October/November 2014 Favourites: Beauty & Lifestyle

It's been a long time coming. I haven't had anything new to share, hence the lack of posts. Due to recent weather changes in British Columbia. Causing multiple changes in lifestyle and festivities. Here are some of the goods that I've fell in love with this Fall/Autumn season.

Clothing:
Lululemon Scuba Hoodie in Black

H&M Army Jacket

DKNY Draped Vest

Hand Therapy:
L'Occitane Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream

Skincare/Makeup:
Origins GinZing Moisturizer

Origins GinZing Mineral Makeup

Avene Clean Ac Cleansing Cream

Elizabeth Arden Brow/Eyeliner Powder

NYX Blush in Pinched

Music:
Marilyn Manson - Cupid Carries a Gun
Colbie Caillat - Try
Meghan Trainor - All About the Bass
Birdy - Birdy (Album) & Fire Within (Album)
Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour (Album)

Lily Kershaw - Midnight in the Garden (Album)
Lykke Li - I Never Learn (Album)
Coldplay - Ghost Stories (Album)

TV Shows:
Constantine
Elementary
Forever

Gotham
Agents of Shield
Salem

Satisfaction
Scorpion
Stalker

Witches of the East End

Places:
Stanley Park & Coal Harbour

La Taqueria Pinche

Heirloom Restaurant

British Columbia - Your Neighbourhood Farmers Markets 2014

One of my favourite things to do while growing up was going to farmers markets and flea markets with my parents on the weekend. This was a tradition when I was young, we loved seeing one of a kind things and trying new things. As a child, I was exposed to great imagination and creativity. And for that I am thankful.

Here are some of our local farmers markets:

Abbotsford Farm & Country Market |afcm.ca|

Open every Saturday 9AM to 1PM (February to December)

Montrose Ave at George Ferguson Way

Cloverdale Market & Flea Market
Open every Sunday year round 6AM to 4PM
Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 176th St (Hwy 15) & 62nd Ave

Fort Langley Village Farmer's Market |fortlangleyvillagefarmersmarket.org|

Open every Saturday 10AM to 3PM (May 3 - Nov 22)

St. Andrews Church, 9025 Glover Road, Fort Langley

Port Moody Winter Farmers Market |makebakegrow.com|

Open every Sunday 10AM to 2PM (Nov 2 - Apr 26)

Port Moody Recreation Complex, 300 Ioco Road

White Rock Farmers' Market |whiterockfarmersmarket.ca|

Open every Sunday 9AM to 1PM (Oct 19 - Dec 14)

The Elks Hall

Check out the BC Association of Farmers' Markets website for additional markets across BC at bcfarmersmarket.org

2014/05: May Beauty Empties

It's near the end of the month and it's time to do a blog post for some new empties.

Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Vanilla Body Wash & Foam Bath - I can say that it helps me sleep. But it does smells lovely.

Marc Anthony Morocco Argan Oil Conditioning Treatment - this smells like a dream and makes my hair less frizzy and extremely soft.

 

ELF Daily Brush Cleaner - works like a dream but I don't like the perfume in the cleaner.

Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castille Soap - subtle lavender scent with great cleaning power. I love using this to clean my makeup brushes.

Bausch + Lomb Re-Nu All Day Moisture Contact Solution - does a good job in cleaning and disinfecting my contact lenses.

 

Avon Smooth Minerals Pressed Powder in Sand Beige - my budget alternative to the Bareminerals powder. Same type of coverage but a fraction of the price.

Nars Skin Purifying Foam Cleanser - now that I've been using this cleanser for a while. My skin has changed and has some dry patches. This cleanser is a little too drying for me now. Hence, I have switched cleansers.

Origins Super Spot Remover - a staple product of mine. Good thing I recently bought a backup from Sephora.

John Freida Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Shampoo - an old favourite back when I had a lot of blonde in my hair. Well now that I have peekaboo blonde highlights I went back to my trustworthy old favourite.

Calia Eucalyptus Essential Oil - I used this as a brush cleaner and disinfectant with the help of some unscented baby wipes. This is great for quick spot cleaning.

Online Shopping Review: Zulily

I confess I am a shopaholic. Zulily brings out newly added stock daily at 6am pst. I have alerts to remind that it is 6am every day of the week. 

This website or application, whichever mode you choose to use; is user friendly. It caters to moms, kids and sometimes men. It has a lot of fun home decor, maternity clothing, juniors clothing and plus size wear. Some brands also carry menswear.

My purchase experience was good. Shipping is a little slow but Zulily is very good at keeping you up to date as to what is happening. They function a little slower than most online shopping sites. They don't hold the stock on-site. So when you purchase something, the manufacturer will send it to Zulily; they will inspect the product; then they will send it to you.

Zulily supplies tracking numbers for your order upon submitting it to a postal service. I live in Canada, so far the shipping rate has been $7.95 with applicable taxes. I mainly use their app, hence I haven't noticed any banners saying that they offer free shipping if you purchase a certain price point of merchandise.

By far I have only purchased a sterling silver pendant with a William Shakespeare quote engraved on it in cursive writing. "Though she be but little she is fierce." It came nicely packaged in a purple Zulily mailer. Inside the mailer was a mini ziplock bag with my pendant inside as well as a mini product info card. No damages and nicely packaged. I didn't have to sign for the package. It was just delivered to my mailbox.

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Beauty Review: Physician's Formula Super CC Cream

I was searching for something to replace my Dr.Jart + Black Label Detox BB Cream with a more affordable one. Something that I could buy at a pharmacy. I found the Physician's Formula Super CC Cream
to be a good alternative. It comes in two shades, light and light/medium.

I found the light shade to be a little darker than my skin. I'm approximately a NC30 and the light blends very well. However, the matching CC powder is lighter.

The CC cream is non greasy and can be layered to build coverage. I don't find it to moisturize too well. So you still need to moisturize before applying.

I apply this CC cream either with my fingers or using buffing or flat top brush. I have set the CC cream with powder and I've done without before also.

Overall, I would repurchase the CC cream, but possibly buy the darker shade of the powder. I have yet to try the concealer.

Wellness & Lifestyle: My Europe Travel Essentials

Hello Fellow Globe Trotters,

If you love traveling as much as I do, you will find certain products that you cannot live without. You will want to make your travels enjoyable and comfortable. I'm here to share my favourites with you and to inspire others to try new products they haven't before. I do not advertise or get paid to write reviews on these products. These are my honest opinions. This post will only consist of bath, skincare, lifestyle and wellness products. If you're looking for a makeup and hair products post, it will be posted separately fairly soon. So keep your eyes peeled. 

Nothing is better than having a relaxing shower with all your favourite bath products. This travel foil packet will last for 2-3 uses for my short hair. I must say I love lavender.  Read on and you will see... ♡♥♡

AVALON ORGANICS lavender shampoo and conditioner

I admit I have a phobia of germs and bacteria. So when it comes to traveling. Antibacterial gels and sprays are my BFFs. Along with wet wipes and tissue packets. Definitely need to bring lots of tissue packets,  lots of washrooms in Europe don't always have toilet paper. So be prepared. You might also want to know. That a lot of washrooms you need to pay to use. So carry some coin change in your purse.

EVERYONE peppermint and citrus hand sanitizer gel 

EVERYONE coconut and lemon hand sanitizer spray 

EO Hand Sanitizer in organic lavender, this brand also makes spray sanitizers.

Smells great. Moisturizing shave cream, you don't need body butter afterwards.

KISS MY FACE lavender shea moisture shave

I use this as a toner and bedtime mist. Lavender relaxes you and the Glycerin moisturizes your skin.

HUGO NATURALS essential mist

In case you need to do laundry in your hotel and don't want to pay an obscene amount of Euros € for it. This is a solid laundry soap for spot cleaning. It's perfect for traveling. Comes in a big block, you can cut it into smaller pieces to take with you on your travels.

The Soap Works Old Fashioned Stain Remover Laundry Bar

I don't know about you, but my stomach will act up once in a while during travels. These are great for settling my stomach or when I get car sick. And did I mention they taste pretty good too?

GRAVOL ginger chews

I also bring bug spray, I have always attracted mosquitoes ever since I was young. I react badly to nauseum insects, I was bitten by one in Rome last year and my entire elbow swelled for days. I had to take Benadryl for days to keep the swelling down.

Benadryl non-drowsy tablets
Repel Natural insect repellent

I'm not sure if you're prone to headaches or migraines. But cabin pressure affects me immensely. So usually before take off I will take 2 Advil liquid gels to stop it before it happens.

ADVIL liquid gels

Don't forget your toothpaste and mouth wash. I have learned to bring my favorite American or Canadian branded products with me. As I had trouble finding such products in Italian pharmacies last summer.
Sensodyne toothpaste
Travel toothbrush
Listerine mouth wash (the purple one)

To eliminate liquids in my carry on luggage, I usually bring a soap bar facial cleanser. Last year I used the Ever Bamboo Hei mini facial bar. Sadly it has been used up and discontinued at my health food store. I have now purchased a similar soap bar at my local Target. I haven't opened the package yet, but I will have to cut it into a smaller piece for my trip to France this year. I believe a quarter bar will suffice. 

Shea Moisture organic African black soap with shea butter for acne prone face & body bar

I love the how the product tells you about the history of it's existence. To find more products by Shea Moisture visit their website at www.sheamoisture.com

Another downfall for my summer traveling is my seasonal allergies. I make sure I carry my Benadryl and Allegra at all times. If you are severely allergic to something and require an EpiPen, please carry one with you. 

ALLEGRA 24hr allergy pills non drowsy formula 

Deodorant, body sprays and perfume. These are sometimes the most fragile products to carry in a luggage. For me, I go for a deodorant that can double as a perfume. Lots of perfume lines now come with matching deodorant scents, that's a route you can take. As for me, I go for the lavender, it's subtle smell relaxes you and it makes me happy. It is also not overwhelmingly strong. So it is my way of being considerate for those that sit beside me that are sensitive to perfume.

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Beauty Review: Giovanni d:tox purifying facial cleanser

Hello Beauty Lovers around the globe. Today I have a review on a product that I've been using for just over 3 months now.

This cleanser does it's job. It removes makeup and grime. Washes away excess sebum. It however doesn't wash off waterproof eye makeup. It is genle enough for the eye area, but I find it doesn't wash off waterproof mascara. However, I think it does a decent job in removing my bb or cc cream, setting mineral powder, blush, bronzer, eye brow powder, eyeshadow and certain eyeliners.

It doesn't dry out your skin or make your skin feel tight. I recommend it for combination skin, oily or acne prone skin types.

As for this product claiming to detoxify, purify, balance and hydrate your skin. Hmmm... I could only agree with "balance," as you still need to tone and moisturize your skin afterwards.

I would buy this product again and recommend it as a budget friendly item.

Cheers for now,

Vivian

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