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 erm some of them are amongst the ones I pointed out that will not be published, they'll simply have to be redone so for now I'll just show you my last little wallet damage that I instagrammed recently and I guess you can see what I mean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

Yves Rocher Beautifying Dry Oil...

In case you didn't notice and I have mentioned this already (yes, I'm getting old so I often repeat myself), it would seem that every brand out there is coming out with body oils and since all are pretty expensive it's nice to see budget friendly options popping up here and there. Last summer I was truly wowed by Garnier's Triple Nutrition Miracle Oil which I use often at the end of my shower. When I bought it, it was less than $5.00... major score!

Yves Rocher...

A French brand that's been around for 50 years, it started in an attic in Bretagne France where Yves Rocher insisted on controlling every steps of production from harvesting the plants used in his products to the distribution to ensure the highest possible quality at a fair price. I can't remember the last time I went into one of their shops which can be found just about everywhere. I think it was when my daughter was a baby for an Hamamélis body lotion, one of their most popular offerings. I honestly don't know much about their products but recently the window of the boutique in front of which I walk by almost everyday had been calling my name.

A beautiful display of shower gels! A collection called Jardins du Monde (Gardens of the World) and at 3 for $15.00 it was hard to resist. As I was about to pay for the ones I chose (I will of course review them) I noticed another display with little bottles of oil with the mention "New"...

Hmm interesting... $11.00 instead of $20.00 for 100 ml (now this doesn't mean much because they always have specials) why not give it a try? I sprayed my arm, surprised by the strength or the pump that yielded almost enough for both my arms. At first scent the mild flowery fragrance was quite pleasant and it didn't appear too "oily". I know this is a weird statement considering I was trying an oil but they are not all created equal as you will see below.

Yves Rocher Huile Sèche Sublimante (Beautifying Dry Oil)...

This oil is a little surprising, in a way it feels more oily but at the same time dryer than others I own. It goes on more easily but doesn't penetrate my skin as well as sweet almond oil or coconut oil for example, two of my everyday budget friendly favorites. It's a little more moisturizing than Garnier but the fragrance is not as pleasant to me.

From the website:

Silky and sublime skin.

The Beautifying Dry Oil is perfectly absorbed by the skin to nourish it intensely.
Result: nourished, softened and beautified, the skin reveals its true beauty.

The Plus: an oil that is dry to the touch.
- 99% natural ingredients,
- Tested under dermatological supervision,
- No preservatives, no paraben, no mineral oil, no animal extracts.

Perfectly absorbed by the skin to nourish it intensely... Not really. It's ok but if you have dry skin this oil may not make much of a difference on it's own. It will "beautify" because it stays on the surface for quite some time but the look on skin isn't as nice as when I use Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse or Caudalie Huile Divine. It's weird but for some reason it doesn't look as "polished". One would think oil is oil but apparently it's not the case.

About the ingredients...

99% natural... This oil is mainly composed of esters which is not a bad thing because they are emollient but they don't provide the same feel as real oils. This is also the reason why this product is so affordable. The andiroba oil and sesame seed oil are way down on the ingredient list. Andiroba oil is extracted from the seeds of the carapa guianensis tree which is found in the Amazon. This oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids including oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acids but sadly there is so little in this formula that it's highly unlikely going to make much of a difference on the skin. Still, it was nice to learn about a new oil.

The fragrance...

As mentioned at first it's lightly flowery but sadly that freshness doesn't last. It transforms in about ten minutes or so and I'm left with some sort of a dried fruity nutty smell that I can't really describe and after half an hour or so it settles into it's final stage, a fragrance that I don't fancy as much as the other oils I own.

Some reviewers on Beauté-test have compared the fragrance of Yves Rocher Beautifying Dry Oil to Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse... They are nothing alike, not one bit! Gardenia and magnolia are there at the top but my untrained nose doesn't pick up any orange blossom, bergamot or mandarin. It's not as complex and the base is again, nothing like Nuxe. It's just not as elegant but for an inexpensive out of shower option it ain't bad. On wet skin it lasts about one hour and on dry it can linger for close to three.

How I use it...

At the end of my shower I spray liberally on wet skin, gently massage and pat dry with a thick towel. It's perfect for light daytime moisture but I do have to use a more serious moisturizer before bed. Also in summer I tend to reapply a light layer of body oil during the day on arms and legs for the effect but mainly for the fragrance since I rarely use perfume when the weather is hot. I don't think I'll use this one during daytime since I'm not much of a fan of it's fragrance.

Do I recommend Yves Rocher Beautifying Dry Oil? Yes and no.

Yes since it's a nice inexpensive option (just make sure to take advantage of one of their many promotions) that offers light daytime moisture and can be enjoyed again during the course of the day if you like it's fragrance. Great as a cheap pre-shampoo hair treatment.

No if you have dry skin. This will not be enough but can be a complement if for instance you use a non fragranced body lotion in the morning you could spray on arms and legs once the lotion has fully penetrated for a little extra.

Make sure to try it and wait at least thirty minutes to an hour before deciding if you like it's fragrance because as mentioned, the flowery first notes do disappear.


Reviews:

I found no reviews for this product on Makeup Alley
Beauté-test: 4.4 / 5 stars for 36 reviews.

Ingredients: isopropyl palmitate (a palm oil based emolient), octyldodecanol (emulsifiers and thickening agent), coco-capryulate/caprate (a mixture of esters of coconut alcohol with caprylic acid and capric acid), ethylhexil palmitate (a derivative of palm oil), ethylhexyl stearate, hexyldecanol, hexyldecyl laurate, carapa guaianensis seed oil, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil, parfum/fragrance, tocopheryl acetate, bht

To read about my favorite fragranced oils so far click, here.


Have you started to "lighten" your body care routine moisturizer-wise? 

2013, The Flops...

In a perfect world everything would work for everyone! Ok I guess it would be a little boring but at least there would be less money wasted. Looking back on the reviews I've posted in 2013 I'm glad to say that out of all of them most were if not hits, products that were good enough to recommend. Others on the other hand just didn't work for me and were hard to comment on. To call them flops may be a bit harsh but sadly that's what they were to me.


Here goes...


Revlon Colorstay Cream Eyeliner in Charcoal

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral 418

Laura Mercier Mineral Finishing Powder

L'Oréal Telescopic Shocking Extension Mascara

bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color

Clarins Graphic Expression Eye Quartet Mineral Palette

Real Techniques Brush Collection, Eye Starter Set

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Nuxe Lip Moisturizing Stick

Almost all the products tried for my Hair Quest, among them L'Oréal Nutri-Sleek Precious Oils

These were such disappointments. I've tried the Clarins Quad again recently over my 

NARS ProPrime Eyshadow Base and still no staying power. I regret not taking
 the Laura Mercier back for as it turns out, my daughter who I thought would 

use it over her sunscreen just doesn't want to be bothered with it.

These two L'Oréal products were fails at first use! I tried to make them work but with no success.

If you already use and love some of these products then I'm truly happy for you. Also do not let this list reflect on the brands mentioned for they all offer great beauty options. My favorite gel eyeliner is from L'Oréal and I will continue to buy it and the same goes for The Body Shop, especially their bath/body offerings.

Hopefully there will be less of these flops in the future because like everybody else, I hate wasting money! My consolation is that some of these reviews may have enabled some of you to make more enlightened choices and save pennies in the process.


Have you had flops this year? What was you biggest disappointment?

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?

The Sunday Post, Vol. 3...

Before you start...

Grab a cup of coffee or tea so you'll be all comfy to watch those videos at the end. They are definitely worth the extra time, believe me! :)

Christmas week...

For Catherine and I it will be a quiet one. I have three days off and so I think I'll spend them in my pyjamas, blogging a bit and watching movies with my girl. Some of you may have noticed that until now I haven't mentioned this holiday and haven't posted gift suggestions or any type of wish list as I did last year. Without my love my heart is just not in it. Although André wasn't a fan of Christmas he still was the one who made it special and now that he's gone I guess it'll take a few years for me to get back into the spirit of the season, if ever.

Weird to be buying my own gifts but I did spoil myself, a bit too much actually, I guess in a way I needed to compensate for his absence. The good thing this week is that I'm not working on the 24th and so it'll be less sad for me. I don't know how I would have felt getting home late on that day because for some reason the image of Scrooge coming home to and empty depressing house keeps popping in my mind. Now I'm nothing like Dickens' character of course and I'm blessed to have my daughter but it's the imagery that I keep thinking about especially since family is non existent anymore and our few friends will be away. I just hope it won't be too hard on Catherine.

By the way, I did get my baby a pretty special gift and if she allows me I'll show you a picture later next week. I still have to wrap it! She has requested a pretty paper with a smashing bow! :)


In my purse...

This week there were a few changes. On Monday we experienced our coldest day so far with a horrendous windchill factor of -28° Celsius! That morning by the time I got to the office my eye liner on the outer corners of my eyes was pretty much gone! In case you don't know, cold makes eyes react, they get all watery, especially from the cold wind! I decided to add the little Annabelle crayon purchased earlier this year to make corrections when needed. It would seem that I'm also hoarding a few more lipsticks!

In need of a little comfort...

With the colder weather I've been reaching for richer products a few times this week. I've been using Clinique All About Eyes in the morning, this eye cream is on the bland side and it's gel like texture gives me just enough extra moisture and it's perfect for under makeup. Nuxe Crème Fraîche has been getting a little love as well at night and so did Avène Cold Cream hand cream. This one is more moisturizing and is perfect before bed since it's richer and takes longer to penetrate than my beloved Caudalie. L'Occitane en Provence Ultra Rich Lotion for body is a new addition and I can't comment much on it yet since I've used it only three nights but I do think it'll be a favorite. Flannel pyjamas were a must this week, believe me!

Fragrances...

Yes they deserve a little paragraph this week. I've been enjoying a few and have totally fallen in love with a new one! *sigh* Roses de Chloé! I love the smell of roses on their own and Nic from Strawberry Blonde reviewed it recently and I must say that she had me at "rose garden" smell! I got a sample of it at Sephora and I do think that it will be on my birthday gift list to myself in April. You can read her review, here. Shalimar de Guerlain and Estée Lauder's Modern Muse haven't been reviewed yet but La Petite Robe Noire has. It still doesn't develop on me the way it does on others but I'm truly enjoying it more and more. By the way a new version is coming out soon and I can't wait to try it!

Nails...

I'm truly impressed!!! Chanel Le Vernis in Cosmic lasted the entire week!!! I didn't think I could wear it that long since it's sooo... black but I didn't have time to do another manicure and so on my nails it remained. The formula is just amazing. See for yourself on this picture below. I applied it last Sunday night and this was taken on Friday afternoon! Barely any tip wear and that's with no top coat whatsoever!

New additions...

Of course I did a little shopping this week and ended up getting a few essentials. Wanting to give my NARS Tolède a break and looking for a more moisturizing formula I did get Dolce Vita and I love it. I will review it soon. I replaced my Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey and finally purchased Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara! My splurge this week, L'Occitane en Provence Ultra Rich Lotion for body and two Voluspa Makassar Ebony & Peach candles.

For your viewing enjoyment...

As of yesterday I had no idea of what I would choose but my bloguerette buddy Sunny gave me the answer when she tweeted about the latest Cartier Winter Tale video.

If I would sell a kidney for a Guerlain Météorites compact I would likely sell a limb for a Cartier red box! Ok maybe just a toe but it does count as limb doesn't it?

Here are three and dreamy is what they are...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koGGvyNmqCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u9VXq4HyEI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fWSx10SHlA

Then there is this most stunning of "commercial", that I did post last year, L'Odyssée de Cartier! Not a winter tale per say but it's just spectacular. Do notice the "transformation" at the beginning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaBNjTtCxd4

Know what I mean about those little red boxes? :)


I sincerely hope you all have a beautiful and joyous Christmas week! Hélène xoxo

The Sunday Post, Vol 2...

So, the weather has been getting pretty cold in Montreal which means that most smart people are starting to look like smaller versions of the Michelin man! The not so smart, well, they kind of look like sad icicles!

-28° Celsius with the windchill yesterday and it's only the beginning!

Last night we've had snow, lots of it and today it's still going down hard!

Sadly we can't look forward to be snowed in since as you may have guessed, Canada is pretty good with the white stuff and in my beautiful city the bus and metro network is quite amazing so whatever happens, to work I'll go!

In my purse...

Similar to last week although I did reach for Clinique Black Honey a few times in the morning and wear NARS Tolède more than Rouge Dior Grège during the day. My lips are a little dryer due to the cold weather so I'll be using my Caudalie Lip Conditioner more often under a creamier lippie. Needless to say that at night I've been applying a thick layer of my beloved Nuxe Rève de Miel lip balm.

I did a comparison of these two and the jar won by a mile!!!

This week's makeup love...

I used my new Marcelle CC as a base in the morning and it's been doing a fine job although my nose gets a little shinier in the afternoon. I'll have to keep a close watch because I'm feeling two little clogged pores on my right cheek so *fingers crossed* it's not the CC and just a case of poor cleansing. Powders and blush were all courtesy of Guerlain with Crazy Météorites, Crazy Terracotta and Madame Rougit.

Eyes enjoyed Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Fatal combined with Dior Velvet almost everyday with a little accent from the medium beige in Chanel Charming palette. Since the look was a bit darker I've been using Bobbi Brown gel liner in Caviar Ink and I must say I'm really starting to like it. For mascara, it was my little size of Benefit They're Real!

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Caviar Ink.

Nail of the week was O.P.I Muir Muir On The Wall which was reviewed yesterday. A beautiful color but unfortunately not a hit.

Lastly for fragrances I started the week with Tocca Florence, a lovely light scent that I'll keep for spring so I'll wait before writing a review of it since I've only worn it a few times so far. On Tuesday I forgot to reach for anything and so stopped by a drugstore next to work and sprayed some Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy which I enjoyed quite a bit two years ago but never took time to review. I think I still have a sample left so I may write a little something about it in the new year. The rest of the week was again Dior Addict Eau Délice!

New additions...

Until Saturday morning I was such a good girl!!! I went into Sephora only once on Friday night to have a quick look at Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I didn't buy any beauty stuff!!!

What happened Saturday morning? Stacey, that Expat Makeup Addict who lives in Dubai had a blog sale! I caved in... again! I previously purchased Chanel Mystère from her and just couldn't resist getting Guerlain Terracotta La Sélection de L'Été!!! I sooo wanted that compact last summer but it wasn't available in Montreal. I can't wait for it to get here! Stacey still has some nice goodies up for grabs so do go have a look, here.

Oh I almost forgot, yesterday afternoon I purchased a Revlon lash curler. I've been having such a hard time with my Shiseido lately mainly due to the dark metal color. I've been having difficulty to see my lashes through it and so I've ended up either pinching my lids or worse, crimped up lashes. When I was able to use daylight to do my makeup in the morning it wasn't an issue but with a lamp it's totally different. Hopefully this inexpensive one will do for now.

Guerlain La Sélection de L'Été summer 2013.

Wants...

Chanel Accent blush from the holiday 2013 collection Nuit Infinie is still on my list! *sigh* Toward the end of the week I'll look into mascaras and will likely get Dior Iconic Curl. More lippies? Maybelline just came out with a nice nude collection that I have yet to see and I there's still NARS Dolce Vita that I would like to get. Remember my review of Clinique Black Honey Lip Duo? I'm thinking about replacing the lipstick since I've been reaching for it a few times in the morning but do not want to put it in my purse given the poor state my tube is in.

What's up with Cat?

Last week I mentioned giving Catherine her first Chanel Le Vernis and she did wear it but the lighting was so not good I wasn't able to take pictures of her nails. About three days in, it was ruined! She plays guitar at school and doesn't use a pick so it was kind of normal and had nothing to do with the formula.

On Thursday night she had her first Christmas show at school where she was to sing. The auditorium was filled with people, the show went brilliantly but... we could hardly hear her! The stupid music teacher had decided to bring in his wife to "accompany" Catherine and the two other girls selected for a rendition of The Beatles' Let It Be.

The result, a pseudo showcase of the music teacher's wife, apparently a "professional singer" who ended up messing up the words!!! I know, Let It Be is such a hard song to sing! Right?

The good thing in this, Catherine wasn't fazed out and took in in stride. She almost didn't go but decided that since she had given her word she would honor it. That's my girl!!! This week she's got another Christmas show and will sing again but this time it's the school's choir and I can't wait for that. I'll let you all know how it went next week!

For your viewing enjoyment...

Let It Be of course!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4zaofnVhps

For some reason although I do know the song by heart I've never really payed any attention to the lyrics. They do indeed go with the season even if it's not a "Christmas" song.


Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

Fall is barely a few days old and yes, I have a cold!

At the end of last week Catherine got home from school and it was clear she was starting a cold. I did all I could to avoid it, wiping every surfaces (especially my lap top which she prefers to hers), washing my hands almost every thirty minutes or so, in fact I thought I was going to be the stronger one...

The cold won!

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

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

Favorite Body Oils of The Moment...

I don't know if it's because Summer is fast approaching (in some parts of the world... somewhere... I hope) but recently I've noticed several entries about oils. For hair, face or/and body, it's a fact that they are gaining in popularity, fast!

I have mentioned before that for years and years, in my teens and twenties I used baby oil (I still do from time to time) at the end of my shower on wet skin, pat dry, soft skin for the day! These days I enjoy avocado, sweet almond and argan oil for moisture, all these, except maybe for argan oil, are quite affordable and I use them freely. The others, the more pricey fragrant ones I have, I use instead of perfume.

Nuxe Sun for Total Glamour?

I just received this in my in-box, an offer for a chance to try new Nuxe Tanning Oil SPF 10...

...Yes you read right, SPF 10!

A dry tanning oil with an "anti-aging cell protection" for a glamorous tan!!! A natural and non blotchy tan!!! Oh and it's for face and body.

Ok so last time I checked, any tan is a bad tan! Of course the sun is there for a reason and hiding completely from it would be totally unrealistic. Still, dermatologists keep warning us about the risks of skin cancer and sun exposure. Here is a product that if you only read the first part, the promotional part, encourages you to go out there and bake!

After seeing this I went on Nuxe's website to get more information. No complete list, only the "star" ingredients are mentioned so there's not way of verifying how protective it really is.

When you scroll down that you can read the following prescriptions...

To wear sunglasses, put on some clothes if your skin is sensitive to the sun on top of sun protection, wear a hat, drink lots of water, etc.

Now of course you'll need to do all this with a SPF 10! Even my daughter wouldn't consider this oil.

Nuxe Sun also offers a creamy body spray of SPF 20 and a face protective cream of SPF 30.

I love Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse, I have Crème Fraîche in both regular and light versions but I'm sorry, these are just not for me and I'm not sure anyone should consider them since I don't believe they offer enough protection, especially come vacation time if you plan any outdoor activities.

Avène, La Roche Posay, Ombrelle, Shiseido to name only these, should be looked at way before in my book.

Do note that I am not an anti-sun maniac! I do wear an SPF day moisturizer but only wear SPF protection on the rest of my body when I know I'll be outside more than my usual "getting to the gazebo and back". My daughter does wear an SPF 60 every day and she will, more than likely, have a buttery glow by the end of Summer but the way I see it, she needs her high dose of vitamin D.

I totally respect the fact that the Sun is viewed differently in North America as it is in Europe but I think it would have been good of Beauté-test, the website that sent me this offer, to promote the face cream instead. With it's SPF of 30, it would have been not only more suitable for a larger number of people but it would have sent the message that a good protection is important not only to avoid wrinkles but skin cancer.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors / Review

It's official! I've decided, bright colored lipsticks aren't for me anymore!

Well, for now anyway!

I love to see all the beautiful shades my bloggerettes friends try on, Chanel, Givenchy and Dior all have fabulously bright colors this season. Candies or jewels, you choose your definition.

Yesterday I roamed through a small cosmetic department in my area

I don't know when exactly these came out. As some of you know I was out of the loop for a bit and missed a lot. I do think they have been reviewed several times by now but I just got mine and thought I would add my thoughts about them to the lot.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors = LOVE!!!

Imagine a balm mixed in with a gloss and a hint of color that is non sticky. So comfortable to wear with a taste that's like a mixture of caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Yes, to me it reminds me a little of chocolate.

A balm quality, I feel my lips getting softer as I wear it.

A gloss, yes it does have that effect on lips but can you imagine a gloss that doesn't trap your hair when it's windy? Long haired girls, you know what I mean! For that, this is quite simply amazing.

A hint of color, just enough to give your lips a nice light polished, fresh look.

If you need a bang of color, this is not for you. If you want your "gloss" to last hours, this is not for you. If you want shine, sheen that lasts, this is not for you.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip perfectors do exactly what the name describes. Natural, light shimmer and color with the benefits of comfortable feeling lips is what you'll get. I reapply every 2 hours or so. I started to wear them last Thursday night and haven't had dry lips since! At night I keep using my beloved Nuxe Rêve de Miel but during daytime, Clarins is "da bomb"!

As seen above I purchased two of the new colors. 05 Candy Shimmer and 06 Rosewood Shimmer. The tip is a sponge applicator through which the product comes out when you press on the tube.

05 Candy Shimmer & 06 Rosewood Shimmer *

I'm very sorry about the quality of the pictures. For some reason they didn't come out as clear as expected. Oh and no, my skin does not have a weird color although the Lip Perfector shades did come out rather true. Weird.

05 Candy Shimmer is not as bright on lips and 06 Rosewood Shimmer doesn't come out as brown once applied. Again, they are sheer and wear their names well, Lip Perfector.

There are in all six different colors available the last three being the more "opaque" I didn't purchase 04 Petal Shimmer for I feel it would have been pretty much invisible on my lips. If you have dark pigmented lips, you may want to pass but for light to medium, these are great.

For a few weeks now I've been looking at lipsticks, mainly brighter colors to change from my usual neutrals. So far, no luck! I'm having a real hard time of letting go of my usual. Even my daughter last week told I should take a risk but for some reason I just can't do it, yet!

Ok I'm not totally shutting the door on bright colors...

Baby steps, baby steps...

For now, I'm more than happy with these and they go perfectly with my "Precious" Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow!  :)

If this is not your case and you want more pigment, shine and balm like quality, have a look at these...

These are visually stunning and look much better in real life. 

Their texture, dreamy! $27.00 each.

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm. A core full of color trapped in a translucent gel casing that does remind us of crystal. You can either go for a light or a more opaque effect depending on how much you apply. With the Lip Perfectors I don't always use a mirror but with these, if you want the more pigmented look, I suggest you use one. These two shades 05 Crystal Rose and 06 Crystal Mandarin came out with the new Clarins Splendours Summer Collection and are limited edition.

One last note...

I've had a chance to "play" a bit with the colors from the new collection and all I can say is, they are fabulous! The texture and look of the bronzer is just amazing and would suit any carnation. The eye makeup palette, it's colors, flattering to anyone. Oh and the liner, is deep purple!!! Gorgeous!

We don't mention this brand often enough in my opinion. High quality with reasonable prices.

I'm sorry but I just had to show these to you again. Do note that the bronzer is much bigger than the palette. I came real close to buying it but it would have been overkill. Beautiful texture, slightly more matte than the Bronzing Duo Mineral Powder reviewed here, it really is suitable for everyone. If you don't own a bronzer yet, this one is an excellent option.

In some stores they are already out of the palette so if you are interested in it, you better not wait too long. Both the bronzer and the palette sell for $42.00 each. Just click on the picture to visit Clarins Canada.



* The nail polish I'm wearing is Essie Fifth Avenue. Two coats with one coat of Sèche Vite.

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.

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