Summer Essentials 2017

Time for my annual Summer essentials update!
I feel like this year is different than years previous.
Normally I have a BB cream or tinted moisturizer and so far this year I haven't put one on my face, I've been embracing my skin while it's behaving.


I have been loving freckled, bronzed skin and natural looking mascara.
Not much skincare is included in this post, but you can check out my current routine here.

 -Sunscreen has become a must for me as I am all about skincare.  This one from Aveeno is 30SPF, doesn't feel greasy, blends into the skin nicely and is the last step in my skincare routine.
-I am loving bronzer, I've never really been one for it until this year and this Hourglass one (Diffused light) is killing it for me.
-While I am not using a tinted moisturizer or foundation, I still feel the need to conceal and I like the Nars complete concealer (vanilla) for this.  It blends in nicely to my own skin tone and creasing is almost non-existent.
-I received this Charlottle TilburyXNorman Parkinson Color of Youth healthy, happy lip & cheek glow, in my lucky bag from Beautylish earlier this year, and I thought nothing of it at the time.  But the coral color and the fact that it's a multi use cream has been amazing for this warm weather!
-Hylamide HA Primer, provides a nice blurring effect and canvas for all this rose-y cheeked, bronzey-ness.

 -I'm all about mermaid colors for the eyes.  The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette volume 3 and NYX single eyeshadow in Mermaid, are perfect for this.  Some may not like the shimmers in the Tarte palette, but I am a fan.
-I just started using the Lancome juicy shakers about a month ago and I am in love.  I'm not much of a lipstick person so these are perfect for me.  I love this one in Freedom of Peach for Summer.
-For bright under eyes I've been using this Becca under eye corrector for quite awhile now and would highly recommend it.
-Lastly my favorite mascara this year, Buxom Lash Mascara.  I love the wand, love the separation, love the length it gives, and best of all I can work all day and not have a smudge under my eye.

-Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, I can't believe I haven't used this sooner.  Such a pretty glow for Summer without looking 'shiny'.

-CoverFx click highlighter in bubbly, I love highlighting my top lip with this or using it under a powder highlight for an extra glow.

-Clarins lip perfector in 04Petal, is a great sheer Summertime gloss.

-Another product from the company Deciem (I know, I'm obsessed), this time from The Chemistry line, Heel Chemistry has saved my dry feet.  I just think it is amazing.  I apply it either before I go to work or right before bed, once a day and it's just been like magic.  I'm not embarrassed to wear sandals or go barefoot.

-Last but not least, the brand as a whole that's been a winner for me is Sol de Janeiro.  The smell of everything they produce is amazing and just is Summer to me.  I was ecstatic when they released the 

Brazilian Crush body spray and scooped it up instantly. I've never religiously used a body cream until now and this is my second tub of the Bum Bum cream.  The shower gel, Brazilian 4-Play, I could just sit and smell it all day.  It can be Summer all year long using this brand.

What are your Summer essentials? Please let me know in the comments!

The Ordinary's Hyped Foundation

I have another little haul from Deciem.

[From left to right: The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% (I bought two), The Oridinary Colours Serum Foundation Fair Neutral 1.1, The Chemistry Brand Inhibitif Deodorant, The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation Light Neutral 1.2, Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum]

 I am loving everything Deciem makes so far.
 I have yet to try the deodorant but it is supposed to 'fight the look of hair growth', which I was very interested in so I thought why not? I'll do an update on that at a later date.

This the is the Hylamide SubQ Eye Serum.  This can be applied in the am and pm, which I am a fan of, and it is supposed to improve fine lines, puffiness and dark circles.  Lately I've been noticing the fine lines under my eyes, definitely some dark circles happening as well and I only suffer from puffiness when I've had too much salt in my diet.  So far I've noticed that it does help hydrate my under eye area and while it's too soon to tell if it's helping my fine lines I find that it has almost a firming feeling a little while after applied.  While my under eyes are looking brighter, I still suffer from dark circles after a sleepless night but that's only a problem concealer can fix.
So far a thumbs up!

I love the idea of applying a retinoid on my skin, so of course I had to scoop up two of these.
I have never applied retinoids on my skin before but I have heard plenty of good things!
This is a 2% retinoid, it is supposed to help with signs of anti-aging (yes please!) and you only apply it in the evening.
I don't know why but I thought this would have some sort of smell to it, but nothing.  Actually I've never had any scent issues with any of their products so far.
I've been using this for a few days but I notice my skin is clearing up which I'm not sure if that's an effect of using this but I'll take it!

The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation, the reason my order took so long to get here.
The wait list for this foundation was huge and the brand was sending out emails apologizing for the delay, which I think is awesome customer service.  I love getting a heads up when something won't be arriving when I thought it would and what the reasoning is.
I am not a foundation girl, which is why I ordered the serum instead of the coverage foundation.
I ordered the shades Fair Neutral 1.1 and Light Neutral 1.2.
I find the 1.1 Fair Neutral to be a great pale shade for me and when swatching the 1.2 Light Neutral I thought it would be way too orange on me, but it actually blended in quite nicely.
1.2 Light Neutral might be an okay shade for me while I'm tan but I still might need a darker shade....luckily the shade range is huge!!

[1.1 Fair Neutral/1.2 Light Neutral]

Feel free to let me know in the comments which products you've tried or which ones you're are curious about! 
There's still lots for me to try but so far I'm loving the routine I have going.

What I've Been Watching

There's a bug going around and I am currently getting over it.
So I've been drinking lots of homemade green juice (recipes coming soon!) and binge watching a lot of tv and movies.
Here is what I've been watching:

1. Girlboss (Netflix)- this was such an easy show to watch and I finished it in two days.  Sometimes I like to watch fluff and this was perfect for it, plus it helped me get my butt in gear to blog again.

2. Before I Wake (Netflix)- Starring Kate Bosworth and that awesome Canadian kid Jacob Tremblay, I think he is just fantastic.  This movie was weird, really different concept for a scary movie but I liked it!

3. How I Met Your Mother (Netflix)- I never stop watching this show, it's one of those shows I've watched so many times now and can just have it on in the background but not worry about missing anything because I know what happens.

4. Lights Out- This is one of my favorite scary movies ever because it touches on mental health and I just felt like I could relate in away.  Plus I love Teresa Palmer.

5. Drugs Inc (Netflix)- Do I need to really justify this? I love shows like this and Border Security.

6. 10 Cloverfield Lane (Netflix)- John Goodman as a creepy guy? I love it! Such an odd movie but I couldn't stop watching it! I was not expecting the ending to turn out the way it did.

7. Dark Skies- Another scary movie...sensing a theme? I haven't watched this in a while but I've been yearning to, I just love it.  If you haven't seen it I don't want to spoil it, but I think the topic was done really well.

8. The Duff- Another fluff movie :)

9. Nerve- This movie was weird but kind of cool and scary if that was actually something I was a part of.  Not sure if it's actually a recommendation, but it definitely kept my attention.

10. Gilmore Girls (Netflix)- Duh.

Hopefully everyone avoid this awful cold going around and enjoy the rest of your week!

Just a Little Sephora Haul

I didn't take advantage of the Sephora VIB Rouge sale, as much as I normally do, this year, I do tend to spend a little more during the one in the latter half of the year.
I mostly did a little restocking this time and also wanted to try a couple little things.
First let me just introduce the one thing I bought a week before the sale because I was completely out of eye cream and was waiting to repurchase my more expensive one during the sale.

 Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer

I actually accepted the help of a girl at Sephora that day (which I never do) while I was stuck between two different Origins eye creams.  I told her I wanted it to be moisturizing and she suggested this one and said it was super brightening too.  I've been using it for a couple weeks and I really love it, definitely a favorite now.

 

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream

 This is probably my favorite eye cream ever, but with a seventy dollar (Canadian) price tag I'll only purchase it when there is a sale or with Shopper's Drug Mart points.  It is so hydrating, and I notice a difference in the fine lines around my eyes ever since I started using it last year.

L’Occitane Oil Make-Up Remover

 Funny story about this product, I bought the wrong thing.  I meant to buy the Shea Cleansing Oil, which is fabulous and almost ten dollars cheaper for the same amount of product.  I am hoping this works similar or better.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla

I was dying to try this concealer ever since it came out but I was too chicken because the drugstore concealers I use are awesome and I was nervous about shade matching.  Luckily the shade is perfect for how pale I am and a little product goes a long way.  Quite a few reviews say this is drying under the eyes, which I agree, but I find as long as you use an eye cream before and don't slather on the concealer you're fine.  

Lancôme Miracle CC Cushion - Color Correcting Primer in Pinky Peach

I already own this but I had to purchase a new one during the sale because I found I cannot live without this.  I would love to try the others but for now this one is working for me.  It brightens under my eyes like crazy and makes me look so awake (which I need).  Out of everything I purchased this is one product I would highly recommend getting.

 

Dior Diorshow Pump‘N’Volume Mascara and CLINIQUE Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

I am a fan of the Dior mascaras I've tried in the past so I to give this odd packaging a try, but I have yet to test it out.  I did however quickly test the eyeliner, I was surprised how easy it actually was, like what?  How does that work?  Plus it's super black, which is a must.

 Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

And the star of the show! I love the Hourglass powders, and with diffused light being my favorite I had to try the bronzer. I don't know how to explain this powder, but it's just such a natural glow/bronze to my skin.  I'd love to get the luminous bronze for Summer when I'm a bit more tan.  Next on my list from Hourglass is a blush!

 That's it for this haul, let me know what you picked up during the sale!

Why I Love The Ordinary

I have a new skincare love.
The Ordinary.

I think I first came across it on well.ca but most of it was sold out, so I did my research and found it also on beautylish.com.

The company is actually Deciem and I've also tried some of their Chemistry and Hylamide line now too.
And they also are the company that does Fountain, which I tried last year and the 'Happy Molecule' definitely made an impact on me.
But this is about The Ordinary.

I own and love the following four products so far: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%, Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

 I use the Hyaluronic acid every day, twice a day. The lactic acid can be used every night but I've been doing well with every second night.  I use the salicylic acid on any blemishes I have twice a day and it seems to keep them from growing to a monstrous size.  The peeling solution is only recommended to be used twice a week for only 10 minutes and out of fear I follow just that.

I have noticed a dramatic difference in my skin.  It's not been as dry and the peeling solution makes it incredibly smooth and soft.  And after a night of using the lactic acid my skin always looks brighter (I am a lactic acid lover).

Plus the packaging is simple and I love the dropper.  I wish I would've taken a picture of when I received the products, they were all wrapped up in brown paper packaging tied up with string (but seriously).  Not to mention that it's super affordable and made in Canada. And the disclaimer on the website, "DECIEM does not test on animals and does not pay others to do so. For this reason, none of our brands are sold in mainland China since such sales require animal testing for registration purposes."  I mean come on, is this for real?

Oh, and they're coming out with foundation too.
I am just so in love with them so far.

I'm all about buying local, buying Canadian and the fact that this Canadian brand hits it out of the park for me is just awesome. 
Well done!

I am currently purchasing their retinoid. . . 



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