Empties & Update!

Hey guys!

Judging by my blogging absence, I've been slacking-BIG time!

I could give you a list of everything I do and complain about how busy I am..but who wants to hear excuses? Bottom line is, I love my blog and will stay committed to posting.

Okay, this is starting to sound like couples therapy. Without further adieu, my empties...

Body Shop Sweet Lemon Lip Butter: Won't repurchase, I found it tasted very sweet and didn't do anything out of the ordinary to moisturize my lips. That being said I don't regret using it.

Bumble&Bumble Seaweed Conditioner: Hefty price tag! The formulation and smell was lovely but I will most likely go for something cheaper next time. If you want to try something out from Bumble and Bumble, this might be a nice place to start.

Clinique Moisture Surge: I've raved about this before, and will always go back to it.

Mitchum Deodorant: HATED it! My friend concurs!

Crabree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil: I mostly used this during the summer. It was great for after sun. I would buy it again.

Pond's Facial Wipes: The best I've ever used. I couldn't find them last time I was at Shoppers and ended up getting the Nivea facial wipes but they pale in comparison.

Lush Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask: Yucky, I much preferred Brazened Honey. The smell of this product throws me off. If you don't mind garlic + tea tree + grapes + eggs you are a warrior and should give it a go. I won't repurchase.

Sephora Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner: I love this! I repurchased it about 2 weeks ago (I think?). Let me know if you want a separate review/demonstration.

Di Palomo Fig & Grape Shower Gel: This was heavenly and was included in my last favourites post.

I love how Empties Posts make me aware of everything I use. Sorry the photo didn't give a proper look at the packaging. 

Be Be Your Love - Rachael Yamagata

Dice - Finley Quaye

If Only - Fink

These are the songs I have on repeat! Please take a listen and let me know in the comments your favourite songs right now :) Or if you did an October Empties post leave me your links!

August Empties!

The end of August...good bye long, hot days. Hours spent on the beach reading shallow books and sporting swimsuits that are...hmm...less than figure flattering.

As much as I love the sunshine and general relaxation that takes place in July and August, fall is my favourite season. 

So I thought an Empties post would be an appropriate adieu to the season. Here are the products I was able to finish up this summer :)

Lever 2000 Body Wash: Can't say I loved the formulation of this product. I found it oddly gooey. It is a product my Mom reaches for so I thought I would give it a shot. If you want a really simple, inexpensive, moisturizing body wash this might be for you. I think I will try something different next time.

EOS Shave Cream: After using the EOS lip balms I HAD to try their shave cream. I bought the vanilla scent-smells amazing! The product itself is super rich and felt great on my legs! My only complaint is that I found it hard to use the entire product. While the pump worked well it didn't get all the product out. Since the bottle was so hard I couldn't cut it open like I did with other products. I would still buy this product again.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser: My current favourite cleanser. This was the mini bottle I took to my cottage. The full size is sitting in my shower, being perfect.

Tresemme Conditioner: Just a standard conditioner, helps detangle hair and moisturize my dry ends. I bought this travel size container in February but finished it up this month while at my cottage. It's cheap, easily accessible and does a decent job conditioning hair. If I don't find anything else that interests me I would probably repurchase.

Clinique Moisture Surge: I've raved about this product so much already. This is the third mini bottle I've finished along with another full size of the product. It works wonderfully making my skin feel supple and hydrated!

Bliss Body Butter Lemon + Sage: I dedicated an entire blog post to rave about this product. Unfortunately I think there are other, cheaper body butters so I most likely won't be purchasing the full size. Maybe I'll put it on my list for Santa..

Bliss Triple C + Oxygen: Just like the other Bliss product, I got it in the Sephora 500 pt. reward gift set. Therefore it isn't something I would necessarily buy with my own money. I liked using this at night before bed because when I woke up my skin always felt a bit better, not sure how else to describe it.

Lush Brazened Honey Mask: I got 3-4 uses out of this tin! I will for sure buy another Lush mask, I'm just not sure if I should buy this one or the Cupcake mask. I will keep you posted!

Crest 3D White Strips: I used this the day before a family reunion just to brighten up my smile. This took some of the yellow tinge (cringe at that description) out of my teeth. The effects didn't last very long but it was perfect for that day. I will use these again.

Thanks for reading! If you've done an Empties post please leave me a link. Hope you are all having a great day!

Links!

EOS Shaving Cream

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Clinique Moisture Surge

Bliss Body Butter

Bliss Triple C + Oxygen Energizing Cream

Lush Brazened Honey

Crest White Strips

Favourite Sunscreens!

Hiya! Before the sun disappears...I figured I should do this post! As some of you might know, I have very fair skin. It burns easily and over the past two years I have become a bit of a sunscreen junkie. I love finding the best stuff for my skin type and of course sun protection.

Here are the the products I've used for most of the summer!

 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face spf 45

Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum spf 40

Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion spf 30

Biotherm Lait Solaire spf 30

What all of these products have in common is  how good they feel on my skin. Most people associate sunscreen with being a nuisance to apply, feeling greasy or slimy etc. All of these dry to a matte finish (except coppertone) and leave skin feeling normal. They don't clog pores or cause acne! They do help prevent age spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. What's not to love? The prices on these range from $10-$25. Because I slather this on so frequently I try to buy cheaper products that are still effective. Have you tried any of these? What is your favourite sunscreen?

Products I Regret Buying #1

Hey everyone! Hope you are doing well, sorry the blog has been a bit slack as of late. Life has become very busy, this summer has certainly been a plot twist but I am enjoying it nonetheless!

These posts are pretty popular in the youtube world and blogosphere, I thought I might as well add my own take on the whiny, negative, 'products I regret buying' trend.

Herbal Essences Body Envy Mousse: I don't even remember why I purchased this in the first place. Honest to god it was so random. And especially embarrassing because I pride myself on being frugal! Anywho...this mousse didn't do anything for my hair (which is naturally flat). It promised body, volume, I envisioned something like the women in the commercials...but this product did no such thing. On top of that it smells very chemical-y *eeeewwww*

Lancome Eye Shadow Quad: This came in a gift set and I was very excited to try it. The colours are wearable and pigmented. Unfortunately (as the photo demonstrates) there is a TON of fallout and therefore these shadows are difficult to use.

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator: This colour isn't complimentary for my fair skin tone. It is kind of peachy with rose hues. It might work for someone with darker colour but it just didn't look right on me. Also, I found the product very streaky and it took a lot of blending to make it look (somewhat) natural.

Philosophy Marshmallows for Toasting Lipgloss: I loved the shimmer in this gloss, it is finely milled and looks lovely on the lips! However it is the stickiest gloss I have every used! And similar to the Herbal Essences mousse...the smell only contributed to my negative impression. It smelt more like burnt to a crisp marshmallows rather than the perfectly toasted ones I had in mind.

streaky!

Did you like this post? I had mixed feelings about doing it because it is sooo complain-y!

#firstworldproblems much?

Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer

I featured this in a haul in early July and haven't talked about it since. I love the idea of a two-in-one product. This claims to cover pimples while treating them. My skin usually reacts well to salicylic acid so I thought I'd give it a try, why not?

First of all...props to Clinique, the packaging dispenses a very small amount of concealer so you don't waste it. A little goes a long way! As a concealer it covers my spots quite well, blackheads and smaller pimples are easily covered and stay that way for 3-5 hours. However, I didn't find that it treated the acne itself. I was hoping after a few days spots would disappear...but no such luck. I ended up using facial masks to try dry out the pimple (sorry if this is getting too descriptive!) and then continued with normal skincare routine. Despite this I would still recommend it-the coverage is good, it didn't aggravate my skin, but it didn't provide an "acne solution". One more tip, do not try this for the under eye area! As you can see from the photos, it creases. Save this concealer for the spots! If you are interested you can purchase it on their website.

Here's a glimpse into my life! ^^^ As if beauty bloggers aren't overexposed enough. I don't instagram etc but I still wanted to show you a little part of my day. Here's three things to note... 1) Lately I've been using my agenda so much-with my new job it has really come in handy for organizing meetings, important dates, travel etc! 2) If you live in Canada go to the Super Store right now-this president's choice drink is too good (pomegranate cranberry sparkling fruit juice). 3) And lastly, one of my favourite youtubers, Lorraine Stanick! I've been watching her videos for years, if you haven't seen them yet check out her channel here!

That's all for now, hope you are having a good week! Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Favourite After Sun Products

Hi everyone! Hope you're summer is going well. To all my beauty blogging friends in England, I am sorry about the weather you've had this summer. From what I've read on twitter there has been a lot of cloudy days. In my corner of Canada we've had some lovely (and well-deserved) sunshine! After enjoying this luxury I try to use after-sun, in an attempt to sooth my skin. Even if I don't get burned, tanned, touched by the sun etc etc it's still feels good to apply these creams. They feel cooling and are another good way to look after your skin.

Crabtree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil: My Mom introduced me to this product. I'd read in a magazine that jojoba oil is great for after sun. It feels extremely moisturizing and non-greasy. I love to slather this on, as it smells fantastic! I'm crap at describing scents, but I suppose this smells warm and maybe spicy? Feel free to make fun of me in the comments because I know that was dismal. :P

Price: $22.00

Clinique After Sun Rescue Balm with Aloe: Your standard aloe cream, this is perfect for even the worst burns. It never stings but rather soothes irritated skin. The bottle is actually HUGE! You get a ton of product. When I go on 'warm weather vacations' down south this is a product I always take-I definitely recommend trying this if you are looking for something with aloe.

Price: $23.00

Biotherm After Sun Body Milk: After I use this product I notice a dramatic difference in my skin. It calms de-hyrdrated, burnt skin. Using Vitamins B5 and E as well as a variety of essential oils. There are many other products in this range including an After Sun Face Cream and Sparkle Cream *.* 

Price: $29.00

Let me know about your favourite after sun :) Also, if you like reading posts like this leave me a comment-I always respond and love reading them!

Haulin'

In Canada we have a store called Shoppers. Where I live, one half of the shop carries brands like Dior, Benefit, Clarins and other 'high end' ranges. While the other half carries drug store brands such as Revlon, Maybelline and Essie. I personally love this way of shopping, it's easy, convenient and allows the consumer to compare price point. I went to Shoppers to buy nail polish remover but after much perusing I bought a few other items...

I know in my June Empties post I said I would wait for another sample size of the Clinique Moisture Surge but I couldn't help myself! I also really wanted to try their clearing concealer, I purchased the shade 01. I've used it once and so far so good (coverage-wise). I like the concept of treating acne while concealing. The salicylic acid is what drew me into this product. Though I'm currently loving my Neutrogena sunblock Biotherm has never let me down and I decided I wanted to try their spf 30.  

In other news I finished perks of being a wallflower and LOVED it! I didn't realize it had such a cult following but now I understand why. It's actually such an amazing novel, the characters were perfectly crafted and I can't wait to watch the film adaptation of this book. Now I'm reading skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel. Personally I think sarcasm is the spice of life and therefore I'm enjoying this beach read but if you don't get dry humour this isn't the book for you. 

What are you currently reading? Have you tried any of the products mentioned in this haul? Let me know! :)

June Empties!

Clinique Moisture Surge: Extremely hydrating, doesn't clog pores or irritate my skin. Works well under makeup in the morning, at night or as a 5 minute moisture mask. Downside is the packaging, jars are unsanitary. Repurchase? Yes, or I will wait to get more deluxe sample sizes that come in the more hygienic tube.


Lancome Creme Radiance Cleanser: Lasted 6 months! A little goes a long way with this product. Smells good, formula really cleans skin. Downside is the price (over $40) yikes! Repurchase? Not right now as I have been loving my Cetaphil cleanser.


Sephora by OPI Nail Polish Remover: Gentle but powerful! Removes the glittery-ist of nail polishes. Not much else I can say besides I like the sleek look of the bottle. Repurchase? Again, no because of price. The drugstore nail polish remover is just as good.


Neutrogena Sport Face Spf 70+: Loved this product. Seriously protected my skin and didn't smell like your traditional sunscreen. Despite being a think cream it was absorbed relatively quickly. Repurchase? I bought this in America and haven't found it yet in Canada..


I know I don't have very many to share, and truth be told, I don't go through many products :P
Let me know what you think and maybe I'll keep doing "empties" posts! Hope you're having a good weekend, is anyone celebrating Canada Day??


xx Veronica

Genuinely Generic

Here comes a classic post about pink lipgloss...before you discriminate and close this tab, remember that sometimes the generic posts are the best (although I'm not making any promises)! :P 

I'm trying to use up products like this Clinique lipgloss with SPF 15 before I make my next Sephora run. To be honest it's your solid, average gloss. A little shine, virtually no pigmentation, a pleasant smell and, of course, a tad sticky. To me this is a beauty essential-not because it is necessary in terms of daily makeup routine but 'collection wise'. 

It's just like that clumpy mascara, or the blush you never thought was just right. We all have products that we can't quite rave about. On the other hand we can't make a post bashing them. Instead we enjoy what they are while they last.

Do you have any products like this?

Review/Ramble: Clinique Powder

Although I would classify myself as a 'liquid foundation kind of girl' I dabble in powder every once in a while.


I bought this clinique face powder duty free in Newark Airport. Total steal-I paid less than $15 american! When I want a more matte finish to my skin I apply this using the Sonia Kaschuk powder brush. It has a flat top and is good for both packing product on and blending. 


It feels smooth and silky on my skin and the packaging is very compact so I can carry it in my purse and reapply during the day. Another powder I am curious about is by NARS. I've only ever used NARS blush and lipgloss but have enjoyed both. What do you think, do you have any recommendations?

Hope you're all having a great week, happy hump day! :P