Tag Archives: reviews

review: schick hydro silk razor

Like most women, maintaining a hair free body doesn’t come without its woes. Sure there are many methods to remove unwanted hair, whether it be waxing, threading, sugar, lasers, depilatory creams or (yikes!) epilators. They all carry with them great debates among our gender as to why they love it, hate it and even the odd horror story of times they’ve gone awry. The one that continues to top the list of ease and popularity is the good old shaving method.

Over the years, I have teeter-tottered between waxing and shaving. Sure, waxing offers a longer duration of being hair-free but can be uncomfortable and for some, the cost of regular waxing just isn’t in the budget. Shaving offers us a quick fix, but finding the right razor can be a daunting task and with the wrong one, can leave your skin irritated and full of unsightly nicks.

About a month or so ago, I received a little care package from the people at Schick asking me to check out their newest razor, the Hydro Silk. I’m familiar with the brand and in fact, have been quite pleased with their Intuition razor for some time. I decided to give it a whirl for a month and really test it out before sharing my thoughts.

First, a bit about the razor:

Name:

Schick Hydro Silk

Number of Blades:

Five Curve-Sensing blades with skin guards to help protect skin from irritation

Special Skills:

Water-Activated Moisturizing Serum

The ease of this razor is evident the minute you start using it. It glides easily over the curves of the body without any worry of causing any nicks. I’m normally so nervous around the ankles and behind the knee, but felt safe and secure going over these areas without a doubt.

When I first used the razor, I wasn’t sure how I would like the built in serum strips. In the past, other razors who have claimed something similar to this, have ended up being a gooey mess. The Hydro Silk proved me wrong. As soon as I ran the razor under the water stream and started shaving my legs, I could immediately feel the difference. Because I normally use the Intuition (which has a built in soap), I don’t have any shaving cream and so I’m not sure if this is a necessary need with the Hydro Silk. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think you need to. My skin is extremely dry during the cooler season and just using the razor alone nourished my skin all day with the moisturizing serum strips. I even went without my usual body cream on my legs to see how long it would last. Sure enough, my skin was still soft and (most importantly) smooth at the end of the day.

One cartridge was good (including the serum) for 3 weeks. Depending on how often you shave, you can get a good 2-4 weeks out of them.

All in all, this razor is replacing my old one. I’m extremely happy with the results and impressed with the technology Schick has used to create such a solid product. So if you’re a shaver and in the market for a new razor, definitely give this a try. I stand here with both thumbs way up!

***Please note that I only write reviews for things sent to me if I really like them. The company has not paid me in any way to write a positive review.

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Filed under product launch, reviews, skincare, summer

launch: marcelle bb cream

Inspired by the trends in Asia, I’m pleased to share with you that Marcelle is releasing an amazing new beauty and skin care product that is sure to make its way into your makeup cases. I had the chance to see and feel this at the Annabelle/Marcelle Beauty Premiere event in November and ever since, I’ve wanted a tube of my very own. An 8-in-1 multi-benefit beauty balm, BB Cream is a moisturizing skin care, tinted corrector and makeup base that enhances your natural beauty.

The Eight Multi-Benefits are:

  1. minimizes the appearance of imperfections and pores
  2. evens out skin tone
  3. replaces primers by providing an excellent makeup base
  4. mattifies skin and controls shine
  5. offers immediate and long-term hydrating benefits
  6. soothes and calms the skin
  7. protects from premature aging and environmental stresses
  8. promotes skin regeneration

Ideal for any age and skin type, BB Cream comes in two shades (light-to-medium & medium-to-dark) which works on a variety of skin tones due to its self-adjusting pigments. The fact that it’s hypo-allergenic as well as oil, paraben and fragrance free make this perfect for even sensitive and oily skin types.

The minute I had the BB Cream in my possession, I had to put it to the test. Although I’ve been blessed with decent skin, without a little foundation, I do have some slight redness and uneven tone. There are three ways to use Marcelle BB Cream. The first is on cleansed skin as a corrective tinted moisturizer. The second is to use it alone or over your moisturizer to unify your complexion. Finally, use it as a makeup base under foundation for total coverage and improved staying power. I opted for the first.

The before and after photos were taken in natural light and are untouched.

I instantly noticed a difference in how supple my skin felt and how even my complexion looked. Please know that this is ALL the BB Cream’s doing! I have no concealer or foundation on. Heck, I didn’t even apply any moisturizer! It’s like I’ve been Photoshopped! I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beauty-ful love affair.

You can get your hands on your very own tube of BB Cream as of February 6, 2012 when it’s launched at pharmacies and mass retail stores across Canada.

—————————————————-
Marcelle BB Cream
$22.95 CAD – 45mL
www.marcelle.com

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Filed under foundation, Marcelle, product launch, reviews, skincare, spring, swatches

skin: going greek with korres

I’m not unfamiliar to the awesomeness that is KORRES. Almost ten years ago on a trip to Greece visiting family, I walked into a local pharmacy, saw this cutely packaged Greek brand and just couldn’t help myself. I’ve been a fan ever since. Ten years since my open relationship (only because I’m a creature of variety) with KORRES began, here I am finally reviewing some goodies properly.

Just before the holidays, the lovely folks at KORRES sent me a little care package. Inside was a selection of some of their popular products to help the skin fight the winter blues (and dryness). I hadn’t used much of the line in the past few years other than their White Tea Cleanser (amazing product, by the way). After a few weeks using these goodies, I thought I’d share with you my two cents of what I thought of them. It’s quite fitting that a Greek girl review some Greek products.

{WILD ROSE FACE + EYE SERUM}

WHAT IT IS: An ultra concentrated serum that refines and brightens the look of fine lines around the face and eyes. It is suitable for all skin types.

HOW IT DOES IT: Wild Rose Oil is quite rich in vitamin C which aides in reducing the look of fine lines and breaking down unsightly hyper-pigmentation. It’s also rich in linoleic and linoleic acid which provides an intense moisturization and protection of the skin. Baobab-tree polysaccharide is another ingredient in the serum that provides a line smoothing effect while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

WHEN YOU USE IT: After you’ve cleansed your face, apply to the face and eye area. You can use this alone or before a moisturizer. 

COST: $49 CAD

WHAT I THOUGHT: After two weeks I noticed my skin was a lot more even and brighter. I have a small sun spot on my cheek that has diminished since using it. I would recommend this to anyone dealing with pigmentation issues or sun damages skin. I adored this under my eye cream as well. It works amazing under concealer and foundation.

{QUERCETIN & OAK ANTIWRINKLE/ANTIAGING EYE CREAM}

WHAT IT IS: An amazing power-eye cream that smooths, hydrates and minimizes the appearance of under eye darkness and puffiness. Suitable for all skin types.

HOW IT DOES IT: Using a NOBEL-awarded discovery on cell aging as inspiration, KORRES used the most powerful anti-aging duo of ingredients, Quercetin & Oak as a natural alternative to Retinol. Mixed with this is Myrtle Extract (improves skin elasticity), Mourera Fluviatilis Extract (helps maintain skin’s water levels), Baobab Polysaccharides (skin is left looking and feeling firmer) and Rhodiola Rosea Extract (helps prevent the appearance of dark circles and eye puffiness).

WHEN YOU USE IT: After you’ve cleansed your face, apply to the eye area around the orbital bone. 

COST: $55 CAD

WHAT I THOUGHT: Using this layered over top of the Wild Rose serum was a powerhouse eye regimen! I may be in love with this combination, I must say. My delicate eye area is subject to my constant abuse and has a tendency of showing it. With this, it’s like the perfect remedy. On a side note: LESS is more with this eye cream. A little goes a heck of a long way so be frugal.

{QUERCETIN & OAK ANTIWRINKLE/ANTIAGING NIGHT CREAM}

WHAT IT IS: A face cream that provides intense nourishment and repair throughout the night. Suitable for all skin types.

HOW IT DOES IT: Using the anti-aging ingredient duo of  Quercetin & Oak as a natural alternative to Retinol. This combination has been clinically proven to provide faster results than leading luxury department store brands. It also contains a blend of Myrtle Extract (anti-aging booster to help skin’s elasticity), Mourera Fluviatilis Extract (moisture binding activity to maintain water levels), as well as Jojoba, Grape and Pomegranate Oils (provides nourishment and reparative properties).

WHEN YOU USE IT: After you’ve cleansed your face, apply to the face and neck.

COST: $59 CAD

WHAT I THOUGHT: Aside from the woody smell (which thankfully dissipated quickly), I was impressed with how this treated my skin throughout the night. From prior experience, night moisturizers have been synonymous with thick, heavy old lady creams. This is not the case with this little jar. My dry, winter-abused skin was quenched thoroughly and left supple and smooth. It was almost a shame washing my face in the morning.

All of these as well as other products from KORRES can be found at Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart retailers.

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Filed under Korres, my favourites, reviews, skincare, trends

haul: urban decay 15-year anniversary palette

Like-minded beauty junkies will understand how I simply couldn’t resist purchasing the newest palette in the Urban Decay family. The packaging alone sucked me in. A gunmetal mirrored box, a purple faux-jewelled logo on the lid and a laser-cut filigree design on the sides?

… sold.

In all seriousness, the colour palette is very wearable for most people.  The pigmentation and colour payoff is always a win in my books for UD and I like that there is only one slightly glittery eyeshadow in the group. (I really hate their glitter e/s) Mixing delicious neutral tones and rockin’ brights in both light and dark tones makes for a pretty amazing makeup purchase. All fifteen shades are brand new in honour of the brands 15th anniversary (is it sad that I remember when UD first came out?) and are only available in this palette.

TOP TO BOTTOM

1st row: Midnight Rodeo, Tainted, Deeper

2nd row: Midnight 15, Junkshow, M.I.A.

3rd row: Vanilla, Omen, Ace

4th row: Flow, Evidence, Blackout

5th row: Chase, Deep End, Half Truth

Bottom to top: Midnight Rodeo, Tainted, Deeper

Bottom to top: Midnight Rodeo, Tainted, Deeper

Bottom to top: Deeper, Midnight 15, Junkshow, M.I.A.

Bottom to top:  Tainted, Deeper, Midnight 15, Junkshow, M.I.A.

Bottom to top: Vanilla, Omen, Ace

Bottom to top: Vanilla, Omen, Ace

Bottom to top: Flow, Evidence, Blackout

Left to Right: Flow, Evidence, Blackout

Bottom to top: Chase, Deep End, Half Truth

Bottom to top: Chase, Deep End, Half Truth

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Filed under hauls, palettes, product launch, reviews, swatches, Urban Decay

the best of black with annabelle cosmetics + vlog

Black is always a familiar go-to for any woman. The impact of a little black dress or a touch of black liner on the eyes can instantly glam us up with ease. A smokey eye is the epitome of  sexy in the world of makeup.  For the fall season, Annabelle Cosmetics has launched a collection dedicated to some gorgeous blackened makeup goodies that are sure to win anyone over. To boot, all of it is extremely affordable and easy to use.

The ‘Black Box’ collection is:

Glitterama in Blast Off – a gel-liquid eyeliner infused with black and silver glitter.

Liquid Liner in Black Spark – a classic black liquid liner with a modern metallic twist.

Smoothliner in Metal Daze – an intense black pencil topped off with shimmering specks.

Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil in Licoriche – a rich creamy jumbo eyeliner that wears for up to 9 hours.

…and then THIS happened…

 

 

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Filed under Annabelle, black looks, product launch, reviews, swatches, youtube

stay put! – makeup setting sprays

Summer’s almost here and with it comes a good dose of humidity. For us makeup lovers and wearers, this means the struggle for long lasting makeup that can withstand all the moisture in the air and sweating that tends to make everything melt away throughout the day.

There are a few products on the market at the moment that are the perfect solution. More specifically, the notorious setting spray. I know that these have been around for quite some time now for makeup artists to use professionally, but older formulas had the reputation of being heavy and sticky which certainly didn’t go over well with the everyday lady. New formulas are now abundant, and bring a refreshing re-vamp to how they feel and wear over our makeup.

Here is a small compilation of some makeup setting sprays that I think are worth a try.

[MAC FIX +]

This water based toning mist is infused with vitamins and botanicals to hydrate and calm the skin. It makes for a very lovely gentle setting spray as well as a great addition to your skincare regimen.

Skin Type: ALL

$22.50 CDN

[MAKEUP FOR EVER MIST & FIX]

This spray mists a weightless and invisible film on the skin that protects makeup from environmental elements. This works great for everyday as well as photoshoots, allowing makeup to stay in place and spares you from constantly powdering.

Skin Type: ALL

$27 USD

[URBAN DECAY SETTING SPRAYS]

DE SLICK

Skin Type: OILY

This weightless formula is great for oily skin because of its ability to absorb excess sebum and control shine on the skin. Urban Decay’s unique Temperature Control Technology actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to hold everything in place. A simple misting of this over your makeup and it won’t budge all day.

$29 USD

DEW ME

Skin Type: DRY/COMBINATION

For those on the drier end of the spectrum, this spray moisturizes while it keeps makeup in place. The lightweight formula feels amazing on the skin and helps prevent makeup from settling into fine lines and powder from feeling cakey. It leaves your skin looking radiant, glowing and hydrated. This spray also contains the Temperature Control Technology like the De Slick, which lowers the temperature of your makeup for longevity.

$29 USD

ALL NIGHTER

Skin Type: ALL

Urban Decay collaborated with SKINDINÄVIA to make this brilliant setting spray that keeps your makeup on for 16 hours. Makeup withstands humidity and doesn’t dry you out in the colder weather – a good all around product for any occasion and skin type. This also incorporates UD’s patented Temperature Control Technology found in its trilogy of setting sprays.

$29 USD

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Filed under foundation, MAC, makeup accessories, Makeup Forever, photoshoots, reviews, skincare, spring, summer, tips + tricks, Urban Decay

review: bobbi brown creamy concealer

I bought a few items a while back from Apothica.com including the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. This was a makeup product that as a makeup artist, I was shocked at myself for having not tried it so it seemed like a good purchase.

I’ll admit, this little concealer had a lot to live up to. Many of my favourite makeup artists and YouTubers swear by this beauty item so I was expecting it to dazzle me. I ordered my shade in Sand (which matched me perfectly) and the first time I applied it I was pretty impressed at the blendability and how a little goes a long way. This particular product comes with a little secret pot of setting powder in the corresponding shade attached under the concealer. I really wasn’t blown away by the powder and much prefer setting with either my MAC Prep + Prime Invisible Powder or the MUFE HD Powder.

The one thing that left a bad impression with me was that one of the first ingredients listed in the concealer is petrolatum. That to me was a disappointing discovery. For those who don’t use an eye cream under this concealer, please start. This will be the only way the petrolatum works to an advantage due to its humectant properties. Basically, it will hold the moisture of the eye cream in all day. Other than that, this ingredient is not impressive coming from a high end and respected brand like Bobbi Brown.

All in all, the concealer works great. I love the coverage and wear of the product and it looks great in photos. I would certainly continue to use it in my kit for professional work, but the esthetician in me is still bummed about the ingredient fail in this concealer.

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Filed under Bobbi Brown, foundation, reviews, tips + tricks

vlog: l’moor pumpkin peel exfoliating masque

The lovely Bonnie and Will from L’Moor gave me a few samples of some of their amazing natural skin care products to try after expressing to Bonnie about some dry patches I was suffering from. I decided to give the Pumpkin Peel a whirl later that evening and was incredibly impressed at the immediate improvement of my skin’s texture.

The peel is an exfoliating masque that uses the enzyme power of papain (papaya) and bromelain (pineapple) to refine and remove dead corneum cells (a.k.a. dead skin) while the pumpkin pulp renews and heals the skin. A must for those in need of a good instant fix. Beware to those with sensitive skin, though. This peel is very active and tingly which will cause temporary redness due to the potent effectiveness of the ingredients which will cause blood flow to the surface of the skin. Anyone with sensitive skin might react to this product because of this. Besides that, this is a must for an amazing anti-aging regimen and I am very much looking forward to using this again. Note that, as with any other exfoliating product, you shouldn’t use this daily. My suggestion is to exfoliate ONCE a week. Any more than that could cause your skin to react and be prone to sensitivity. Too much of a good thing is NOT better in this case.

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Filed under Moor Spa, reviews, skincare, spring, youtube

review: marcelle essentials foaming cleansing gel

The esthetician in me is always willing to try new skincare products and I was stoked to receive one of the more recent additions to the Marcelle Essentials Line – the Foaming Cleansing Gel. I was immediately intrigued by the fact that it is free of soap, oil, alcohol and parabens. Reason enough to give this cleanser a go. I promised myself that I would use the entire bottle (providing it didn’t freak my skin out) before blogging about my thoughts.

The last little squirt of product was used up today and so I find myself writing away…

Let’s start with the packaging. I love the fact that it isn’t in a glass and/or breakable container. I’m a klutz in the shower so durability is a must. Thumbs up for this!

My experience using this? My skin is on the slightly drier side and I’m always hesitant with anything with a ‘gel’ consistency and that foams a lot. Usually these skincare stereotypes leave my particular skin type feeling dried out and stripped of any natural oils. I was pleased that this cleanser left me feeling surprisingly fresh and soft. You don’t require a lot of product and the cleanser emulsified into a rich lather. The final result was balanced, clean and supple skin ready to be moisturized.

My overall thoughts about this product would be that it would be best suited for dry/normal/combination skin types. My professional opinion would lead sensitive folks toward more of a milk or cream based cleanser to provide a soothing and calming effect. Those with really oily skin or sufferers of acne, there are probably better options within the Marcelle family for you. In fact, I was also sent the AC-Solution Daily Purifying Exfoliating Gel which I have gotten my roommate to start using. She has blemished skin and would benefit from this more than me. I will definitely update you at a later date on her feedback on this cleanser.

The Marcelle Essentials Foaming Cleansing Gel is available at Shoppers Drug Mart and retails for $14.50


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new from beautyaddicts!

I got a pleasant surprise at work this week when I had a bag of new goodies from beautyADDICTS waiting for me at my makeup space. As you may or may not know, I am an educator for the brand through one of its distributors (one of the many makeup jobs I do). One of the perks of said job is that I get new products sent my way to try out and play with. I do believe the following items are available in the US, however in Canada the official launch of these products are coming soon.

The first thing I went gaga over is the new (and improved in my opinion) brush set. It comes with 6 brushes and are sold in a functional case with a protective flap and a zipper compartment. The brushes are 100% synthetic and vegan approved and the handles are a sleek Birchwood with a matte silver furrule. I started using these on clients immediately and I was beyond impressed on how well they allow me to apply makeup. They all feel soft on the skin which will make them staples amongst my many tools.

 

The 6 brushes consist of (from left to right): Angle Face Brush, Foundation Brush, Eye Shader Brush, Doe-Foot Eye Contour and a dual ended Concealer Brush/Angle Liner + Brow Brush.

As well, there are three additional brushes that are sold separately and are the perfect compliment to the brush set. These are (from left to right): Bronzer/Powder Brush, Blender Brush and a Rounded Smudge Brush.

Next up to bat is a little bit of colour! As much as I LOVE getting brushes, I couldn’t help but geek out a little bit over the new Sweet Lips lipglosses. There are four fun shades to compliment each of the signature colour families that beautyADDICTS is famous for.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the four colour families that beautyADDICTS consists of, I will break it down for you. The brand has created these colour palettes to convey different moods, lifestyles and attitudes of a woman. This system of neutral colour palettes compliment ANY skin tone which is pretty amazing and easy for the everyday woman. These four families are: GLOW, EXPRESS, MOTIVATE and SEDUCE. To learn more, visit the beautyADDICTS website here.

Back to the Sweet Lips glosses…

These shades all offer a high shine and really hydrate the lips with Vitamin E and Jojoba Butter. I love the sheerness of these glosses. You can easily layer them over a lipstick or wear them on their own. The applicator is a super soft brush that isn’t too big to ensure an easy application. Most importantly, they aren’t thick and sticky (which drives me crazy).

From L-R: GLOW – Blush, EXPRESS – Sheer Peach, MOTIVATE – Lilac, SEDUCE – Black Cherry

So there you have it makeup lovers! I can’t wait to continue my love affair with this brand. Be sure to keep an eye out for these products and I’ll be sure to incorporate the Sweet Lips lipglosses into my future “FOTD” looks.

xo

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Filed under beautyADDICTS, hauls, makeup accessories, my favourites, product launch, reviews, swatches, trends