestly, I don't even care if it's slightly greasy or oily as I'm going to bed anyway! Come on, just clip your bangs up and go to sleep, and your skin will thank you in the morning.

This cream looks very thick in the pot but it's very buttery and smooth on the skin, leaving it super soft. Because it's absorbed so quickly in the skin, I'm even tempted to use it as a day cream sometimes, but I really want to reserve this little pot of luxury for night time =P

Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream $42.00 for 0.51 FL. OZ

Minimizes the appearance of under-eye darkness and puffiness, while leaving the eye area looking younger, firmer and feeling more elastic.

I've kept the best for last, even though I love the night cream just as much... but it's almost a miracle for me to have found a rich and extremely moisturizing eye cream that doesn't give me milia! I don't think I have issues with dark circles and pufiness and I mainly use eye cream as a prevention but also to keep my delicate eye area moisturized as it gets eczema flare-ups very easily - as soon as I slightly rub my eyes, they become red and irritated and the morning after, I wake up to swollen and itchy skin.

I have used cheaper eye creams in the past and some have severely irritated my eyes so I have to be careful with what I use around that area, not to mention that it gets easily irritated if I'm not careful when I remove my makeup. I just love this eye cream, it's really rich and I have to be very careful not to use too much product because even with only one pump, it's too much for both eyes!

The packaging of this eye cream is similar to the serum and even though it's a minor issue, I couldn't help but expect more for the price.

Fellow Canadian, be sure to check out KORRES Canada Facebook page for more info!

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Mail of the Week (January 9 - 13)

2012-01-13T09:22:00.003-05:00

I didn't get tons of exciting things in the mail recently not to mention the postal service is on hiatus during the Holidays, but I know some of you love these kind of posts so I felt bad not posting it for what... three weeks? I even contemplated - again - to stop posting what I get in the mail but I don't want angry readers =P Oh well, I hope you will enjoy this post anyway!

Marcelle BB Cream I don't know if you remember me mentionning the big surprise at the Marcelle/Annabelle #Avant1reBeauté event... but it was the BB Cream! Yes, Marcelle came up with the first Canadian-made BB Cream formulated specially for Canadian women in pharmacies as well as mass retail stores!

Marcelle BB Cream will be available at pharmacies and mass retail stores across Canada as of February 6, but while stocks lasts, beauty trend-setters like you lovely ladies will be able to order BB Cream as early as January 16! Sold at its regular price of $22.95, shipping is FREE with any purchase over $25.00 before taxes at shop.Marcelle.com. How awesome is that?

Stiletto Hardware insoles I still remember having to walk home barefoot from the Marcelle/Annabelle #Avant1reBeauté event because my new heels were killing me - of course I catched a cold after, what did I expect? I have tried quite a few shoe insoles in the past but none of them worked, not even the ones from Dr.Scholl's! They would all slip or loose their grip after a few use. I really hope these ones are different! Here's what I've been kindly sent:

Ball-of-foot Cushions for painful high heels
Ball-of-foot Ultra-Slender for shoes that are too tight to fit a standard size ball-of-foot pad
Heel Cushions for flats

Introductory "Classic With a Twist" Julep Maven Box I was not familiar with Julep Maven before being offered to be sent an introductory box and even though there's tons of those subscription services on the market already, I like that this one focuses on nail polishes - no to mention they are free of DBP, toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin! I'm not posting the content of the box I received already because I want to dedicate a whole post to it... along with a little surprise for you lovely ladies! In the meantime, feel free to use the code GABYSBEAUTYBLOG at checkout to receive your first Julep Maven Sneak Peek Box for just $9.99! (valued over $40). Also, for a limited time only, you can use code NEWYEAR2012 to get a box for 1¢ only - yes, 1¢!

Telus 2012 calendar Telus were giving this calendar for free to all of their customers so I grabbed one for myself as it's just too cute! Now I'm stuck with three 2012 calendars though, hmm...

Winter issue of Compassion Over Killing magazine I didn't know that but COK sends out their members magazine once to twice a year. Not yet a member? Join today! You can also view this issue (and the older ones) online.

February issue of Glamour

February issue of Cosmopolitan Wow, the little Dakota Fanning is all grown up! I can't believe she's turning 18... I still remember the little girl from I Am Sam! Also, is it only me or does Cosmo really have troubles with Photoshop sometimes? Come on, I didn't even recognized her at first!

♫ Born To Die - Lana Del Rey

Elegant Effects Permanent Hair Colour Cream in 002 Dark Brown

2012-01-12T10:30:00.002-05:00

Is COLOUR right for me?

Colour is perfect for you if you want:

- Beautiful, natural colour that stays true until the next time you colour.
- Perfect gray coverage even on the most resistant greys.
- Conditioning for smooth and shiny hair.
- Colour that is easy to apply and takes only 30 minutes

Hair Colour rich radiant and beautiful

- Perfect gray coverage, a rich deep and even color.
- Permanent hair colour, will not wash out until new hair grows out.
- Achieve your favorite hair colour after only 30 minutes.

Dying my hair with a box of hair color from the dollar store? Check! Yes, I got this for only $2 at my local dollar store called Dollarama. It's not the first time I walked pass by these Elegant Effects boxes of hair dye but as much as I love Dollarama, I kept thinking that they were... well... dollar store hair colours! I even searched the net for info on this brand because all I could find on the box was "Dollarama, made in China" - no company info or anything! - but I found absolutely nothing on internet either.

I'm not the kind of girl to snob the cheaper stuff and honestly, I don't even know why I didn't try these sooner. I'm not scared to play with my hair and well, I guess the worst thing that could happen is that the color wouldn't be the one I expected, but it's not the end of the world!

I can't remember all of the shades available but I know they had light brown, black and some kind of red, but I picked up dark brown even though I wasn't fond of the model's hair color on the box - it just didn't appear dark brown to me - but I know the results you get are rarely the ones advertised on the box anyway.

In the box, you get the same items as in your usual box of hair dye, but instead of a tube of conditioner that you can re-use a couple of times, you get a sachet that you have to use all at once.

I haven't tried a lot of color creme hair dye in the past - I'm not even sure I used one? - but I must say I was very surprised by the nice texture of this one as it doesn't drip everywhere and it's very easy to apply. I didn't have any product left in the bottle when I was done applying it on my hair which has never happened to me before - I barely had enough dye to cover my whole hair and it's only slightly pass shoulder length, which made me think that the bottle was smaller than "regular" hair dye, and it is. The bottle from Elegant Effects is 1.4 FL OZ while the bottle from the last hair dye I've tried before that, Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant, was 1.86 FL OZ. It doesn't really matter to me because I mostly concentrate dye at the roots as there is no need to re-dye my hair dark brown unless the color has faded - which normally doesn't happen to me, or if so, only slightly - but if you are, for example, blonde or light brown and you want to go dark brown, definitely get two boxes of this stuff!

It is recommended to wash the dye after 30 to 45 minutes which seems pretty long to me but I guess it's worth it, and 45 minutes is not that long when you have to catch up on blogs or play Zelda =P The dye was also very easy to wash in the shower and again, I was surprised to see that the water only slightly turned brown and that the dye didn't stain the shower walls or floor.

The conditioner isn't the nicest I've used, but at this price, I wasn't expecting much and I don't really care about the conditioners that come with a box of hair dye anyway - I usually just use it when I wash the dye out and then I just give it away to my mother. Because it's called a "Luxurious conditioner", I guess I was expecting it to be thicker but it's very runny and it drips everywhere.

Before and after

Can I just say - wow! I seriously didn't expect this hair dye to properly cover my roots and to be that dark! I do think it's strange that my roots look slightly red and paler than the rest of my hair when they catch the light, but otherwise, I'm really pleased with the results! My hair was left very shiny and smooth! I will be sure to stock up on this hair dye and maybe I will even try the black shade?

LUSH Candy Cane Bubble Bar

2012-01-11T08:29:00.000-05:00

Perfectly pink swirl

Everyone knows one. Some are out and proud, some are closeted fans. It might be your sister, mother, best friend or gay uncle. Yes, pink lovers are among us. Make their Christmas morning by popping one of these pink swirly confections in their (undoubtedly pink) stocking and they might just share their bar with you.

Bubbles in your bath, not in your mouth

Be warned: this pink bubbly treat is wickedly tempting for those with a serious sweet tooth. Candy Cane smells like a freshly spun candy-floss cloud sprinkled with icing sugar and bubblegum drops. We know... we're naughty. Bad LUSH!

My boyfriend gave this to me on Christmas a year ago and I only recently got to try it, although I'm not sure if this review will be useless because this year version of this product, Candy Mountain (the vanilla scent comes back every holiday season, this year in twisty mountain form), won't be around for long as it's a limited-edition product for Christmas. It took me some time to take and edit the pictures so I thought, why not post it anyway? Most - if not all - of the LUSH bath products I have are limited-edition anyway as I don't regularly shop there. If you think you will like this bubble bar - and I'm sure you will! - hopefully you will put it on your whishlist for next year (:

I love anything sweet and although I think this bubble bar smells more of bubblegum and peppermint than vanilla, it's still sweet without being overpowering - I know Snow Fairy tends to be too much for a lot of you, but this is not really the same thing.

Size comparison with my hand

Candy Cane Bubble Bar is a decent size for the price although I'm always saying that LUSH products are overpriced but if, like me, you don't have tons of money to spend on bath products, you may want to try to re-use this bar for a few baths. The amount you need to use will vary but according to LUSH, this bar usually yields one or two baths.

As I'm typing this review, I only used it for one bath but instead of following the instructions on the LUSH website, which advises to crumble the bubble bar under running warm water as you fill the tub, I just swirled it around in the tube while I filled it up for maybe 30 second then I removed it from the water and I got tons - and I really mean tons of bubbles! I still have a nice quantity of product left, I would say maybe for around three baths?

Because I didn't use the whole bubble bar, my bath water was only slightly tinted pink (that's why you can hardly see it in the pictures) but I don't really care for the color of the water honestly (although it's always a nice bonus) because what really matters to me is the smell - and the water did smell amazing for the whole 2 hours I spent in there! I have yet to find a bath product that has a smell that will linger on my skin after use but oh well!

If you're quick, maybe you'll be able to grab a Candy Cane Bubble Bar in the form of the Candy Mountain for $6.95 for 3.5 oz at LUSH.ca!