2013/04 Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle: Current Obsessions

Hello Beauties,

Here is a list of my current obsessions, not listed in any specific order. But I have broken them down into seperate categories.

Beauty Obsessions:

• the No Makeup makeup look
• Baby Lips tinted lip balms
• Short & colourful nails
• Heatless curls
• Top knots
• side dutch/french/fishtail/rope Braids
• Ombre highlights
• Lavender & Vanilla perfumes
• Rosewater Toner

 

Fashion Obsessions:

• Navy Blue & Olive colours
• Boho Chic styles
• City Chic styles
• Preppy Casual
• Maxi dresses & skirts
• Black & grey skinny jeans
• Loafers 
• Floral prints
• Tunics
• Eyelet fabrics
• Dainty jewellery
• Crochet
• Simple stud earrings
• Yoga capri leggings
• My DIY Hot Pink Sneakers
• Blue sapphire 
• Men's style watches 
• Boyfriend blazers
• Waterfall cardigans
• Boyfriend shirts, dress shirts

Lifestyle Obsessions:

• Rosebud tea
• TV Shows: Mentalist, Rizzoli & Isles, The Good Wife, Revenge, Criminal Minds
• Music: Stay - Rhianna
• Travel: Seattle
• Store: Target
• Language: Italian

Let me know what your obsessions are for the month of April in the comment box below. Hope you enjoyed this months blog.

Cheers,

Vivian
May Day & Lifestyle

Asian Beauty Haul

Hello Everyone,

I'm back with a foreign beauty haul. Some items I purchased and some were gifted by a MUA swapper Elena.

Detclear Bright & Peel AHA BHA Fruits Peeling Jelly is a fruit acid gentle gel peel. Made in Japan.

Billidan Cucumber Mask Pack contains extract of cucumber and glycerin that nourishes skin. Leaves skin bright and moisturized. Made in Korea.

My Scheming Mint Collagen Mask contains mint oil, refreshing and cooling. Improves and renews skin cells. Improves skin elasticity and moisture. Made in Taiwan.

The Face Shop Real Nature Mask Kelp purifies and protects skin from air pollution and facilitates the skin in discharging impurities. Made in Korea.

BB Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid gives skin a moisture-filled treatment. Made in Korea.

♥♥♥♥♥♥ Hope you find something that appeals to you. I will be testing these masks out and then writing individual reviews on them. Happy Hauling ♡

Beauty Review: Beauty Friends Aloe Essence Mask

I'm back with Korean beauty product review. I am always fascinated by foreign skincare and beauty products.

This sheet mask comes with lots of extra essence jelly. The sheet mask fit perfectly on my face. I applied the mask on my freshly cleansed skin and the extra jelly in the foil packet on my neck. This one takes about 20-30 minutes, which is a lot longer than other masks I've used in the past.

I was a little bothered by the strong perfume smell. I was afraid I would react to the perfume. But I didn't. :) Thank goodness, I am not a big fan of strongly scented skincare due to my skin being super sensitive.

I purchased this single mask on Ebay for a trial test. I'm looking for some good sheet masks for when I go traveling in the summer. My skin will need moisture during flights and after extensive heat or sun exposure.

Overall, I would repurchase this mask. My skin felt moisturized and soft after use. I would recommend this for people with dry/normal or combination skin.

2013/03 March Favourites

Beauty:

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation in Fresh Ivory - I use this foundation for spot concealing

Boots Botanics Rosewater Toner - used after cleansing morning & night

Origins Spot Remover - used to spot treat my acne

NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in 147 Lexington Lilac - love this cool tone purple

Blistex Moisture Melt Lipgloss - I saw this commercial at the gym and wanted to try it out, it turned out awesome

Lavanila Pure Vanilla perfume - loving this strong vanilla scent, a little goes a long way

Lafe's Lavender Deodorant - natural and organic is better, especially for the sensitive pit area

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - this melts away my waterproof mascara and eyeliner with ease

 

Music:

Andrew Belle - Oh My Stars

Rihanna - Stay

Ryan Adams - Do I Wait

John Mayer - Gravity

Two Sheds - You

The Bar-Kays - Too Hot to Stop

Maroon 5 - Payphone | Daylight

P!nk - Just Give Me a Reason

Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man

Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

Passenger - Let Her Go

Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie

Muse - Madness

TV Shows:

Rizzoli & Isles

Revenge

Ringer

Vampire Diaries

Mentalist

The Following

Arrow

Hope you found something that you might like on my favourites list for the month of March 2013.

My Travel Must Haves

Today I will be sharing my travel holy grail items. I absolutely cannot live without them.

Ipod & cell phone - keeps me connected and entertained, I usually make sure I have plenty of new tunes & shows to watch. This is how I caught up on the last season of Heroes.

Sunglasses - especially when you are so tired after a 16 hour flight, you can also wear them on the plane while you snooze.

Hand sanitizer - hah! I'm a germ-a-phobe. Currently loving Bath and Body Works Mrs. Claus Apple Pie Hand Sanitizer.

Hand lotion - dry hands drive me bonkers

Chapstick or Lipgloss - I have chronic dry lips, I always need a good Chapstick or Lipgloss. Blistex Moisture Melt gloss.

Hair serum - my chemically processed hair needs extra moisture when travelling. My favourite is Biosilk. Or you can always bring a tiny tub of coconut oil for this same purpose.

Eco Friendly Reusable Shopping Bag - you never know when you will need a bag, these are so handy to have. They barely take up any space.

Mini Perfume Atomizer - I carry my favourite perfumes with me just in case I need to freshen up. Currently filled with Victoria Secret Sexy Little Thing and Lavanila Pure Vanilla

Deodorant - good for before take off and after landing. Lafe's Natural BodyCare deodorant stick in Lavender.

Makeup Wipes & Nail polish remover wipes - chipped polish is one of my pet peeves. I must remove it all if I see a chip. I remove all my makeup before take off. I like the ones from LA Fresh.

A good Moisturizing Serum - I apply this to my face after I remove all my makeup. The flight usually dries up my skin which then leads to break outs and extremely oily skin. Aloe vera also works well if you don't have a serum.

Pashmina - keeps your neck warm, can be bunched up as a pillow or wrapped around you like a blanket.

Other travel tips:

Wear layers - so you can easily add and remove layers as needed

Bring socks and/or slippers - your feet will get cold on the flight, you will make use of these

Hair tie to tie your hair up - good for keeping your hair off your face when you sleep

Happy Travels :)

Beauty & Lifestyle Haul + February Glymm Box

I'm back with a haul this evening as well as to share my very last Glymm Box with you. Yes, I have cancelled my subscription to Glymm. I just thought the product sizes weren't up to par with other beauty subscriptions. Don't get me wrong, I still like Glymm. It's just that I have accumulated so many products at home. I need to finish them before I can subscribe to any other subscription services.

The Beauty and Lifestyle products were purchased or gifted back in November 2012. I went back East to visit my parents and friends. I also attended a wedding in Jamaica and went on a short trip to New York.

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (Target)

• Lavender Vanilla Hand Cream (Target)

•  Mismatched Crystal Ball Studs (Winners) these weren't actually mismatched when I purchase it. My BFF and I split the pairs into two mismatched sets. One for her and one for me.

•  Winter gloves for Touch Screens (Marshalls)

• Batiste Dry Shampoo for Brunettes (Winners) - come in a 2 pack

Last but not least are the contents of my February Glymm Box:

• Burt's Bee Milk & Honey Body Lotion - sample sized, smells creamy and yummy

• Femme Couture Plump Up the Color Coral Burst Lipgloss - beautiful colour, full sized product retails for $9.00

• Purely Cosmetics Pro Eyeshadow in Luxury - I believe this is a full sized product, retails for $18.00

• Nailuv Gel Nail Polish in Berry Sweetie - this sample is useless without a UV/LED curing light

• Villaness Ginger Snapped Soap - I love soap from this company, we received a vanilla peppermint scented one in a previous box too. I loved it so much that I purchased the full sized product on Glymm.

Loving the February make up bag, the satin fabric and the little white hearts make it very cutesy. 

This concludes my blog for today. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Happy Blogging :)

DIY Beauty: Spiced Baking Soda Mask for Acne

Long time no blog. I am back with a DIY face mask the helps reduce acne inflammation.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp baking soda
2 tbsp honey or agave nectar 

Nutmeg

Blue Agave Nectar

Baking Soda

Honey

Cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients into a paste. Apply to face massaging in circular motions. Avoid eyes and lips area, may cause irritation. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Voila, smells delicious and it leaves your skin glowing & soft.

Enjoy :)

DIY Itchy Scalp & Dandruff Treatment

As Spring approaches my skin has been very irritable especially my scalp. I have found two natural remedies that really help.

What you will need for Remedy #1:
Mini Spray bottle
Tea tree oil
Saline

In a clean spray bottle drip 10 drops of tea tree oil. Add 100 mL of saline. Shake well and spray on affected scalp areas and massage. Leave on for 30 minutes and rinse.

You can also use tea tree oil in your daily shampoo. 1 tbsp of shampoo to 5 drops of tea tree oil. Work up a lather and massage scalp for at least 10 minutes.

What you need for Remedy #2:
Mini spray bottle
Apple cider vinegar

In a clean spray bottle place 50 mL of apple cider vinegar. Spray on affected scalp area. Massage scalp for 5-10 minutes. Leave in hair for 30 minutes and rinse with water.

I hope these remedies work for you too.

Happy Blogging and Stay Chic :)

Beauty Review: 360 Skincare DMAE Firming Serum in Lavender Mint

In my January Glymm Box I received a sample of this product. It smells divine. The texture is thick like a body butter consistency if not thicker. I didn't expect serums to be this thick.

6AM
On first application, I found it hard to maneuver out of the jar on to my eye area. It was chunky, but to my surprise it melted away as I lightly massaged around my eyes in a circular motion. I thought it would be greasy due to the consistency. But surprisingly it was cooling due to the mint and lavender properties. Also my skin just soaked up the serum quickly. The serum leaves no sheen behind. It is a matte finish. On this first try I will apply makeup without primer to the eyelids and see how that goes.

12PM
At noon it has gotten a little greasy but my eye makeup hasn't smudged or creased.

4PM
My mascara was slightly smudged below my lower lashes. But that is typical for the beyond 12hr wear.

Overall I find this product to useful as a simple eyelid primer and eye cream in one. It doesn't sting my oh so sensitive eyes. I would definitely purchase this product when I run out of this sample from my January Glymm Box.

TaTa for now :)

Lifestyle: Vitamins & Fitness

If you don't know me in real life. You wouldn't know that I am a dedicated vitamin consumer. I was brought up by a mother that told me there's always room for more vegetables in your diet. And from this principle I grew up to be a conscious eater. That doesn't mean that I don't indulge myself once in a while. But everything in moderation is okay.

Furthermore, here are the vitamins I currently take

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails
5000 mg Biotin
Lustrous hair
Strong nails
Vibrant skin
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Calcium

VitaFusion Multi Vites
Gummy Vitamins
Technically I only take these on my days off. As this is the only way Beau would take vitamins. They are just like candy.

Quest Multivitamins & Minerals for Women Her Daily One
These are my actual daily vitamins that I take day to day.

Natural Factors Calcium & Magnesium Citrate with D
Potassium & Zinc
Good for Bones and Teeth

Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets
I use this to help with metabolism

Korean Red Ginseng Capsules
Reduces fatigue and stress

As for my fitness regimen I see my trainer once or twice a week. We do strength training exercises and cardio. 

Lunges

Squats

Bicep Curls

Ball Press

Leg Press

Hammer Curls

Lap Pull Downs

Butterfly Extensions

Ball Squats

Hip & Thigh Rotation

Back Extensions

Balance Ball exercises

I also go to the gym twice a week for cardio workouts such as elliptical, treadmill and exercise bike. I also do yoga and weight training at home.

Live life and be healthy

Beauty Review: NARS Skin Purifying Foam Cleanser

Back of the Bottle reads: 

Refeshes and helps control excess oil.
Apply a small amount of product to wet hands and work into a lather. Gently massage onto skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Purchased at Holt Renfrew.

I thought this product was overpriced at first. But when I figured I only needed a pea sized amount everytime. It's more than worth it. In Canada the price ranges from $32-36 per 125 mL (4.9 Oz). In the United States it is $29.

I've tested this product out for over a month now. It is very mild for my sensitive skin that is also acne prone. It takes long-lasting foundation off with the little microbeads. It doesn't make my skin feel tight nor does it make it flake. My skin feels refreshed and dewy after each wash. I use this cleanser in the morning and at night. And on days I go to the gym, I would also wash my face afterwards.

The texture is creamy with microbead exfoliants. It foams up quite a bit, a pea size dot is more than enough for the entire face. Wet your hands and face prior to applying the cleanser. Work up a foamy lather, at this point I rinse with a wet konjac sponge. Pat dry with a clean cloth. Follow with toner and moisturizer. 

Skin feels smooth and fantastic. I would definitely purchase this product again.

Lifestyle: Random Favourites of 2012

Here are some random lifestyle favourites:

TV Shows & Movies
Pretty Little Liars
Merlin
Nikita
Covert Affairs
Once Upon A Time

Suits
Body of Proof
Leverage
Castle
Bones
Supernatural
Rise of the Guardians
Dark Knight Rises
Avengers
Men in Black 3
Hunger Games
Game of Thrones

Arrow
Beauty & the Beast
Vampire Diaries
True Blood


Books & Literature
Hunger Games
Flawless
Mastery of Love
Life of Frida Kahlo
The Continuity Girl
Pride & Prejudice
Eat Pray Love

Foods
Udi's Blueberry Muffins

Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Lamb Vindaloo
Butter Chicken
Korean BBQ
Watermelon
Pineapple
Raspberries

Beverages
Starbucks Matcha Soy Latte
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Green Tea
Raspberry Ginger Ale
Green Tea Ginger Ale
Twinings Black Currant Tea
Earl Grey Tea
Piña Colada
Mojito
Strongbow
Naked Grape Sauvignon Blanc
Monkey Bay Whites
Oyster Bay Whites
VOGA
Perrier
Elder Flower Soda

Apple Juice
Guava Juice

Artists & Songs
Five for Fighting - Augie Nieto

Augustana - Wrong Side of Love
Coldplay - One I Love & Yellow
Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

Hedley - Amazing
Lifehouse - Hanging By A Moment
Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates
Taylor Swift - Teardrops on My Guitar
MoZella - Can't Stop
Duffy - Mercy

Beauty Review: Givenchy Mister Mat

I purchased this product just before the holidays. I finally had time to try it out for two weeks. I figured Christmas parties and New Years I would make use of a good primer. This primer was recommended by the sales ladies at Sephora. I also read great reviews on Makeup Alley.

I found the scent to be overpowering. I was greasy within 6 hours. This product also made my skin breakout. The texture is a powder gel, dries quick and smoothes skin. I find it also dries very fast, which makes you use more product.

This product is not for me. I will be returning this to Sephora.

Beauty & Fashion: What I Got for Christmas Part Uno

Last month in November I was in Toronto visiting my family and friends. We had an early Christmas gift exchange. But what I really loved about Christmas this year is that I got to spend time with my family and friends. Something I enjoy the most is good company. 

Here are somethings that I received for Christmas this year:

J.Crew Pink Studs (Left)

Twinings Assorted Tea Selection

Starbucks Rodarte Mug

NARS hearts Vancouver Collection

J. Crew Pink Bangle

NARS hearts Vancouver Collection

NARS hearts Vancouver Makeup Bag

NARS hearts Vancouver Nail Polish in Saratoga

NARS hearts Vancouver Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara

NARS hearts Vancouver Lipstick in Dolce Vita

NARS hearts Vancouver Blush in Orgasm

Burton Snowboard Jacket

Nike Dri Fit Workout Shirt

Forever Living Bee Propolis Cream

Lindt Lindor White Chocolate Truffles Mmmm Mmmm Goodness from my BFF