The Sunday Post, Vol. 29...

Warning, this is a long one! Better go grab another cup of coffee or tea and make yourself comfortable! :)

Oh how I needed this little break...

My lazy week is almost done and so it's back to work tomorrow... We didn't go anywhere and that was fine by me. It was a slow moving week during which I did a little house cleaning, a little blogging, a little makeup experimenting, went to the movies, to the museum and... we had haircuts!

Wednesday I took my girl to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for a special treat! Fabergé*! This was her first visit to the museum where I spent so much time while at university and for the life of me I don't know why it took so long for me to take her. It was also her first viewing of a themed exhibit and what a delight!

Fabulous Fabergé Jeweller to the Czars**...

One quick note, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the museum aloud visitors to photograph these wonderful artworks. This was a first for me because back in the day it was strongly forbidden. I felt weird using my phone and took most of the pictures in haste, I almost felt like a thief.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Fabergé and his workshop, know that it's history is intrinsically linked with that of the Russian Imperial family, notably tsar Alexander III and his son Nicholas II and as the Russian Revolution ended the Romanovs rule it also took possession of the Fabergé house. The eggs are its most famous creations but Fabergé also created fabulous jewellery as well as numerous every day items all worthy of any royal family. From silverware, glassware, playing cards boxes to cigarette cases all adorned with pearls, precious stones, gold and silver often deposited on a beautifully colored enamel support.

Here is a stunning example with a beautiful Compote...

Compote (about 1914-1917)

Fabergé workshop, Moscow

Silver, cut glass

The Tsarevich Egg was probably Catherine's favorite piece and notice on the background of the picture... That's her! This was not planned and when she saw it she was a little annoyed but she agreed to let me show it to you. Notice how her cheek is glued to the audio-guide. I love it!

The story behind this egg is quite touching. Alexei the young prince, was born with hemophilia and so was practically kept in a bubble preventing him from playing like any regular boy would and it was thought he would die from it. Once, everyone believed his final hour had come and so a death certificate was drawn. Fabergé who was one of the few aware of the tsarevich' condition, created the egg for Czarina Alexandra Fyodorovna to commemorate the miracle of her son's survival.

Each Fabergé Egg contains a surprise and below you can see the Tsarevich Egg's surprise, a miniature frame with a picture of the young Alexei at age 9.

Tsarevich Egg (1912)

Henrik Wigstorm (workmaster)

Lapis lazuli, gold, diamonds

Surprise: platinum, lapis lazuli, diamonds, rock crystal, watercolor, ivory

One of my favorite pieces, the Elephant Box which had such lovely details and notice the soft rounded lines. What struck me here is the trunk of the animal, it's down. This is something we rarely see since usually elephants are represented with their trunks up, to bring one good luck. Given the fate of the imperial family who was murdered in Yekaterinburg in 1919... I don't want to give objects special powers but it's what popped into my mind when I saw it.

Elephant Box, (before 1899)

Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster)

Nephrite, ivory, gold, silver, rubies and diamonds

Here is my ultimate favorite piece, the Pelican Egg. Most Fabergé eggs open to reveal a surprise which can be displayed next to it. Here the egg opens up to reveal a series of height miniature oval frames which can be seen below. Looking at the egg up close it's hard to see where it opens. The smoothness of the surface and the intricate details are so perfect that I just couldn't figure it out and believe me I looked at it and looked at it...

Pelican Egg (1898)

Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster)

Johannes Zehngraf (miniatures)

Gold, diamonds, enamel, pearls, ivory, watercolor, glass

Adorned with a beautiful miniature Pelican feeding it's young the surprise is these beautiful miniatures on ivory of the different orphanages or schools for which Dowager Impress Maria Fedorovna was a patroness.

Of course there was the mandatory exhibit related merchandise in a specially set up boutique with lovely offerings. Below is what I would have loved to get had there been a more affordable option...

 Beautiful Matryoshka dolls and yes, the price was $985.00! :(

I had a great evening with my girl and after our museum visit I took her to Dunn's a Montréal landmark for a smoked meat sandwish... She had a burger! Sacrilege! Oh well, maybe if I take her to Reuben's next time she'll cave in. :)

If ever you visit Montréal this is a must stop, really it is!

Catherine and I had haircuts on Thursday! We both went from mid back to shoulder length!

Cat looks absolutely gorgeous! I'd been wanting this style for her for the longest time (almost two years I think) and finally this week she agreed! No more crooked pony tails that in a way made her look bland. Now she looks like a beautiful polished 15 yrs old girl. I'm very proud of the fact that she's self assured and confident which shows in her walk. Quite surprising in a girl her age but I guess she gets that from her dad. He would have been so proud seeing her with what he would have called "les petits cheveux" (short hair).

As for me, I wanted a longish bob but it turned out shorter than I expected. I honestly feel a little lost without my long mane but since I had a lot of breakage it's all good and it will grow back. I was blessed with thick strong hair that grows fast (I do my hair color every three weeks!) so it should look the way I want by mid October. Since the weather was capricious on that day (rain, sun, rain...) I decided to embrace the curls and my hairdresser showed me how to go natural without the frizz. I loved it so I intend to repeat. I posted a selfie on Inatagram, here. When I showed the picture to Catherine she said I was becoming a selfie addict... I think not. It was just to give you an idea of the hair. :)

New hair, new makeup...

To go with the easy looking curly hair I've decided to try a "no makeup makeup look" that actually takes me five minutes to do!!! I had the hardest time yesterday taking pictures. I don't know what's wrong with me but I can't seem to be able to get the correct colors. Both the Bobbi Brown palette and Tarte blush are lighter in real life.

Base is with my Dior BB, Rimmel concealer, The Body Shop's Honey bronzer in 02, NARS Laguna bronzer and Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty. For the eyes from Bobby Brown Navy & Nude palette I use Twilight Pink on the lids define the outer corners with Slate and use Cement on upper lids (you can see this will likely be a repurchase) you can see these colors in a better light, here. Two coats of mascara, done! No liner!!!

I went from a thick line of black last week to no liner these past few days!!! I think I'm loosing my marbles but I like it, I really like it!

Oh and NARS Dolce Vita on the lips!


For your viewing enjoyment...

A better look at some of the Fabergé pieces Catherine and I were able to admire with a little historical background. I didn't post any pictures of it but we did get to see the Red Cross Egg with the miniatures of the grand duchesses. Catherine liked that one a lot once I made her notice the beauty of the finish. I also have more pictures on Instagram, posted just before the hair cut. :)

Tomorrow, back to work! *Le Sigh* Oh well, at least now I'll have a more normal schedule which will make a world of difference. 

Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

*To know more, Fabergé.com and Wikipedia here and here.
**About the exhibit, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

The Sunday Post, Vol. 24...

Going on an almost no-buy!

Oh my, this is such a boring statement but hey, I gotta do what I gotta do! I'm not such a big spender in the first place but I do purchase a little more than the average woman when it comes to beauty items. This past month I've toned it down quite a bit and it's showing, yay!

Yesterday I did my last bit of clothes chopping, found an nice pair or sandals and so now I'm good for summer. I finally have my basic wardrobe which means more money in the bank for a while... Ok maybe not all of it since it's summer and I want to treat my girl but let's just say that big beauty items are off my list for now... except for one... maybe... After all I did say, almost!  :)

One more note...

So sorry I haven't caught up on comments for over a week! Please do not stop it's just that I haven't had much time.

This week's makeup love...

I'm truly enjoying theBalm eye shadows (review coming soon), they are highly pigmented, go on smooth and have good lasting power. The Meet Matt(e) palette combined with my Clinique palette which has more satiny shades work so well together that I haven't considered any of the new limited edition palettes that are available at the moment.

My bronzers of the week...

Since it's summer and I have *cough* a few bronzers I figured, why not? Believe me, I do use them all, not at the same time of course! This week it was The Body Shop Honey bronzer in 02, Guerlain Terracotta in 01 aaaaand my last year's favorite, Diorskin Nude Tan in Coral Glow! That baby is being treasured and used only a few times a week. I want it to last and last and last...

Nails...

For the past two weeks it's been Dior Mirage on toes and Chanel Pink Tonic on fingers but I've been considering getting Chanel Sweet Lilac more and more... I mean I could since it's not a big beauty buy, right? Tonight I might go back to Dior Wonderland on fingers, I haven't decided yet. :)

Fragrance...

A rediscovery! This week I've been enjoying The Body Shop's Oceanus which I purchased two years ago. Sadly it appears to have been discontinued. It's a fresh summery fragrance with good staying power over which I can use a little Diptyque Do Sun during the day. I mean look at it, just the color is refreshing!

Icaria's Food Blog...

I posted two new recipes! My perfect pizza dough and a the basics for a delicious Frittata. I hadn't posted anything new since last august, in fact these were my ninth and tenth posts. Catherine asked me recently how to prepare the frittata so knowing where to find the how too maybe she'll get inspired and start cooking! You can have a look at them, here. :)

For your viewing enjoyment...

First up an article from Vogue's international editor Suzy Menkes, Pucci dresses up Florence's Baptistery. Now that I would love to see in person!

Picture from Style.com

Since I mentioned my bronzers I thought it would be fun to see this entry by Guerlain. I personally don't use Joli Teint but my Terracotta, I use practically every single day! If you don't know how to apply bronzer this is an excellent tutorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq3SOQPsS9E

Have a great week everyone, hope you can stay cool! Hélène xoxo

The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream...

Recently I fell in love with Dior Hydra Life BB Crème (reviewed, here) but on hot days it's a little heavy and so I'm not looking for an affordable tinted moisturizer with SPF, BB cream or whatever the denomination cream for summer I decided to give this one a try when it was 50% off. At $10.00 instead of $20.00, why not?

The Body Shop All-In-One BB cream...

A cream that transforms from white to beige with the warmth of the skin, I chose the color 01 the second lightest shade, noted as suitable for light skin tones.

The Body Shop website description:

Our new All-In-One BB cream transforms from a white cream to suit your skin tone. Pigment-filled capsules burst when applied to the skin, releasing the colour inside. Just blend for a perfect match and an even, undetectable finish. It’s make-up and skincare in one.

• Adapts to your skin tone
• Light to medium coverage
• Even finish
• 24-hour hydration
• Non-clogging

Texture and coverage...

First off I wouldn't call this a BB cream but more a tinted moisturizer since it doesn't have that cake frosting texture these base products usually have. It's sheer, too sheer in fact and applies streaky! This means I have to even it out with a sponge and, well, I end up with almost no coverage once I'm done!

Too oily for my combination skin there's no way I could go for a second layer especially since it oxidizes a little, something that hasn't happened to me in years! Even using a ton of powder, after about an hour of wear my skin still feels sticky and I can see my skin is more orange and that's a no no for me. After two hours or so I'm left with no color whatsoever! It doesn't stay on my skin and I'm not even that oily!!!

Too sheer, feels oily, oxidizes, disappears...

Would I recommend The Body Shop All-In-One BB cream? Sadly I don't think I can.

The nail in the coffin for me is the no SPF!

Truly when I purchased it I didn't notice the lack of sun protection and even at half price I would have skipped. I guess I was too busy looking at the Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder, reason why I went to The Body Shop in the first place and boy am I glad I like that one reviewed, here.

I guess The Body Shop All-In-One BB cream could probably be fine over a sunscreen on someone with dry skin but for me it wouldn't work plus, I want a one step product for everyday. The reviews are mixed about this product but many do like it so if you think this could be an option for you do try to get a sample first.

Me, I'm looking for a one step option to moisturize, color and protect. The Body Shop All-In-One BB cream isn't for me. For now, even if it does feel a little heavy on warmer days, Dior remains my go to.

Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.2 / 5 lippies for 45 reviews.
Beauté-test: 3.2 / 5 stars for 44 reviews.


Do you have a one-step-go-to product for mornings when you want to be quick about it, which is it?

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder...

Is it just me or is The Body Shop's makeup often overlooked? I'm one of those who doesn't know much about it and so recently after reading a post by Monika of Rocaille Writes, I really wanted to try their bronzer. Imagine that, a bronzer, MEEE? :D

Right after I finished reading I went to their website to see all their makeup was a 50% off and so the next day I went to a store. The deal was only online!

I turned away!

One frustrating detail about The Body Shop is their website specials rarely translate to their stores and I never buy online so I decided to forget about it. This week I stopped by a store and boom! The 50% on makeup was on!

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder...

It comes in four neutral matte colors and I must admit, I'm pretty impressed by the texture of 02 the one I chose but I wouldn't really qualify it as a bronzer unless one has very fair skin. For a natural sun kissed glow, 03 and 04 would definitely be more appropriate especially on darker skin tones.

So, 01 and 02 are in my opinion a little pale to be called bronzers but perfect to give a light natural and even satiny glow to the face and for those who don't take any sun in summer or don't like bronzers in general, these would be perfect. This may sound surprising but if you've been salivating over either one of the two lightest shades of Chanel Les Beiges compacts but don't want to make your wallet angry, these are almost dupes once on skin, really they are! The big difference is they will give a somewhat more opaque coverage, almost between a finishing powder and a powder foundation.

The texture? Extremely soft, almost creamy with hardly any fall out and at first I thought it was a bit hard and wondered if I was picking up any powder with my soft no name blush brush but I was. Impressed is what I was! Such a beautiful finish!

I've used it as a base over my BB cream and as a finishing powder and it gives just enough of a color boost to give me an all over lite glow.

Would I recommend The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powders? Yes!

A pretty "powder-not-powdery-finish", it's soft and like I said, satiny and since the two lighter shades have no orange undertones I do believe they're suitable for pretty much any carnation. I like 02 on my neck to make it look less pale without enhancing the fact that it's starting to go down if you know what I mean. A regular bronzer is too harsh and Chanel Les Beiges in N°10 (almost identical although a smidgen more pink to Honey Bronze in 01) too light to make much of a difference on that area at this time of year.

The two lighter shades of Honey Bronze 01 and 02, would work well as finishing powders on medium skin tones and give a nice healthy color on the fair and very fair who'd rather not tan or are maybe a little intimidated by a more traditional bronzer.

Oh I almost forgot to mention the fact that it controls oil pretty nicely. Using it as a finishing powder in the morning I don't have to reapply for at least three hours and these days it's pretty good if you ask me. Now of course that's if the temperature doesn't come into play. If it's hot and humid, forget about it, nothing will stay on my skin!

The compact, although not as sturdy as Chanel is rather nice and I wouldn't mind taking it out in public for touch ups if it came with an applicator. For some reason there are two different compacts, one which is plain and the other, the one I purchased with a nice reflection of hexagonal honeycomb for which bees are so famous.

Regular price, $20.00, got it for $10.00!!! Now that's a sweet deal for a whopping 11g. By the way, Chanel Les Beiges in N°10 is $60.00 for 12 g. Talk about a nice cheap thrill! Oh and yes, I would recommend even at $20.00!

If I didn't already have so many bronzers I would have purchased all four, really I would have!

Do have a look at Monika's entry where she compares The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder to others she's tried, here.

As a little perk I also got the Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Gloss which comes in the cutest container in the shape of a bee hive!

Have you tried any of The Body Shop's makeup? Anything else I should look into?

The Sunday Post, Vol. 22...

I went to a bank yesterday...

After having lost my bank card on Friday I had no other choice than to stop by a branch to withdraw money. I called ahead of time to inquire about opening a new account to get a card faster to avoid having to carry a lot of cash but apparently these days you must make an appointment to do that and their book was full!!! I still went to the branch and ended up waiting 45 minutes!!! There were two bank clerks and about fifteen people waiting. Taking a number and having to sit and wait felt as if I was at the DMV!!!

Let's just say I'll make sure not to ever lose my bank card again!


This week's makeup love...

Let's make it different and go for what I keep in my purse these days...

Diptyque Do Son, Chanel Les Beiges N°10, Shiseido Sun Protection Compact, Clarins Éclat Minute in 05 Candy Shimmer, NARS Tolède and Rikugien, Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Tonka Impériale, Rouge Dior in Charnelle. Now there's also a small beat up sample size bottle of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (oh how I wish Nuxe made a nice small size like Caudalie) and some Hello Kitty Band-Aids. :)

Nails...

Dior #575 Wonderland on my fingers (received many compliments) and Dior #338 Mirage on my toes!

New additions...

I stopped by The Body Shop to take advantage of their 50% off makeup special and purchased their BB Cream, a Honey Bronzer in 02 and a cute lip balm. Also, before they ran out, I just had to go to Chanel for Le Vernis in #619 Pink Tonic! Oh and notice I found my old pair of Gianfranco Ferré sunglasses! Woot!

What I have my eyes on...

Chanel Joues Contraste in Sakura! Yup it's back on my list! I tried it this week and it's the prettiest soft pink with gentle shimmer ever!!! A small size Caudalie Huile Divine to keep in my purse or maybe two, since the one I have at work is almost empty. Then there's a little somethin' somethin' from Guerlain that will make it's appearance on the 15th that I just may "have" to get...

For your viewing enjoyment...

Even if you're not a perfumista you may still appreciate J'Adore Le Parfum Le Film. The flowers, the flacon and the jewels as the finishing touch! I have used many samples of this Dior fragrance in it's eau de parfum version but this presentation makes me want the perfume! Narrated by Charlize Theron, the images are truly beautiful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaL_S7Yi6ic

Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

A Best Seller?

The Body Shop's Hemp Hand Protector...

Talk about deep moisture! This is a great hand cream but there's a problem with it and it's a big one...

It stinks!!!

Ok I don't want to offend anyone, we all have different tastes as far as fragrances go and that's a good thing. It's just that this product seems to be either loved or hated. I'm part of the second groupand it makes me wonder if it has something to do with our personal preferences like for example cilantro. You either like or hate it. Seems there's no middle ground.

A web friend on Makeup Alley asked this week: "Does anyone else here find that The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector smells absolutely disgusting but works extremely well?"

I purchased it two years ago and I tried, oh how I tried to like it but just looking at the tube to take the picture below made me feel nauseous! I just don't understand how this product can be so popular, a best seller!

Total mystery!

In fact I'm a little annoyed at The Body Shop! They have great hand creams but all have fragrances that last and last, to the point that I just can't deal with them. Last summer I purchased their Wild Rose hand cream (I love rose smelling products) and received generous samples of both Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream and Almond Hand & Nail Cream. Their respective fragrances, way better than Hemp by the way, were so strong they lasted hours on my skin!

Now I do like a nice lightly perfumed hand cream but after half an hour or so I'm done, enough! These just don't give up!

I could still smell them even after washing my hands!

Since I don't want to walk around pinching my nose, in fact I'd have no other way than to use a clothespin since the smell would come from my fingers, The Body Shop's hand creams, yes all of them, are a no go for me!

After two years you would think I would have given my small tube of Hemp Hand Protector to someone but there's no one I dislike enough to do that!

Now about the Wild Rose Hand Cream...

It is a nice earthy rose smelling cream but like the others it's a bit strong for me to use on my hands and believe me, I loooove rose fragrances, in fact I'm not sure there is one rose scented product I've smelled recently that I didn't like. The thing is with The Body Shop's Wild Rose Hand Cream is that it's not like a fragrance that wears close to the skin or a standard body lotion whose smell would fade after an hour or so. I've enjoyed using a tiny bit of it on my arms for the smell but on my hands which I bring to my face often it gets to a point where it's too much so it's a no no. :(

Catherine likes it so it's hers!


Have you ever purchased a product and ended up finding it's fragrance was too strong or unpleasant?

L'Occitane Shea Butter Body Lotion...

This was a little Christmas indulgence, a little gift to myself. I know, another one! What can I say, I figure I deserved it!

Some of my favorite body moisturizers over the years include Clinique Deep Comfort body butter, Biotherm Anty-Drying Body Milk, Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion, Nivea (yes plain little Nivea the one in the dark blue bottle), several of The Body Shops Body Butter (I love their Cocoa Butter Hand & Nail lotion) and the one that kind of comes up on top is Avène Cold Cream Body Lotion. I think I went through four bottles of that one in recent years!

For some reason I tend to be unfaithful. I like to change and I must admit that my long time relationship with Avène and Nivea is exceptional for me. I get bored easily but these have remained staples.

There's a new one on my block...

L'Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Body Lotion...

Ok I know it's not that new but for me it is, there! L'Occitane* was founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan who's intention was to preserve the traditions of his native Provence. The company took the name L'Occitane en Provence in the late 1990s.

This lotion with it's 15% shea butter from Burkina Faso a little landlock country of West Africa, is rich, luxurious and has an amazing fragrance! I can't quite put my finger on it but it has a flowery and powdery smell that reminds me of products my mother used when I was a child. In other words, it's very comforting. Maybe it's the smell that surrounds you when you step into a lovely ancient French house on the outskirts of Nice or Arles in the south of France.

Rich but non greasy, just the way I like a body moisturizer, it penetrates quickly and keeps my skin soft a good twelve hours, even my elbows! If you have very dry skin you may want to try the Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream which comes in a jar. I only tried that on in store but it did seem extra moisturizing. The Shea Butter Body Lotion is a little on the pricey side at $34.00 for 250 ml, especially compared to Avène which is the same price but for 400 ml.

L'Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Body Lotion may not be the most moisturizing body lotion on the market, that is of course if you have extra dry skin, but it does an excellent job for my winter skin and just the fragrance alone makes it totally worth it.

Shower, this lotion and flannel pj's = super comfy fuzzy feeling inside.


Have you tried this body lotion or any of the L'Occitane en Provence offerings?



Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 50 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 88 reviews.


Ingredients (from Sephora website):

-Shea Butter (15%): Protects, nourishes, and moisturizes the skin. 
-Extra Pure Apricot Oil: Regenerates and nourishes with vitamins A, B, and C. 
-Honey and Coconut Oil: Moisturize and soften. 

Water*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Glycerin*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol*, Glyceryl Stearate*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract*, Mel Extract/Honey Extract*, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopherol*, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate*, Polysorbate 60*, Chlorphenesin, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-33, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Citronellol*, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene*, Geraniol. 
*Natural origin ingredients.


*Occitane to put it simply, is a female native/resident of the pays d'Oc. Its language, originating from the Middle Ages is still spoken today in southern parts of Spain, France, Monaco and Italy. Although considered as a dialect by some (it would seem to be the fusion of several dialects), others firmly believe it's a language and that, even if there are different ways to speak it. Occitan is often synonym to Provençal which in turn originates from Latin Provincia likely of Romain origin.

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?

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?

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil / Review...

The only product of this type I've ever tried was from Gatte Fossé a few years back. Presented in a tube the texture was a little thicker than a cleansing oil per say but the effect was similar. An oil you massage on skin and rinse off with water. Simple, right?

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil...

When I first heard about it I was a little excited. A cleansing oil at under $20,00 with a convenient pump? Perfect! If I remember correctly it was $16,00 for 200 ml. If only the product was as nice as the price...

How did I use it?

I used two pumps and spread the oil on dry skin, massaged a little to dislodge makeup and dirt and than tried to rinse. I say tried because that step didn't go so well. It didn't melt away the way a cleansing oil should and as much as I tried massaging with water it left a heavy oily film on my skin. In fact it was almost as thick as if I had used a regular plain carrier oil. The problem is with the formula, there isn't enough surfactant-emulsifying agents in it! I had no choice but to use a foaming cleanser to remove the oily residue and even after that could still feel it lightly.

Would I recommend The Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil? Sadly, no unless you have very dry skin and don't mind an oily residue.

It doesn't work the way a cleansing oil should. It could work nicely for someone with dry skin since the residue can provide extra moisture but I doubt a person with combination/oily skin would enjoy this cleanser much. I truly didn't except this and except for the pleasant light fragrance this is a disappointment.

Said to remove lip and eye makeup, it left a residue that irritated my eyes so even for that it's a no go for me.

What I will do is try to take it back since I have absolutely no use for it.

Of course again, it's not because it didn't work for me that you will have the same results. It's really a your mileage may vary thing especially since according to the reviews, as few as there are, some do like this cleansing oil.


Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.7 / 5 lippies for only 3 reviews (this is relatively new)
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars also for 3 reviews.


Ingredients:

Glycine Soja Oil/Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (Emollient), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (Emollient), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Ethylhexyl Palmitate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Polysorbate 85 (Surfactant-Emulsifying), Sorbitan Trioleate (Surfactant-Emulsifying), Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil/Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Octyldodecanol (Emollient), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil (Fragrance/Essential Oil), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster).


If you decide to try this product, as with any other skin care item, make sure to patch test especially if you are clog and/or acne prone or have sensitive skin.


Have you ever used a cleansing oil? If so, which is your favorite?

The Body Shop Honeymania...

It was unavoidable, Fall is here! The days are colder and last night I've had to wear my winter coat!

Argh!!!

It won't be long before this is a daily occurrence because winter IS just around the corner. Tomorrow will be "yard cleaning, tarp off gazebo, furniture putting away day" and that makes me sad. I've read somewhere that this winter may be milder than last year which is good but we may get more snow. In other words we're in for six months of quasi hibernation resulting in red noses every time we go out!

All bundled up, covered from head to toe, the outside cold combined with indoor heating means for many drier skin and if you're like me you'll be looking for thicker formulas to provide instant comfortable smoothness.

The latest permanent line introduced by The Body Shop is a perfect one to turn to and it's got a beautiful fragrance to boot.

Honeymania...

This line was introduced earlier this month and so this means that it has been mentioned in the blogosphere quite a bit by now. For a full description I will refer you to Beauty Reductionista where Liz has smartly written the best one I've read. If I were to go at it I would have the impression of copying her article. As usual she is thorough and her writing style, impeccable!

A Long Hot Week Ahead... Minimal Makeup!

As usual this morning I had my café au lait, turned on my lap top, read great blogs, left a few comments and off to shower!

The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit shower gel for fresh boost of waking up fragrance, a bit of almond oil for moisture and done.

The Sun is out so Ombrelle SPF 45 had my full attention since I have to run a few errands but first I had to do a tour of the yard to pick up the tiny pears that either fell to the ground or where dropped by the squirrels. They love to munch on them but leave quite a mess behind the little rascals!

After 10 minutes I was a sweaty mess, ready for another shower!

It was barely 8:30!!!

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!

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter & Pink Grapefruit Eau de Toilette

Recently I've fallen hard for pink grapefruit! I've always loved citrus fragrances and simply could not be able to live without lemons! The smell and the taste of that fruit takes me to the South of France, Italy, Greece and so many other places. In the middle of Winter, using lemons, brings me back to Summer even if outside it feels like Siberia.

Memories...

As much as I love lemons, I could not use it as a fragrance. I guess in my case it would be lemon overload. Not the case with pink grapefruit which takes me back to Miami. As a teen I would spend the month of January there with my Mom. Every morning the kitchen would be filled with the smells of coffee, toasts and grapefruits.

I have a tendency to associate fragrances with colors. Miami is the capital of pastels, candy colors that make everyone happy even if some are too blasé to admit it. One of its predominant color is pink. There is a lot of it in Miami and if you look closer, think about it for a minute, you'll realise that the most popular shade of pink featured is, grapefruit pink. Didn't you ever notice? Even the flamingos are grapefruit pink!

Disappointed by the fact that the Pink Grapefruit Puree Body lotion's fragrance didn't last on me, I figured why not try the Body Butter from the same line?

I had a good pretext to go back to the store. My daughter has developed a liking for their Coconut Shower Cream and since we where almost out and she rarely asks for this type of thing, why not get her a new one?

Of course The Body Shop had specials, they always do! Did I take advantage of them? Of course!

Pink Grapefruit Body Butter

Notice the color of the container? Miami! Inside, a beautiful soft pink cream which is on the thick side when you put it on but it melts in rapidly and doesn't feel greasy at all, at least not for me. Compared to the body purée, this does give good moisture so someone with dry skin would appreciate it far more.

I don't use it everyday, I use on days when I need "happy notes". The subtle fragrance lasts I would say a good 4 hours and no, you don't smell like a giant grapefruit! After the initial freshness it changes into a nice discrete citrus smell.

Pink Grapefruit Eau de Toilette

Just let me say that I love these little bottles. I love their shapes and their sizes are perfect if you want to carry one in your purse.

Pink Grapefruit smells like, well, pink grapefruit! I decided to get one in hopes to make the odor last longer. On it's own, with my skin's chemistry, it lasts barely a few hours. Layered over the body butter, about 4 hours, the same as the cream alone but it's slightly more intense.

Would I recommend The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit offerings? Yes!

If you like citrus fragrances, you will definitely fall for these. Lovely and fresh, it's uplifting, happy!

The downside being that the fragrance of either doesn't last more than 3 to 4 hours, on days I do wear it, again, I find it easy to keep the eau de toilette in my purse.

A word of warning...

If you reapply the eau de toilette during the day, be careful where you spray it. In Winter this is not an issue but since Summer is fast approaching, we will be outside more and it could cause skin discoloration so you may want to keep a little body butter on you and keep the eau de toilette for evenings. For this you could simply recycle a small cream jar to reapply a little on neck and wrists.

If you don't have any small jars, upon purchase, ask The Body Shop for one of their small sample containers,  I'm certain that they will graciously give you one.

Oh and don't forget to get a Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel!

Lastly, if ever you get the chance, Miami is a great city to visit, South Beach is soooo beautiful... If it's not on your life's itinerary, you could always put pink flamingos and palm trees stickers to your bathroom walls. Just don't forget these pink grapefruit offerings. It'll be complete!

Oh and no, pink flamingos on your lawn will not do, please think about the neighbours!


Pink Grapefruit Body Butter ingredients:
Water, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lanolin Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Limonene, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Yellow 6, Red 33.

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

The Body Shop Brazil Nut Define & No Frizz / Review

I'll admit, I'm one of the lucky ones! I have super thick hair.

This has been said to my by several hairdressers, every time I go to a new one in fact. When I used to have my hair color done professionally it would always take 2x the usual amount of dye if not 3 depending on the lenght. When they blow dry it, they end up with quite a work out! 

So ok, I'm lucky! 

I do have one major issue! It's curly! Not in the nice way! It's in between, mid straight and mid curly. This means I have frizzy hair if I let it dry naturally. Even if I try to give it definition it doesn't look polished in any way. It only looks like I haven't made the effort to make myself more presentable. Good for when you know you're staying home for a few days but not good if you have to go out there in the world!

Blow dryer and flat iron are not enough to give my hair that chic sleek look. I need to put something in it (or is it on it? sorry, French got in the way here), otherwise, a few hours later it starts to frizz. It's very stubborn!

Le Sigh

I guess my hair has always been important to me but for whatever reason I've never really invested in hair products and I've never been faithful to any I've purchased through the years, except for shampoo. I cannot, will not live without Head and Shoulders! I've tried to replace it a few times and always end up with an itchy, uncomfortable scalp. Going crazy, not an option!

On the look out for a cream to help tame my mane I've stumbled upon a post from my friend Gingy (Gingerrama) about The Body Shop Brazil Nut Define & No Frizz.

It smells so delicious one has to refrain from tasting it. It's light and applies like a dream. The nice thing about it is it doesn't leave any chemical scent on my hands.

If only it performed better I would be in Brazil Nut Heaven!

Unfortunately, this product alone doesn't cut it. I've used it on damp hair, blow dried, flat ironed and a few hours later I could see some frizzies! The next morning, I had to use my flat iron all over. I noticed that it also made my hair a little greasy even though I was careful about the amount I used.

I also tried it on dry hair to give it definition. It barely lasted an hour.

Sadly, this product isn't made for my type of hair.

*Sniff*

I really wanted it to be THE one. Like I said, the smell alone is so dreamy!

To read Gingy's review click here.

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel & Pink Grapefruit Puree Body Lotion / Review

Spring will get here, eventually!

Even if it's still a little cold out there's no reason not to enjoy lighter Springy/Summery scents.

Last week I went to The Body Shop to get a hair product I had heard good things about. While I was there, I figured I might as well get a replacement for my almost empty Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash, a favourite of mine. Of course they had specials so I purchased a bottle of the Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion. Since they where all at $8.00 each, why not treat myself to something new and uplifting?

Winter Dryness Help / Body Skin

In my area we can't really complain about the Winter we're having so far. We did have a major snow storm but in all honesty we haven't had that many super cold days. One more month and we should be in the clear, hopefully.

There is still time to get days where it can feel like Siberia outside while inside it's more like the Tropics! We do tend to overheat our living spaces in Winter but there are still days when you feel you can't get warm unless you wear a fleece footed Onesie to stay warm. I personally can't stand those. I find they are more suitable for babies and so I prefer vests and shawls*. Yes shawls like the ones our grand mothers used to crochet. Leggings help too. I do wear them... Under my jeans!

Argh!!!

These conditions can be brutal on our skin. There are days, especially the ones at -70 C (I know I might be exaggerating a little here but it can sure feel like it), when my skin looks like it's going to crack because it's so dry. Body skin is fine. I can go for days using only oil at the end of my shower to moisturize. It's the more exposed bits that are problematic. My face of course is a little dryer and maybe even a little sensitive but my hands, arms and feet are the bits that suffer most. Yes feet! I wear flip flops indoors 355 days a year. The remaining 10 days are the ones when I have to wear socks because it's too cold in the house. It can get to the point where my socks will "screech" when I put them on so forget about putting on a pair of Dim® extra sheer stockings they wouldn't get past my toes. You can read more about feet care here.

What's a girl to do to have soft comfortable skin in Winter? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

*slaps head* Of course! Why didn't we think of that???

As you may have read in a recent entry, it's a good idea to start with a gentle cleanser. For me it's the same principle as on my face. If my face feels a little dryer than usual I will not be using a gel cleanser, I'll go for a more creamy option like a milk cleanser. Read more about gentle body cleansers here.


Body moisturizers I like...

Oils
One trick I've mentioned before is using an oil at the end of my shower. On wet skin, I apply it all over and then pat dry with a towel. This helps seal in moisture and leaves a silky feel. Doing this you may not even have to use a body moisturizer after, especially if you do this in the morning. I keep a big bottle of unscented baby oil in the shower but any oil of you choice will do. The other two I like using a lot as well are almond and coconut oil.

Avène Cold Creme
A favorite of mine. This body lotion gives deep moisture and sinks in fast without any greasy feel. I use it every night on arms, legs and feet. Review here.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps
This I haven't reviewed yet. I must admit that I didn't want to like it but as it turns out, I love it! The lotion not the jar which goes by the name of Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter. This from what I've read balls up on the skin. Not something I particularly like. Creme de Corps is thick and rich, penetrates well and leaves a nice sensation on skin. It is the most expensive on my list. If you want to try it Kiehl's sells a small size for $12.00 which can be refilled for travel.

Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter
No fragrance, thick and yet penetrates quickly for deep moisture. Review here.

CeraVe
Although I don't find it as moisturizing as many do, it's still a good one to have. I find it has a cool soothing effect upon application. It can easily be boosted with a few drops of oil like argan, almond, olive or any you might like. Review here.

La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm AP
This is serious stuff. Super extra thick, you don't need much. I don't have this one but have received several samples of it last August (I think). I've used it in the morning on my legs and by evening I could still feel the balm on my skin so this would be great option for nigh time use. Also fragrance free.

Nivea Body Lotion (Navy blue bottle)
Also a favorite, I like it more for morning due to the fragrance. Super affordable it's also great to have when you want to get more mileage out of your more expensive lotions. Review here.

The Body Shop
Has several excellent options, great body lotions and extra comfy body butters. All you have to do is choose the fragrance you like. I have a weakness for Coco butter myself.

Yves Rocher
Here is a brand that I haven't visited in a very long time, ever since my daughter was a baby in fact. Recently I've been reading excellent reviews of some of their offerings, especially the Repair Lotion Extra Dry Skin with shea butter. What's great is that in these boutiques there are always specials and promotions so it can be worth a stop. I know I'll try to make one soon.


Finally...

These are of course just my own suggestions. There are so many favorites out there and if you have already found yours, keep using it. Still I know it's fun to try new stuff since it would seem that even with our favorites we can get bored.

*If like me you wear shawls, please take it off for cooking. I wouldn't want any of you to go up in flames!

Image from the Toronto Public Library website