Saturday, December 20, 2014

Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer - Review

Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Power C x 30 Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer is the full name which is so long!! goodness gracious ;)
I am a huge fan of Moisturizers that have vitamin C in them and of course when I was recommended this cream by one of the girls that worked at Sephora, I immediately requested a sample because I like to try stuff if I can before purchasing them.

So let me tell you, the first thing I always do is smell the product and I fell in LOVE! This moisturizer smells AMAZING. It smells similar to oranges but way better and I kind of wanted it just for the scent itself! but I restrained my self and just got a sample since this cream is nowhere near cheap. Luckily the girl at the Sephora was super nice and gave me a decent amount of the product which considering it's for the whole face, the sample can't be tiny or you would just use it one time and poof it's gone. I actually had the sample for about 2 weeks I believe, now this was back in July so I am not 100% sure if it was 2 weeks or like 10 days but you get the idea haha

I ordered this two days after getting the sample, that's how much I enjoyed the moisturizer. 
 It has a creamy rich and luxurious texture and it's not too thin or too thick, it's the perfect consistency for a face moisturizer. It absorbs quickly and it doesn't leave the face feeling greasy at all. It moisturizes really well so it's perfect for winter months when my skin gets pretty dry.

One of the first things I noticed since using this product is that it really has brighten my skin. It has also helped with my hyperpigmentation which is the biggest issue I have with my skin usually. 

This feels great on the skin and as I said I have had it since July and use it consistently and It's still going strong. I haven't had any issues with it. Also it has an interesting unique packaging which I haven't seen a lot of. I actually think it's a great way to keep the product sanitized so I don't have to dip my finger in the jar and get it out even though with other products that I have to dip my finger in, I have a mini cosmetic spatula that I use to keep it clean but this is a great way to get the correct amount the face needs. The only concern I have is the fact that I can't see how much product I have left in the jar. I tried to open it and wouldn't open and I didn't want to ruin the packaging so I have left it alone for now.
So overall, I absolutely love this moisturizer. It has become one of my favourite face product and I will definitely repurchase it again even thought it's pretty expensive!! 

Have you tried any product from Peter Thomas Roth? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Nail of the Day : Julie G "Butterflies and Rosebuds"

 So a few weeks ago I ordered a bunch of Julie G nail polishes that I didn't have before and I was also in desperate need of some new shades. I was tired of all of my polishes and I wanted new ones and funny enough the shades I picked out look like Christmas-y colours, so it goes with the whole December holiday theme I guess. But it was not intentional you guys!! Don't blame me haha


Butterflies and Rosebuds is one of the colours I ordered in the big nail polish package. It's a really pretty shimmery maroon/purple colour. It was easy to apply and it went on smoothly. It dries pretty quick and there are no streaks. One coat covers the nails pretty nicely but I am personally a two coat nail polish girl.

I absolutely love this nail polish. It looks unique because I have nothing similar to it in my collection. The shimmers catch the eye and I have gotten a few compliments while I had this on my nails. It also last a good amount of time on my nails. I had it for about a week when I noticed the chipping on the tips of my nails which is the first spot that starts to chip for me usually.

Overall, I am very pleased with this polish. Hopefully all the other ones I ordered turn out as amazing as this one. I will definitely do blog posts on those as well!

Have you tried any Julie G nail polishes? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Friday, December 5, 2014

Biosilk Silk Therapy Hair Trio - Review

Personally, I am a big fan of the Biosilk silk Therapy hair oil, so when I saw this trio, I was more than happy to try out the shampoo and conditioner as well.
shampoo, oil, conditioner
I have to say, if you are a fan of the smell of the hair oil, the shampoo and conditioner have the same scent which is really great. I noticed that the smell of the hair oil lingers, but when I use all three in my routine, my hair has the scent for a longer amount of time.

The shampoo lathers really well and not a lot of product was needed for my shoulder length hair to get that foamy lathered feel which I love. The conditioner was good as well, and the hair oil as I said before is one of my favourites and a pea size amount is more than enough for my hair. The smell is great as well, I think most would like it but it doesn't hurt to smell it before purchasing in case it's not the scent for you. It has like a sweet smell? I'm bad at describing scent honestly but what I can tell you guys is that it does not have that minty fresh shower smell like most shampoos do. So I recommend smelling before purchasing!! :)
I actually am very pleased with this trio. I think it would also be a good gift as well if you could find it to buy it! haha
Since it includes the tree steps for hair. If I see this trio, I might purchase it again, but then I wont go out of my way to get it either. I have the hair oil bottle not even halfway used, so I'm just going to use other shampoo an conditioners I have for now.

Have you used any of the Biosilk products? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina

Friday, November 28, 2014

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - Review

Hello everyone. Long time no blog post!!

So getting all the greetings out of the way and all that lets talk about this mask. This has to be one of my new favourite masks I have ever used. 

It's a charcoal mask that is suppose to clear pores and all that. It has a thick but smooth consistency. It spreads on the face easily but I just dampen my skin a little. that's just what I always have done before applying face masks. I just think it goes on even smoother than when it's on dry face...just my preference.

A little bit of this stuff goes a long way. I just use about a pea size amount or so for pretty much my whole face. It dries pretty quickly and makes the skin feel tight due to the fact that the mask has dried. You can hardly make face impressions, I guess that's how it would feel when you get botox? I haven't had it but I've heard that's the case? I don't know...anyways

I leave it on my face for about 10-15 minutes, and sometimes I just get busy with other stuff and realize I have had it on for almost 30 minutes haha. I noticed that this really helped with my acne. It kind of dried it up I guess so that was helpful! 

This mask could be hard to remove, let me tell you. I tried using my fingers and warm water but it took some effort and I am not patient enough so I suggest using a wash cloth or like me I use a thick hand paper towel and get it wet with warm water, get the mask off then rinse my face again to get rid of the residue of the mask.

Overall, I am very pleased with this mask and I will definitely repurchase it when I finish this tube which I think it will last me a long while. I have had this mask for about 4 months and I use it about once or twice a week and I'm not even halfway through. So it also last a long while as well. 

Have you tried this mask before? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs - Review & Swatches

Today I am finally doing a review on the Maybelline Buff lipsticks. I was able to pick out a few of the shades that I thought would work best for me. There are ten shades and I have six of them.

I like the simple slick packaging but just looking at it, you can't tell the actual lipstick colour. the sticker on the bottom shows the colour of the lipstick. So while I like the packaging, I have to open it and see which one I have picked out. 

So this Buff lipsticks are the nude, natural line and so the colours are either a light brownish colour or darker. It is in the same colour family, at least that is the case with the ones I have.

  • goes on smooth and creamy on the lips
  • it could emphasize dry lips (exfoliate or apply lip balm before application)
  • great pigmentation
  • nice consistency / applies evenly
  • slick packaging
  • good for dramatic/heavy eye makeup looks (dramatic eye nude lips)
  • wide selection for every skin tone and colour preference
  • need reapplying after about an hour or two, that also depends on eating and drinking

Overall, I actually really do like these lipsticks! I never thought there would come a day that I would actually grab a lipstick or go for nude lips but my makeup tastes has been changing a lot. I used to be a lip gloss girl. I wouldn't use anything else other than lip gloss. Now a long time has past and I rarely reach for lip gloss. It is as interesting as it is weird.

Have you tried any of the Buff lipsticks? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Photos of the Month : August 2014

Hello everyone. I hope you all have had a good long weekend so far. The weather is pretty hot right now and I don't find it too pleasant to be outside. Hopefully it gets a little cooler. It's around 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and that is too hot for me...

But the hot weather doesn't mean that I don't have any pictures for you. I still enjoy taking pictures when I'm out and about... and I have a good few selection for you guys for the month of August.

It has been mostly cloudy this month and hot and sometimes rainy, so that doesn't give me a lot of opportunities to take good pictures. 
So lets just enjoy these two pretty flowers that are my two favourite pictures in this blog post. I love taking photos of flowers but these two are my absolute favourite. Looking at them, it just makes me really happy.. maybe I'm weird like that? anyways..

I hope you guys had an amazing month of August. It was pretty uneventful for me. Just normal life stuff.

Have an amazing long weekend and start of the week! Stay safe

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Photos of the Month : July 2014


It has been a very long time since the last time I poster a "Photos of the Month" blog post and I really miss it. I just took a several month break, so to speak and I am back, hopefully fingers crossed, to be posting blogs and actually staying. No more breaks!!
Month of July was my birthday and also cottage month! haha I had such a great month of July with my family and friends and I am so thankful for everything and I thought to share some of the pictures I took during my cottage trip/vacation with you.

I love to do landscape/ nature photography and I love sunsets. The cottage we were staying at had such an amazing view and it got better at sunset.
The food was amazing, it was just a very relaxing and joyful month for me.
The cake was amazing as well. Who doesn't love a good chocolate cake? well, I know I do. I would just eat the whole thing since it was my birthday and all. DUH ;)
Short blog post, I know, I know but I like to keep my "photos of the month" blog post short. I just mainly want to share the photos and that is basically it.

I hope you guys had a good month of July.
Stay safe and happy :)

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Summer Scents - Favourite Perfumes


Sephora Website Description : 

Lancome La Vie Est Belle (Life is Beautiful) - made with the most precious natural ingredients, it entwines the elegance of iris with the strength of patchouli and the sweetness of a gourmand blend for an incredible scent with depth and complexity.
Notes: Iris, Patchouli, Gourmand - Style: Free, Happy, Deep

My Thoughts: this one is my absolute favourite. I had tried a sample that I got from Sephora and wanted it really bad and my dearest friend got it for me for my birthday and I am really happy to have this perfume. The name really suits how this smells. When I spray this on, life feels beautiful. It smells amazing that's how I know to explain it!

Juicy Couture La Fleur - sheer veil of sparkling mandarin and wild berries, combined with luminous florals of lush honeysuckle, gardenia petals, and soft jasmine. A whisper of creamy gourmand reminiscent of the classic viva la juicy elicits an addiction that envelops the skin.
Notes: Wild berries, mandarin, honeysuckle, gardenia petals, soft jasmine, vanilla, caramel, sandalwood - Style: sheer, modern, addictive

My Thoughts: This perfume smells floral and very springy, but I use it in summer as well. It is sweet but not too sweet to make me feel nauseous. It last a long time on me when I spray it on. It makes me happy and fresh when I have this on and it feels like I'm in a field full of amazing smelling flowers on a springy day.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy - combine of delicious wild berries with creamy vanilla and bright jasmine
Notes: wild berries, mandarins, honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmine, amber, caramel, sandalwood, praline- Style: tantalizing, teasing, tempting

My Thoughts: This smells sweet and chic but youthful at the same time. I really like this perfume especially for early spring when it is still a little chilly outside but works great in the summer as well.

Dolce & Gabbana - surprisingly coloured with liveliness of Sicilian citron, the happiness of granny smith apple, the spontaneity of bluebells, intensity of jasmine, freshness of bamboo and charm of white rose
Notes: sicilian citron, bluebell, granny smith apple, jasmine sambac, bamboo, white rose, cedarwood, amber, musk - Style: deep and true

My Thoughts: I have a very small bottle of this that I got with my points at Sephora. I like to use this on the days that I just want to smell fresh and kind of beachy. It smells you just came from a long day at the beach and you just showered, does that make sense? so yea sunny day showering at the beach maybe? haha okay.

I prefer body sprays over perfume in the summer time to be honest. It just feels more light weight and easy but I still like to have some favourite summer perfumes as well for a longer lasting finish.

What are some of your favourite summer perfumes?

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - Review

For a very long time, I heard people talk about this product and really love it. I never really gave it a thought but about a few months ago, I got really interested in this product and actually decided to go to the website and search for it. I actually found out that if I wanted to try it out, I had to order it online and I just thought why not? I gave it a chance and was hoping to be lucky and like the actual product!


Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is a pink powder in a yellowish liquid. When I received this in the mail, the powder and liquid was kind of mixed together so I sat it aside and the pink powder sank at the bottom of the bottle. You are not supposed to shake the product before using it or anything. The powder actually has to be at the bottom in order for it to work and be in the right way.

When you want to use it, you just take a cotton swab and dip it into the bottle and it will pick up the pink powder. Now that pink powder is supposed to help with any white-heads and pimples on the skin. So what you do is that you take the side that has the pink solution on it and just place it where ever you have pimples or white-heads. You have to leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning. 

description of the product in the pamphlet that came in the package
So, for me personally, I use this product two or three nights in a row and my pimples/white-heads are pretty much gone. Now my skin is very easy to get hyperpigmentation, so I still have that but the bump that was there because of either the pimples or the white-heads are completely gone. I used to try out a lot of different acne products and the ones that had salicylic acid, did nothing for me. It didn't make it worse but it didn't make it any better either. Benzoyl Peroxide in the acne products worked better for me. So when I gave this product a chance and tried it out, I was surprised that it worked so well for me since it does have salicylic acid in it!!!

So overall, I am very pleased with this product. This was my very first time that I tried anything from the Mario Badescu skincare line and I am very happy that I did.

Have you tried anything from the Mario Badescu skincare line? What are your thought about this Drying Lotion?

Lots of love,
Dina
 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Summer Scents - Favourite Body Sprays


Bath & Body Works Website Description : 

White Citrusinspired by the sun-drenched citrus groves of the Mediterranean coast. Is invigorating blend of crisp citrus and water lily.
top notes: lemon zest, sparkling grapefruit, juicy tangerine
mid notes: ginger flower, water lily, apricot nectar, lily of the valley, freesia
dry notes: clean woods, sheer musk

my thoughts: this is my absolute favourite. I am totally obsessed with this one. it smells fresh and I can definitely smell the lime/lemon which ever. this is the perfect spring/summer scent.

Maui Hibiscus Beach - a refreshing mix of star fruit, mango wood and tropical hibiscus
top notes: mandarin, star fruit, bergamot, pineapple
mid notes: guava, Brazilian passion fruit, hibiscus, watery watermelon
dry notes: mango wood, creamy musk

my thoughts: this one smells like a perfect day at the sunny beach. it smells fresh and a little sweet and perfect for spring/summer.

Beautiful Day - as beautiful as the perfect spring day with sun-kissed apple, wild daisies and fresh pink peonies
top notes: sun-kissed apple, dewy pear, sparkling cassis
mid notes: wild daisies, lily of the valley, fresh pink peonies
dry notes: white beach, blonde woods

my thoughts: this smells like a fresh smelling shower in a field of flowers. it is so fresh and cool smelling that is the perfect spring/ summer scent. when you spray this on, it feels like you just smell good yourself not because you put on a body spray.

Secret Wonderland - a whimsical blend of luscious strawberry, frosted jasmine petals and white amber. inspired by a world you never dreamed of
top notes: luscious strawberry, wild goji berries, ripe raspberry
mid notes: gardenia petals, jasmine, peach nectar
dry notes: coconut musk, creamy vanilla, sandalwood, white amber

my thoughts: this smells sweet and magical which absolutely suits the name. I like this more for spring time which the weather is cooler but I still use it in the summer as well.

Forever Sunshine - captures the romance of warm days that linger into cool autumn. blend of juicy tangerine, pink peonies, sweet praline
top notes: juicy tangerine, golden apricot, sparkling mandarin, exotic berries
mid notes: gardenia petals, freesia, pink peonies
dry notes: vanilla bean gelato, creamy sandalwood, nuzzly musks, sweet praline

my thoughts: this smells very sweet but not in a way to make you nauseous. it smells like a sunny day and a hint of vanilla.

So overall, I am really bad at describing scents so I really tried to bring it to words what ever the body spray smelled like. I hope it gave you guys a new list of body sprays to look for and smell for yourself the next time you are at a BBW store!!

What are some of your favourite summer scents? 
Love,
Dina

Friday, August 8, 2014

Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders - Review

I have been hearing really good things about Ole Henriksen skin care and when I was at Sephora and saw this kit sort of packaging with three products that looked interesting, I decided to try the "3 wonders" and see how it goes...



  • serum consistency 
  • light weight
  • absorbs quickly to skin
  • brightens hyperpigmentation / acne scarring / dark spots on face (saw changes after using for about a week)
  • would definitely repurchase

  • gel consistency 
  • absorbs quickly to skin
  • can have a burning sensation if there is an open acne/ wound that is open (I was applying it and had a paper cut and it actually burned like an alcohol would, maybe has alcohol..)
  • did not see that much of a change
  • would not repurchase probably

  • light weight
  • moisturizes well but nothing too exciting just a normal moisturizer.
  • did not that much of a change
  • not sure if I would repurchase


So those are all of my thoughts in point form so it is easy to read. Over all, out of all these three products my favourite would have to be the truth serum. I could really see a change when I used it but with the other two, they were good products don't get me wrong, but they just didn't do anything special that I could really notice. So I will use all these products but as for repurchasing them goes, I would just get the truth serum and skip the other two.

Have you used any of these products? what are your thoughts on it?
Love, Dina

Monday, August 4, 2014

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation + Concealer - Review & Swatches

Hey everyone, it has been a very long time since the last time I actually sat to write a new blog post! It is good to be back and hopefully I will be staying and no more 'blog break'.

Recently my face has been more on the dry side specially on my cheeks and chin so I was searching and watching different videos to find a good drugstore foundation and I think I have found a pretty good one. 
Foundation: 400 Natural Beige, 303 True Nude, Concealer : light/medium

I finally picked up this wake me up foundation from Rimmel and it is actually my first time to try anything from the foundation part of Rimmel brand if I'm not mistaking and I have to say I am pretty impressed. Even though the drugstore I went to had testers for this foundation I still couldn't really decide which shade was best for me so I went for the last two shades they had because my colour is right in between the two. My drugstore had only four shades available for the foundation and the concealer so I still have to mix the last two darkest shades to get my skin colour but this whole process might be worth it.


First of all, it comes with a pump applicator which is always a plus in my book. The concealer has a spongy applicator like how lip glosses are usually so that is also a good easy way to use the product.

As you can see in the picture below, the foundation in the bottle has a nice sheen to it. So this foundation is no where near matte finish. It is more like satin finish and it is medium coverage and it is buildable so you can be able to get full coverage with this but I usually use a small amount to just even my skin tone and then use the concealer on the spots that needs more coverage.


One pump is more than enough for my full face but since I have to mix the two colours, I usually have a bit more than I need to use so I just wipe it off with tissue or something. 

It has a slight pink finish to it which is so not my skin's undertone but I manage to work with it since I actually like this foundation. I just use a full coverage powder that has a yellow/golden finish to it and lightly apply it to my face to cover the pink finish of the foundation and it has worked so far!


This foundation has a light perfume-y smell to it. It is perfect for dry skin which I have, also it doesn't accentuate dry patches if you have any.

I tested this foundation with no primer or setting spray and it lasted for more than 12 hours on me. I did my foundation at around 8 am in the morning and took it off at around 11 pm at night the same day and the foundation looked good after all those hours. No fading or anything. I just had to blot my T-zone one time during the whole day which is pretty amazing. I usually have to blot two or three times a day because I like to look matte in my T-zone which tends to get a tiny bit shiny during the day!

So overall, I would say this is my new favourite drug store foundation so far. It does have some down sides to it but it also has some good sides to it as well, so I would say it is worth the little hassle that comes with it. Such as mixing the two colours to get my match and also apply a golden toned powder to match my skin. Since it looks good when I am fully finished with my makeup, I try to be patient and take the time so this can work for me.

Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts on it?
Love, Dina

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad Eyeshadow in Canyon Classics - Review & Swatches

Personally, I don't tend to collect matte eyeshadows.. like ever. I like to have a few of the neutral necessities of the mattes and that is about it. But lately, I have been interested to find a good matte palette that pretty much had everything I would need. So when I stumbled upon this eyeshadow quad from Physicians Formula, I got pretty excited!

Now I was initially thinking of considering the Urban Decay Naked Basics but then I thought I wont be using just the matte eyeshadow for a full on eye look so I couldn't justify paying that much money for getting only half of the eye look I want. I only use a cream matte shadow for brow highlight, brown for blending the crease and sometimes black for setting my my eyeliner but other than that I use shimmer eyeshadow for the rest of the look, so you get what I mean when I say I would use it for half of the eye look I am going for. 


This matte eyeshadow quad comes in a grey/silver durable plastic packaging which I think comes very handy and it is travel friendly and doesn't take a whole lot of space. The overall packaging look is very simple and nothing flashy or overly exciting but it does not mean the product quality is bad. heh

Inside, this quad has a small thin mirror in the top and a sponge applicator which I just throw out because I prefer actual eye makeup brushes. haha

The eyeshadows are all matte as the name of it already tells. There is a cream/ white shade. Two brown shades which one has a warm undertone and the other has a cool undertone to it. Finally there is a dark grey eyeshadow as well.

The quality is very creamy and very pigmented. A little bit of this stuff goes a very long way and they blend easily as well. 

The price ranges between $7 - $11 depending on the store you get it from.

Overall, I think this is a very good matte eyeshadow quad to have, so if you are looking for a good matte eyeshadow similar to these shades, you might want to give this a try!

What are your thoughts on this eyeshadow quad? What are your favourite matte palettes?
Love, Dina

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Photos of the Month : January 2014

Hello everyone!

I hope you all have had a great month of January and a good start to the month of February. I really enjoyed sharing some of "nature" pictures of mine during 2013 through these blog posts so I decided to keep doing them since it is so much fun for me and it is a little different than my usual beauty posts. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do! :)



Winter is still happening here in Toronto! yes, it's all white everywhere STILL!! Don't get me wrong, I love snow and how beautiful it is, but sometimes you just get tired of how cold it is outside!! Well, it is Toronto and there is nothing I can do about that. In my opinion, Toronto is so UNPREDICTABLE!! One year we have the most pleasant winter ever and the next year it is all warnings of how being outside for 5 minutes the skin is going to freeze.


But honestly, some days can be a bit of a disaster. Let me explain to you so you wont think I'm crazy. So it snows A LOT and then nothing happens for a few days just super cold weather and lots of wind then one day the temperature goes high and it is so pleasant it feels like spring, well not really but you get what I mean. So the snow starts to melt, obviously, and then at night the temperature drops again and all that melted snow is now ICE!! So imagine walking on solid ice. That's how crazy it can get here. I'm sure it is a whole lot worse in other places but Toronto, come on... go a little easy on us would you??


Any ways, I really do try to look at the positive side of things which can be REALLY hard at times. Well, at a lot of times.. haha

I don't have a picture of those days that I had to walk on ice because I had to be careful not to fall, so I didn't really remember to bring out my cellphone and take a picture. Oops, my bad, forgive me!! :D



My "photos of the month" posts wont be complete unless I include some sort of delicious looking picture of food. So, this was my way of making easy, fast, home made pizza!


I hope for you all to have an amazing month of February. Stay safe, warm and happy lovelies.

Love, Dina.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...