Scrub – Mandibelle16

Make Up Haul: New Year January 2016

Hi everyone. If you are interested in beauty products and reviews on them, today is a good day to be reading my blog. I had a few gift cards and points to use over the holidays after buying presents and building up points from Fall. I hope you like my beauty haul for the current time.

NARS Blush color Desire — http://www.sephora.ca NARS Blush: Desire

1. NAR’S Blush – (www.sephora.ca ) -$37.00 – I am a huge fan of NARS’ blushes. They are on the more expensive side for a blush but the pigment is always fantastic and a blush compact lasts a long time. I was looking for the colour ‘Gaiety’ in Sephora when I bought my blush and I couldn’t find it. I settled for the colour ‘Desire.’ ‘Desire’ is a wonderful bright almost neon pink colour. I had to be careful when I picked up the colour with Sephora blush brush. At first, I swept too much pigment up. When I applied the blush to my face the bright pink made me look like a saloon girl from bygone days. I only have to have my blush brush barely graze ‘Desire’ and I pick up enough colour pigment for one cheek. I don’t find this happens with every NARS’ blush colour I have as compared to other blush brands. You only have to be careful with NARS’ blush colour ‘Desire’ as far as I know. This NARS blush line is the same blush line which has the wonderful ‘Orgasm’ color which everyone loves because it looks nice on most skin tones.

If you’re looking for a cheaper blush which still has excellent pigment, I would recommend blush by Tarte. I have a few Tarte blushes and the pigment is superb. Plus, Tarte is a natural makeup made from Amazonian Clay; however, NARS has beautiful colours you can’t find anywhere else, and I think their pigment rivals most blushes I have tried. Years after I first bought a small NARS palette, I’m still scraping the lasts bit of the two blush colours remaining out of the container.

2. Benefit Hoola Bronzer – (www.sephora.ca) – $36.00 – I bought this wonderful face palette

from Tarte this summer which had a Bronzer, Highlighter, and Blush. Unfortunately, I used the palett fast especially since the Highlighter and Blush were half the size of the Bronzer. It was a great palette for travelling in the summer because I had all my contouring colours together. The Bronzer by Tarte is awesome because it isn’t overwhelming on pale skin; it is a bit orangey; however, I didn’t want to buy the whole palette again because I went through the highlighter and blush so fast. I am scraping the last bits of the Bronzer out each time I contour my face.

I asked a fantastic beauty blogger named Victoria Styles to recommend a Bronzer I could use as a darker contour colour on my light skin. Victoria’s blog is called Living Disrobed. She recommended’ Hoola’ by Benefit.

I have been extremely happy with this Bronzer as a darker contouring color. The pigment is great and who doesn’t love Benefit, they make great makeup with fun packaging. I think the Bronzer colour suits me a little better then the Tarte Bronzer as much as I liked it, because the Benefit Bronzer colour is cooler. I use only a little of it on my hairline, beneath my cheek bones, and to contour around the edge of my face. Contouring is great when you want to be wearing more makeup and make your face appear thinner for certain occasions. I adore a highlighter I have been using from Two Faced called ‘Candle Light.’ This Benefit Bronzer was exactly what I needed. I recommend the product and thank you to Victoria for helping me choose it.

http://www.sephora.ca Lancome Artliner 24Hour (NEW)

3. Lancôme Artliner 24Hour – (www.sephora.ca)- $38.00 – When I went to choose my favourite liquid eyeliner by Lancôme, I was a bit dismayed because they did not have my regular black liquid eyeliner at Sephora. The difference between the new Lancôme eyeliner and the old one I’ve been using is the old liquid liner was only ‘Artliner’ and not ‘Artliner 24 hour’ which is waterproof. There’s a difference and I didn’t realize it. The girl who was helping me at Sephora said Lancôme had come out with a newer liquid eyeliner. It was supposed to be a liquid liner with a better foam tipped brush.

It’s hard to convince me the new liquid liner is better because I have used the original ‘Artliner’ in black\Noir for five or six years. But they are not making the original liner anymore.

I am not impressed with this eyeliner. I kept getting a thicker line then I wanted and I couldn’t get the little flick I was always so able to artfully achieve with the original liner. But I have gotten used to ’24hour Artliner’ and the brush is actually more precise. You only need to hold it so the point is against your lashline, not the side of the brush as with the original Artliner liquid eyeliner. You also need ample time for this eyeliner to dry as in you have to wait five minutes so your eyeliner doesn’t end up all over your eye areas on your face.

What I also do not like about the ’24hour’ liner is the colour on your lash line is not opaque. It’s not black and it should be. It looks like a see-through greyish colour and the eyeliner doesn’t apply well over eyeshadow. The tube is smaller as well. I’m not sure if it means it won’t last me for four months as the original ‘Artliner’ did. The tube of the original ‘Artliner’ could only seem bigger then the new tube but not actually be bigger.

I should mention, I have altered this part of this blog since I published this post. I was sick of this eyeliner product and that it didn’t do it’s job. I was too late to return it to Shopper’s Drug Mart where I purchased it but I contacted http://www.lancome.ca by email and they are issuing me a cheque in the mail for refund. Great service Lancome, my faith in your products is restored. Please go back to your old liquid Artliner.

4. It Works Hello Lashes 5 in 1 Clinically Proven Mascara – (www.ulta.com) – $24.00 (US) – I

It works 5 in 1 mascara real — http://www.ulta.com It works 5 in 1 Mascara

wasn’t sure where to find this mascara in Canada. I’m sure you can buy it somewhere since I received it in Luxebox which is a Canadian beauty box. But even though our dollar is low, if you love this mascara, Canadians can order from Ulta. This five in one mascara is awesome. I don’t often say this about mascaras. I have gone through many and the fact this mascara is not a waterproof mascara, speaks to how good the product is. I apply ‘Hello Lashes’ first, and then I apply a waterproof mascara over top and the problem of my mascara travelling onto my oily eye areas is solved. You might want to check under your eyes in the day though, in case some of the mascara has made it under your eyes. I have had success with the Mascara staying on my lower eyelashes but not perfect.

What’s so special about this five in one mascara I received? Well the brush is a fantastic design. There is a little ball of a brush on the end of the mascara wand over top a regular mascara brush. This brush is so helpful for putting mascara on every single tiny eyelash I have. Often, we forget about the lashes at the corner of our eyes, especially if your lashes are blond. This product is clinically proven to increase the length and volume of your lashes. It is a natural formula and contains ingredients which are good for your lashes and a lash enhancing serum. The Ulta website says it was developed with help from leading plastic surgeons. I find this mascara to be superb. My lashes are healthier and have increased in volume, length, and thickness since I started using the mascara. The brush really does get every lash. It surprises me it would work so well and so fast. But it does.

Soap and Glory: Sugar Crush Body Wash – (www.beautyboutique.ca) – $16.00 – I bought this product with Shopper’s Optimum points because I love the body butter I bought from Soap and Glory at Shoppers Drug Mart. Beauty Boutique is their newly launched online website. I wanted to try out some of Soap and Glory’s other products so one of them I am trying is this body wash which is more of a scrub. I use it a few times a week with another Soap and Glory body wash which is only a body wash. I don’t need to exfoliate my skin everyday. I find it becomes a little dry if I do that in Winter. But this body wash scrub smells great and sugar is a fantastic natural body scrub. Also, the product doesn’t cost too much. So, I might have to consider replacing my Lush ‘Sea Salt body scrub.’ If only for the reason, this product is more cost effective and lasts longer; not to mention the fragrance.

Soap and Glory: Clean on Me – (www.beautyboutique.ca ) – $14.00 – Generally, I like a

creamy body wash such as this ‘Clean on Me,’ to moisturize my skin in Winter. This is great because it moisturizes your skin well and smells good too. I use it when I am not using the body wash scrub. It contains mandarin peals, jasmine, and a list of other natural ingredients. This is probably, why I like it so much. Check out Soap and Glory products at your local drugstore you will be happy to discover them.

If you are buying at Shoppers Drug Mart make sure to use your Optimum Card or download their Optimum card application so you can download coupons for extra Optimum points each time you make a purchase from Shoppers. You can also get Optimum points off of Beauty Boutique online and Murale in store and online.

Sometimes when you need a lot of stuff from Shoppers you can receive ten thousand or eighteen thousand points for spending forty, fifty, seventy five, or a hundred dollars. They also have weekends where you can receive twenty times the Optimum points or the points you do have on your Optimum card or Optimum card application, are worth more. I buy stuff at Shoppers Drug Mart all the time so, during the entire Christmas season I was able to redeem points once for $60.00 and once this last time for $85.00. Your Optimum points build quickly so it is worth it to shop at Shoppers Drug Mart for makeup both more luxury brands and inexpensive brands such as Maybelline or L’Oreal.

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The Gift of Beautiful Skin for Him or Her: Clinique

479-01 Clinique_LoadingGif_R22

Of all the things I have wanted in life, ever since about the end of grade 10, it has been to have perfect skin. I suffered from terrible acne in high school and to a lesser degree at certain times in University. But as everyone’s skin does, my skin reacted a certain way with acne. I didn’t have acne covering my face, I had what you would call cystic acne in several spots that would often spread. Sometimes my skin would be terrible for awhile and then it would become clear and beautiful. My biggest problem was that I had oily skin that was dry in some places that would

CLinique 3 step — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Three Step System

get acne that would go deep under the skin and it would hurt.

When I was younger I must admit I was bad because I picked at it because it hurt so much. Then I learned to let it be but sometimes it would get to the point that it looked horrible anyways because my skin was pale and would be red in the effected area. I came to the conclusion, that A.) My skin got worse the week before my period and B.) When the weather undergoes a drastic change such as from Summer into a cold Fall or from Winter into a warm Spring, my skin would react the worst.

When I was in grade 12 one of my best friends at the time, told me about Clinique Three Step Skincare . I went to the Clinique counter and did a little test (as you can do on the website I posted above) to see what type of skin I had. Type I was very dry to dry skin; Type II was Dry or Combination Skin; Type III was Combination or Oily skin; and Type IV was Oily skin. Since, I began using Clinique, they came up with a fifth type of skin products specifically for Acne Prone skin. As well, as a three step system for Men with Dry to Normal Skin, or Oily Skin. I started using Type II in high school to get use to the products (I had sensitive skin as well) and about a year later switched to Type III skin products which has been my skin type ever since. I did, however, do some product changes to specifically what products I used for my own three step Clinique line.

Clinique Facial Liquid Soap — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Facial Soap

Step 1: Each type of Clinique skincare, first includes a Facial soap or Liquid Facial Soap. If you are looking to save money or you have acne on your back for instance, the facial soap is a good option for $17.00 to $18.00. But I always think that bacteria can get on the soap you are using (which comes with a soap tray) and the Liquid Facial Soap is a lot better because you need so little when you squirt it out and put it on your face. It’s fantastic because it makes your skin feel nice and smooth and gets rid of the dirt and oil on your face. It costs $21.00.

Eventually, because I learned that acne often spreads due to bacteria, I

Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Acne Solutions Foam

started using the Acne Cleansing Foam for $24.00, it lasts me about two months. And if you have any kind of medium to bad acne I recommend this over the Facial Soap unless your skin is on the dryer side. I have not used anything but this Cleansing Foam for years, but then recently I started using a cleanser (Take the Day of Cleansing Milk for $33.00) or cleansing clothes from Shopper’s Drug Mart (Life Brand or Neutragena) to remove my makeup from my face first. That helped my skin routein because I wasn’t breaking out from left-over makeup

http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3

Step 2: The second step to the Clinique system is a toning or Clarifying Lotion that you use a cotton pad to rub on your face after using the Facial Soap. You can actually buy a super-big size of Clarifying Lotion at Sephora usually around Septemeber and it has a pump you can just place your cotton pad on and you can pump it a couple times so the Clarifying Lotion is absorbed by your cotton pad. Then, rub it all over your face and neck. You will be quite grossed out (especially at first) to see how dirty and grey the soaked cotton looks. Rub the cotton pad (or a second one if you need) all over your face to remove all dirt, oil, and makeup residue. If you have an area that is breaking out under your skin leave the cotton pad on it for a

Clinique Turn Around Serum — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serm

few extra minutes so it can absorb down into your pores. The Clarifying Lotion usually comes in two sizes: 6.07 fl oz for $17.00 (great for travelling) or a 13.5 fl oz size for $28.00. Your best bet is to buy the bigger size whenever you can. There is also the Acne Line Clarifying Lotion for $19.00 if your skin is acne prone.

I am going to skip a step here for a moment which is using a Clinique Moisturizer. If you are younger than twenty-five you can get away with using only a moisturizer but if you are twenty-five or older you want to start looking into using a product that

http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

aids your skin from aging — a serum is great for this. It seems like twenty-five is an early age to start using anti-aging or skin aiding products but the earlier you start the nicer your skin will be when your older. You can find many different serums on the market and the best ones have some Vitamin A and C and Retinol in them. I use one I keep finding at the beauty section in Winners but Clinique also has a bunch of different serums for your skin that you can use depending on which skin issue is your biggest concern. I recommend Turn Around Revitalizing Serum in 30 ml for $51.00 or 50 ml for $75.00. If you want your skin cell turnover to go faster and to have smooth revitalized skin this a great serum for you. If you are more worried about having an even skin tone whether that be from age spots or acne

Clinique Repair Wear Laser Focus — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus

scarring you can try Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (it comes at a couple different price points such as the previous serum but they aren’t showing on the website right now). A third choice for a good Serum would be Repair Wear Laser Focus for Lifting and Firming skin. It comes at a couple different price points as well. If you use a serum remember to put on your serum before you put on your moisturizer and to let your serum sink into your skin first.

Step 3: Step three of the Clinique skincare system is the Clinique moisturizer. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer is an award winning product in many magazines year after year. What is great about it

Clinque Moisture — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Moisturizing Gel Skin Types III, IV

is if you have oily skin you can use the Moisturizing Gel (like I do) and you will find that the gel is not as heavy on your skin and that you may not break out as much because your moisturizer is lighter. Also for those of you who have dry skin you can purchase the Moisturizing Cream which is a fairly new addition to the Clinique skincare line. The Clinique moisturizer and the gel come in three sizes right now ranging from $11.00 to $47.00. The smallest size is great for travelling but if you want the best deal you should purchase the moisturizer in the largest pump size because it is the largest amount of moisturizer you will receive for your money. The moisturizing cream comes in two sizes for $18.00 for 30 ml

Clinique Moisturizing Cream — http://www.clinique.ca Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream

and $32.00 for 50 ml, for Types I and II skin. The Acne line also has it’s own moisturizer if you have acne prone skin for $26.00. But I caution that you really have to have oily skin if you use this moisturizer. I tried a sample back when me skin was acting out and it dried my skin right out.

Since, acne can be an issue for adults as well as teenagers, it is awesome that Clinque provides the customer with many options on how to treat their type of skin and problems.

Clinique Acne All Over Clearing Gel — http://www.clinique.ca Clinque Acne Solutions All Over Clearing Treatment

I want to share a product from the acne line that I think, can be used by anybody who is dealing with acne some or all of the time. Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is a spot product you just apply wherever you have acne. It has salicylic acid in it which is wonderful at shrinking and drying out acne. For 15 ml it is $21.00 and for 30 ml it is $31.00. If you buy the biggest size of this product it will last you a year and half or longer depending on how often you are using

Clinique Acne Clearing Gel — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel (Salicyclic Acid Acne Medication)

it. Everybody gets a pimple now and then and this is perfect to apply at night and under makeup. Also, if you struggle with acne or certain things such as wrinkles,pore size, facial redness, and uneven skin tone (etc.), know that Clinique often has corresponding products in their skincare or foundations that aid you with your fight against these issues.

Also, I want to note because you are a man does not mean that you cannot use or do not need skincare products, especially if you are prone to acne or oily skin. A basic three step program is great for everyone whether they are male or female. But luckily if you are a man, Clinique carries a special line of products especially for you. For instance, it has two Three Step Skincare lines. Since men have thicker skin their skin can often be a lot oilier so

Clinique Men Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique for Men: Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic

there is a specific Three Step System for Men with Oilier skin which includes: Oil Control Face Wash for $21.00, Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic for $18.00, and Oil Control Matifying Moisturizer for $32.00. There is also a Three Step System for men with Normal to Dry skin. The prices aren’t different but you can look at the products here under Men’s Dryer to Normal Skin Type. There are several other great Clinique products for men such as Shaving Gel and and Scrub. Take a look at other Men’s Clinique Products here.

As a final note I wanted to let you know that

Clinique Oil Control Face Wash Men — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique for Men: Oil Control Face Wash

not only is Clinique available at http://www.clinique.ca or http://www.clinique.com. You can also purchase Clinique online or instore at Sephora (or http://www.sephora.com), Sears, The Bay, or at Shoppers Drug Mart and it’s online stores: Beauty Boutique or Murale. It is available practically everywhere, is priced reasonably, and works well. I’m not saying you’re never going to break out again, but there will be far less of a chance you will break out, that you will have generally healthier skin, and nicer feeling skin if you use Clinique skincare. Remember to watch for

Clinique Oil Control Matifying Moisturizer Men — http://www.clinique.ca Clinique for Men: Oil Control Matifying Moisturizer

Clinique bonus products for spending a certain amount of money on Clinique products at Sears and the Bay, or Holt Renfrew. Also, remember that at certain stores such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale, Beauty Boutique, and Sephora you can collect points towards getting money off a big purchase or purchasing beauty bonuses of many kinds.

Thanks for reading. Maybe you will find some lovely skincare products for some of the people in your life this Christmas.

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Poem: Sugar Scrub

With a sugar scrub I exfoliate with homemade cosmetics.
Sugar, olive oil, and lemon juice – scrub your legs twice.
In-between shave – these are the doldrums of the summer life.
Think twice, there is no glory in the little ways I get through the day.
And trampled down with elephant feet I slide through the year in mud.

Drudge, sludge – I am overwhelmed by typing and paper, the slice of cutting knife,
Make the cut, so the board is straight, a sharp edge and endless matte finish.
Paper cuts, the cutting wheel, slipping through the papers middle.
Make it true and make it right so that I might have peace this night.

“This,” that word, never start a sentence with it, this and that, not this is happening, just say what’s happening be clear and concise; the writer’s knife from the designer’s grip.
Demonstrate which words are sacred, those words which fit the pages just right.
Make a rhyme, or make a rhythm, form the sentence that all will understand and see the point, the big idea, the grande scheme of idealization.

These are the doldrums of my day, stretching forth into cat pose, back to happy cow
Yoga will slimline the time it takes, to cut the day with words and blades, with design and words.
Add in the time it takes to visit a friend and keep up on life.
Pay attention, look forward, listen – ignore the fog on little rabbit paws as it passes close and flows away back into sunlight, the break of day.
You are still in the conversation and bad at listening after a time has passed…
Then achingly awake and bursting forth into life for just a moments bliss.
Wipe away the blurry picture and make it shining clear.
These are crisp, crystal moments in your life – snatch them before they disappear

Sugar scrubs lead to legs so smooth a model would desire them.
Perhaps, these insignificant things in my day have cause to bigger things.
The idealization – the presentation – the humanization – of important ideas.
They represent who we are as people and form the cradle of civilization.
That a thousand years from now they all will say, ” I cannot believe they lived this way!”
Our lives the theatre in the museum, what was once the leading edge – a half hidden mystery that no man alive that day will understand but for the little things, we do day by day that his wife does too.

Write the letter, seal it blood red wax, slice the blade and see the history, the archeology in these dry bones like poison seeping into times ahead.
The ethereal future of the man and his lady, the possibility my everyday has a unique sort of meaning.
The blades of grass crisp and green swaying in the present time, the breeze floats airy whispers and I wonder if they will have grass, sugar scrubs, and the colour of clean air – words and the familiar slice of knife through paper.

The assimilation of tomorrow and today.

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