March 2016 - Month in Masks & Mask Empties

As most of you know by now, my Skincare Routine is very important to me and masking is a huge part of that routine (and it is probably my favorite part of my skincare routine! 

This post is a review of all the masks I use each month and mini reviews on all of them - 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! 

My goal this month was to use a mask every single day (because I did so terribly in February!) and I pretty much met that goal - with the exception of a couple of days! 

Spring 2016 FabFitFun - Unboxing and Review

FabFitFun is a quarterly lifestyle box! For $57.99 USD for Canadians, (FabFitFun is $49.99 in the U.S.A.) at the start of each season, they guarantee you will receive at least $100 worth of items - generally the past boxes have all had well over $200 worth of goodies in them! 

FabFitFun has been shipping to Canada for over a year now and I have been pretty happy with the FabFitFun boxes - this is one of my favorite subscriptions! I stick to it despite the crappy exchange rate because the value is always there!!! (I have to say the Winter 2015 box was not my favorite but I saw a few spoilers for the Spring box and had to get it!)

The Spring 2016 Box is their 3rd anniversary box! Here is a look at the Spring FabFitFun box:

Lately, all the FabFitFun boxes have come with really pretty designs - this one was also quite a bit bigger than regular! 

March 2016 - Bath Time Box Review

Bath Time Box is a Canadian bath subscription box (started right here in Alberta - yay!!!). 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 

The box ships on the 21st or 22nd of every month - it ships quickly and arrives in a few days! 

Here is a look at the March 2016 Bath Time Box:

This month looks like it has a great mix of products - I love when I see skincare in Bath Time Box (their Rose toner is my holy grail!) 

Manicure Monday - Rainbow Honey "Rosey Bot"

Happy Manicure Monday everyone! I have done a few nail art looks in a row so I thought for this week, I would just do a simple, beautiful polish look! (plus, I have had a couple of Easter dinners this weekend and not a lot of time!)

Here is a look at the polish I used:

I love the micro-glitter in this polish - it is stunning! 

Essence Eyeshadow Palette All About Vintage - Review, Swatches, and Makeup Looks!

This is one of the palettes I bought on my big makeup shopping trip in the U.S. - the Essence All About Vintage Palette (I read that this is an exclusive palette with Essence and Target, so you can only purchase it at Target!)

Essence All About Vintage... Eyeshadow Palette ~ $5.49 US. All about… beautiful eyes! Gorgeous eyeshadow palettes with eight complementing, buildable colors and multiple finishes; satin, matte and metallic effects.

March 2016 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Topbox

Here is the breakdown comparison of Ipsy vs. Topbox for March:

Both boxes came with great values! Here is a closer look at each box:

Five on Friday - March 25, 2016

Happy Easter Weekend everyone! I am super excited that I get a 4-day weekend this weekend and I'm going to enjoy the extra couple of days off! 

ONE

Hopefully you guys noticed my biggest change - a new header! And a few new categories! I have also linked my Facebook page! 

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Sokol Blosser Rose of Pinot Noir + Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Strawberry)

Wine and Mask Wednesday - this week's theme is "Strawberry"! 

Here is a look at my Mask of the Week:

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask "Strawberry" ~ $1.62 CAN. Get supple and translucent skin with the strawberry It's real squeeze mask! 

March 2016 - Topbox Review and Unboxing

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. There is usually a month or two waitlist for this subscription. 

For this month, I requested a prive Topbox - here is a look at what I received:

For this subscription, you choose an organza bag or a cardboard tube for it to ship in - I always choose these bags as I find so many uses for them! 

Manicure Monday - Easter Nails!! Bunny, Chick and Easter Egg Nails Tutorials

I'm loving the Spring-y nails and now that it is officially Spring, I can jump right in! It is Easter week and I love Easter colours! Here is a look at what I came up with for Easter nails:

I had so much fun coming up with these nails! I did not take a picture of all the products I used because there was a lot! 

• Formula X Nail Cleanser, Base Coat, and Top Coat
• Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White On (white base polish)
• Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Breezy Blue (light blue)
• Essie in Go Ginza (light purple)
• Ciate polish in Big Yellow Taxi (yellow)
• Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Bubblegum Pink (light pink)
• Orange, black and white nail art polish
• nail dotting tool 

This Manicure is broken down in to 3 tutorials - the bunny, the chick, and the Easter eggs!

March 2016 Ipsy Glambag - Unboxing and Review

Ipsy is one of the original 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 - you will have to factor in our crazy exchange rate right now!)

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.

This month's bag is really cute - and the theme this month is "Hello Spring"! 

Hmmm... there was some really great sneak peeks this month, but I didn't seem to get any of them. Here is a closer look at this month's products:

Skincare Sunday - Lise Watier Hydraforce Cream, Hydration Device and App, and Event Review

I am very happy to continued to be accepted in to Glamsense campaigns through Topbox. This campaign was all about the new line from Lise Watier - Hydraforce! 

This came with a full sized Hydraforce creme and a hydration device to test it all with! 

Five on Friday - March 18, 2016

Time for another Five on Friday - sorry this one is a little late! 

ONE

This week was rough for me - does anyone else hate Daylight Savings Time? Ugh.. I lost a whole hour of sleep this week and I just could not catch up! I was such a mess about the spring forward deal that this was actually a really hard week! 

TWO

This past weekend I had the chance to participate in Cops and Crepes - all over Alberta, Law Enforcement officers volunteered at our local Cora restaurants to raise money for the Alberta Special Olympics! Such a great cause and it is so fun to do!

Tarte Tartelette Tease Eyeshadow Palette - Review, Swatches, and Makeup Looks

Before my U.S. shopping haul, I hadn't treated myself to a new palette for a while! I had been considering quite a few Tarte palettes, and settled on the "Tease" palette as it had some beautiful shades!

While I did personally buy this is the U.S., I will post all the information in Canadian dollars as it is available on Sephora Canada! 

Tarte "Tartelette Tease" ~ $30.00 CAN. Create amazing shadow looks with this clay-infused, pocket-perfect version of tarte’s bestselling Tartelette™ palette. It features four everyday matte shadows paired with two captivating lusters so you can refresh, define, and transition your eyes from day to evening. The flirty, flattering shades feature lid, crease, and highlight pairings so tartelettes can create modern, alluring looks without the guesswork. Powered by tarte’s signature Amazonian clay formula, these shadows offer the same pigmented payoff, blendability, and wear time as with the original tartelette palette, but in a chic, petite case. 

Manicure Monday - St. Patrick's Day 4-leaf Clover Nails

Time for another Manicure Monday - this week is my St. Patrick's Day themed nails! I did 4-leaf Clover Nail Art; here is a look at my nails of the week:

Here are the products I used for this week's Mani:

Skincare Sunday - Les Soins de Jacynthe (Maison Jacynthe) Beauty Essentials Trio Review

I love discovering Canadian brands, especially when they are 100% natural as well! Les Soins de Jacynthe was developed in Quebec by Jacynthe Rene, an actress, producer and author. She has an online magazine, jmagazine.ca where she focuses on diet, health, and natural beauty. 

Les Soins de Jacynthe joined PETA's "Beauty Without Bunnies Program" as one their cruelty free companies. 

Beauty Essentials Trio ~ $130.20. Use cleansing oil to cleanse and remove makeup. Rinse. Spray floral water and while the skin is still damp, apply serum. Don’t forget your eyes and neck. Morning and evening. No creme needed.

Five on Friday - March 11, 2016

This is getting up a little late today - it has been a super busy week! I was hoping to get more posts up but haven't found a lot of time to myself! 

ONE

Do you guys use essential oils? A couple of weeks ago a friend hosted a doTERRA party and I just received my order for a couple of things! I thought these introductory oils would be a great place to start to see if I actually use them or not! 

Wine and Mask Wednesday (Lush Fresh Mask Oatifix and It's Wine O'Clock Somewhere Pinot Grigio)

Time for Wine and Mask Wednesday - this week's theme is "Made in Canada"! 

Here is a look at my Mask of the Week:

Lush Oatifix Fresh Face Mask ~ $9.95. Few things are more soothing than a big bowl of banana porridge, all sweet and squishy. Did you know the same is true for your skin? Sensitive, dry or irritated faces love Oatifix for its calming oats, softening mashed banana and ground almonds to slough away flaky skin. Keep in mind that dry skin doesn’t just occur in the winter! The sun can be equally harsh, as UV rays penetrate the dermis and heat can leave you feeling tight and dry. Use Oatifix year-round on sensitive, dry skin in need of nourishment to keep it flexible and soft.

Manicure Monday (Daisy Nail Art) and Monthly Pedicure (Julep Stardust Finish)

One of the things I love about Mondays are my Manicures - I'm always looking forward to what I'm going to do next! It has been beautiful out and it made me daydream of Spring, so this week I'm going to do Daisy Nail Art! 

Here is a look at what I came up with:

Here are the products I used for this week's Mani:

Skincare Sunday Product Review - Vichy Ideal Body "Aqua Sorbert"

Happy Sunday everyone! This week I am featuring a new product by Vichy - The "Ideal Body Aqua Sorbet" Hydrating and Firming Body Sorbet. This lotion was just released in February 2016! 

Vichy Ideal Body Aqua Sorbet ~ 400 ml for $29.95 or 200 ml for $22.50. The first body treatment with an ultra-refreshing texture to keep skin feeling fresh and energetic from morning until evening.

Lush Shopping Haul - Easter Goodies!

I have been trying to do well on my no-buy since my U.S. shopping haul; but, the Easter goodies at Lush look amazing and I got a gift card for Christmas so I had to go! I was so excited to get my hands on some of these! 

Here is a look at the goodies I bought! 

Carrot Wrapped Gift ~ $39.95. This fresh and energetic collection of Easter treats is packed with uplifting essential oils and feel-good fragrances. It features two brand-new creations: the bright and juicy Bouncy Bunny and the gift-exclusive Spring Bunny. Plus, returning favorites include the delightfully sweet Fluffy Egg and the even more colorful Bunch of Carrots Reusable Bubble Bar with an uplifting buchu scent!

Five on Friday - March 4, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! Hop everyone had a great week! Mine was okay, but this week seemed to drag on - I'm glad it is the weekend! 

ONE

This past weekend, some coworkers and I participated in the Polar Plunge! A bunch of Law Enforcement Members in Alberta get together and take the jump to raise money for the Polar Plunge - this year it was sooo cold out! Yikes, but it was for a great cause! 

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Blue Fin Chardonnay + Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask)

Yay for another Wine and Mask Wednesday - this week's theme of the week is "Made in the U.S.A" 

My Mask of the Week is:

Juara Skincare Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Facial Mask ~ sample size 0.34 oz for $4.19 (full size is 3 oz for $37). A must for radiant skin, JUARA’s Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask utilizes the proven power of Indonesian turmeric. This powerful mask detoxifies, brightens and strengthens stressed, tired, dull-looking skin in one single application. Turmeric extract works to brighten and even out skin tone while providing antioxidant protection, kaolin clay purifies skin and refines pores and a touch of candlenut oil is added to soften and nurture skin. This unique mask is a great instant pick me up!

February 2016 Monthly Favourites!

Time to round up my top 5 products for February:

Peter Roth Anti-aging Cleansing Gel ~ sample size 2 oz. for $11.75 (full size is 8 oz. for $47). A luxurious, antiaging facial cleansing gel that provides an exhilarating, peachy clean freshness to help produce a beautiful, fresh, youthful-looking complexion. 

February 2016 Monthly Empties!

Time to dig through my beauty trash and see what I love and what I did not love:

Beauteque Foundation Brush ~ ??

I got this in a past Beauteque BB Bag but couldn't find which one, so I'm not sure the value of this one. It worked for a while, but wasn't really a favorite. And now it's broken...
Repurchase: No

February 2016 - Month in Masks & Mask Empties

As most of you know by now, my Skincare Routine is very important to me and masking is a huge part of that routine (and it is probably my favorite part of my skincare routine! 

This post is a review of all the masks I use each month and mini reviews on all of them - 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! 

Ugh, in advance you guys I did not use nearly enough masks this month and I can tell you that my skin was not happy with this! My goal to make up for this in March is to use a mask every single day! 

February 3
Passport to Beauty - Gold Radiance Luxury Facial Mask with Collagen and Rose Oil ~ 1 mask for $32.50 ($65 for 2 mask set). Egyptians believed the healing powers of gold could cure all manner of physical, mental and spiritual ailments. Romans used gold preparations for treatment of skin lesions and sores. It is believed that Cleopatra wore pure gold for a radiant complexion. In ancient Chinese medicine, gold was the secret to youthful skin. 

Manicure Monday - Chanel "Miami Peach" and Sally Hansen Nail Stickers "Black to Basics"

Whoops, I did do my nails yesterday night, but did not get the post about it done right away! 

I was thinking texture and patterns but didn't have a lot of time, so I reached for the Sally Hansen nail stickers my husband got me for Christmas! 

Here are the products I used for this week's Manicure: