Five on Friday - September 25, 2015

*~*~*Holiday Note*~*~*
Hello my lovely readers - I'm a taking some quick holidays!!
Just a heads up, there will be no posts from Saturday September 26, 2015 to Sunday October 11, 2015 - posts will resume on Monday October 12, 2015! 

ONE
I'm on my way to Turks and Caicos for my HONEYMOON!!!!!

I'm so excited - I can't wait to be in paradise!!! 

September 2015 Favorites!

Here are my Top 5 Favourite products for the month of September!

Bath Time Box Rose & Aloe Toner ~ $7.50. Oh how we love Rose Water on our summer kissed skin. Combine that with the super soothing Aloe and Vitamin E and you have a gentle, alcohol free toner that tightens and soothes at the same time. This unscented toner is suitable for application on sunburned skin as well as the freshly cleansed face. 

September 2015 - Empties!

Time for another Monthly Empties!! (I loved watching empties videos & reading blog posts - so I am jumping on the empties bandwagon - this is my 5th month and I have been loving it!)

(Also, just as a note I will only be showing empties of make-up, skincare, body and hair products - the rest you don't need to see (like toothpaste, etc.)! I won't be showing any sheet masks here either because I review my whole Month in Masks in a separate post, but I will include masks in packages that I have finished!)

Let's get right in:

LaNatura Travel-size Body Butter in "Avocado Superfruit" ~ $18. Avocados famed nutritive components make it one of natures most effective emollients. Its sumptuous, therapeutic ingredients are reputed to heal scars and prevent premature aging. A natural moisturizer, avocado oil minimizes fine wrinkles and soothes irritation. It is also said to protect skin from the suns ultraviolet rays and contains vitamins A, C, D and E. Formulated with organically grown shea butter to deeply moisturize and repair dry irritated skin, and added essential oils of white tea, ylang ylang, coriander, clary sage, ho leaf and sweet orange to calm.

September 2015 - Month of Masks in Review (Mask Empties)

Time for another Month of Masks/ Mask Empties for September (with my holidays, this really only goes up to September 24 - the rest of September will be included in October!)

Here is a look:

September 1
Baviphat Strawberry Toxifying Mask ~ $15 - $20. "This deep cleansing wash-off clay mask helps to tighten pores, control sebum and give relief to troubled skin. The Baviphat Strawberry Toxifying Mask contains strawberry extract (sebum control and acne prevention) and fruit acids full of Vitamin C that can help remove dead skin cells and tighten pores. Also, antoxidants help to prevent skin problems will reveal bright and clear skin while simultaneously helping to stave off the effects of ageing, such as enlarged pores as well as troubled skin problems.  Also included in the kit is a spatula for hygienic purposes."

Product Review - PerlaCoco Mint Oil Pulling Pack

I have to admit, as a wine and a coffee drinker, I probably don't have the whitest teeth in the world! I have had them proffessionally cleaned prior to the wedding but I find it doesn't last a very long time (again, I'm not willing to give up my coffee or wine at this point) so I am looking for a longer term solution! 

PerlaCoco contacted me and offered to send me a two week trial of their oil-pulling product! I considered saying no because it's not neccessarily a "beauty" related product; but, I have heard so many good things about oil-pulling from friends and was actually really excited to try this!! 

Here is how PerlaCoco describes their product:

"PerlaCoco has reinvented the ancient secret of oil pulling to give everyone the opportunity of having a healthy mouth. 

Many people spend thousands of dollars on oral products like mouthwash, teeth whitening, and many more that in the end hurt your oral health. 

PerlaCoco has created an enjoyable experience that yields far more benefits than the investment involved. PerlaCoco has created a 100% Natural Oral product consisting of a flavored coconut oil twist leaving your mouth clean and refreshed. 

PerlaCoco helps whiten teeth, clear gingivitis, removes bad breath along with many more benefits. Reward your mouth by adding PerlaCoco to your morning routine!"

PerlaCoco is a little different than oil pulling with regular coconut oil as it is flavoured with spearmint, so it tastes better and make it's easier to oil pull! 

PerlaCoco offers a 2, 4, and 6 week program:

• 2 weeks for $32.98 CDN ($24.75 USD)
• 4 weeks for $52.64 CDN ($39.50 USD)
• 6 weeks for $69.30 CDN ($52.00 USD)

I received the two week program. It was shipped quickly and arrived in a small bubble mailer - here is a look inside the package:

Mini Shopping Haul - Mall, Drugstore, and K-Beauty Goodies

This is just a little haul as I had to pick a couple of things before the trip! I stopped by a couple stores in the mall and quickly to a drugstore - here is a look at the couple things I picked up! 

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil ~ $4.89. Bring your lips back to beautiful. This replenishing and hydrating natural lip balm is infused with the antioxidant goodness of pomegranate oil. It replenishes moisture to reveal smooth, healthy-looking lips, while it coats them with a hint of colour for an even-toned appearance.

My ultimate favorite lipbalm - this was a must before a vacation! 

Mini Shopping Haul - Sephora 2.0

I know I just put in a Sephora order, but since I got the wrong color of foundation so I had to quickly get another one! 

Here is a look at what I put in for my second order! 

Sephora Collection Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation in "Cream" ~ $30.00. A beautiful, lightweight, moisturizing foundation with a natural, barely-there finish. 

This was the item I had to get a second one of to get the right color (I returned the first one no problem!) I love this foundation - it is very lightweight and wears really well! 

Shopping Haul - Sephora Makeup and Skincare

I needed to put in a Sephora order ASAP (I broke a foundation and ran out of my beauty blender cleanser!). I like that Sephora has made free shipping for over $50 now instead of $75 - I have also noticed that since the Canadian wharehouse opened up, shipping is much quicker. 

Sephora Collection Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation #26 "Peach" ~ $30.00. A beautiful, lightweight, moisturizing foundation with a natural, barely-there finish.

So, I didn't look at past orders and just selected the color that matched my color IQ - turns out it is not the color I have been wearing! Needs to be returned! 

September 2015 - Topbox Review

TopBox is a Canadian Beauty Box Subscription - for $12 CDN a month with free shipping, you will receive 4 deluxe sample size or full size products. You fill out a beauty profile and generally receive products based on what you have identified in the profile. Also, every month you have the option to wish for a "prive" box, which is a box that focuses on one brand or product for the whole box.

TopBox is a Canadian company and only ships to Canada. The only downside to subscribing to TopBox is that there is a wait-list that can take a month or two to get off of.

For September, I opted for the regular Topbox (and I picked a $10 add-on this month for the first time! Here's a look:

My first impressions are not the greatest with this box, but here is a closer look at the products:

Manicure Monday - ORLY Nail BB Creme

Time for another Manicure Monday!!! 

So sadly this week is not going to be anything crazy! I ripped my nail in half playing basketball this weekend (sad face... I should have cut the before but I thought I would be okay..) and since I leave on my honeymoon I needed something that could last or was an easy fix:

ORLY BB Creme - Makeup for Nails

Five on Friday - September 18, 2015

I hope everyone had a great week, mine was quite busy and I have a really busy weekend coming up - my work is in the Corporate Challenge so I have a couple of events to attend and participate in! I will be looking forward to a relaxing Sunday! 

ONE

Purple Soup!!! Yum!!! So I actually used this recipe for Zucchini Summer Soup, but I changed a couple of things! I used purple yams instead of sweet potatoes and I used lentils instead of chick peas! It was delicious and I used the last of my garden zucchini! 

Shopping Haul - bh cosmetics

I have been in need of new face brushes for a while, but brushes can be crazy expensive! I heard some really great things about bh cosmetics brushes and the prices cannot be beaten! 

Here is a look at the goodies I bought:

Sculpt and Blend - 10 Piece Brush Set ~ $20.00 (original price $30.00). An artist is only as good as her tools, and our 10-piece Sculpt and Blend Brush Set is the ultimate toolkit for foolproof contouring, shading and illuminating your features. The elegant black and gold, dual-fiber collection — specially crafted for applying liquids, creams and powders — includes five face brushes and five  detailing brushes, making it easy to define your jawline, slim your nose, and create killer cheekbones, as well as highlight around eyes, fake fuller lips, and blend for a soft, seamless look. You’re ready for your close-up!

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Barefoot Moscato + The Face Shop Lemon Face Mask)

Time for another Wine and Mask Wednesday - this week's theme is "Lemon"! 

Here is a look at the Wine of the Week:

Make-up Post - "Strobing"

I'm not always one to jump on the make-up trends (you still will not see me doing any type of crazy contouring), but I was excited when I heard of strobing! Strobing is essentially just really intense highlighting, or contouring without the shading!  

Here are the products I use for Strobing:

Manicure Monday - Scratch Nail Wraps

Time for another Manicure Monday!! I am working all evening tonight, but I will not let that stop me from doing my nails tonight!! 

I will be using these Scratch wraps:

Skincare Sunday - New Product Review Joe Fresh Face Mask

Alright, so who knew that Joe Fresh (Superstore) was in to the k-beauty masks now?! I briefly mentioned it in a drugstore shopping haul back in August, but I have yet to try them yet! 

They have a couple of different kinds - here is a look at the mask I am reviewing tonight:

Joe Fresh Deep Cleansing Mask Seaweed Extract ~ $2.00 or 3 for $5.00. Nourishing seaweed penetrates pores to purify, leaving skin soft, smooth and refreshed.
*These masks are only available in stores, not online.

Mini K-Beauty Haul - Tester Korea (Belif Products)

I have heard really great things about the brand Belif, and was excited when I saw that they were offering it at Sephora - but then I quickly realized that they were not available to Canadians (ugh, don't get me started on that!)

I really wanted to try this without buying full size, so I love that Tester Korea offers inexpensive sample sizes of tons of products!!! 

Here is a look at my mini Belif haul from Tester Korea:

I ordered 2 types of essences and 2 types of creams!! Here is a look:

Five on Friday - September 11, 2015

I feel like Friday came so quick this week (it did because it was only a 4 day work week!) I am happy to enjoy the weekend! 

ONE

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Copper Moon Rose + Sephora Lotus Sheet Mask)

Time for another Wine + Mask Wednesday (I actually did this last night, but went to bed super early without posting!)

My theme this week is "pink" - pink wine and a pink mask! fun! 

Mini Shopping Haul and Review - Skindinavia Finishing Sprays!

I did a lot of research when looking in to setting sprays for my wedding date - I heard amazing things about Skindinavia and chose to buy their spray!! 

Skindinavia is based out of Switzerland and my order shipped surprisingly fast for coming from overseas! (If you are ordering, note that shipping could take a while so don't order this the week before your wedding and expect it to make it on time!!)

Here is a look at my order:

The Makeup Finishing Spray Bridal ~ 8 oz for $39 (or 4 oz for $29). Kiss-proof, cry-proof and sweat-proof, Skindinavia’s ultra-fine spray is specially designed to resist the effects of excess moisture and helps keep makeup looking flawless.
Our award-winning mist controls stress-induced shine and keeps makeup photo-ready for up to 16 hours. Recommended for all skin types.

I heard this Skindinavia product is amazing!! I bought this for my wedding and it is amazing!!! It lasts through weather and tears and is superb! It is also a huge bottle so it will last forever! 

Skincare Sunday Product Review - Shangpree Gold Premium Modeling Mask

Ever since I got this Shangpree Gold Premium Modeling Mask in the Peach and Lily Seoulcialite 2.0 box, I have been dying to try it!! It looks so cool and hilarious - which is the best part about k-beauty products! 

Here is a look at the mask:

Shangpree Gold Premium Modeling Mask ~ 1 mask for $10 (set of 5 for $98). Get ready for the newest trend in Korean Beauty: Modeling "Rubber" Masks. Bring the luxury of a spa directly to your home by indulging in this hydrating, anti-aging mask. Rich gold and nourishing Asian botanicals are concentrated in this rubbery skin conditioning treatment to provide long-lasting moisture retention, remove impurities, and re-energize & revitalize skin. Each session will leave you with the appearance of firmer, hydrated, and more youthful looking skin.

The instructions on the mask are simple: mix Pack 1 and Pack 2, apply to face, leave for 15-20 minutes, peel off mask. 

Irresistible Me Royal Remy Hair Extensions - How To and Review!

This product was provided complimentary for my honest review - I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own

I was very excited when I was contacted by Irresistible Me to review their hair extensions! While I have long hair, it is also very thin - I have considered buying hair extensions before to help my hair appear thicker! 

Irresistible Me offers a couple of types of hair extensions - I have chosen to review the Royal Remy Hair Extensions in #2 Royal Chocolate Brown. 

For 200g of 24 inch hair, the cost is $319 (the extensions start at $129) - Irresistible Me is constantly having sales so you can usually get a percentage off the extensions! The Silky Touch hair extensions are also Remy hair, and are less expensive than the Royal Remy extensions.

August 2015 - Month of Masks in Review (Mask Empties)

This post is a review of all the masks I use each month - I also consider the Month of Masks my Mask Empties post, because I do not feature my sheet masks in my monthly empties post! You can check out my past Month of Masks here! 

Let's jump right in:

August 1

Tony Moly Panda Dream Eye Patch ~ $1.80. Improves dark circle 60g's the most suitable for eye skin - strong adherence black sheet - it makes the eye area brighter after use.

August 2015 Empties!

Time for another Monthly Empties!! (I loved watching empties videos & reading blog posts - so I am jumping on the empties bandwagon - this is my 4th month and I have been lo!)

(Also, just as a note I will only be showing empties of make-up, skincare, body and hair products - the rest you don't need to see! I won't be showing any sheet masks here either because I review my whole Month in Masks in a separate post, but I will include masks in packages that I have finished!)

Let's get right in:

Lush Fresh Face Mask "Catastrophe Cosmetic" ~ $9.95. A cooling, calming, deep cleansing blueberry mask for sore and troubled skin.
This mask is amazing - I have featured it before on a Wine + Mask Wednesday and you can check out the full review here. This mask is made with blueberries and smells soooo good! I love using this! It dries quite quickly, but does take a few rinses to remove entirely. These masks are made with fresh ingredients so it does need to be used up within a month! I repurchase this every few months. 

Five on Friday - September 4, 2015

It is really hard to go straight back to work and real life right after a wedding - I have had a really busy week so I am happy it is Friday!! 

ONE

Obviously the biggest news of my life is that I got married last week!!! Here is my beautiful wedding dress by Eddy K. I loved this - the lace was gorgeous and the whole dress was super soft and very comfortable! 

August 2015 Beauty box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Topbox

This is my second month of just comparing Topbox and Ipsy (June was my last month of Birchbox Canada and May was my last month of Beauty Box 5) - so far I am happy with my decision to keep these 2 and cancel the other 2. 

Here is my chart comparison for August 2015:

Here is a look at both subscriptions:

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Kung Fu Girl Riesling + My Beauty Diary Citrus Firming Aroma Mask)

Ahhh, time for another Wine + Mask Wednesday! This week's theme is "citrus"!

 Here is a look at the Wine of the Week:

August 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag - Beauty Subscription Review

Ipsy is one of the inexpensive beauty bag sample subscriptions. You receive 4-5 deluxe sample size or full size products each month. The cost is $10 US (+ $4.95 shipping to Canada). 

Ipsy is generally make-up products with a mix of skincare, nail polish, and hair products based on a beauty profile you complete. There is usually 12-18 products that are selected from each month! You can view your "glam room" online that tells you all the products you will receive each month. You also receive a make-up bag each month with your products.

Ipsy arrived sooo late this month (on August 31) - it seems that every time I get an add on point item, I am the last to receive my bag. I hate to sound like a whiner, but when people get theirs on the 14th/15th mine should arrive around then too!  Here is a look at the August Ipsy bag:

This month's theme is "Prep School". This month's bag is cute - I like the hounds-tooth pattern, but am not a huge fan of the material. 

August 2015 - Bath Time Box Review

This box has been provided for an honest review - all opinions are my own!!

Bath Time Box is a newer Canadian subscription box (started right here in Alberta - yay!!!) - the first box shipped in February. Bath Time Box focuses on products to help you rediscover bath time - I love baths so this box is right up my alley!

Bath Time Box is described as: 

"Designed and curated with the Bath lover in mind, each Bath Time Box contains 5 full and deluxe sample sized bath products carefully chosen to take your bath time to the next level.  Each box is carefully chosen with a focus on Natural and Handcrafted products. 

Delivered to you monthly, each box will hold an assortment of luxurious milk baths, scintillating bubble baths, invigorating scrubs, nourishing lotions and so much more."

Bath Time Box is $29.00 monthly + free shipping. (If you sign up for 3 months, it is $85, and 12 months is $335 + free shipping).

Also, if you are interested in purchasing items that you see in box, you can go the Bath Time Box store: www.bathtimestore.com (I have made purchases for extra soap because they are all sooo good!)

The box ships on the 21st or 22nd of every month - it ships quickly and arrives in a few days (I received this last week as I was on my brief blogging break). Here is a look at the August 2015 Bath Time Box:

In July, Bath Time Box changed their boxes to smaller boxes which I think is a great idea! The products did not get smaller because of this and it makes sense as Canada Post is expensive to ship with! 

August 2015 Beauteque Mask Maven - Mask Subscription Review

Beauteque is an American company that focuses on creating a beauty bag subscription featuring Asian Beauty products. Beauteque launched their original "BB Bag" Subscription in January of this year and their "Mask Maven" was just launched a couple months later in March.

The Mask Maven subscription is described as:

"The Mask Maven is a luxurious subscription service offering a lovely assortment of masks each month to keep your skin smooth, soft, and spectacular. 

You will receive all kinds of masks including face sheet masks, hand and feet masks, hair masks, wash off masks, and more."

Beauteque Mask Maven is $15 monthly - if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save a little money: $14 per month if you sign up for 6 months, or $13 per month if you sign up for 12 months. Shipping per month is $3.95 for the U.S., $5.95 to Canada, and $8.95 to Europe. Each month you can expect to receive 9-11 masks of all varieties.

*So I initially signed up for 3 months, which was March-May and the subscription was a little disorganized and had too many repeat items. I actually forgot to cancel my sub. For June-Aug and I am happy I stuck around, because Mask Maven stepped it up with some much needed improvements last month - same masks for all subscribers (with only a few that could be different types), more brand variety, and a product card! Again, great improvements*

Here is a look at the August 2015 Mask Maven:

Looks like a great mix of masks! 

Mask Genie Special Edition Mask Pouch Oriental Beauty Pouch #2 - LoveMore Silk Mask Pouch Review

Mask Genie is a facial mask subscription service - to get more information and see my reviews on the subscription pouches, you can go here.

In addition to a subscription service, Mask Genie also offers some specially curated Limited Edition pouches once in a while!

This pouch is the Oriental Beauty Pouch #2, and contains 10 masks by the Lovemore brand. (I initially did not purchase this pouch, but once I heard the reviews on the Lovemore masks I had to grab it as soon as it restocked!). This Limited Edition pouch was $26, with worldwide shipping included! (This pouch took almost 2 months to ship to Canada, but Mask Genie explained this has happened quite a bit as some of the ingredients get inspected upon import).

Lovemore is a Taiwanese brand and their sheet masks are 100% silk and use ancient Chinese herbal medicine ingredients in their masks for amazing skin benefits.

I love this different bag for the Limited Edition pouch; here is a look at all the masks included: