Skincare Sunday Product Review - Upper Canada Naturally Face Sheet Mask Soothing Cucumber

This month with the Canadian Beauty Bloggers group, we are focusing on Canadian brands! Upper Canada Soap is a Canadian company that is over 45 years old and focus on using natural Canadian ingredients (I will say that this mask was made in Korea, but most sheet masks are with any company!)

Upper Canada Naturally Face Sheet Mask Soothing Cucumber ~ $3.50. Soothing – reduces puffiness and redness. The ultimate nourishment for your face! Each mask uses a unique fabric blend that tightly hugs the contours of the face allowing for the most effective penetration of our wholesome and natural essential ingredients.

July 2016 Bath Time Box - Unboxing and 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 July 2016 Bath Time Box:

This box always comes neatly packaged in a little white box and I find the products are always neatly wrapped! 

Five on Friday - July 29, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! It's a long weekend her too and I'm looking forward to it! 

Also, for all of us Harry Potter geeks out there, it is the weekend where the latest Harry Potter book will come out!!! I'm so excited for the 31st as here in Calgary, one community is having the streets turned in to Diagon Alley for the day! If you don't already, follow me on Instagram here to follow along for the awesome day!

ONE

I was so excited this week when I saw Mediheal masks this week in Superstore! Mediheal makes some of my favorite masks! They were very affordable with the "Ade" masks being $1.49 and the Healing Solution mask was $3.29. If you guys love Mediheal or are interested in trying them, head to you local Superstore! 

Also, earlier this week I tested out the Cacao Ade mask - you can see it here! 

Mask Wednesday - Beauty Clinic Mediheal Cacao (Cocoa) Ade Mask

Happy Mask Wednesday friends - I love this night of the week! I was so happy earlier today when I went in my local Superstore today and I saw Mediheal masks on display! I love Mediheal - their masks are amazing! 

Beauty Clinic Mediheal Cacao (Cocoa) Ade Mask ~ $1.99 online ($1.49 at Superstore). Beauty Clinic Mediheal Mask provides the freshness and effectiveness of ingredients efficiently to provide nutrition for your skin with the synergy effect of concentrated essence. Beauty Clinic Mediheal Cacao Ade Mask keeps your face moist. This raw cacao is a great anti-oxidant mask delivered to your skin.

July 2016 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Topbox

Here is a quick chart comparison of Ipsy and Topbox for July:

The boxes had a close range of value this month - here is a closer look at each box:

July 2016 - Ipsy Glam Bag Review and Unboxing

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.

Ipsy always ships out in it's signature pink mailer, and here is a look at what came inside! 

This month's theme is "Hot Summer Nights". This bag is okay, it's not my favorite!

July 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.

Each month comes with a couple variations, so you may not receive exactly the same products as me, but generally 1 or 2 are the same throughout all the bags. 
TopBox is a Canadian company and only ships to Canada. There is usually a month or two waitlist for this subscription. 

For July, I requested a regular Topbox - here is a look at what I received: 

Topbox now sends the product card via email, instead of in the bag. Also this month, they included a bonus item for everyone because of the issues with shipping the July box (the Canada Post strike issue).

Manicure Monday - Chevron Nail Art and a Quick How To on Nail Vinyls!

Happy Mani Monday! This week I am going for something bright and fun - coral and peach chevron nails! 

I love how bright and fun these are! Nail vinyls are fairly easy to use and help make nail designs like this very easy!

June 2016 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Topbox

Here is the breakdown of the June 2016 Ipsy and Tobox (obviously, it is a little late but my June Ipsy bag just arrived!)

Both boxes are quite similar in value this month!

Five on Friday - July 22, 2016

Happy Friday!!! I'm have been enjoying the week off of work and spent the start of the week in B.C. with my family! 

ONE

How gorgeous is this purse?! This is the Mini Steph Bag - Copper Lace Cork from Pixie Mood! This is a Toronto company and all their goodies and cruelty free and vegan! This purse also comes with a long strap too! I love this - it was an early birthday present! 

If you guys are around Penticton, Tickleberrys is a must stop for icecream in Okanagan Falls and their shop has some amazing goodies in it! 

June 2016 Ipsy Glam Bag - Review and Unboxing

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.

Ipsy had some serious shipping issues for June and I think they actually did not ship a ton of June Glam Bags and held a bunch in their warehouse. Anyways, the bag finally did come and I think I still have a replacement bag coming too! 

Here is a look at what I got for June:

The theme for the June Glam Bag is "Rebel Rebel"! 

Mask Wednesday - THEFACESHOP Real Nature Green Tea Hydro Gel Mask

Happy Wednesday - I just got back from vacation and my poor skin did not get the love and attention it needs over the last few days! 

I needed a mask tonight that is going to do my skin a serious favour! 

The Face Shop Real Nature Green Tea Hydro Gel Mask ~ $7. This natural brightening gel mask gives the skin a transparent radiant look thanks to its compound of catechin-rich green tea leaves and melanin-controlling niacinamide.

My Morning Skincare Routine - Skincare Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone!  thought I would share with you my updated Skincare Routines - last week I shared my detailed 13 step Nighttime Routine! 

My Morning Skincare Routine is a few less steps! 

Five on Friday - July 15, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a good week! 

ONE

Mask Wednesday - Hanaka Pomegranata + Q10 Resiliency Sheet Mask

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! I was out Stampeding all day so a mask night was much needed this evening! 

(Edit - realized much later it was only Tuesday! Better early than late!)

Hanaka Botanic Treatment Reviving Mask (Pomegranata + Q10) ~ $1.98 each (set of 5 for $9.90). This mask is made out of 100% natural wood pulp fiber from Japan and is completly decomposable after use, an eco-friendly mask! This has Pomegranate and Q10 to improve skin elasticity and firm aging skin.

Manicure Monday - Gel Effect Nail Polish

Happy Monday everyone! My nails this week need to be a little more practical - they have to last 2 weeks this time! I am going on holidays on Friday so I will not be able to do my nails next Monday, but this gives me a great reason to try some Gel Effect nail polish! 

I don't normally have really dark nails, but I actually love this colour - it looks really sleek! 

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks - Review and Swatches

I have heard so many great reviews about the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks that I had to try a few out myself! 

The NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks are $10 each Canadian and come in a huge range of shades - from blue to black to nude to pink and everything in between! 

My 13 Step Night Time Skincare Routine - Skincare Sunday

Happy Skincare - it has been quite a while since I have posted my full, detailed skincare routine! I have updated it, and the products have changed, but here are the general steps that I follow for my nighttime routine! (You can view my previous Nighttime Skincare post to see my inspiration for this routine!)

I use a lot of products every night! It may seem overwhelming to some - but this is my personal interpretation of the 10-12 step Korean skincare routine. The basic Eastern philosophy on skincare is that you put as much time in to your nighttime routine as you do getting ready in the morning! Korean skincare really focuses on putting effort in to your skin with products that are good to your skin (where generally the Western philosophy is to rush through the process).

Five on Friday - July 8, 2016

Happy Friday - hope everyone has had a great week! 

ONE

I felt really great this week when another blogger, Wendy from Fashionable Heart, named See The World in PINK as her blog of the month for July! That is the sweetest thing ever - it is so sweet that she takes her time to recognize other bloggers! This made my day!

June 2016 Boxycharm - First month shipping to Canada!

I was so excited when I saw that Boxycharm announced that they were going to start shipping to Canada! 

Boxycharm is $21.00 a month + $5.00 shipping to Canada (shipping is free to the U.S.) Boxycharm sends 4 to 5 full size and luxury size beauty items. 

Looking back at past reviews, this box focuses heavily on make-up items - so that is something to keep in mind! (I personally love all the makeup though and they have sent full size palettes in the past!)

So I will say, there was some shipping issues the first month with shipping to Canada - this box originally included a nail polish, which for some crazy reason can only be shipped certain ways. All the boxes had to be returned and they remade all the boxes for Canadians and shipped them again, which is why this is a couple of days late!

While I appreciate all the effort to get us a new product and remake the cards and send everything back, I do wish they would have emailed Canadian subscribers first to let us know what was going on. 

This ships in a little black box. And, the theme of June's Boxycharm is "Girls Just Wanna Have Sun" and this came with 5 products. 

Mask Wednesday - Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask "Brightening" (Purple Broccoli)

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! This week I am pairing my mask with a beer and the theme of the week is "antioxidant" (that's right, I'm going to tell myself that this is good for me!)

Here is my mask of the week:

Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask "Brightening" (Purple Broccoli) ~ $32 CAN for 3 masks on Sephora, or $24 US for 3 on Boxycharm. This mask helps even skintone and improve overall clarity. Purple broccoli extract delivers a powerful skin clarifying action due to the varietal’s high level of antizymes, which possess antioxidant properties in addition to the benefits of chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals. 

June 2016 - Monthly Favourites!

I'm rounding up my Top 5 Favourites for June! 

Carli Bybel - 14 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette ~ $14.50. Beauty expert and YouTube sensation Carli Bybel designed this versatile 14 Color Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette to dial up the drama and add excitement to your look. Carli's taste for chic refinement and modern elegance inspired her to select a collection of earthy neutrals and plummy brown shadows with four face highlighters that complement every skin tone. The mix of mattes and shimmers makes it easy to go from amped-up evening intensity to toned-down daytime options.

June 2016 - Monthly Empties (and a couple tosses)

I have turned in to one of those people who loves empties posts - mostly because I love looking back on each product I used and see if I loved it or not! I have a ton of products and I can sometimes forget about something I love, but not with my handy garbage posts! 

So, I hope you guys like it too! Here is a look at what I used in June:

Pixi Glow Tonic ~ sample size (full size is $15 US each). This exfoliating toner helps to brighten the complexion resulting in a healthy glow. Formulated with 5% glycolic acid, Glow Tonic exfoliates, brightens and smoothes the skintone and texture. Aloe vera, ginseng, and botanical extracts work together to nourish and treat your skin revealing an improved complexion. Alcohol-free and gentle on all skin types.

June 2016 Month in Masks & Mask Empties

Masking is a huge part (and probably my favorite part) of my skincare routine! I try and use them as often as possible as I find they really help moisturize and improve my skin! 

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! 

Here is a look at the masks I used this month:

June 1

Soo Ae "Propolis" Collagen Essence Mask ~ $3.00 (5 for $15). Using the highest grade of Tencel sheets infused with hydrolyzed collagen, Sooae's Nature Collagen Essence Propolis Sheet Masks are great to use for all skin types, and even for sensitive skin. Propolis, also known as honey extract, provides lifting and radiance to your complexion with anti-inflammatory benefits. Improve skin elasticity and radiance with Honey Extract, an effective ingredient that fights the harmful effects of environmental stressors that lead to sagging and loss of resilience.

Five on Friday - July 1, 2016

Happy Canada Day and happy Friday everyone! Hope everyone had a great week - I love 4 day work weeks and 3 day weekends! 

Fingers crossed that everything gets sorted out with Canada Post soon - I still haven't gotten my Ipsy or Topbox this month as I know everything is going a little slower. But already I have gotten emails from all my subscriptions regarding potential delays in July! Boo! 

ONE