The Sunday Post, Vol. 34...

Long time no see!!!

To answer my buddy Melissa's tweet this week, no, I haven't gone all MIA again!

Unlike last September this absence was totally unplanned. Oh how easy it was to blog when I was able to do it full time! These days I got full time work (which by the way has gotten real crazy this week), a daughter, cooking, "cleaning" (I ain't doin' too good with that part), a dog. a cat and a Mr J (I think I'm doin' good with that part)!

The result? Many posts written but sadly, of poor quality so most won't be published! I'll just have to re-write them. Then there's the "taking pictures" issue which is a big one! The lighting in my house is so bad it hurts and for a makeup blog it's a major handicap. Outside is not much better since I just can't seem to be able to get the sun on my side during week ends (only then do I have time to take them). I need a light box desperately and just don't know when I'll be able to whip one up. There are many tutorials out there including this one here, which doesn't require any nails or paint. Now to find a collapsing laundry bag in white! Hmm... Might ask Mr J if he could figure something out for me...

Christmas is coming...

*SCREAMS*

This bit I just can't believe! Tempus fugit so fast my head is spinning... Really it is! It will be a quiet affair but this year there might be a Christmas tree in the house again but that's if Catherine and Mr J come to an understanding. I am not getting involved... not even for the lights! There! I may bake cookies and that's all I'm gonna say bout it!

Recent beauty love...

Well there are several (as mentioned a few times already) and several haven't been reviewed yet... erm some of them are amongst the ones I pointed out that will not be published, they'll simply have to be redone so for now I'll just show you my last little wallet damage that I instagrammed recently and I guess you can see what I mean by bad lighting...

Repurchased are my beloved Rouge Dior in Charnelle #459 along with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, Caudalie Huile Divine and NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. Oh yes there is Guerlain's La Petite Robe Noire in there isn't there? Who would have thunk? I just didn't have any other option than to get a full size of the eau de parfum since I've ended up emptying so many samples... It totally grew on me and so I'll get my Cherry Coke fix on a regular basis...

For your viewing enjoyment...

Chanel Christmas 2014, Les Plumes makeup. Now I'll admit that nothing in this collection is calling my name but the promo video is positively stunning!!!

Ok so this was a quickie Sunday Post! Sorry bout that, I feel a little rusty writing but just like Mr J texted me, it would seem it's like riding a bike. Guess I got a lil' ridin' to do!

Do have a look a my buddy Melissa's blog, Kiss and Makeup, she's a riot...

Love you girl! :D

Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue...

I think by now pretty much everyone knows that my favorite lip balms are for night, Nuxe Rêve de Miel in the jar and for day, Caudalie Lip Conditioner. Even so, I still enjoy trying new ones and when they are less expensive and good, all the better! In recent years I've tried my share of drugstore lip balms and although they can keep lips protected they don't really treat them. Some could have been contenders if they didn't have that much slip while others had the right formula but the taste was just unpleasant and got to me after a while.

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue...

I picked up these "babies" at my local drugstore. I think they must have just received them since they had a surprising large display that was quite full. I chose 35 Too Cool which is transparent and 45 Just Peachy, a light frosty peach.

They are lovely! For less than $5.00 a piece I'm glad I got two. In fact I purchased three, a second Just Peachy for Catherine. I think she already owns a few of the other versions of Maybelline Baby Lips but these are my firsts.

They go on smooth and moisturize on contact. I'd say they last a few hours and are excellent to protect any pout from the cold weather although I don't think I would rely on them for skiing if it's below -20 Celsius. With the wind it would be preferable to use something a little thicker like Nuxe Rêve de Miel or even a waxy stick like good old LypSyl which is way more convenient to reapply when one wears mittens or gloves.

I don't ski but I know what extreme cold winds feel like!

When first applied they have a faint minty flavor that disappears after about 20 minutes or so. I would rather they have no taste at all since mint gives a refreshing sensation and in winter, outside, no need for this but like I said, it fades relatively fast.

Would I recommend Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue? Yes!

Super affordable I'll bet they will even be on sale once in a while so you may look for specials and stock up. One for every coat pockets and if you live north of the 45th parallel (and even a little to the south), believe me you need them because we all know, cold weather can dry up our lips and make them sensitive in no time. Three for the price of my beloved Caudalie is quite a deal and yes, they do compare!

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue in 45 Just Peachy...

I wasn't able to do a proper swatch but do know that it's quite frosty so I wouldn't lay it on as thickly as I would the 35 Too Cool the transparent version. I was surprised by it's color for it's very light. If you want a nude lip à la 60s this one's perfect!

Just Peachy is lighter and frostier than the color on the tube 

and here it does look a little darker than in real life.

The only thing missing...

They have no SPF so do keep that in mind. UV rays reflected by the snow... If you are the type to enjoy winter sports, you better skip these and go for for lip balms with sunscreen.

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue comes in 6 moisturizing shades...

From the left, 35 Too Cool, 40 Pink Me Up, 45 Just Peachy, 

50 Soothing Sorbet, 55 Coral Crave and 60 Berry Soft.

One quick note...

If you have peelies on your lips it would be better to skip the colored versions and stick with the transparent one since they can make your lips look worse. The pigments grab onto any irregularities and that's not a look anyone wants. Depending on the state or your lips, these can give them back their smoothness in no time, in other words, you could start the day with the transparent one and switch to a color by noon.

Maybelline claims a "renewing" effect but it's pretty basic. Although not miraculous, it's still an excellent little lip balm that's way less expensive than many. You can wear it under a lipstick but that this will make it quite slippery and will diminish it's wear time but hey, in winter you gotta do what you gotta do to not only look good but feel good.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner remains my daytime favorite but at about $15.00 I'm not about to buy 3. In my purse it resides but these Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue will be perfect for my coat pockets!


Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 17 reviews (these will likely increase since this is new)
Beauté-test: there are no reviews yet which is not surprising. It's not even showing on the Canadian website.


Ingredients:

Do you have a lip balm you keep in your coat pocket or a favorite at the moment?

My Office Emergency Makeup Bag...

Little essentials to have handy, to avoid panic!

One of the differences between men and women? Beside a briefcase if they have one, men leave home with only their keys and cell phones in the morning while women, many anyway, will want to carry around their entire makeup collection and pharmacy essentials.

There was a time when I had no other choice than to do this. Working as a makeup artist and having to go to different venues or stores all the time, I had to be ready for almost anything. Then when I had to travel, my bag had to be light and so everything in it had to have a purpose. I learned early on to travel light.

We all know that mornings can get crazy! I've never forgotten to put on mascara but lipstick, yes. Weird since I usually carry at least five in my purse. Ibuprofen for that headache, dental floss to get rid of the bits of spinach from the salad I had for lunch and dryer sheets for static cling are some of the things I keep if not with me, in my office drawer. For makeup, promotional sized and drugstore brands are perfect for this. There's no way I'll leave my Givenchy compact at the office!

These days when I see women with huge purses filled to capacity it makes me smile. They could make their lives so much simpler if they were a little more organised. Now do know that I'm not the most practical person and at the moment my house is total chaos but handbag and office drawer have to be top notch!

The makeup bag I chose came with an Estée Lauder Gift With Purchase. 

Not the prettiest, I did think about buying one but then figured it would do fine. 

What's in my emergency bag?

Ever been stuck at the office with a broken nail and nothing to smooth out the edges? Or wearing new shoes and in desperate need of one or several bandages? I have and it ain't fun having to run (unless feet hurt) to the drugstore for stuff you know you have plenty of at home. Even if you only have a tiny space to call your own at work there is a way to keep a few essentials that you may never have any need for but if you do, well, you'll be thankful, believe me!

Biotherm hair brush (seen folded, I've had this for ages), Twinings tea bags (Chai, Darjeeling and hidden under is my favorite Blackcurrent), 2 dryer sheets in a little ziplock (to fight static on clothes and the fragrance will not get annoying given they're sealed in their own plastic bag), a couple of bandages, TBS Honeymania lip balm, Estée Lauder sample double whammy concealer and Sumptuous mascara, Avon's Mark double sided glosses, Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy stick, a small deodorant, compact mirror with a magnifying side, samples of Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire and Dior J'adore, Bourjois blush in Rose Ambré, Rimmel lipstick Kate in 08, Dental floss and a pair of tweezers.

Already at work, small size of Caudalie Huile Divine, Vichy hand cream, nail file and Advil.

The dryer sheet bit is something I learned years ago. I can't remember if it was someone who told me about this or if I read it somewhere but in winter it can be more than useful. If like me you like wearing light fabrics you know what static cling can do. By gently rubbing a dryer sheet on your garment it will help neutralize it! Much better and more convenient than those cans of Static Guard they used to sell. I don't even know if that stuff is still available. These I've used today in fact. The colder it gets outside, the more static cling you get indoors, especially due to nylon coats.

Crabtree & Evelyn Aromathology Pulse Point Balm is also another item I've had for years and sadly I don't think it's still available. It's an oil with a pepperminty smell that you apply to pulse points for relaxation. Soothing when you smell it, it helps with headaches but more importantly it helps me calm down if I get in a bad place. Dealing with people can sometimes be quite aggravating and this has been a godsend in the past.

I have reviewed Caudalie Huile Divine last summer and what I thought would happen indeed did! It's perfect to help tame the static I get in my hair from my coat and scarf. One spray, I rub my hands together and run my fingers through the length of my hair. No more static cling and fresh smelly hair. I rub the top of my hands with what's left. Perfect!

Everything fits and I still have room to spare!

I don't know about you but me I hate having to ask others for anything and I'm one of those people who likes to be ready for any situation or in this case, little emergencies.

The only thing that's missing is a little kit of thread with a needle. For some reason I can't find the one I had so it's on my list. You never know when a button will pop!

Do you have a little emergency bag/kit?

Recent Empties...

My routine is pretty basic so I don't do these types of post very often. What I experiment with the most are cleansers, lip balms and mascaras as you can see in the pictures below but I did empty a few treatments that are staples of mine.

All of these I truly loved. Biotherm Pure-Fect was purchased for my daughter but I tried it and it really is a good cleanser. I would definitely consider it again for next summer since it's more for combination/oily skin. Biotherm an Marcelle micellar waters, well, excellent! I wouldn't hesitate on recommending either of them and they both take care of eye makeup brilliantly. Caudalie Foam Cleanser (a product I forgot to review) was a great cleanser although the fragrance was slightly on the chemical side. For some reason I always ended up tasting it, a little nasty if you ask me. Still it's an excellent option and it too I would recommend.

As mentioned my skin care is on the boring side. For anti aging I rely on Avène. These three products contain the highest concentration of retinaldehyde available over the counter with the advantage that they are not as irritating once your skin gets used to them. Move effective than Neutrogena or anything you could get at Sephora. Ysthéal Cream was replaced by the Emulsion. This was probably my 4th tube of Eluage Cream and now I prefer the 1st mentioned. Eluage Concentrated Firming gel is a favorite due to the hyaluronic acid fragments in the formula which plumps the skin. I love this one for my forehead and as an eye contour. It's no longer available here but I have 2 backups.

Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara was ok but did require a bit of effort to hold the curl so I will not repurchase. Not a fail but not the best drugstore option. I've since then discovered L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes which for roughly the same price performs better on my lashes. Benefit They're Real is my HG mascara and so this one will be replaced.


Any Holy Grail product you've had to replace lately?


Sorry for the blurry pictures it's been cloudy here this past week and so they were taken inside.

My Personal Sephora VIB (Wish) List...

I'll probably go later today but still haven't decided what exactly I will get to take advantage of the 20% rebate. Since I would like to also get some new nice shoes I may skip a few of these but I'm quite sure I'll get at least a Dior lipstick, NARS eye makeup base and the Truth Serum, I think...

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Another Rouge Dior, Rose Bonheur maybe and I'll have a closer look at the quints

Givenchy Le Rouge Intense in Rose d'Exception (if I go downtown 

because my local Sephora doesn't carry the brand)

Caudalie duo hand cream and Huile Divine (not shown)

Guerlain Crazy Terracotta Healthy Glow Powder 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

Want to bet a nail polish might, just might follow me home as well? :)

Poor Catherine! She'll be stuck waiting for me, again! She hates Sephora! I guess I'll better make sure I get her a nice Vanilla coffee for her "troubles". :)

Have you or are you planning to take advantage of the Sephora sale?

Nivea Aqua Effect Refreshing Foaming Cleanser / Review

Almost out of my Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser, the one I use in the shower, I had a decision to make...

To repurchase or to not repurchase...

Looking through past posts I realised that I had not reviewed this Caudalie cleanser! *facepalm*

My Spring & Summer Skin Care Routine...

I do believe I have good skin and so I don't fuss much about it. My take is not only less is more but the more you try things, the more you mess with it, the more chances of having things take a turn for the worst. I've had my skin issues like clogs and yes, some acne but these days I rarely break out and the only products I switch often are cleansers for reviews sake. My main concerns are a little oiliness and aging... *sigh*

My routine is fast, which is the way I want it to stay. Here are the products that I've been using since last Spring where the only different product since then is the Marcelle Cleansing water which replaced Biotherm Biosource Micellar Water.

Caudalie Huile Divine (Divine Oil) / Review

Caudalie Huile Divine was on my most recent Beauty Envies list and finally I got a small size of this little wonder everyone seems to have talked and raved about recently.

As some of you may already know, my favorites so far have been Liérac's Huile Sensorielle aux Trois Fleurs Collection Blanche and Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse, I've mentioned both recently, here. These days I go mostly for the latter, for Summer I just love it! Now what I enjoy most about these two is the fact that they replace perfume/eau de toilette. Their respective fragrances last way over 6 hours on me when I apply them on my arms and décolleté on dry skin. I also love them for my hair. I've tried several hair products recently to give it more texture and always come back to one of these.

Caudalie Divine Oil...

At the drugstore I was pleased to find the small size, 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) which is bigger than a sample. Perfect to keep in one's purse or for someone like me, who wants to give it a try before committing to a larger size. The bottle is sleek, pretty and what is most convenient about it is the fact that even if it's small it comes with a good quality spray just like it's larger sisters.

All purpose? This dry oil is advertised as such, for body, hair and face. As with all other fragranced oils, if you wish to use it on your face do patch test first, especially if you have a tendency to have allergic reactions to skin care or have sensitive skin.

How did I use it...

As with my other fragrant oils, my frugal side makes me use them on dry skin just before getting dressed. I do this because for me they replace perfume and on dry skin less is needed and their fragrances last longer. In the shower on wet skin I prefer to use either almond oil or when I need a bit more moisture, avocado oil which are way less expensive. Arms, décolleté and of course on my hair to give it texture and tame those little fly aways.

The texture... 

Caudalie Huile Divine is very light so this makes it a nice option for Summer after shower. If I compare it to Liérac and Nuxe I would say this is the lightest and least moisturizing, Liérac being the heaviest. When it's very hot this can be a welcomed option. It penetrates fast and doesn't leave any greasy feel on the skin.

The fragrance... 

At first, well the only word that comes to my mind is "caudalieish" where there's a nice hint of green grapes. This fades quickly and with the warmth of the skin is replaced by a nice bouquet of luscious flowers which includes hibiscus. One will take center stage, the rose, accompanied with a hint of grapefruit. I must say the progression is quite lovely but unfortunately on me, it doesn't last. While some have written that Caudalie Huile Divine replaces their perfume it's not the case for me for after three hours or so I can barely smell it anymore. This is where skin's chemistry comes into play. Some have said that Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse's fragrance fades quickly on them while on me it lasts almost an entire day. Here with Caudalie Huile Divine, the opposite occurs.

Do I recommend Caudalie Huile Divine? Yes

Surprised aren't you? So far one would have thought that I would pass on this one given my comments but even if the fragrance didn't last that long as I would have hoped, this oil provides nice light moisture and I must say, for my hair, it's fantastic! Since I purchased the small size which goes for $9.99, my bottle doesn't have the nice grape details or the wooden cap but, as I've mentioned, it comes with the spray with a tight fitting gold cap and this makes it a great option go keep in my purse which I will to tame my hair. Caudalie Huile Divine doesn't weigh it down and is perfect to use during the day to give it extra definition and oomf! The fact that the fragrance is light will not make it annoying to anyone. I used to work with a lady who would spray herself three times a day with her Ferragamo and, well, my nose had a hard time to cope with it and I'm sure I wasn't the only one...

Will I repurchase? Yes

Honestly I don't know if I will commit to the large size but I will keep a small one in my purse for sure since it unfortunately is not refillable. I don't mind reapplying oil to my hair during the day and I've done it often recently due to high humidity. In Winter, with the heating, it can get so dry indoors that this becomes almost a necessity and the small size is so easy to carry in a cosmetic bag. I also find that Caudalie Huile Divine is rather nice to use on the back of my hands. During the day my skin can get a little irritated due to washing and this oil is quite soothing. Now since it's light it doesn't leave a greasy feel and doesn't make my hands slimy if inadvertently I get them wet which can happen with hand cream.

The small size, give it a try. It may well become a favorite to you as is the case for so many.



Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 4.8 / 5 lippies for 14 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4.2 / 5 stars for 200 reviews


Ingredients (from Beauté-test)

Ingredients : vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil*, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil*, isoamyl cocoate*, coco-caprylate*, parfum (fragrance), ethylhexyl palmitate*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter extract*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, hibiscus sabdariffa seed oil*, argania spinosa kernel oil*, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), tocopherol*, ethylhexyl salicylate(octisalate), palmitoyl grape seed extract*, solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fruit/leaf/stem extract*, citric acid*,benzyl salicylate, linalool, hydroxycitronellal, butylphenyl methylpropional, limonene, citronellol, alpha-isomethyl ionone, geraniol. (107/078) *Origine végétale

Beauty Tips For Beating The Heat...

It's been pretty hot recently and depending on where you live it may still be sticky and uncomfortable. I've got a few tips that may help if not stay cool at least give you the illusion of freshness. I would have a hard time without my air conditioning but hey, I do have to go out so I can't escape the heat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we don't lose our electricity like it's been the case in some parts following torrential rains. Believe me, I feel for you!

Nuxe Rêve de Miel for lips, The Stick Or The Jar?

Here I go again with my Rêve de Miel Lip Balm! What can I say except it IS my absolute favorite, so far. In fact it's been the case for at least two years now and that's saying a lot considering all the lip balms I've tried before and since then. I've mentioned this little wonder a few times already, among other places, here.

 Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm & Lip Moisturizing Stick

Spring Cleaning, Take a Peek...

Finally, I'm happy to say, we are done with April!!!

It started with the funerals of the man of my life, went on with my first birthday without him and then the  anniversary of our first date without him....

To top it all off, the weather was just plain horrible!

The last few days have been nice and so I do believe that even if Spring has let us down this year, Summer should make up for it. Let's hope it does. Actually it should since Jeff the Weather Man did confirm this morning that there will be a Summer! Being a weather man, he must be right! Right?

Some are done with their "Spring cleaning", an almost traditional yearly ritual. After months spent indoors due to the cold mainly, as soon as the weather warms up a bit we go nuts with cleaning, getting rid of that thick "wintery" dust, opening all windows and washing everything we can get our hands on. It sure is a nice change to shoveling.

This Winter there wasn't a lot of cleaning in my house due to what we where going through and so the result of this is a lot of stuff lying around and a lot of dust. A little overwhelmed, I had to start somewhere and so I  decided to start the process with my bathroom. I guess it makes it easy since it's the smallest room in the house.

The top shelf is not shown and the bottom one is in view when the door is shut.

Our new girls only pharmacy:

 I just realised that I should have changed the tube of toothpaste but hey, this is real life! 

Looks nice and clean doesn't it? I give this 2 days tops!

Catherine's corner. Avène Cleanance K moisturizer, La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 60, Ombrelle Face SPF 45, Biotherm Purefect Skin Cleanser, Avène Cleanance Soapless Gel, The Body Shop face brush. On the lower shelf she also has some of her Eos lip balms, Powser brush, Clarins bronzer and Laura Mercier loose powder as seen on the top picture.

Avène Eluage Cream, Avène Eluage Firming Gel, Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum, Caudalie Vinoperfect night, Avène Redness Relief day cream, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Nivea Cream, The Body Shop 3 in 1 mask, Nuxe Crème Fraîche, Unrefined Shea Butter, Witch hazel, a tube of Estée Lauder Vérité Eye Gel and my little jar of Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment.

Biotherm Biosource Micellar Water, Avène Thermal Water, Avène Anti-redness Dermo-cleanser, Keihl's deodorant, Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm, Nivea Lip Butter, Caudalie Lip Conditioner and two samples of Clarins firming line.

Bottom shelf: Little covered basket of hair ties, Liérac oil, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. In the little basket, Some samples, The Body Shop's Oceanus and Pink Grapefruit Eau de Toilette, Clinique Tenderheart lipstick as well as some Mark glosses, Avène Cold Cream, Caudalie and Clinique Deep Comfort hand creams, a small Marchesa eau de toilette. In the barbotine container, more samples, cotton rounds, baby washcloths and my old Dior face brush. In the front, lipsticks/glosses of the moment, Chanel, Clinique and L'Oréal.

One thing to know about me, I am domestically challenged! This year there's just so much to take care of, to clean, I can hardly keep up with my in-box so imagine the rest... I probably won't be done until... next Spring!

At least my bathroom is done!

If you've enjoyed peeking into mine, you may enjoy the ones of famous people even more... Have a look at these:

In Vogue: Dans la salle de bain de...

http://www.vogue.fr/beaute/dans-la-salle-de-bain-de

In Harper's Bazaar: Karl Lagerfeld's

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/24-hours-with-karl-lagerfeld-0412?src=rss#slide-3

Some Empties...

Here are some of the products I've used in the past year, the ones I will not repurchase.

Nuxe Micellar Foam Cleanser, Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water, Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals, Avène Ysthéal Crème, Caudalie Cleansing Water and RoC Enydrial Hand Creme.

In the case of the first two Nuxe products, they where favorites of mine but where unfortunately discontinued. I was able to repurchase while they where in clearance but now they are definitely gone. 

The Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals, was good but a bit of a disappointment. I found it slightly irritating, especially compared to the previous option. I really don't understand the reformulation.

Avène Ysthéal which haven't reviewed yet, is an excellent anti-aging moisturizer but for some reason I prefer Eluage to it, also from Avène. I will try to post about them soon. They are worth looking into since they contain a high  % of retinaldehyde and are available over the counter. They are more effective than creams containing retinol (again, non prescription options) and are less irritating. Great for those with sensitive skin.

Caudalie Cleansing Water, another good product from the brand but the price is a downer. Although I was planning to repurchase, $28.00 a little excessive.

RoC Enydrial Hand Creme is really nothing special. I've mentioned it previously in one of my first posts for this blog. It's an ok basic moisturizer that tends to leave a greasy feel. The only plus, for those who appreciate it, is that it's unscented. I didn't use this one during the day since it's took a while to fully penetrate. Best keep it for before bed time.

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF10 / Review

After reading Mostly Sunny's review of Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid, which you can read it here, I figured I should write a review of the one I've been using recently.

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF 10

This moisturizer is indeed rich but not as much as I was expecting. Recently we've had some frigid temperatures recently and I needed a little more protection than the one provided by Avène Anti-redness, the tube I usually go to in the morning. As with all Caudalie moisturizers, the tube is on the small side. The good thing is, you don't need a lot since it's quite concentrated and so a little goes a long way.

Dry Hands!

What's with our hands in Winter? Dry skin, cuticles cracking... Not a nice look. If you're like me, the second thing I notice when meeting someone after their face, their smile is, their hands. I'm not obsessed, far from it but in the case of women, I tend to look at their nails, especially if they wear nail polish. I like it when I see colors I wouldn't dare wear myself. So yes I notice hands. Also let's not forget, dry hands do look older and we don't want that.


Here is what I do, my tips...

Start with a gentle, non stripping soap, especially in the kitchen. The ones I like...

Savon de Marseille
I don't use anti-bacterial soaps nor do I go for liquid soaps in Winter. Like most everybody I have used them but most of them where being too harsh after a while. Savon de Marseille has several options, the basic olive oil is quite nice to have and has barely any fragrance to it. You can find it in health food stores as well as some drugstores.

For the bathroom I alternate between the following...

Dove Beauty Bar
Scented or not, gentle and almost creamy. I had stepped away from this for years until I rediscovered it last Summer. Non stripping and so inexpensive. Review here.

Avène Cold Cream bar
I received one as a gift with purchase and fell in love with it. Feels very creamy and is extra gentle on skin.


Keep them moisturized...

For moisture, I keep a bottle of almond oil in the kitchen next to the sink. A few drops on the back of my hands is all it takes to keep them moisturized when I'm at home cooking or doing chores. If my hands get wet they don't get slimy like they would with a hand cream and my food doesn't taste weird. Any oil will do for this. If like me you alternate between evoo and canola oil for cooking and don't want an extra bottle on your counter, they will do nicely. Simply use what you have.

Hand creams I like, Caudalie for daytime. This one penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy feel and the fragrance is not overwhelming. For night, Avène Cold Cream and if on any particular night my hands are extra dry, I layer it over a few drops of argan oil. For cuticles, unrefined shea butter or Dior Crème Abricot are favorites of mine.

And no, it's not necessary to spend a fortune on hand creams. You could go for Nivea, Neutrogena, Vaseline or any other drugstore brand of your choice and simply layer over a few drops of oil as mentioned.


The power of gloves...

Rubber gloves to protect your hands when doing the dishes.
Cotton gloves when you want really help to keep the moisture in at night.
Warm gloves when you go outside. Protecting them from the cold is a must.

Gloves are also to be considered to help prevent the proliferation of germs like cold, flu and any other nasty bugs out there. Wearing them reminds us not to touch our face.


A bit of history...

Apparently this brand was quite popular. I was looking for an old image to feature here and I stumbled on this one by accident. Apparently well know, I had never seen it before. Want to know more about it? Click here.

Pacquins Ladies Hand Cream (1942)

Carmex Lip Ointment / Review

I had never tried this lip balm. In fact I've only started to see it in drugstores recently. It may have been available for quite some time now but let's just say that I hadn't been paying much attention since I have figured out my winning combination last year. Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm for night and Caudalie Lip Conditioner for daytime are absolute favorites of mine. More information about them here.

For reviews sake I've been trying out different ones, some less expensive options. Here I've decided to compare Carmex Lip Ointment to La Roche Posay Cerralip.

I purchased the basic no flavor ointment in the tube on which you can read "for dry chapped lips and cold sores". When you unscrew the cap you're left with a round top with a little hole in the middle. Press and the balm comes out. The texture, feel on my lips is quite similar to La Roche Posay's Cerralip with a few differences. First unlike LRP's which has no taste at all, Carmex's has a chemical one. Faint but not very pleasant. Fortunately, after 4 or 5 minutes it disappears. Second, and this is quite surprising, it's more soothing and more moisturizing than the more expensive La Roche Posay. Carmex is $2.99!!!

This is the moisturizing lip balm, I have the lip ointment.

The tubes are almost identical.

Although I did find it more moisturizing than the other mentioned, I really didn't care for the taste. I may eventually try another with flavor but for now I'm good.

One last note, it does contain some salicylic acid which is a good ingredient to help with exfoliation. It would be advised to use another lip balm with SPF.

Reviews: 

MakeupAlley: The reviews are I believe all mixed up. They range from 3.0 to 4.5 lippies on a base of 5.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 97 reviews.

Ingredients (note these are not in order of concentration):
Petrolatum, lanolin, beeswax, cetyl esters, mineral oil, cocoa butter, fragrance, camphor, menthol, salicylic acid and vanillin, phenol, paraffin liquidum


Screen capture from Top Para

Your Skin... The Day After!

So last night you had to work extra late (on your blog maybe...), had to go to that cocktail party or received a last minute invite to go see a movie. Whatever the reason you ended up getting home super late and were way to tired to do anything other than get undressed and go to bed and...

You did so without removing your makeup!

Winter Lips!

It's cold outside, dry and overheated inside! What this means is that my lips are getting dry, tend to crack and peel. Ouch!

Now that's if I don't do anything. It's not an option for me not to treat them. For years I was able to keep smooth lips without the use of lip balms due to lipstick. Whether the formulas I was wearing where more moisturizing or my lips got dryer with time I have no idea. These days I have to use lip balms period!

Plus I do want to keep them looking as plump as possible for as long as I can. Lips don't have oil glands so we have to give them some. No collagen either so for anti aging an SPF lip balm of at least 15 reapplied several times during the day is a must if you spend a lot of time outdoors. For loss of volume nothing topical will make any difference. Lip plumpers will only work temporarily due to the irritants they include in their formulas like cinnamon, ginger, menthol and forms of capsacin (the spicy chemical found in chili peppers). For a more permanent solution only a surgical procedure will do.

The price range for good lip balms go from $1.00 to $100.00. You can get them at the Dollar store or you can go for brands like La Mer, Sisley or La Prairie. It's really up to you. Go for the ones you love. I'm just presenting you my own favorites.

Personally I don't go much for high end any more for skin care and that includes lip care. I've been able to find effective products that are more budget friendly.

My 2 favorite lip balms

Nuxe Rêve de Miel

New lips overnight! When I apply a good layer of this at night before bedtime I wake up with soft deeply moisturised lips. In fact by morning, I can still feel the balm on my lips. Most brands just disappear overnight but not Rêve de Miel. It contains among other ingredients, honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence.

Although I use Rêve de Miel mainly at night, it's great to apply over certain colors of lipstick to make them appear more matte giving lips a more natural look. This works great with shades like Clinique's Tenderheart.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner

The one I use in daytime. Also quite matte it helps keep peelies at bay. Although it almost feels dry at first, in no time you feel the moisture. The stick form makes it easy to carry. I love this one under lipstick and keep one in my coat pocket. Grape-seed polyphenols (have anti oxidants properties), Shea butter, Castor oil and beeswax are it's main ingredients. Since I started using this balm I've rarely sensed the need to exfoliate my lips because I do feel it helps with the skin's renewal process.

For UV protection

Neutrogena, La Roche Posay, Avène, Bioderma as well as several other brands make good lip balms with an SPF of 15 or more. Simply chose the one you like. I find that Neutrogena is pretty good myself and wears well under lipstick.

Other options

Avène, A-Derma, Weleda (Everon), Estée Lauder, Clarins..... Every company makes one and yes, it's ok to have a few. I have several and my daughter has an extended collection. We have them all over the house and each have our favorites. My daughter's is eos for now while hubby goes for a homemade balm made of half unrefined Shea butter and half coconut oil flavored with vanilla extract. I myself sometime simply reach for the tub of Vaseline Cocoa Butter Petroleum Jelly which tastes so yummy. Not as effective as my 2 favorites I still enjoy using it to give my lips a bit of shine.

Along with petroleum jelly another good option to keep handy is Aquaphor in the tube. Many actually prefer it to Vaseline. It is a little thicker but I honestly don't see much difference between the two. They are both good versatile options to keep handy because they are not only for lips but also for skin that is exposed to the element. Great for protecting the skin of young children when the weather gets really cold.

Both petroleum jelly and Aquaphor are great for exfoliating lips. You can apply a little to lips and wait 10 min or so then gently rub away dead skin with either your fingers or a baby washcloth. You can also add a bit of sugar or brown sugar to make the process faster but just be careful not to rub too hard and avoid the skin around the lips. Sugar is a no no as a facial exfoliant. It can non only irritate the skin but cause micro tears.

Reviews for Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm:

Retails for about $15.00

MakeupAlley: 4.2 / 5 lippies for 273 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 4 stars for 656 reviews.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel ingredients (from frenchcosmeticsforless)
INCI formula: Cera alba (beeswax), Olus oil (vegetable oil), lecithin, behenoxy dimethicone, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) extract, mel (honey), Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), dimethicone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil, caprylic (capric triglycerides), hydrogenated vegetable oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil, rosa moschata seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, citrus merdica limonum (lemon) peel oil, candelilla cera (euphorbia cerifera) (candelilla) wax, allantoin, calendula officinalis flower extract, BHT, citric acid, citral, limonene, linalool. 


Reviews for Caudalie's Lip Conditioner:

Retails for about $12.00

MakeupAlley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 140 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 478 reviews.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner ingredients (from Beauté-test)
Macadamia ternifolia seed oil*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, caprylic/capric triglyceride*, cera alba (beeswax), copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax*, cetyl palmitate*, acetylated glycol stearate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit*, euphorbia cerifera (candeulla) wax*, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil*, cetearyl alcohol*, cetyl alcohol*, parmitic acid*, stearic acid*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, hydrogenated stearyl olive esters*; hydrogenated vegetable oil*, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, jojoba esters*, isopropyl myristate, parfum (fragrance), tocopheryl acetate*, palmitoyl grape seed extract*, ammonium glycyrrhizate*, hypericum perforatumextract*, tocopherol*.
* origine végétale


If you want to read more on the subject there are a few good articles on Discovery Fit & Health, source of some of the information given in this entry.

One final note, when I started this blog my very fist post was about lip balms. I revisited it and it was fun to see how much I've grown into this blogging thing. You can have a look at it here. Warning, the writing is not that good but the list of products is. :D

Avène Redness-relief Dermo-cleansing milk / Review

This is my favorite Winter/cold weather cleanser. Creamy without being greasy it removes everything and is even gentle enough to use on the eye area.

I started to use it last year when I realised that even the gentlest foam was slightly drying my skin, my cheeks especially. I have combination skin, meaning in winter my t-zone tends to be on the normal side and the rest of my face and neck who are usually normal, get dryer.

What's In My Purse At the Moment.

My purse of the moment is a DKNY black nylon with black leather trim tote. It's on the small side compared to the others I own but the size is perfect for what I carry these days.

Curious to know what's in it at all times?

This is my Fall/Winter version:

Non beauty things: keys, wallet, lemon drops (got to have something lemony with me at all times), pens, highlighters, little notebook, sunglasses, a folded nylon bag for unplanned purchases, sometimes a cell phone, sometimes an iPod but, almost always my iPad (best invention EVER) and black leather gloves.

Beauty things: at the moment I have seven different lip products. A bit much maybe? Hmm, well what can I say, I love lipsticks!

Omorovicza's Queen Of Hungary Myst

Browsing the Sephora website today I stumbled upon this. Having written about Caudalie's Beauty Elixir, where I dug a little into the history of such a product I was intrigued by this one as well. Omorovicza is a fairly new and exclusive brand which was launched in 2006.

As it turned out it was a great opportunity for me to learn something new, There are thermal baths in Budapest! Hungary is a country I know very little about except that is was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was dissolved in 1918 after 51 years of dual monarchy. Off to Wikipedia I went to refresh my memory and try to retain new information. What can I say, I love history!

Rudas Bath (Rudas fürdő) and Király Baths (Király fürdő) were both built in the second half or the 15th century by the Ottomans and are the most ancient ones. The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe, it's water, supplied by two thermal springs. This one dates back to 1913 and the Neo-baroque architecture appears quite stunning with all its curves and details. Depending on the time of day, where the sun is, it must be quite interesting to see the game of lights and shadows on the structure.

The Outdoor Swimming Pools of Szechenyi Thermal Baths in City Park, 

Budapest, Hungary by Martin Moos

The Story of the brand

The Omorovicza story begins over 2, 000 years ago, when the curative properties of Hungary’s thermal waters were first discovered and the famous baths built. 
Today, Omorovicza harnesses this ancient health and beauty phenomenon with Mineral Cosmetology^TM and takes natural, anti-aging skincare to a new level. 
Founders Margaret and Stephen de Heinrich de Omorovicza met in the beautiful city of Budapest. The descendant of a noble Hungarian family, Stephen had been drawn there to explore his roots. Margaret, an American, had been brought to the capital by a diplomatic posting. 
Relaxing at Budapest’s ancient thermal baths, the couple were amazed by the effect the mineral-rich, healing waters had on their skin. Margaret and Stephen were fascinated by the natural power of these minerals and saw their potential to be harnessed in a remarkable skincare range. 
Working with a Nobel-prize winning laboratory of dermatology, Omorovicza Cosmetics developed Mineral Cosmetology^TM , a pioneering, patented delivery system that takes mineral skincare to a new level. 
The Omorovicza product and professional treatment range launched in 2006 at the eponymous spa in Budapest, where the story began. 
Loved by beauty editors, the range quickly earned an international following and has appeared on the pages of numerous glossy magazines. Meanwhile, Omorovicza products and treatments are now available at some of the world’s leading stores and spa destinations.
The Omorovicza story continues as the range expands to include further natural, highly-effective skincare treatments ignited by the science of Mineral Cosmetology^TM .

                                                                                            From Omorovicza's website 

Omorovicza's Queen Of Hungary Myst

Available at Sephora, CAD $86.00

You read right, $86.00! Thankfully there's free shipping from Sephora since it's over $75.00. Is such a high price justified? In my opinion, no. This is the 2nd least expensive product from the brand after the cleansing foam, which goes for $70.00.There are several other companies that offer healing thermal water based products for less but, I can't comment on Omorovicza's products for I haven't tried them myself. They just might be outstanding products but I'm not sure I would go for a $600.00 regimen, the approximated amount one has to pay for a cleanser, moisturizer, serum and Queen of Hungary Myst. In my view, high price doesn't determine good results but again, this brand may be an exception.

The Queen of Hungary Myst is used in the same way as Caudalie's Beauty Elixir. As a toner, refresher, a pick me up whenever your skin needs it. 

As per Sephora website, here are the ingredients:

-Mineral Cosmetology: Patented combination of Budapest healing water, complex mineral compounds resulting from lengthy process of bio-fermentation, and complex mineral compound liposomes resulting from encapsulation of mineral compounds in phospholipids. Enhances bio-availability of minerals found in Budapest healing waters to the epidermis and dermis for firmer, suppler skin that looks and feels revitalized, regenerated, and energized. 

-Orange Blossom, Rose, and Sage Waters: Acts as an astringent to tone the skin. 
-Apple Pectin: Provides long-lasting hydration. 

Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannitol, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Pectin, Yeast Extract.

Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 3.7/4 lippies for 3 reviews

There are a few reviews on the Sephora website but I'm not sure how reliable they are.  I've read that they don't always publish the negative ones.

To my surprise, there are no reviews of any of the Omorovicza's products on Beauté-test.

For the moment they are available only at the Stillwater Spa, Park Hyatt in Toronto. They can be ordered online through Sephora.

If anyone uses and loves these products I would really like to read your comments in order to learn more about them. :D