Stuff Lindsay Bought

My April 2018 Topbox

2018-04-19T15:58:00.002-04:00

On Friday morning, I was greeted with a Spoiler Alert! email from Topbox. I almost always get these emails after I've received my box so it was kind of fun to read up on my products before they arrived. Less fun was having to wait an extra day to get my box because of the ice storm but hey, there's not much you can do about that.

When my box did finally arrived I discovered a nice little bonus from Garnier. I also got my hands on the following items:

Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer (15ml)
Glow for a cause Lip Love natural Lip Balm (full size)
Voesh Pedi in a Box (full size)
Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum (5ml)
Bonus: Garnier Whole Blends Oat Delicacy Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner (10ml each)

Even thought this box didn't contain any makeup, I actually quite liked it. It does after all contain a primer, and I love primers. I'm not familiar with Nude by Nature so I'm quite curious to see how it works.

I'm also very curious about the Voesh Pedi in a Box. As you can see from my photo, this product is certainly a box. I haven't opened it up yet but right now, I don't fulled understand what this item is or how it works. I think it's maybe a moisturizer for my feet? I guess I'll find out.

More straightforward is the lip balm. No, it's not exciting but I can always use another lip balm. And this one doesn't have any kind of fancy scent (or any scent period), it so far feels quite moisturizing.

I can also always use more shampoo and conditioner. While I have tried Garnier hair products before, I don't think I've ever used the Whole Blends line. Oat Delicacy is apparently the line's newest member and I'm happy to see that Garnier decided to let Topbox subscribers try it out.

I've previously used a toner from Skin&Co Roma's Truffle Therapy line. I wasn't wowed by that product, I didn't even bother to write a review about it. Maybe the serum will be better? A full-size version of this product costs $80 so it better do something.

Sephora's Spring 2018 Event Is Almost Here!

2018-04-12T09:05:00.000-04:00

It's coming Sephora fans: The annual spring Sephora event.

Starting Friday, April 20 until Sunday, April 23, Sephora Beauty Insider members will receive 10 per cent off most* of their purchases. Sephora VIB members—so those of you who have spent at least $350 at the store in 2017—get an extra five per cent off, meaning that they could save 15 per cent off their purchases.

And if you've achieved Rouge status, meaning you spent at least $1,000 last year at Sephora, you get a head start on the deals. Rouge members get a bonus weekend, from April 13 to April 16, in which all* of their purchases are 15 per cent off. And on Friday, April 13 only, they can share that discount with one lucky friend who will also receive 15 per cent off (this in an in-person only offer).

A few important notes before you start composing your shopping list:

*While most items are eligible for the above offers, it doesn't apply to everything. One notable exception is The Ordinary line (which, fair enough, it's already pretty cheap).
These discounts do extend to Sephora.com and Sephora.ca but they don't cover shipping, taxes or other fees.
If you're shopping online, you'll need a code. For Sephora Beauty Insider members it's YAYINSIDER For VIB members it's YAYVIB and for Rouge members it's (surprise!) YAYROUGE
If you're not a fan of crowds, lines or chaos, you may want to consider shopping online. The brick-and-mortar stores get packed (like busier-than-Christmas-time-packed) and shopping at them can be a bit of a frustrating experience.
And yes, popular items do sell out so if you're thinking about getting a certain product, get it ASAP.
Not yet a Sephora Beauty Insider member? Then sign up now!

I definitely plan on picking up a few items during this event. So far my list includes a new pressed powder, a face wash and maybe even a foundation. But not anymore eyeshadows; I have to stop buying those!

Peter Thomas Roth 8% Glycolic Solution Toner Review

2018-04-10T08:35:00.000-04:00

Way, way back in January, I went to Sephora where I received a fantastic makeover that introduced me to one of my new favourite products: Peter Thomas Roth 8% Glycolic Solution Toner.

This stuff is magic. While many skincare products require weeks of daily (or even twice daily) usage before you see results, this toner started improving my skin within 48 hours. It was brighter, fine lines were soften and pores were less clogged. Yes, that's right, this amazing product targets both aging and blemishes.

The star of this product is glycolic acid, an type of alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) that's renown for its ability to renew skin. PTR uses it at eight per cent, which apparently is ideal for AHAs. It also contains a good dose of witch hazel, which "helps effectively remove excess oil, dirt and impurities." This extra ingredient makes this product especially beneficial to someone like me who is prone to oily skin.

According to PTR, this toner "chemically exfoliates the skin’s surface to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pores and uneven skin tone while helping to brighten, clarify and smooth out the look of skin." I completely agree with all of this. This toner is one of those rare products where if I skipped using it for a couple nights, the quality of my skin visibly diminished. Like I said, it's magic.

These impressive results almost tempted me into using this toner every morning and night, but I know that nightly use is the best course with a product like this. While there are certainly stronger glycolic acid products out there, this stuff can still cause irritation, especially if you use it too much (or are using it in combo with a bunch of other effective acid products). Some people may even find that daily use is something that they need to build up to (and those with really sensitive skin may need to skip this toner all together).

To balance this powerful formula out, PTR notes that, "Allantoin, Chamomile and Aloe Vera help soothe and calm the look of skin while Sodium PCA leaves skin lightly hydrated." Even with all of those goodies, I still find that this tone can sometimes lightly sting when it's first applied. But beyond that, I never had any issues with irritation.

Since glycolic acid, like any AHA, can increase sun sensitivity, I make sure to always wear sunscreen while using this product (though of course you should always being applying sunscreen everyday, regardless of your acid regime).

The cherry on the top of this amazing product is an equally amazing packaging. It comes in a sleek plastic bottle that has a "push-style" top that dispenses just the right amount of toner onto your cotton pad. This is key since this product isn't cheap: Over at Sephora Canada, it retails for $50.

Thankfully two "push downs" does my whole face so even though I bought my current bottle back at the start of January, I'm only a little more than halfway done it. At this current rate, I figure that I'll be done my bottle by the end of May. So that works out to about $5 a month, which I think is perfectly reasonable, considering the results.

Will I buy this product again: Yes!

Should you buy this product: Yes! (Unless you have very sensitive skin, then skip it.)

Wella Oil Reflections Luminous Reveal Shampoo & Conditioner Review

2018-04-03T08:35:00.000-04:00

Sometimes Topbox is such a tease with the product it sends out. A couple months ago it sent me two good size samples of a shampoo and conditioner from Wella's Oil Reflections Luminous Reveal line. Within one use I was in love.

Wella states that the "light moisturizing shampoo leaves the hair deeply cleansed" with "instant luminosity" while the "30-second smoothening conditioner locks moisture in, leaving the hair luminous and smooth." Both products contain camellia oil and white tea extract, which Wella says helps to leave you with noticeably smoother hair.

And smooth, clean and yes, even luminous, hair is exactly what I added up. Prior to using these products, I'd been using Garnier's Clean & Fresh shampoo (Husband's choice) and a conditioner from Dove (it was a travel bottle that I wanted to use up). They did an okay job but when I switched to the two Wella products, I immediately noticed more shine and less frizz in my hair. It was also very manageable and soft.

Besides leaving impressive results, the Wella products also lather up nicely and washed out cleanly and easily. Finally, both items smelled fantastic. The strong but calming scent isn't sweet, fruity or herb-y but instead something that I think a lot of people would enjoy.

So if this shampoo and conditioner are so amazing, how exactly are they a tease? Because they can only be bought from a few shops online (which I hate doing) or from a Wella-authorized salon. Thankfully it appears that there are a few of those near me but of course there's no guarantee that they'll be carrying these exact items.

As for the price, that's not exactly clear. Online either item seems to start at around $20 and then go up, sometimes by a lot. But considering the results, I would happily pay between $20 and $30 a bottle.

Would I buy this product: Yes!

Should you buy this product: If you can find it, yes!

My March 2018 Topbox

2018-03-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

I was hoping that since I didn't get the Privé box that I requested last month, this month's box would be extra special. Unfortunately that's not the case. My March box is okay, though nothing exciting, especially since it contains a product that I received last month (though in a different colour) and similar to another item that I received a couple months earlier.

Here's what ended up in my March Topbox:

Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara (3g)
Cake Beauty Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream in Sweet Mint & Cream (60ml)
Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip in Mauve Wife (deluxe sample)
LANEIGE Multiberry Yogurt Repairing Mask (20ml)

Let's start with the repeat product. My February box also contained a Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip though in Crimson Chrome, a flashier though less-day friendly colour. While I should be annoyed about getting two of the same product back-to-back, I actually quite like Mauve Wife, which is basically a prettier version of my natural lip colour, and I think that I'll get a lot of wear out of this item.

My almost-repeat product #2 is Cake's Beauty Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream. In January, I received a tube of Cake's Heavy Cream Intensely Smoothing Body Butter Balm. No, these aren't identical products but they are pretty close and it would have been nice if Topbox could have spread them out a bit more. And while I've only used the hand cream a few times so far, I'm not sold on the mint scent.

I'm always up for a new mascara so I was pleased to see Benefit's BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara arrive in my mailbox. I look forward to trying it out and seeing if it really does deliver an impressive level of volume.

Finally there's the face mask. Of all of the items I received this month, this one is the most exciting (and even then, it's not that exciting). I'm not familiar with this product or with the LANEIGE brand so I'm curious to try this item out. Maybe I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Review

2018-03-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

I picked up Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser back in January when it was recommended to me during my Sephora Personal One-On-One Experience. I wanted an effective, but gentle gel cleanser that would clean out my pores and remove everyday makeup without drying out my skin. Oh, and I wanted something with a nice scent. Not too much to ask, I think.

According to Fresh, this is an "extra-gentle gel cleanser that instantly whisks away everyday impurities and makeup-even mascara-without stripping the skin of essential moisture." In other words, it's exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a little too gentle for my needs. Did this product wash off my BB cream and pressed powder? Yes. But my mascara? Nope, at least not fully (and no, I'm not wearing a waterproof product). It also struggled with removing some eyeshadows.

Fresh also claims that this "multi-tasking formula also works to tone, soothe, and soften the skin for a radiant, healthy-looking complexion" and boasts about an unlinked-to test in which participants overwhelming say that this cleanser gave them supple, smooth, improved-looking skin. Fresh explains that this cleanser does all of this thanks to an ingredient list that includes, "Amino acid-rich soy proteins that help maintain elasticity and healthy skin" as well as a few other natural ingredients including rosewater and borage seed oil.

Again, all of this sounds great but in practice, none of it wowed me. Now, to be fair, when I used this cleanser as part of my full skincare routine, which includes six or seven other products (not including masks), I think it did help a bit. But there have been a few days were, because I was lazy or because I was out-of-town, I stripped down my routine to just a few products and this cleanser was one of them. The result was skin that was soft and supple, but that was also blemish prone.

Maybe if you naturally have skin that's say, a B+ or higher, this cleanser could be right for you, but it just didn't have what my skin needs.

Oh, and let's not forget about the smell. When my Sephora adviser first introduced me to this product, she had me smell it. In the middle of the scent storm that is a Sephora, this product's light, refreshing cucumber scent was an ocean of calm. I genuinely liked it. Then I got it home. Now the scent displeases me. It's still light and refreshing but there's some aspect of it that just hits my nose the wrong way. Thankfully my interactions with this product are brief and this scent doesn't linger.

You can pick this cleanser up at Sephora for $47, which is kinda steep for the results. The packaging is also nothing special though it is practical and effective.

Would I buy this product again: No; I just doesn't work for me, especially the scent.

Should you buy this product: Other people seem to love it so maybe give it a shot. Just make sure you really love the scent first. Oh, and maybe don't get your hopes up.

Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash And Perfecting Cream Review

2018-03-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

This morning, when I entered my ensuite shortly following Husband's shower, I noticed a distinctive smell: Orange blossom neroli. I immediately had two thoughts (1) He'd been using one (or maybe both) of my Glossier Body Hero products and (2) hey, I haven't written a review yet about either the Daily Oil Wash or the Perfecting Cream.

These two products were released back in September and have been reviewed to death so I'm not completely sure why I'm writing this. Maybe it's for all the people who haven't yet been taken in by the beauty cult otherwise known as Glossier.

I was a late convert. There was no way I was going to spend my cash on any brand, no matter what the reviews, that I couldn't touch first. Then shortly after Body Hero was released, Glossier held a popup in Toronto. There, I tried the two Body Hero items out and maybe it was because the popup was a noisy, scent-laded circus but I wasn't wowed. The oil felt nice but seemed potentially messy while the cream left my skin almost sparkly. And that amazing scent? At the popup, it was overwhelming.

Then I received the Body Hero duo for Christmas and soon I fell in love with it.

Glossier claims that the Perfecting Cream "immediately perfects and enhances the look of skin, tightens and smooths skin’s surface, increases skin’s elasticity, and melts in for all-day hydration." Uh, not exactly in my experience. While this rich, luxurious-feeling cream did enhance my skin (and felt amazing on), it didn't perfect it (for example, it didn't resolve or prevent any blemishes). But while I can't say that it left my skin feeling hydrated from morning until night, it did immediately soften and smooth it, relieving any tightness or scaly patches.

The cream definitely has "tiny light-reflecting particles for an instantaneous, dewy sheen that lasts." At the popup I didn't like this; it just looked too sparkly. But under more normal lights, and on my arms and legs, this effect was actually pretty flattering. And while this cream does leave a visible finish, it also has"zero residue, zero stickiness," meaning it absorbs quickly and cleanly.

The oil also washed off surprisingly easily given how thick it feels when it first goes on. But once water touches it, this seven-oil blend "turns into a soft froth" that Glossier claims "attracts grime and sweat like a magnet" resulting in a "better clean than typical body cleansers, while hydrating skin." I agree with all of this. Even though I know the idea of washing with an oil sounds weird, this product left my skin feeling clean, hydrated and just all around amazing.

And both products left me smelling amazing. While Glossier says that these two products have a "lite, baby-fresh scent" the truth is, the orange blossom neroli scent lingers and lingers and lingers. I love this aspect but it might be too much for some people.

The price for these products isn't bad if you're in the US. The oil goes for $22USD while the cream goes for $27USD (you can also buy both and save $5). Unfortunately the exchange rate makes those prices a bit steep. You also can only buy them online (though at least there's free shipping over $40). I'm currently stretching my duo by only using the cream on days/nights when my bare legs will be seen and using the oil maybe twice a week.

Glossier is acclaimed for its simple, millennial pink packaging. And yeah, there's no denying that it's pleasing to the eye. The cream comes in a simple squeeze tube that does the job nicely. The packaging for the oil also does the job but only if you get all the pieces.

I started this review with a tale about my bathroom reeking of orange blossom neroli. That happened because Husband, being out of his body wash, decided to use my bottle of Body Hero oil. Thinking that this product was some sort of gel, he unscrewed and removed the lid, and then he accidentally poured my precious oil all over his hands and onto the shower floor.

I can't be too mad at him because I'm personally I'm amazed that I haven't yet dumped a bunch of oil all over the shower. Instead, my annoyance is directed at how the packaging of this product is designed. It comes with a separate pump lid, which for whatever reason I never received. As a result I use this product dangerously.

Will I buy these products: Yes and hopefully this time I'll get the pump lid for the oil.

Should you buy these products: Smell them first and if, like me, you love the scent, buy them.

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow High Impact Eyeshadow Review

2018-02-26T08:23:00.000-05:00

Last summer I had the opportunity to test out Make Up For Ever's then-new Aqua XL Color Paint eye colour. I absolutely loved this product. So when MUFE asked if I wanted to try out a couple Artist Color Shadow High Impact Eyeshadow colours (disclaimer: I got this product for free) I of course said yes. While the primary goal behind this offer was to show off MUFE's refillable case system (more on that below), I was more curious about whether I'd prefer these powdered shadows over the liquid Color Paint.

And it turns out that I like Color Paint better. But only because of my own personal preferences: I find liquid products easier to work with and I just loved the khaki shade that my Color Paint tube came in. But if you prefer a powdered eyeshadow— and I think most people do—you're probably going to love Artist Color Shadow.

According to Make Up For Ever, these shadows offer "high blendability and an immediate payoff that lasts up to 12 hours." And they do do just that. Like all MUFE products, these ones are packed with staying power and pigments. While my colours didn't keep their full vibrancy for 12 hours, they did visibly stay on my lids for longer than that. I also foundthis product to be a breeze to work with and it blended nicely with both MUFE and non-MUFE products alike.

Artist Colors come in 121 shades that cover the rainbow and then some. There are also five different finishes: Matte, metallic, diamond, satin and iridescent. Unlike with some other eyeshadows, the finishes make a big difference on how these colours look so if you can, try to see this product in person and even better, try to test them out.

I found that out firsthand with one of my samples. I selected Silver Brown because it looks like a highly wearable brown shade with a bit a shine, thanks to it having the metallic finish. And when I first saw it in person, I thought I'd made a great choice. But then I swiped it on. And I swiped it again and again and I think by the fifth swipe, the colour on my lids finally starting looking a bit like the colour in the pan. However, the makeup I applied never quite matched the original product though thankfully, I still liked the results.

I've used quite a few MUFE products and I have to say that this is a rather unusual experience. Usually you only need one or two swipes of a powdered MUFE item to get amazing colour payoff that matches whatever's in the pan. I'm blaming the metallic finish.

My other colour, Crystalline Papaya, gave me more of a typical MUFE experience. With only one swipe of product, this peachy-pink shade was perfectly transferred from its container to my eyelids. It has the Diamond finish, which means that it's loaded with sparkles. Maybe a bit too many for most day jobs but hey, I work from home so it works for me.

Each shadow retails for $22, which isn't a bad price since this is a high quality product that will last. But I do wish that the packaging was a little nicer. Oh, the throwaway cardboard box part is fine but the basic metal pan that the shadow comes in is a bit... naked. That being said, there is an easy and pretty cheap solution to this problem: Buy one of MUFE's refillable makeup cases.

So let's talk a bit about that refillable makeup system. My two eyeshadow samples were accompanied by two refillable cases in XS, meaning they are designed for one colour. An assortment of sizes are available and because they work using a magnetic base, instead of defined frames, any product that also has a magnetic base can easily be popped into the case. This way you can, for example, use a Metal Palette in L to hold your pick of eyeshadow, blush and bronzing shades. Or you could fill it with nine different Artist Colors.

The cases are smooth, sleek and seem pretty durable to me. They're also easy to open and close. And the magnetic base means that whatever product you're popping into the case isn't going to come out easily. However, I do wish with that the single cases also had a magnetic side so that you could stick them together into your own custom palette. Yes, I know I could achieve that by using one of the bigger cases but what if I wanted to easily mix up my colour combos? Getting the colours into the case is simple but getting them out is a little trickier (though possible). But if you're someone who has a standard combo of colours that they use, a big case will work nicely for you. The price also works nicely, with the smaller cases costing only $2.

Would I buy these products: Yeah, I might buy a shadow if there was a colour that really caught my eye. And I would definitely buy a case for it.

Should you buy these products: Do you want vibrant, long-lasting eyeshadow in a durable case? Then yes and yes.

My February 2018 Topbox Review

2018-02-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

For the first time ever (or at least that I can remember) I didn't get the Privé Topbox that I requested. Each month, Topbox offers subscribers the chance to request one of its "Privé" boxes, brand-specific creations that list off their contents. One of February's Privé offerings was for a new makeup line and it featured deluxe-sized samples of a foundation, a concealer, a powder and a couple other products. In other words, it was a really, really good box and I really hoped that I would get it.

But I didn't get it and instead was send a regular Topbox. At least though it was a pretty good box. Here's what I received this month:

Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Metal in Crimson Chrome (deluxe sample
The Face Shop MASK.LAB Anti-Aging Foil Face Mask (one regular mask)
LARITZY Cosmetics Eye Pencil in Shimmer (full size)
Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Luminous Shampoo (50ml)
Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Luminous Conditioner (50ml)

I'm always up shampoo and conditioner samples and I quite like that these samples use the word "luminous." These bottles have already been popped into the shower and are already being used.

The face mask was another welcomed sight. While sheet masks aren't my favourite type of mask, I'll definitely use it. I'm also curious to see what a foil face mask feels and works like.

The Smashbox lip product looks quite pretty but I don't think the colour is quite for me. It's pretty vivid and well, Christmas decoration-like. Still, maybe I'll find a time and place to wear it (like next December).

I think I'll have more opportunities to wear the eye liner, which isn't as shimmery as the name implies. However, it is a pencil crayon-style pencil, which I find difficult and even painful to use. But maybe this will be the product that changes my opinion on this style of pencil. I guess we'll see...

Deciem The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Review

2018-02-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

What grade would you give your skin? If it's a B, maybe a B+, I know of a product that might take your skin to an A: The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

According to Deciem, "Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion" while "A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity." In other words, this serum-like product is supposed to give you clearer, brighter, healthier looking skin.

And I found that it did kind of do this. Using it on the parts of my face that were already at B-level did result in visibly improved skin, taking it up to an A-level. I'd put this on at night and when I'd wake up the next morning, my skin would be soft, smooth and clear.

Except for the parts that developed blemishes. While I do believe that this product did prevent some pimples and other congestion, it didn't prevent as many as I had hoped it would. And it did nothing to fight problem skin once it it popped up.

While Deciem does market this solution as one that fight blemishes, it openly admits that it's not an anti-acne product. Says Deciem, "While Niacinamide and Zinc PCA reduce the look of blemishes and balance visible sebum activity, neither is a treatment for acne." Instead, the company recommends using salicylic acid to fight acne while using this one "for added visible skin benefits."

That's pretty much what I ended up doing, using this product around The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% solution, which I dabbed onto pimples. Overall, this was often a pretty good combo and one that I think quite a few people would benefit from.

While this product isn't nearly as aggressive as the Salicylic Acid 2% solution, the two products do have other aspects in common. Both are clear, scent-less liquid that absorb quickly and weightlessly. But unlike the salicylic acid, this one never "lathered up" on me nor did it ever cause any dry skin or any other issues.

This product also comes in the exact same opaque, glass bottle as The Ordinary's salicylic acid formula, which is good since I like the droplet applicator (as well as the bottle's overall look). And just like that product, this one is crazy cheap: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% retails for $5.90. While this is no miracle product, it's not a bad item to have in your beauty cabinet, especially at that price.

Will I buy this product again: I might though there are so many other The Ordinary products that I want to try first.

Should you buy this product: For the price, give it a shot.

Deciem The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Review

2018-02-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

So much for getting all my Deciem reviews done in January. While I've been busy with real, paying work, I'm determined to get two posts up this week so let's start with a look at a product I absolutely love: The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% Solution.

While I'm in my 30s, I still regularly battle blemishes. Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, I hate them and I want them gone. And with this product, I can just that. According to Deciem, this "2% treatment solution helps exfoliate the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes and for better visible skin clarity with continued use." And yeah, that's exactly what this product does.

It's not a miracle-maker. If you put it on a nasty pimple it won't make it vanish overnight. However, I did find that it visibly improved pretty much any blemish-related problem area. Without a doubt, this product left me with clearer, brighter, healthier looking-skin.

However, there is too much of a good thing. If you keep applying this product day after day to the same spot, it'll replace those blemishes with dry skin. Because of that, I found that I couldn't really use this product as a preventative measure. Sure, if I saw an emerging problem I could pull it out and usually head off the problem by trying to be too proactive generally left me with dry spots.

But this side effect really shouldn't be a surprise since this treatment does contain 2% salicylic acid, which is pretty powerful stuff. It also has witch hazel, which is known to be irritating for some people's skin.

The texture of this product is a bit odd. It looks like water but it doesn't feel wet; it actually feels like nothing. It also would sometimes "lathered up" on my skin if I rubbed more than a drop or two onto my face. At first this concerned me but as quickly as the lather appeared, it disappeared and left my skin feeling and looking like it didn't have a serum on. While I rarely wore makeup over this product (I generally only use salicylic acid at night), when I did, this liquid didn't pill or otherwise interfere with my foundation. It also behaved itself nicely with whatever other moisturizers or serums were layered over or near it. Finally, it's scent free, which should make many people happy.

Like all The Ordinary products, this one is dirt cheap, only $5.30 for 30ml. It's packaged in a simple, opaque glass bottle that comes with a pipette for application. While glass bottles always make me a little nervous, I do like this product's simple, effective packaging that also keeps the serum away from my dirty hands.

Would I buy this product: Yes! I already have a back-up bottle purchased.

Should you buy this product: If you have sensitive skin, skip it, it's likely too strong for you. It's also not the right choice is you have a serious pimple problem. But if you're like me and just periodically get blemishes, you'll want to add this item to your arsenal.

Life Brand Exfoliating Foot Mask Review

2018-01-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

Last January I tried out Look Beauty's Feetreat Pedi Exfoliating foot mask. It was a huge disappointment as the mask failed to do much of anything, let alone give me the baby smooth feet I was after. Clearly having not learned my lesson when it comes to foot masks, I decided to start this year off with another one, this time made by Shopper Drug Mart's Life brand.

The mask looked promising. According to the packaging, it uses "AHA, salicylic acid and lime caviar extract" to "help remove dead skin cells, revealing a new layer of skin and improved skin texture." While I don't know much about "lime caviar" other than that it's a fruit, AHA and salicylic are ingredients that could indeed deliver the baby smooth feet that I'm after.

The application of this foot mask was very similar to the previous one. First you put on little plastic booties and then you pour in the skin-dissolving solution. "Peppermint oil and sugar cane provide a revitalizing finish to this spa-like experience" boosts this product but while the solution did smell lovely, there's nothing spa-like about having to sit around for 20 minutes with plastic bags on your feet.

Things started off promising. The cool liquid made my feet feel tingly and even a bit uncomfortable (though never painful). It really felt like it was doing something. After I rinsed it off, I immediately noticed some mild peeling on the roughest areas of my feet. Then over the next few days, the top of my feet felt itchy, sometimes uncomfortably so. But that just meant that my feet were preparing to shed all their dead skin, right?

According to the back of the package, "Approximately 3-7 days after use, peeling will occur and may continue for 3-5 days." On day three, I noticed that the callus-y parts of my soles were starting to shed a bit of skin. This continued on day four and I thought, "This is it, here comes baby smooth feet." Unfortunately I was wrong.

Instead nothing else happened. There was no more itching, no more shedding and definitely nothing that could constitute peeling. My dreams of baby smooth feet were dead, again.

While this mask did remove a bit of skin, it didn't reveal a new layer of flesh. And yeah, it did soften my feet a bit, but not as much as I had hoped. Sadly this product is no replacement for a trip to the nail salon.

I wouldn't call this mask a complete waste of the roughly $10 it cost me since it did do something but I have no interest in buying it again. Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and pay the $30-something for Baby Foot, the original skin-peeling foot mask.

Will I buy this product again: No.

Should you buy this product: No.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Review

2018-01-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

After taking a detour to blog about my Sephora Personal One-On-One session, it's time to get back to reviewing the many Deceim serums and creams that I've been using since early November.

Want a simple, natural moisturizer made up of ingredients that you can easily pronounce? Then pass on this daily face moisturizer by acclaimed Canadian beauty company Deceim. But if you want an easy-to-use moisturizer that adds hydration without shine or a high price tag then you'll want to keep reading about Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.

Part of Deceim's The Ordinary line, this product "offers immediate hydration and lasting results with continued use." It does this with the help of, "11 amino acids, phospholipids, alpha/beta/gamma fatty acids, triglycerides, sterols and sterol esters, glycerin, ceramide precursors, urea, saccharides, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid." That's a lot of stuff however this product is free of many other things, including silicon, alcohol, oil and animal testing.

I was recommended this product as a good nighttime moisturizer that would provide my skin with hydration while also playing nicely with any serums or other products I was using. As someone who uses a lot of serums, that really appealed to me.

There's no question that this product delivered in those areas. As far as I can tell, this moisturizer didn't impact my serums in any kind of negative way; I never experienced any redness or other signs or irritation. Instead, this moisturizer consistently deliver soft, smooth, flake-free skin that looked and felt healthy and hydrated.

However, while this moisturizer did successfully fight dry skin, it didn't have any real impact on my fine lines, nor did it prevent or fight my blemishes. And to be fair, The Ordinary doesn't make any claims in those areas. It's all about delivery hydration and there it succeeds.

Not too thick and not too thin, this cream has a lovely texture that absorbed quickly and fully into my skin. Deceim brags that it's "non-greasy" and I agree. While this product did perk up my skin, it did it without adding any shine to my face. It's also scent-free, which will please many people.

Like all The Ordinary products, this one has simple, sleek and effective packaging, in this case a plastic squeeze tube. It's also very cheap, retailing for $5.80 for 30ml. Nope, that's not a typo; this moisturizer is under $6. This line recently become available at Sephora, where it's got to be the cheapest brand in the store. It's also available at Deceim's own store, which can be found in major cities around the world.

Would I buy this product again: Maybe? While it does deliver hydration, my skin needs more than just that. Still, it's so cheap that I might just keep a tube on hand for those times when I just need something to fight dry skin.

Should you buy this product: Go for it.

My January 2017 Topbox

2018-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

I was so spoiled by all of the Sephora freebies that I received last week that my usual enthusiasm for my monthly Topbox delivery was lacking this time around. Good thing because what I received in my January box is rather blah. Okay, it's not exactly a bad shipment; I will use all four items. And one of the products is something that I wanted to try. But still, it's hardly an exciting or interesting box; after all, it contains two moisturizers.

Here's how Topbox is starting off my 2018:

Cake Heavy Cream Intensely Smoothing Body Butter Balm (30ml)
GLAMGLOW Waterburst™ Hydrated Glow Moisturizer (5ml)
Cougar Cosmetics Perfect Pout Volume & Shape Definition (full size)
Nioxin Instant Fullness Dry Cleanser (43g)

The Cake body butter is the only item in this box that really interests me. I'm a big fan of Cake's products and I've been curious about this product since the company started advertising it last month. Plus it's a body butter; of course I'll use it up.

And I'll probably use up the GLAMGLOW moisturizer. I don't need another moisturizer right now but eventually I will. While I haven't tried this one out yet, I can say that it smells amazing.

I can't say that for Cougar Cosmetic's lip shaper. At first I thought this product was some kind of lip colour. It's not. It's a clear, it's gooey and it smells terrible, like some kind of petro-chemical byproduct. Will I use it? Since I have skinny, flat lips yes, yes, I will give it a shot. But unless it works miracles, I cannot see this item becoming a regular in my beauty routine.

Finally we have another dry shampoo. How many dry shampoos can one person own? I think this is my fourth. No more Topbox, no more! Still, I will use it, eventually.

Maybe Topbox just wanted to set the bar low to start off the year? I mean, we can only go up from here.

Sephora's Personal One-On-One Experience - A Review

2018-01-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

Before we started

I cannot believe that my Personal One-On-One experience at Sephora was only last week. Since then, I posted one related blog post, got really sick, saw my daughter get really sick and got to take my first (overnight!) trip to Sick Kids. But now everyone is feeling better and I can finally share my thoughts on where or not this $125 session is worth it.

Quick verdict: Yes! Sephora offers three different "makeover"-type packages at three price points: $50, $75 and $125. If you have the time, are near a Sephora and plan on spending a bit of cash at the store, you might as well get more for your money and book one of these experiences. In addition to getting custom advice that should steer you towards products that will actually work for you, you'll get a professional facial or makeup job and I suspect that you'll also always get a few great freebies (I certainly did).
I booked my Personal One-On-One at Sephora's Bloor St. location, a space that is much calmer and more civilized than the Eaton Centre or Yorkdale ones. Bloor St. is home to three Personal Beauty Advisors, employees who have additional training and experience when it comes to makeup, skincare and how to make it all work for you. While some Sephora employees can be a bit intimidating (you know what I mean), my PBA was warm, friendly and very approachable. Alex had years worth of experience as a working makeup artist and was able to explain, as well as show me, what to do in a way that didn't make me feel stupid (full disclosure: I didn't tell her I was writing this review or that I know a lot about skincare and beauty products; I mostly kept quiet and nodded). Also, because I know some people are wondering, no, she didn't work on commission.

When you book your One-On-One online, you're asked several questions such as what you want to get out of the session, whose makeup look you admire and if you have any allergies or sensitivities. Alex repeated some of these questions at the start of our meeting, asked a few more and carefully examined my skin (surprise, it's dehydrated). Then she went off to grab what she needed.

Almost done!

While some Sephoras have private or semi-private spaces for their makeovers, at the Bloor St. location they are done in the middle of the floor. However, unlike the makeup-only sessions, the One-On-One station is located between a large support pole and a rather wide, quiet aisle, giving a bit of privacy. Personally, I didn't mind being out in the open though it could maybe do with a bit more space for all the gear you have to wear to survive a Canadian winter.

My station came with a free bottle of water and easy access to Kleenex, hand sanitizer and a bizillion single-use makeup applicators. These sessions take sanitation very seriously, which means you're never going to be able to truly test out a mascara. However, I think we can all agree that this approach is the way to go (though I did feel for Alex's hands, which she seemed to sanitized between every step).

My main focus of my session was finding some new skincare products that could fight (and even better prevent) fine lines and blemishes. Because of this, Alex and I spent more time talking about skincare then on makeup, which is what interests most people. Still, she found time to show me how she does contouring and walk me through how to do a halo cat eye. She also had me fill in one of my eyebrows, which thankfully I could confidently do since we were using a Benefit brow product that I'm familiar with.

She showed me every product she was using and explained why she picked that one. I had questions about why that product over another, she had reasonable answers and I never felt like I was being led towards more expensive items. She definitely knew her stuff and understood exactly what I was looking for.

I had chosen last Saturday for my One-On-One because I had a birthday party to attend that night and I figured that was a great reason for a professional makeup job. Since Alex, like most Sephora employees, was wearing a lot of makeup, I really stressed that I wanted a look that wasn't too heavy or flashy but that also wasn't natural or "no makeup"-looking. I told her that some shimmer was fine and tried to really emphasis the "some." While Alex clearly understood my skincare concerns, I was a bit worried about the makeup side of things, especially when I saw the eye colour palette that she picked.

Excuse the poor store lighting

She'd gone with Anastasia's Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette, which has a lot of berry colours in it, along with some neutrals. And while I could see those neutrals working for a daytime look, I just couldn't picture this palette giving me the look I wanted. But Alex was the professional so I trusted her and let her do her thing.

It was the right move because I loved how my eyes turned out. While I've done a halo eye before, I've never used the colours she used because I didn't think they would work on me. But Alex was able to combine them so that they worked perfectly. She also respected my wishes to have minimal contouring.

Each One-On-One is booked for 90 minutes. Mine went long, which surprised me as the time just bounced by. Before I knew it she was applying my lip colour. My lone specific product request was Bite new's Prismatic Pearl Multistick and she decided to use it on my lips. The results were pretty but didn't last; I can't recommend that product for lips (though I still want to try it on my lids).

Before she grabbed the finishing spray, Alex asked if I wanted anything changed and I had one request: Hide my blemishes better. I was a bit surprised that I had to make that request, doesn't everyone want to look like they have perfect skin? But with the help of some concealer, the unflattering spots were gone and I was left with a makeup job that was perfect for attending a birthday party that evening.

Then all that was left to do was for me to pick the products I wanted to buy. Technically, I didn't have to buy any of them. For $125, you can buy a session and leave Sephora empty-handed. And if you're a VIB, you get one of these sessions free each year. But since I'm just a lowly Insider, I had to either pay for my session or buy at least $125 worth of stuff. I went with the later option and picked up the: FRESH Soy Face Cleanser, Peter Thomas Roth 8% Glycolic Solutions Toner and Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Moisturizer. Alex never pressured me to buy anything and overall, this part of the experience was significantly less awkward than I had anticipated.

Before I walked out of the store, Alex gave me a separate bag full of goodies, which I detail over here. I probably walked away with almost an additional $100 worth of stuff.

I definitely plan on trying out Sephora's other makeover services and will likely do another One-On-One next year. Though by then I should be a VIB member and can get one for free.

Let's look at my freebies again

My Sephora Personal One-On-One Haul

2018-01-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

In the fall I recently received a nice, fat gift card to Sephora. After spending a fraction of it on a Christmas gift for my sister and a little something for myself (Kat Von D's Alchemist Holographic Palette, review coming), I put it aside. I want to make the most of this gift card so I decided that I'd aim to spend $350 of it this calendar year so that I can reach VIB status. I also decided that I'd try to spend it in $50, $75 or $125 chunks so that I could take advantage of Sephora's makeover offerings.

I happened to have a birthday party to attend last Saturday night so I figured that that was a good of reason as any to start really spending my gift card. Since I was in need of a few key products, I booked myself a personal one-on-one session at Sephora's Bloor St. location in Toronto.

I'll write about that experience in more detail later this week but for now, I want to show off what I got because I received a ton off goodies. Yes, I had to spend over $125 to get all this stuff but hey, I was going to do that anyway

What I purchased

FRESH Soy Face Cleanser
Peter Thomas Roth 8% Glycolic Solutions Toner
Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Moisturizer

My freebies, all deluxe samples

Giorgio Armanie Eyes To Kill Classico Mascara
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Redness Correcting Primer
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Skin Booster
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion
NARS The Multiple in Orgasm
Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
Tarte Ready, Set, Radiant Skin Mist
Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle 24k Gold Intense Sheet Mask (this is worth $14!)
Peter Thomas Roth water bottle

The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% vs Pure+simple Collagen Elastin Plus

2018-01-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

*I've been intrigued by Canadian beauty company Deceim, aka the Abnormal Beauty Company, aka The Ordinary and several other brand lines, ever since it opened a store near me on Queen St. West over a year (or two?) ago. But even though Deceim generally offers very affordable price points, I'd never tried it until my friend started working for the company this past fall. Now, with almost two months worth of experience with several Deceim products, it's time for me to share my thoughts on them.*

I have two primary skincare concerns: Blemishes, which we'll deal with next week, and forehead lines. Specifically, I am battling with two horizontal lines that snake across my forehead in varying depths and one less noticeable, but more unattractive, vertical line that lives just to the inside of my right eyebrow. A Deceim employee (yes, the same one from this review) told me that the company's Argireline Solution 10% was the magical product that I was looking for.
Prior to that conversation, I'd never heard of Argireline, which yes, does take a capital "A." It turns out that it's "a proprietary solution of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8." What is that? I have no idea but supposedly, "controlled studies" show that it, "improves the appearance of facial areas prone to developing dynamic folds, including around the eyes and in the forehead area." In other words, it sounds like the perfect product to fight my forehead lines.

This is not an overnight miracle product. It promises no quick fixes and according to the other reviews I read, it takes a few weeks to work its magic. But I'm pretty sure that my forehead lines started to soften after not even two weeks of regular use. I had attempted to take a "before" photo however, the results weren't usable.

While it seemed like this serum was working, I decided to run a split-face test to see if it was generating real results while also testing out another product. So in late November, I started applying Argireline Solution 10% only to the right side of my forehead while my left side received Pure+simple Collagen Elastin Plus serum.

I'd received a deluxe-sized sample bottle of that product from a friend. Pure+simple is a Toronto company best known for its spa services but it does offer some take-home products, like this "ultra-hydrating serum" that "is perfect for those who are serious about anti-aging." According to it, this product's usage of "10% marine collagen and elastin helps rebuild collagen while hydrating and rejuvenating mature skin" while "algae and aloe vera base reduces fine lines and lessens sensitivity and redness."

I've been using both products nightly for over five weeks and so far, each serum seems to be holding its own. Neither side of my forehead looks better than the other and overall, my forehead lines do look a little softer. The improvement is mild but it is there and I do think that these products are helping to keep the lines from getting deeper. They also seem to be keeping my forehead nicely hydrated without leaving it greasy or shiny.

Usually when I do split-face tests, there is an obvious winner but not in this case. While neither product delivered the amazing anti-aging results that I was hoping for, they did do something and at the same level.

Results aren't the only quality that these two products have in common. Both serums are thin, water-like fluids that easily go onto your skin and are designed to be used under a moisturizer. Neither caused me any irritation and neither has a noticeable scent.

There is though one big difference between these two products: The price. The Argireline solution retails for $7.90, which is a steal. The Pure+simple product costs $145. WTF? Yes, seriously, wft? Okay, it's for 100ml and one bottle of this stuff will last you months but still, $145 is a hell of lot of money for mild results. You don't even get fancy packaging for that price, just a simple pump bottle.

Part of Deceim's The Ordinary line, Argireline Solution 10% follows that brand's style guide of being packaged in a clinical-looking glass bottle that comes with an eyedropper. I quite like this look and while the glass bottle isn't very travel friendly, the overall design is effective as keeping dirty, greasy fingers from contaminating the serum.

Would I buy this product again: Because the price is so low, and I did see some results, I likely will pick up another bottle of Argireline. But I will not be grabbing the Pure+simple product; sorry local small business.

Should you buy this product: Give The Ordinary solution a shot. Don't expect miracles but also don't be surprised if you do see visible results. But pass on the Pure+simple serum.

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins Face Cleanser Review

2018-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've been intrigued by Canadian beauty company Deceim, aka the Abnormal Beauty Company, aka The Ordinary and several other brand lines, ever since it opened a store near me on Queen St. West over a year (or two?) ago. But even though Deceim generally offers very affordable price points, I'd never tried it until my friend started working for the company this past fall. Now, with almost two months worth of experience with several Deceim products, it's time for me to share my thoughts on them.

And I'm starting with the item that impressed me the least: the Sanskrit Saponins face cleanser. It's part of Deceim's NIOD line, which claims to be "skincare for the hyper-educated." It was recommended to me by a clerk at my local Deceim store (not my friend, she's not in a retail role) when I asked for a cleanser that would get deep down into my pores and clean them out.
Unfortunately I haven't experienced that despite using this cleanser once or twice a day for almost two months. Deceim has a lot to say about this product but to distill it down to just a few quotes, "SS is a viscous and intense cleaning balm" that "contains no purified or synthetic surfactants, sulphates, oils, esters or micellar technologies." Instead it uses, "a pH-balanced suspension of the amino acid, Lysine, in saponins from the Ayurvedic plants shikakai and sapindus mukorossi" to "visibly targets all forms of build-up, blemishes, congestion and impurities." The result is supposedly, "skin looking nearly pore-free and its surface exceptionally cleaned — as if it's radiating from within."

Oh, how I wanted those results. Instead I got skin that was clean but that still had clogged pores and blemishes. I even picked out a few specific clogged pores to watch closely while using this product and after a week, they were still clogged. I also didn't notice any impact on my blemishes; their frequency wasn't diminished nor did they heal faster.

I'll admit that part of the problem was me. Sanskrit Saponins isn't a makeup remover and if you're wearing makeup, you're supposed to remove it first before using this product. I didn't always do that and I'm sure that contributed to my poor results with this item. But at the same time, if this product is such an amazing cleanser, why can it be defeated by a BB cream?

While I wasn't a fan of this cleanser's results, I'm in the minority. However, a lot of people agree with me when it comes to this product's scent: It stinks. It has a strong yeasty smell that is just unpleasant. Thankfully it doesn't linger.

Other people have also complained about the cleanser's packaging. This paste-like product comes in a squeeze tube that reminded me of toothpaste packaging. While I had no issues with the tube, some people have commented that it has a habit of oozing.

NIOD is one of Deceim's pricier brands and because of that, this product comes in at $29, which I find is a lot for results that are just "meh."

Would I buy this product again: No but I will be trying one of Deceim's other cleansers.

Should you buy this product: Skip it.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Face Mask Review

2017-12-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

This is not a pretty face mask. It doesn't have a cute character printed on a sheet nor does it have a thick, luxurious texture. Made with "tingling charcoal clay" that "is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves and organic tea tree oil," this mask has a thin texture, a dark colour and pieces of black... something in it. Maybe the pieces are the green tea leaves? Whatever they are, they contribute greatly to creating a product that when on, makes you look like you just took a swim in a swamp.

According to The Body Shop this, "...invigorating charcoal face mask draws out impurities and refines the appearance of pores for healthy-looking skin with a glow that shows." I agree with the last part of this statement. My face did look healthier after using this product and yes, you could even say that it glowed (but not in a gross, shiny way). But it didn't refine the look of my pores and it definitely didn't "draw out impurities." Okay, maybe it knocked loose two or three blackheads but that was it. Despite the scary look of this product, the results were kind of on the tame side.

The Body Shop also claims that this mask, which is 100% vegan and free of parabens, paraffins, silicone or mineral oils, "absorbs excess oil." And sure it did do this, but only temporarily. While washing off this mask did reveal oil-free skin, it didn't seem to have any kind of lasting or meaningful impact on my skin's oil production.

Using this product reminded me of another mask that left my face covered in black chunks: Glamglow's YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment. So I decided to do a split-face test with both products. Thankfully this time the Glamglow mask didn't feel like it was burning my face. Instead it just felt a big tingly, as did the The Body Shop mask.

Both products stayed on my face for about 10 minutes and after I washed them off, the results were pretty much the same. My face looked brighter, fresher, even healthier and both sides were nicely softened up, creating the ideal texture for some manual extractions. But neither mask had any kind of noticeable impact on my clogged pores or fine lines.

But while the results between the two products are quite similar, the prices are worlds apart. The Glamglow mask cost $70 while The Body Shop one goes for $28. Still, even that price seems a bit high for a mask that's just okay. At least it comes in an attractive jar.

Would I buy this product: If it retailed for around $15, maybe even $20, I would consider it. But at $28 this mask is just too much money for too few results.

Should you buy this product: The Body Shop does have amazing sales and this product will leave you with an attractive glow so if you can get it on sale, go for it.

Elizabeth Arden Lasting Impression Mascara Review

2017-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

I have found my new favourite mascara. Elizabeth Arden's Lasting Impression Mascara arrived in my life last month via my November Topbox and for the past few weeks, it has been my go-to mascara for both day and night.

According to Elizabeth Arden, "this high impact mascara captures every last lash to separate and define for a never ending lash look." Using a "unique brush with five iconic spheres," it claims to deliver lashes that are, "Clump proof. Smudge proof. Flake free." It also features a formula that contains, "ceramides for strong, healthier lashes" as well as vitamin C and avocado and olive oils that supposedly, "condition lashes and help seal moisture for a defined, silky lash look."

Those are a lot of claims and I can't disagree with a single one. Okay, I don't know if this product is actually making my lashes any healthier but they certain feel and look healthy, happy and most importantly, long and lush.

I love how this mascara visibly added ample length to my lashes while thoroughly separating them. While volume and curl aren't the focus of this product, it does add both of those qualities, creating lashes that are pretty, even flirty, but still quite looking natural. The formula also didn't budge once it was on my lashes, where it coated them with an attractive shade of black (a brown colour is also available).

I also love how this mascara is a breeze to apply. Elizabeth Arden claims that, "The rich and creamy formula glides on and coats lashes for a smooth and even application" and I completely agree. I never had to pull out the eyelash comb to separate my lashes with this mascara; it consistently delivered a smooth, clump-free application.

Two coats of this product are perfect for daytime wear but if I wanted to amp up the drama a bit, another coat or two could easily be applied and would add just the right amount of volume, without getting messy. This product isn't a replacement for false lashes but it does work nicely when you want lashes with some "oomph" but don't want the hassle of falsies.

But the best aspect of this product is that it never made me have to deal with the dreaded (to me) spider lashes while I used it. Instead my lashes were always fanned out and full, just like I prefer.

As I mentioned above, this mascara stays in place and that means it doesn't wash off easily. To get it off fully requires a proper makeup remover (even a long, hot shower doesn't fully do the trick). But I'm okay with that since it means that this mascara doesn't end up smeared or flaked over my face.

I'm also okay with the rather high price: $32 at Shoppers Drug Mart's Beauty Boutique. Yeah, it's expensive but this mascara is worth every penny.

Would I buy this product: Yes; this mascara is fantastic.

Should you buy this product: This one's an easy yes!

My December 2017 Topbox

2017-12-14T16:26:00.001-05:00

We're finishing off the year with a Topbox that I give a B+. It's not amazing, and the lone full-sized product is a nail polish, but the other three items are all deluxe-sample size and all four items are things that I will use. So good but not amazing. Here's what I got this month:

MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash mascara (6ml)
Wella EIMI Dry Me Dry Shampoo (39.9g)
Nena Clay Mask (30g)
Morgan Taylor nail polish in Rebel With A Cause (full size)

While I'm loving the Elizabeth Arden mascara (reviewing coming next week) that I received in November's Topbox, I'm curious to check this item out. MAC usually creates top quality items so I have high hopes for this mascara, particularly when it comes to delivering drama.

I'm also quite curious about the clay mask. I'm always up for trying out a new face mask so I'm pleased that this item made its way into this month's box. I've never heard of Nena (NENA?) before nor have I ever used a product that contains "pure Canadian glacier oceanic clay."

But I am quite familiar with dry shampoos. Will this Wella product stack up against the others I've tried? I guess I'll find out. While I'm actually well-stocked right now on dry shampoos, I know that I'll use this item, eventually.

And that leaves us with the nail polish. Topbox always thoroughly wraps any nail polishes in bubblewrap so when I first pulled this item out of my Topbox baggie, I knew I'd received a polish but didn't know the colour or brand. I whispered, "Please don't be Essie" to myself as I fought my way past the bubblewrap. Then I smiled when I discovered that I was holding a Morgan Taylor polish (worth $16!) in a very pretty colour. Rebel With A Cause is a gorgeous dark purple shade that is packed with sparkle. While I'm be using each and every item in this month's box, I'm positive that the first product I'll be using in the nail polish

Great Wolf Lodge (Niagara Falls) Review

2017-12-11T15:28:00.002-05:00

Let's take a break from posting about beauty products and instead do my all-time favourite type of review: One to do with travel. Husband is starting a new job and that means no 2018 winter vacation for us. However, since he did have a week off between his old job and his new job, we decided to do a quick trip to Niagara Fall's Great Wolf Lodge with our two-year-old daughter.

We only went for one night but the next time we go back (and there will be a next time), I think we'll do two nights. Even though the actual property isn't that big, it has a ton of stuff to do, especially during the holiday season.

The Good

Great Wolf Lodge did a fantastic job at injecting their space with the Christmas spirit. There were plenty of decorations but without crossing into that zone of clutter/tacky. There were also plenty of seasonal activities including an afternoon visit from Santa and a twice-a-day indoor "snowfall."
Our room wasn't the prettiest one I've ever seen but it was clean, spacious and had everything we needed. Okay, the bathroom was a bit small but the idea of having the sink in the main room is a good one. While Great Wolf offers a number of room types, we went with the cheapest, most basic one and for two adults and a toddler, it was fine. It had two queen beds, a mini-fridge, a microwave and a seating area that was separate from the rest of the room by a partial wall. I do wish that there was a blackout curtain that you could pull across to fully cut the seating area off from the sleeping area but maybe they'll add that feature into future rooms. If you do require a separate room for your kids, there is that option, for a price.
I've seen some grumblings about the check-in process but ours was quick and painless. And even better, our room was ready when we showed up at around 2pm (the standard check-in time is 4pm).
I enjoyed the waterpark far more than I thought I would. Okay, the wave pool could have been deeper and wavier and sure, there could be more slides, but considering that this is an indoor park aimed at families, I was happy with the park. It kept my toddler quite entertained and I had fun too, even going down a few of the slides (though not the Wolf Tail, that one is just nuts). And maybe it's just because we were during the week but the park never seemed too busy.
I had low expectations for the food at Great Wolf so I was thrilled to discover an

My daughter enjoying the ice cream bar

amazing dinner buffet. Besides plenty of kid-friendly options, there was teriyaki-glazed salmon, ribs, roasted chicken, even mussels. And the desserts! In addition to an ice cream bar, cotton candy and warm bread pudding, there was at least a dozen different kinds of made-in-house squares, cakes and cookies. Pretty much everything tasted far better than I anticipated and if I hadn't have been there with a squirmy child, I would have gone back for seconds. I also had a glass of sangria that was quite tasty and packed with fresh strawberries.
While Great Wolf's primary attraction might be the waterpark, the resort is packed with stuff to do, especially if your children is preschool-to-school age. There's a nightly dance party, twice-a-day story time with animatronic animals (my daughter loved the moose), crafts in the kids club, bowling, an arcade, a kiddie spa and in the summer, miniature golf and an outdoor pool. Oh, and there's a "no parents allowed" pyjama party that gives the adults a bit of alone time. Some of these activities do have a fee but many are also included in the room price, including access to the waterpark that starts at 1pm on check-in day and lasts all of check-out day.

The Okay

After the excellent dinner buffet, I had very high hopes for breakfast. But it was just okay. Yes, there was an omelette/egg bar but my omelette was kinda bland. Actually, all the breakfast food was on the bland side and the variety wasn't an extensive as with dinner. I was particularly surprised at the lack of baked goods, given the amazing desserts we had at dinner.
We had lunch at Buckets, the snack shack inside the waterpark. We had poutine the one day that okay but nothing special and the next day I had chicken nuggets that were quite tasty. Husband though had a burger that he outright disliked. The prices though were downright reasonable considering the location.
The water temperature inside the water park is supposedly 29C but on the first day we were there, it felt colder. We spent around hour in the park on that first day and by the end, both myself and my daughter were quite cold. However, we didn't have that issue when we went on the second day so maybe they turned up the heat? Thankfully there are a couple hot tubs to warm up in, including an adults-only one that's outside.

This slide, Canada Vortex, was quite fun
The park is often criticized for having long lines for the waterslides. Since we were there during the week, we didn't have too much of an issue with lines. In fact, I went down one of the more popular slides, Canada Vortex, without having to wait for a single minute. But that was around 10am on a Friday morning. Not even an hour later, we had to wait almost 10 minutes for the Wooly Mammoth slide. It was nothing outrageous but I can see how it could get annoying. My key takeaway here was that if you want to do the slides, timing is everything.
Finally, let's talk about the price. Yes, Great Wolf Lodge is not cheap but I don't expect it to be. To keep our costs at a reasonable level, we went during the week and used a discount code. We paid $269 (before tax) for our room and yeah, while I would have loved to have paid less, I didn't feel ripped off. We also purchased two adult meal plans (my daughter eat for free), each for $50. While I didn't love my breakfast and Husband didn't love his lunch, we both felt that this $50 was appropriate for the quantity and quality of food we consumed. We were also both impressed by the pricing for alcohol. Again, it wasn't cheap, but it did cost less then at a Toronto bar.

The Bad

The waterpark is home to two eateries and right outside of it are two more food options, a coffee shop/bakery and a pizzeria. There is not enough table and chairs for any of these places, especially inside the waterpark where the few full-size tables are snapped up by people who park their stuff and then go off and swim. I wish that these tables were reserved just for eating and that you weren't allowed to "save" them with your crap. As well, I suspect that when the park is busy, it's hard to grab even a lounge chair, meaning you might be eating standing up.
Great Wolf Lodge is a family resort so I expected it to be loud. And because of that I also

The standard room & the too-soft mattress

expected the rooms to fairly soundproof. I was wrong. Noise easily bled into our room from not just the hall but also from the neighbouring room (and no, it wasn't the sound of a blaring TV). All of the rooms have balconies, which seems like a great feature, until the neighbouring family is out on their balcony, screaming about the falling snow. Thankfully that family at least slept soundly through the night.
And that meant that our sleep was pretty good except for the overly soft mattress. However, I realize that mattress firmness is a very personal preference so while this was a Bad area for me, it might be a Good area for you.

MAC Cosmetics Strobe Cream Review

2017-12-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

My November Topbox was one of the best one I received all year in part because it contained a nice sized sample of MAC Cosmetics' Strobe Cream. While this isn't a new product, it was my first time using it and now I'm wishing that I'd discovered it years ago because it's quickly become something I turn to at least once a week.

According to MAC this cream, "Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants." It's also, "Super-powered with potent botanicals" as well as "nutritious vitamins and a mega-dose of green tea" to boost "the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin."

This cream can be used a few different ways. I found that applying it straight to my bare skin, or mixing it in with my moisturizer, left me with a face that was too glow-y for my taste (it also showed off my pores more than I liked). But someone with better skin could get away with this approach.

I also mixed it in with my foundation, where it did indeed fight dull, flat and tired-looking skin but without highlighting my flaws or being too shiny. I can see myself using this technique in the depth of winter, when my skin gets a bit dehydrated.

But my favourite way of using Strobe Cream was over top of my foundation, to highlight around my eyes as well as on my cheeks. Here it added just the right amount of pop. It wasn't too showy or attention-grabbing but it did add interest and dimension.

It helps that this cream is super-simple to use and played nicely with any other makeup that I used it with. It easily blended over my eyeshadow and foundation and seamlessly mixed into with whatever I paired it with. I also didn't need a lot to achieve the look that I wanted.

Like most (all?) MAC products, this one has a substantial price tag, costing $40 for one 50ml tube. However, that container should last you a nice, long chunk of time. While I tried the original shade (pinklite), this product comes in four other shades that MAC says you can layer. I'm not sure how that would look but it could be fun.

Would I buy this product: Yes! Though in all honestly, I'm going to look for a dupe at Sephora since I have a gift card for that store.

Should you buy this product: Yes!

LARITZY Silicone Makeup Blender Review

2017-12-06T12:45:00.002-05:00

So many products to review and so little time. I've been busy writing real articles, for real money (check out my portfolio here if you're interested in hiring me) as well as dealing with the usual holiday busyness so I haven't been posting here as much I should have been; especially considering my stockpile of products. So let's try to get back into the beauty reviewing groove with something quick and easy.

While I love foam beauty blenders, I've been curious about silicone makeup blenders since they first popped up several months ago. (Or was it over a year ago? I can't keep track anymore.) I like how, unlike a normal beauty blender, the silicone version can't absorb any product. And I really, really like how sanitary this new product is. I'll admit that I do not wash my brushes and blenders as often as I should but I think I could keep a silicone blender nice and clean. All it requires is a bit of water, a squirt of soap and then it air dries within hours.

I received my first-ever silicone blender in my November Topbox. According to LARITZY, this gel-based product allows you to "blend like a pro." Yeah, I didn't experience that. It was okay at applying foundation, something that doesn't really require precision, but it didn't do a very good job when it came to say, applying a highlighter or concealer. Did it get the product on my face? Sure. Did it allow me to put my makeup exactly where I wanted it? Not exactly. I also found that it didn't let me blend as smoothly or as thoroughly as my old beauty blender.

For a product that feels and looks so smooth and sleek, I found this blender to be kinda clunky to use.

At least it was a breeze to clean and it didn't absorb any makeup. Of course I still ended up wasting product because I was used to squirting a certain amount out and once it's out, you can't exactly put it back in. But I assume that the more I use this blender, the better I'll get at using just the right amount of makeup.

And I do plan on using this item but only for one purpose: Applying my foundation. For all other products, I'll be using my brushes, old-style blender or even my fingers.

This blender retails for $14 and as far as I can tell, it can only be purchased online.

Would I buy this product: While I didn't love this blender, it does do the job for foundation and it is so easy to clean. So yes, I would buy it but only for use with foundation.

Should you buy this product: I can get behind using a silicone blender for foundation but I say that it will be replacing your regular brushes and beauty blenders.

The Body Shop Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask Review

2017-11-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

I received my sample of The Body Shop's Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask in my October Topbox. While I used to be a Body Shop regular, it's been awhile since I've shopped there so I pleased to see this new offering from that brand in my Topbox.

Like most Body Shop products, this one comes with a story about its ingredients. A completely vegan product, the mask is made with "...matcha green tea from Kakegawa, Japan, dandelion extract and soul-soothing Community Trade aloe vera from Mexico." Along with a few other ingredients—but not "silicones, mineral oil or paraffins"—these items create a mask that, "deeply purifies, gently exfoliates and liberates your skin from the weekly build-up of city pollutants and everyday impurities." The end result is supposed to be, "radiant, younger-looking skin."

According to The Body Shop, "91% of women agreed pollution felt removed from their skin." I would include myself in that number as this mask did cleanse the top layer of my skin. After using this mask, my skin did look brighter and more radiant and sure, even a touch younger. But while I think it is fair to say that this product "gently exfoliates," I can't agree with Body Shop's "deeply purifies" claim.

Did this mask cleanse and perk up my skin? Yes but only on a superficial level. It had no impact on getting deep down and cleaning out clogged pores. It also appeared to have no impact on blemishes, dry patches or any other problem areas. It did soften my skin up nicely so that I could do manual extractions but I would have preferred if this mask could have just cleaned my pores out itself.

So overall, this product was okay but nothing special. I did like that it wasn't a sheet mask and that I could easily layer it on every centimetre of my face. But once it was on, it didn't feel amazing on my skin. It didn't feel bad either—I never experienced any irritation while using this mask—but it also didn't feel moisturizing or luxurious or anything like that. Its light, fresh scent was also nothing remarkable.

The Body Shop retails this product for $28, which is a lot for a mask that produces the same results as a $1.99 Balea mask. It does though have nicer packaging than a Balea mask, I will give it that.

Would I buy this product: No, it just didn't wow me.

Should you buy this product: No, there are better masks out there.