DIY French Manicure

I've never had any luck with those itty bitty nail guides for french manicures, so I was looking up some other DIY methods for french mani's and came across the idea to just use scotch tape.  Easy, cheap, and most of us already have it in the house!

All I did was take a strip of tape and start at one edge of my nail and as I went from one side of the nail to the other, I let it follow the natural curve.  The tape will buckle from making the curve but as long as the edge is pressed tight against the nail, you won't have any polish seeping underneath.  I taped all ten nails, applied two coats of polish and let it dry.  Then peeled off the tape and finished the entire nail with a topcoat.  You can see on my pinky that the topcoat picked up a little colour and smeared it, so I will have to let it dry a bit longer next time.  

Give it a try!  I think it turned out pretty well for a first attempt and now I can get a french without having to shell out extra $$ at the salon.  

My Acne Arsenal!

 

At 34, I still get breakouts, especially on my chin and a little bit around my nose.  I never had breakouts in my teens... go figure!!!  I have tried prescriptions, including a retinol product, which works wonders, but makes my skin dry, sensitive and sometimes rather painful.  For the small breakouts that I do get, I really don't need something so strong.  So here is my every day solution...

In the morning, I use the Tea Tree Concealer stick from the Body Shop.  It is thick enough that it covers blemishes well, but not so thick that it looks like a cakey mess.  The tea tree oil in the product also acts as an antiseptic.  The other reason I use this during the day is because it doesn't dry out my skin or leave me with flakies part way through the day like a Salacylic Acid product will.  Those have just never worked for me.

In the evening, before bed, OR on days when I don't need a lot of coverage, I use Clearasil's tinted acne treatment.  It is a Benzoyl Peroxide cream and has a very natural tint.  It covers well and in the morning, my skin is generally clear!  My boyfriend introduced me to this after years of buying expensive products.  Turns out, good ole Clearasil is my savior!  

I highly recommend both of these products.  They are gentle on the skin and very effective.  

Product Review: Paula's Choice Exfoliating 8% AHA Gel

This gel is recommended for Normal/Dry skin, however I have combination, acne prone skin and I LOVE it.  Especially since I use Benzoyl Peroxide on my skin when I have a breakout, this is perfect to slough off the dry skin that is a side effect of the BP.  

Every day after cleansing and toning, I apply this to my skin before my serum and moisturizer.  Using this every day keeps my skin looking "new"  :)  The first few times you use it, I would recommend every other day for your skin to get used to it.  It may feel like it's burning a touch, but the sensitivity to it goes away after a few uses.  Also, don't use it if your skin is feeling very irritated.  It IS a chemical exfoliant.  

I highly recommend this product.  I much prefer this kind of exfoliant over a physical one (like a scrub) as it's gentler and I can use it every day.

Beat the Heat Makeup Tips

Okay everyone it is time to beat this heat! Here are some tips for these ooey gooey, gross, melt-your-face-off kind of days.

• Skip the foundation and just use a pressed or loose powder -- and if you must use foundation, go for something like a mineralized powder which will be light enough not to slide off as the day goes on
• Skip eyeshadow -- and if you must use eyeshadow, make sure to use a base to prevent your eyeshadow from creasing in the humidity. My favourite base is MAC's paint. Don't use too much or it will crease as well
• Skip all cream based makeup products like cream blushes, cream shadows, cream foundations and stick with powders
• Use a waterproof eyeliner like MAC's Fluidline's. These have amazing staying power and are also great on the waterline
• Use a waterproof mascara as well -- you may not be going swimming, but on days like this, sweat from your forehead can get into your eyes and make a major mess of your mascara
• Skip filling your brows -- why?? If you are going to be outside at all, you're going to sweat a bit and the last thing you want is to be smearing your eyebrows all over your face! If any of you know of a sure thing stay in place eyebrow filler, please let me know because I have yet to find a fail-safe one!
• Switch up heavy moisturizers with lightweight lotions, or even gels
• Carry along a misting bottle with water to give your face a light spritz now and again

So if you're stuck inside, go out and buy a kiddie pool and relax in your yard cause come January, you'll be wishing it was this hot again!!!

Product Review: Biotherm Biocils Eye Makeup Remover

This is a re-post from two years ago. This is still, by far, my favourite eye makeup remover. The sad part is that you can't buy Biotherm in the US. So sad :( I guess I will have to get someone to mail me a care package from home!

As I mentioned in my last review, I like a really hardcore eyemakeup remover! And this stuff is my holy grail!

From the Biotherm website:

• This gentle, fluid, two-phased formula quickly dissolves waterproof makeup while gently cleansing eye contour without leaving an oily film. Waterproof and non-greasy, suitable for senstitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

The above says it all, and aside fom not being able to vouch for the part about contact lenses since I don't wear them, I find their claims to be 100% accurate. I LOVE this stuff. It removes my most stubborn waterproof eyemakeup with very little rubbing and leaves my skin feeling soft. It doesn't leave a really oily film on my eyeballs like some other two-phase or oil based makeup removers. For $27.00 CAN for 125mL, I find this to be a reasonable price as it lasts a very long time since I don't need to use a lot. I always stock up when Biotherm has one of their great bonuses!

Product Review: Trader Joe's Enrich Lotion

I have been trying out some beauty on a budget products recently and after a recommendation from a webcast on cosmeticscop.com I decided to give this a try. It is a fantastic daytime moisturizer with SPF 15. It's not greasy at all, which is something I hate about lotions with sunscreen. Now that I am back in California, I figure I should be using sunscreen daily again (as much as the girl-who-loves-a-tan in me resists!). It has no colour or fragrance and gives just the right amount of moisture for my combination skin. And with a pricetag under $3.00... well, it's an incredible budget beauty buy!

Allergies!!!

I am back in Oakville, Ontario for three weeks and my allergies have gone haywire! I have had a couple of spring/summer seasons where my days were spent trying to make my eyes less red and puffy, and using all my willpower not to rub my eyes into mascara-smeared racoon eyes. I tried to avoid using allergy meds as much as possible, but after talking to my Doctor, it is worth it to make sure to take those over the counter antihistamines as soon as you feel any symptoms in conjunction with an eye drop specifically for allergies. I like the Clear Eyes allergy drops and for an antihistamine, I stick with the Life Brand from shoppers since it's the same stuff as the brand name. Now all won't work for everyone. For example, Claratin and Reactine are two totally different medications, so try one and if it doesn't work for you, try the other. Loratadine (generic name) works best for me. So why am I posting about this on a beauty blog? There is nothing worse than itchy, watery eyes, a red nose and a puffy face when all you want to do is feel spring pretty!! Keep those allergies at bay and during the really bad days, focus your makeup around your lips and keep your eyes neutral with minimal liner and definitely use waterproof mascara so that you don't end up a runny mess.

Homemade Skin Care: Honey Scrub

I LOVE honey. I eat it with apples, peanut butter, on bread with butter, and the list goes on. But I have another use for honey! A lot of people have heard of using mixing honey with oatmeal or yogurt to make a face mask, but what I do is when the honey in my pantry has started to crystalize, I put it aside and let it fully turn to crystals. Then I put the container in my shower and use the crystalized honey as an all over body scrub after I have cleansed. It leaves my skin feeling soft, and because it is a humectant, it holds in the moisture from the shower helping to keep your skin hydrated all day. Of course, it smells fantastic too!

Product Review: Dermatix

Over the years, I have had the need to use this gel for various reasons. Surgery incisions, acne scars and most recently, a not-so-successful attempt at waxing (lesson learned: don't ever waxas soon as you step out of a hot bath - the skin is way too soft and prone to peeling off with the wax and hair!).

This stuff is pricey (about $45 CDN for a small 15g tube), but a little bit goes a very long way. It is a thick silicone gel that acts like a barrier, protecting the skin and allowing it to heal at the optimal rate for scar prevention. It can also work to reduce the look of scars that are already there. The newer the scar, the more effective it is.

When used consistently, it does an incredible job of preventing scars and reducing the appearance of existing scars. I have asked my GP, orthopedic surgeon and my dermatologist what to use for scars, and all three suggested Dermatix. I highly recommend this product to everyone. Even if you don't need it now, it's great to have in the medicine cabinet just in case! I could not buy this off the shelf, but they do sell it over the counter at the pharmacy.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Product Review: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Cleanser

From Paula's Website:

• A perfect combination of cleansing and soothing ingredients to bring your skin into balance
• Gentle enough for use around the eyes
• Quickly removes makeup—even mascara
• Reduces the look of large pores
• Softly foaming and rinses without a hint of residue—all you see and feel is clean, soft skin
• 100% fragrance-free and contains no dyes or coloring agents

I have been using Paula's Choice products for about two years now and I can't say enough about most of the sin care I have tried from her line. This cleanser is no exception.

The cleanser truly is soothing. My skin is often dry and irritated and this cleanser leaves it feeling soft with no tight, dry feeling after washing. It is definitely gentle enough around the eyes and will take off most eyemakeup as long as it's not waterproof or smudgeproof. I still rely on my Biotherm eyemakeup remover for that. I also love that it foams up. I really don't like the feeling of cream cleansers. I never really feel like it's done the job of taking off all of my makeup. As for reducing the look of large pores. Other than a physical pore filler, nothing has ever done anything to reduce the look of my pores unfortunately!

As a cleanser, this is at the TOP of my list and I will definitely buy it again as well as recommend it to anyone with any skin type, especially combination.

A new day - A new life - Some beauty on a budget!

Well, it has been a crazy year and a half for me. I have moved from Ontario, Canada to California, USA (near San Francisco). I am now on a strict beauty budget and don't even have all of my makeup / skincare with me here. But somehow, I have managed with only the basics!

So today, I'd like to hear what your budget beauty tips are. Mine is a must have for everyone - Moisturizer. I do love a good, expensive, luxurious cream, but that isn't always an option. So when I am trying to save, I always reach for the Cetaphil lotion. It is lightweight, but moisturizing enough for my very dry skin. I am also acne prone, and it never causes me to break out. Also, for any of you who get irritated skin in the winter (eczema, redness, itchiness), this cream is actually very soothing and calming. There is just something about it that when my skin starts to get angry at the weather, Cetaphil will calm it right down!

I have really missed being part of the beauty blogging community! I hope to be around much more often again!

Product Review: Anew Clinical Derma-Full X3 Facial Filling Serum

From Avon's website:

3X the level of dermatologist grade hyaluronic acid for filling and plumping, use after PM cleansing before moisturizing.

In just 3 days: Begins to fill in wrinkles for a smoother, younger look.

In just 2 weeks: 82% of women saw more youthful-looking fullness in cheek area

In 4 weeks: Dramatically reduces the look of deep facial folds and hollowness

I have been using this serum for over a month now, and I absolutely LOVE it. As for the anti-aging claims, I really can't say it's done anything for any of my lines and wrinkles, but here is what it does do for me:

• For a serum, it is quite moisturizing. If you have oily skin, you could probably skip moisturizer all together
• I can feel it tingling, but not in an irritating way. Since I have been using this, my flaky patches have disappeared (yay!). This makes the texture of my skin so smooth for foundation.
• I also feel like my skin is brighter, no more dullness.

It can be pricey at full retail $60, however Avon often has it on sale, and I know right now it's availble for $29, which in my opinion is a steal for this product.

Product Review: Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Lotion for Face and Eyes

I have been very lucky to receive some free things in the mail by being a BzzAgent . About a month ago I received a full size bottle of Garnier's Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Lotion for Face and for Eyes. Here is some info from Garnier's website:

"New Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage is clinically proven to reverse the signs of sun damage, including fine lines, discolourations and dullness, in four weeks."

I have been using both lotions for a month now, every day before I put on my makeup. The lotion for face is SPF28 which I love because most moisturizers have only SPF15. The lotion for eyes is SPF15. These are very rich lotions and I would highly recommend them for anyone with very dry skin. Since I have been using them, I have not once needed to apply cream to my face during the day, which I normally do. That being said, I don't find it greasy or heavy feeling and it absorbs into the skin nicely. It gives amazing sun protection and after several days of long sun exposure, I didn't get any redness on my face. Usually my nose and forehead will burn.

As for the claims of reversing the signs of aging.. well, I really didn't see any difference in fine lines. They are all still there in their fine and fabulous glory! However, my skintone does seem more even, but that could be to the fact that even though I didn't burn, after being the sun all day I still did get some colour which naturally evens things out. So, the verdict is out on that one. As for dullness, well considering how moisturizing it was and my dry skin is lo longer dry, then yes, the dullness disappeared with that!

All in all, I love these lotions and would definitely buy them again.

FOTD June 14, 2009

Goldmine
Ricepaper
Red Brick
Swiss Chocolate
Llama
Goldenair g/l
Glamourgold g/l
MARK Iced Cookie l/g
Avon Buttered Rum l/s
Avon Bronzer
Escada Pacific Paradise  

FOTD June 13th 2009

 

Aquavert
Cool Heat
Crystal
Au Contraire
Seedy Pearl
Iris Accents e/l
Rich Purple chromaline
Icon eyes e/l
NYC “410” l/s
Oyster Girl l/g
BeneFit Hoola
Too Faced Snowbunny
Rose Quartz blush
DollyMix blush

FOTD June 12th, 2009

 

Pure White c/c
Graphito paint
Body Shop Summer Shimmer Cube
MUFE 14L (white) e/l
BeneFit High Brow
Black Russian e/l
Pink Freeze l/s
Icescape l/g
Hoola
Well Dressed blush
Perfume – Creed Spring Flower

FOTD June 11th, 2009

 

Chartru paint
Penny s/s
Rose Blank e/s
Golden Olive pigment
Bronze e/s
BeneFit Gilded
Rosemary & Thyme e/k
Liquidlast liner
EL Copper Glow l/s
Avon Vanilla Bronze gloss
Avon Bronzer
Avon Golden Glow brush

FOTD June 10th, 2009

 

Sweet Lust
Teal Pigment
Romping
Feline e/k
Peacocked e/l
Peacocky g/l
Giddy l/s
Funtabulous d/g
Rose Quartz Blush
Sweet & Shy Glimmershimmer

FOTD May 9th, 2009

  

Lily White pigment
Golders Green pigment
Bright Coral pigment
Buttery e/k
Feline e/k
BeneFit Hoola
BeneFit Coralista
Frenzy l/s
Utterly Posh d/g
Creamkiss l/l
LAMB Perfume 

Product Review: Biotherm Biocils Express Makeup Remover for the eyes

As I mentioned in my last review, I like a really hardcore eyemakeup remover! And this stuff is my holy grail!

From the Biotherm website:

• This gentle, fluid, two-phased formula quickly dissolves waterproof makeup while gently cleansing eye contour without leaving an oily film. Waterproof and non-greasy, suitable for senstitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

The above says it all, and aside fom not being able to vouch for the part about contact lenses since I don't wear them, I find their claims to be 100% accurate. I LOVE this stuff. It removes my most stubborn waterproof eyemakeup with very little rubbing and leaves my skin feeling soft. It doesn't leave a really oily film on my eyeballs like some other two-phase or oil based makeup removers. For $27.00 CAN for 125mL, I find this to be a reasonable price as it lasts a very long time since I don't need to use a lot. I always stock up when Biotherm has one of their great bonuses!