Physicians Formula: Valentine Themed Highlighter

I recently picked this product up from my local Shoppers Drug mart. It was approximately $20 Canadian (with tax).

Physicians Formula is a drugstore brand well known for their good quality products made especially for people with sensitive skin. I have tried a couple of items from their line, and because they more more expensive than most drugstore brands, their quality is definitely better. The product packaging is more durable than most and the formula applies better and lasts longer on your face.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I picked up their newest item:  

Happy Booster: Glow & Mood Boosting Powder  

(in Translucent).

Bottom view of product

This powder comes in various other shades including Beige, Light Bronzer and Bronzer.
I got the lightest colour (Translucent) because I wasn't looking for a face powder; I was looking for more of a highlighter. The Beige colour could be used for powder, and the light and bronzer colours are darker powders that can be used for .... well, bronzer of course.

What attracted me most to this product was their packing. If you have seen Physicians Formula, their packaging is nothing SPECTACULAR. However, their newest Happy Booster has the cutest packaging that I had to purchase it! It comes in a cute, metallic hot pink package with cute hearts as the powder.
The product has 2 separate sections. The top is the powder, while the bottom section has a mirror and comes with a small brush applicator.

Happy Booster: Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Translucent colour

According to Physicians Formula's website, Happy Booster does the following:

• Ultra-smooth, perfecting powder in a complementary palette of color blends together to even out skin tone with a flawless radiance. 
• Vibrant pink heart gives cheeks a healthy pop of color.
• Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.
• The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.
• Hypoallergenic
• Paraben free
• Dermatologist approved & Non-Comedogenic.

Keep in mind that I purchased the lightest colour because I wanted to use this product as a highlighter (NOT FACE POWDER!)
Because there are various, shiny colours in the packaging, it was a perfect blend for a highlighter for my face. However, their claim with their "Happy Boost Blend" featuring Euphoryl to promote a feeling of happiness is just an exaggeration. I mean, feeling upset one minute and applying the product on your face, is not going to turn your frown upside down! (it's going to take more than Euphoryl and natural plant extracts to do that!)

Their promotion of saying that their product has a scent of Violet is accurate! The smell is pleasant and very light. And no, people will not be able to smell the Violet scent if you have the product on your face (for those silly bugs who are wondering).

The packaging is extra cute because it does come with a small applicator brush that's pink and red (Valentine Day themed!). Although the brush is not exactly the best quality brush out there, it does apply the product effectively! With the brush included, it's a more convenient way of applying the product when you're going out.

Brush applicator located on the bottom section of the product

I am not entirely sure if this product is a limited edition just for Valentine's Day! However, on their website, it says nothing of the sort, so hopefully it is a permanent item in their line. If you do get the chance, definitely take a swatch from Physicians Formula's latest product.

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Carrie Bradshaw

"The most exciting, challenging, significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you that you love... well, that's just fabulous!"

- Carrie Bradshaw

GARNIER Skin Renew: Anti-puff eye roller

As a University or college student, you would probably understand that drinking coffee is a daily routine, and that you are totally deprived from sleep!! This is especially during midterm and exam season.

What I hate the most is waking up in the morning, after 4-5.5 hours of sleep, and finding those dreaded, dark, puffy under eye circles!! Come on, it's embarrassing to admit, but everyone does get those once in a while...

A good moisturizing concealer can hide those dark imperfections, but when you have puffy under eye circles, using concealer doesn't really help decrease the puffiness.

I have heard amazing reviews on Garnier Skin Renew: anti-puff roller. At my local Shoppers Drugmart (or it could be found at Wal-Mart), this product costs about $25 (Canadian with tax). If you haven't ever seen the bottle, it is quite small, with only 15 mL of product. I was NOT going to pay $25 for 15 mL of product. NO WAY... this product was not worth it.

However, one weekend, Shoppers Drugmart had a sale on all Garnier products, where they were all 40% OFF! The first thing I did that morning was head to Shoppers Drug mart and grabbed 2 packages of the anti-puff eye roller; I wanted to make sure that the local drugstore had the product before anyone else got their hands on them.

Hasn't anyone heard of the famous quote where "the early bird gets the worm?" 

The anti-puff eye roller reduces the look of puffiness and dark circles for refreshes, awakened eyes
 (according to the packaging). The product also has a hydrating ingredient, Pro-Vitamin B5 and caffeine that diminishes the look of puffiness.
With continued use of the product, the package claims that it will reduce the appearance of dark circles and the degree of puffiness (results when using Skin Renew anti-puff eye roller twice a day).

The packaging is simple. Garnier's classic green packing. The tube holds the 15 mL of product. The unique part of this product that received so much rave was their massage roller.

Massaging Roller

When first applied, the product is extremely re freshening for your eyes; it doesn't burn or irritate your eyes though. The product has no particular scent to it, and it dispenses from the massaging roller when you roll the product under and around your eyes. The package does suggest using it twice a day (once in the morning and once at night), but I tend to use it only once in the morning. At night, I use a more hydrating lotion for my eyes.
I usually apply this product in the morning right after I've finished washing my face, before make-up application. Making sure that your eyes are hydrated ensures smoother application of your under-eye concealer!

In terms of decreasing puffiness and under eye darkness, you obviously won't expect drastic changes the very next day. I've been using this product for 1.5 months now, and I do see results! As well, because it has Pro-Vitamin B5 for hydration, I've noticed that applying concealer is easier and it lasts longer throughout the day.

Original packaging with product right beside it

This product is definitely a must have if you are not willing to spend loads of money on high-end eye makeup. Some products from drugstores work just as well and they're more affordable!
University or college students who are suffering from dreaded, tired looks should definitely try this product out!

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My Love-Hate Relationship: L'OREAL's Voluminous Million Lashes

When you see Eva Longoria modeling this mascara, you can't help but notice her fantastic, voluminous, elegant lashes! I mean, who doesn't want luscious eyelashes?! Obviously, I got sucked into purchasing this product! The colour that I purchased is in Blackest Black (number 635).

This mascara claims to do the following:

• No clump formula - buildable formula that amplifies each lash instantly. It glides on smoothly and lasts all day, while thickening and separating every lash
• Millionizer Brush - uniquely designed to amplify and separate lashes from corner to corner while building breathtaking volume
• Clean Sweep Wiping System - built-in wiper ensure that just the right amount of formula is deposited on the brush for the ultra-volumized, defined lashes.
• suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes
• fragrance-free
• allergy tested

I have a love-hate relationship with this product. Some make-up gurus swear by this product, while others dislike it! 

I must say that the packaging is quite glamorous- a very different option for most L'oreal mascara products. The sleek, gold reflecting plastic tube makes it easy to locate in a large make-up bag. Out of all the drugstore mascaras that I have ever purchased, by far, this mascara has the best packaging. 

I was sucked into purchasing L'oreal's newest mascara because it had the "clean sweep wiping system". My biggest pet peeve for mascaras is definitely a formula that creates uncessary clumps on the brush. When L'oreal came out for their newest idea of having a sweep wiping system that ensures the perfect amount of formula being deposited on the brush, I knew I had to try it out.

The mascara does not clump at all! This is one of the mascaras that I have ever tried that doesn't clump at all when you pull out the wand from the tube! Therefore, L'oreal's new wiper system definitely works.

In terms of providing volume, the formula is very wet. I find that wet mascaras do not provide as much volume as dry-based mascaras.  In fact, they do not work well for skimpy, thin, short eyelashes; it's the dry mascaras that are helpful and provides the necessary lengthening and volume! So, because the formula was quite wet, I did not enjoy applying this to my lashes.

However, their "Millionizer Brush" is the downfall of this product. Their brush claims to amplify and separate lashes from corner to corner while building breathtaking volume, but I tend to disagree with that. The brush is very flimsy! It's so flimsy that even putting the mascara brush back into the tube is a hassle. The brush and wand itself BENDS! I remember the first time I finished using the product and was placing it back inside the tube.... I almost snapped the wand! For such elegant packaging, L'oreal definitely did not spend the time and money on their brush and wand.

L'oreal's Voluminous Million Lashes in Blackest Black colour

I will still continue to use this mascara and try to finish the product. If I do start to love this mascara, I will definitely make a comment! For now, it's still a love-hate relationship.

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C.O. BIGELOW Rose Salve

For those who are enjoy Korres lip butter, I've got another fantastic lip product!
I purchased this recently form Bath & Body Works, and I've been reaching for this product every 3 hours.

C.O Bigelow's Rose Salve was approximately $7 (Canadian) from Bath & Body Works. It's a more affordable option compared to Korres lip butter, which costs approximately $15-18 (Canadian).

This product can be used for anything & everything. According to the packaging, you can use it for lips (which is what I've been doing), cuticles, face, knees or anything that needs extra moisture during these cold months. Basically, it's like your all-in-one product, which is perfect for everybody.
I have actually applied the product on my elbows and knees after my shower, and it works exactly like a hydrating body lotion. Using this product on your cuticles is another benefit- you get to save $10-15 from buying cuticle oil (who doesn't want to save some extra money these days?!)

The product does have rose extract (hence the name and 9%, to be exact). It's not a strong fragrant, but some people hate the smell. For me, I love it and I've definitely gotten use to the scent. For those who dislike the rose scent, Bath & Body Works has informed me that there will be more C.O. Bigelow products in the Spring (VERY SOON!). The new flavours will most likely be along the lines of berries.

The packaging is adorable. It comes in a small tin case, but the case is sometimes hard to open- especially if you've applied lotion on your hands before. As well, you need to use your fingers to apply the product, so that's another downside to the product. Using your fingers to apply lip balm on your lips may spread bacteria.

I bring up the product of Korres lip butter because C.o Bigelow's Rose Salve actually reminds me of it. The packaging and especially the formula of the product are almost identical! These products are both moisturizing and lasts long your lips. However, Korres lip butter is much thicker compared to Rose Salve. There's a tint to both products, but I would say that Rose Salve's tint is not as pigmented as Korres lip butter.

So, for those who are looking for a more affordable lip product, definitely try out C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve (or any of their products!) You can check out their website here at Bigelow Chemists.
For my Korres lip butter review, check out this link: Korres Lip Butter.

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Essie's Secret Affair

I've been on the hunt for the perfect nude, with a hint of shimmer. In other words, I was looking for your typical "pearl" colour ... for your nails.

I started searching in the summer and after I awhile, I just gave up! 

But recently, I purchased a new Essie colour,  
Secret Affair and
I HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT "PEARL" COLOUR.

Secret Affair by Essie

The colour actually came out in Essie's Spring 2007 collection. I may be a tad bit late on discovering this gorgeous colour, but it's better late than never, right?
It's a permanent colour, so be sure to check it out when you can!

FYI, I always wear a base coat (by OPI) and a top coat (by OPI as well).


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Perfect Scent for Valentine's Day

As you may or may not know, I am THE BIGGEST fan of Bath & Body Work's scent, Sweet Pea (for those who haven't ever smelled Sweet Pea, you should definitely check it out!). I have their whole collection from body splash to shampoo! (yes, even the shampoo. It was on sale during Boxing week, and I had to try it out!)

Bath & Body Work's newest scent comes on FEBRUARY 7, 2011... a week before Valentine's Day! However, they previewed their scent just this weekend in miniature travel bottle sizes for just ONE DOLLAR. I snatched two bottles. Keep in mind that this scent is part of their new signature collection, so you can always purchase it at any location of Bath & Body Works!

Their newest scent is called CARRIED AWAY. The miniature travel bottle is their body lotion with vitmin E, jojoba and shea butter. Vitamin E or not, the scent smells amazing. 
When I first smelled it, it reminded me of Sweet Pea. I thought I was hallucinating... but even the sales person said it was a remix of sweet pea.

The miniature bottle of Carried Away

The key fragrance notes of Sweet Pea include: Sweet Pea Petals, Watery Pear, Freesia, Fresh Raspberry, Soft Musk


The key fragrance notes of Carried Away include: Lush Raspberries, White Jasmine and Whipped Vanilla. 
 
Maybe it's the similar notes of raspberry that makes the two scent smell very similar. However, I would say that Carried Away smells a little more fruity and sweeter than Sweet Pea.

On top of that, their packaging is absolutely adorable. I will for sure be getting the full sized body lotion the next time I get the chance.

I love Bath & Body Work's newest scent for Valentine's Day. If you do get the chance to go to a nearby Bath & Body Work's, do check out Carried Away! 

INDULGE. 

The Body Shop: Vitamin E Moisture Cream

I actually received this product for free when I purchased some items from The Body Shop.
The container is quite small, with only 15 mL of product.

 

I received a sample size of this product, but I know and have seen that the regular sized products have exactly the same  packaging. With the regular sized products, I believe that a pump should be implemented for more hygienic and sufficient reasons.

The product doesn't say specifically where to apply the cream, but because the product is light, creamy and very hydrating, applying it as a moisturizer could be opinion. As well, using this product as an eye cream could be beneficial as it does have Vitamin E and hydrating ingredients.

Vitamin E can do the following for your skin:

• High in antioxidant activity, 
• Protects skin cells from ultra violet light, pollution, drugs
• Plays a role in anti-aging 
• Prevents the appearance of age spots
• Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
• Helps to maintain the skin’s oil balance during the cleansing process (as we cleanse our face daily, oils are lost

The texture is light, but creamy. Not oil-free.

The product does have a scent to it- it smells like the Johnson's baby lotion; a fresh scent!

For individuals who have oily skin, I don't recommend using this as a moisturizer. This is because the lotion is NOT oil-free and for those who have oily skin, using a gel moisturizer or oil-free product is actually better for the skin. However, all hope is not lost - if you do need a moisturizing and refreshing eye cream, this product can be used for that as well!

For those who have dry to normal skin, I highly recommend purchasing this product. The thin, but extremely hydrating formula will definitely keep your skin smooth and refreshed throughout the day! Forget about the dry, annoying flakes consistently appearing on your face.

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Nothing to do with make-up: BIBLICAL VERSE OF THE DAY

I found this Bible verse randomly today, and I thought I would share this with everyone:

1 Samuel 16:7

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

 
Such a simple message, but the verse carries such a deep, powerful meaning. 

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PRODUCT REVIEW: Lancome Definicils Precious Cells Mascara

First off, I am a mascara fanatic! I wear mascara every single day to give my eyes that POP! Sometimes, I find out some mascaras tend to dry out my lashes and create more fall-out. Since then, I've been on the hunt for a good mascara with conditioning properties. 

I have purchased various ranges of drugstore mascaras, but I brought Lancome's Definicils Precious Cells mascara when I heard great reviews online and in blogs.

Obviously, I had to try it out myself!

This product comes in only 2 colours: black, which I've purchased or brown.

Lancome Definicils Precious Cells mascara in brown colour

The benefits of using Lancome's Definicils Precious Cells mascara includes the following:

• Regenerates the condition of lashes on contact
• Fortifies lashes to ensure minimized lash fall-out
• Defines and thickens for a lash-by-lash fullness
• Ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for contact lens wearers

I have found that it does regenerate and condition my lashes with their new formula, and since I wear contact lens throughout the day, it doesn't irritate my eyes (like some mascaras) at all. And most definitely, with 3 months of using this mascara, I have noticed that the product minimized lash fall-out.
In terms of thickening and defining my lashes, I do have the skimpiest, thinnest eye lashes known to human kind! I did notice that it thickened my lashes, but not as much compared to Maybelline's Falsies mascara!

The technology behind Lancome's Definicils Precious Cells mascara sounds extra complex, but it's simple:

• Hyaluronic acid known for hydration
• Madecassoside, an ingredient known for its strengthening properties
• Arginine, an amino acid known for its nourishing properties
• Multi-faceted brush designed to deliver optimal amount of product, while delivering lash by lash separation

The brush is very unique as well- the bristles are small, but it does its job effectively! It grabs onto your lashes and defines them lash by lash.

Lancomes's Definicils Precious Cells mascara in black

There is a particular smell to this mascara, but then again, what kind of mascara doesn't?! I guess it's just something we all have to get used to when applying mascara!


Overall, the product's formula is great. it separates my lashes without clumping. It honestly does have nourishing products, for I've noticed less lash fall out when I'm taking off my mascara.
Because I have skimpy, thin eye lashes, Lancome's Definicils Precious Cells mascara has a rather dry formula (compared to other ones), which is the best for defining thin eye lashes.

It may seem like any mascara is perfect for everybody, but there are specific mascaras that certain individuals should pay more attention to. For an example, if you have thick lashes, a wet formula is best for application! As well, the brush of the mascara is obviously very important in terms of what you want for your eye lashes.

If you do have the budget of investing in a more high-end mascara, then you should definitely try Lancome's Definicils Precious Cells mascara!

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