July 2017 - Monthly Favorites!

Here are the 5 things I have been loving for July! 

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ~ $48.00. A 24-hour, flawless foundation that stays looking fresh and natural through heat, humidity, and nonstop activity. 

So, my usual Summer go-to look does not include a heavy or full-coverage makeup look, but if you need this type of look in the Summer months (weddings, events, blemishes to cover) then look no further! I went to a crazy hot wedding outside and this did not budge! I have worn it when I know i'm going out for a while and it is fantastic! Offers great coverage and lasts all day in all types of weather! 

Skincare Sunday - Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Replenishing & Nourishing Body Lotion Review!

Happy Skincare Sunday! Roger & Gallet is a new brand to Sephora Canada (available as of June 27!) Roger & Gallet are a legendary French brand that has been creating luxury bath and body products for over 150 years! 

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Replenishing & Nourishing Body Lotion ~ $21.00. A hydrating body lotion enriched with shea butter and fig bud extract to leave skin feeling incredibly soft and deliciously fragranced.

This lotion smells amazing! Roger & Gallet seems very luxurious and they have special perfumers designing the scents. The Fleur de Figuier line was designed to feel sensual, mouthwatering, and relaxing. It is both floral and fruity - something I love! 

Five on Friday - July 28, 2017

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a great week - I have been enjoying my family vacation all week! 

ONE

I love getting little Lush gifts! This gift is Blooming Beauty and it comes with 2 goodies - the Sex Bomb Bath Bomb and the Beautiful Shower Gel! Can't wait to use both of these (this little set was a gift from a friend as a belated baby shower gift!)

Mask Wednesday - New Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask Review!

Happy Mask Wednesday! Tatcha is a luxurious brand that I don't get to talk about very much here - there products are on the pricier side; but, I'm not afraid to splurge if the product is worth it! 

Tatcha is based on Japanese time-tested beauty secrets of the geishas - their skincare philosophy is "less is more". Their beauty secrets were based on for generations, and Tatcha is inspired by a 200 year manuscript devoted to beauty and elegance in both appearance and spirit. 

In8Beauty Canadian Mask Subscription Unboxing and Review! (New Free Shipping!)

In8Beauty is a newer sheet mask subscription service started right here in Alberta, Canada! 

The thought behind In8Beauty Mask Subscription is "In8Beauty was created to make foreign beauty products (and especially Korean face mask sheets) affordable and accessible to our friends and neighbors across the country. And with so many face mask sheets to choose from what better way to sample them then through a monthly curated subscription box."

In8Beauty is $18 CAN a month + FREE SHIPPING all over Canada. (This is new for July 2017!) Each month you receive 5 masks delivered at the beginning of the month! (Also, if you are just interested in a one time purchase, not a subscription you can buy 1 month for $20 + shipping)

Full disclosure here - I won a year subscription to In8Beauty back in an Instagram contest so I have received this at no cost. This is not sponsored in any way and I am choosing to share this subscription because I am excited to see a new Canadian subscription like this! 

Here is a look at the July In8Beauty Box:

In8Beauty ships in a bubble mailer now so I love that they are offering free shipping across Canada now - $18 for 5 masks is very reasonable! I do only wish that there was a little product card included. 

Manicure Monday - Julep "Neha - Bombshell" Polish

Happy Manicure Monday! I'm doing a quick nail look this week as I'm going on vacation! 

This beautiful polish is Julep "Neha" from their Bombshell collection! It is described as Sari Magenta Shimmer and it is perfect for Summer! 

Skincare Sunday - Divine Essence Organic Labrador Tea Floral Water Mist Review

Happy Skincare Sunday! My skin loves floral water mists; but, I generally use a rose mist, so I was excited to try a labrador tea floral mist for something different! 

Divine Essence is a Canadian company whose mission is "provide a scientifically proven and natural alternative to traditional health and wellbeing remedies by offering consumers an extensive line of premium quality organic essential oils and aromatic products." They also are committed to sustainable trade and development and are certified by Health Canada. Divine Essence focus on your overall well-being! (I love what they stand for - go awesome Canadian brands!)

Five on Friday - July 21, 2017

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a great week - we did! Elliott slept through the night for the first time this week! 10 hours from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am. I was so excited! It's not a regular thing yet, but it was still pretty great. Also, I finished a book this week so I am feeling like a normal person again! 

ONE

I have talked about this Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ on the blog - it made my monthly favorites back in July 2016 and it is still a favorite! So I went to buy the 2015 version (because I had read they changed the formula with this year's version and I like the old version). 

July 2017 - Boxycharm Unboxing, Review, Swatches and Makeup Try-on!

Boxycharm is a beauty subscription box for $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. 

This subscription 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!) While it is a little pricier than the more inexpensive beauty boxes, the majority of the products are full size, with a deluxe sample every once in a while. 

Every subscriber generally receives the same products, but their is usually 1 or 2 items that have a few variations, so our boxes may not be identical! 

Here is a look at my July Boxycharm:

This month's theme is "Cutie Pie" and Boxycharm always includes a detailed product card explaining the items that were included in each month's subscription. 

Mask Wednesday - Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask Review

Happy Mask Wednesday! Garnier recently released a sheet mask called the Moisture Bomb and I had to get my hands on it! 

There isn't a lot of options for sheet masks in the drugstore so I hope this is good! I have actually seen really mixed reviews on this mask, so I wanted to see for myself how it was! 

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Mask ~ $3.99. The super-hydrating technology, with hydrating serum, hyaluronic acid and naturally-derived ingredients, recharges the skin with moisture for 24 hours. The mask strengthens the skin's natural barrier function to protect it from external aggressions and preserve its youthful appearance.

This mask is supposed to be super hydration - for 24 hours after use! My skin loves hyaluronic acid and pomegranate is well known for anti-aging skin benefits. Garnier also masks 2 other Moisture Bomb masks - Sensitive Skin and Mattifying! 

Manicure Tuesday - Panda Nail Art!

Happy Manicure Tuesday! It feels like a long time since I have done nail art! I broke a few nails so they are super short this week so I needed to find something cute to do on short nails - so I thought pandas! 

How cute are these?! I love pandas and I love how these turned out and they were easy to do! 

Morphe x Jaclyn Hill "The Jaclyn Hill Palette" - Swatches, First Impressions, and Thoughts

I went a little crazy buying palettes last month, and one of the palettes I HAD to get my hands on the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill palette! 

Morphe x Jaclyn Hill "The Jaclyn Hill Palette" ~ $38.00 US/$49.00 CAN. This is not your average eye palette. That’d be boring. We (and most importantly, Jaclyn Hill) don’t do boring. This palette is a 2-year love affair. 35 brand-new, OMG eyeshadows that Jaclyn whipped up, formulated, tested, re-tested, and perfected. They were created to deliver not only the best color payoff but also amazing application. Mattes, shimmers, satins, foils, and glitter: all pressed to perfection...just the way Jaclyn wanted. Her dreamy colors are now your reality. So whether you’re pressed for time or have time to play, this palette is your new bestie. Because a girl (and guy) needs to have options.

This is overall a really warm palette, with a few cool toned shadows and a few pops of color as well! Personally, I knew I would like this palette because I do tend to gravitate towards warm shades and smoky looks - which is pretty much Jaclyn Hill's go to looks! 

Skincare Sunday - Cherry Blossom Loves with Bodycology and Calgon!

I know it's Summer right now; but, it's not too late to talk about my favorite scents of Spring right?! I really wish that Calgary had it's own Cherry Blossom season, but  I will have to live with Cherry Blossom scents from Calgon and Bodycology!

Calgon Spring Cherry Blossom Fragrance Body Mist ~ $7.99 CAN (price may vary). A warm afternoon basking in the sun with the breeze whispering the sweet notes of spring. Lavishly spritz mist all over body to leave skin lighty scented and sensuously refreshed.

The Calgon fragrance mists bring me back - I still LOVE the Hawaiian Ginger scent! This Japanese Cherry Blossom scent is nice - it's obviously very floral so you have to like floral scents! I enjoy floral scents, so this one works for me!

Five on Friday - July 14, 2017

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a great week! I always find getting back from holidays makes for a busy week! You know when I can't even find a few minutes to do something simple to my nails that it is a busy week! 

ONE

All last week, we enjoyed some family time in Fairmont, B.C. (actually, the town's name is Fairmont Hot Springs - which I thought was a little weird, but there it's pretty small so that's all that is there!) My husbands family has a cabin on the river (yes this is the view from the deck in the backyard!) Our nephew and family were in town from Sweden so there was lots of us in the cabin together!

Hard Candy - Spring/Summer Makeup Collection Review, Swatches and Makeup Look!

Hard Candy has really stepped up their makeup game lately - they are releasing a ton of new on trend products! They are affordable, do not test on animals and sold at your local Walmart stores so they are easy to find as well! 

I love to find good, affordable products so I was excited to try out a few products from the Spring/Summer 2017 Hard Candy line! 

The new line includes color correctors, highlighter, eye shadows, lippies and more! Here is a closer look:

Mask Wednesday - A'pieu Silk Blanket Mask Silver Cocorico Edition Review

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! When I see glitter anything, I have to have it! So a glitter mask - I pretty much needed this! 

A'pieu Silk Blanket Mask Silver Cocorico Edition ~ $4.98 US for 2 masks. Wrinkle-improving functional cosmetics. Essence full of three layers of structure tightly. Hologram foil (Protect dry oil) + Holes (ventilation) + Skin Gel (Absorb Essence). Including only those that are good for skin Moist & Skin Tone , it gently envelops the skin like a silk quilt!

June 2017 - Month in Masks & Mask Empties

Masking is a huge part (and probably my favorite part) of my skincare routine! I try to use all types of masks 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 in June:

June 2
Beauty Clinic Mediheal Snail Aquaring SOS Mask ~ $4.49 CAN. "Dr. Post" Snail Aquaring SOS Mask is a special moisturizing clinic system which intensively manages skin which has been damaged by dry environment containing hydration building ingredients such as Snail Mucus Components. Also it has a synergy ampoule booster which is used specially before applying masks and skin dryness is relieved by using Prunus Mume Fruit Water instead of water.

This mask is my FAVORITE - like holy grail level mask! I reviewed this mask in the past and you can check out my review here! This leaves my skin soooo hydrated and amazing feeling! Plus it clears blemishes and brightens skin. Best mask ever! Hands down. 
Repurchase: Yes!

June 2017 - Monthly Empties!

Time to dig through my monthly garbage from June:

The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Moisturizing Toner ~ $7.00. This moisturizing toner preps skin to give it a moisturized, radiant texture. Formulated with rice extract from Rice, Rice Bran Oil and Ceramide, this moisturizing toner gives skin a surge of moisture and a healthy glow.

This was okay... didn't break me out or dry out my skin, but wasn't the most amazing toner ever. I liked it.
Repurchase: I would use it again, but maybe not go out of my way to repurchase.

Five on Friday - July 7, 2017

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have had a great week! Mine has been lovely! 

ONE
I have been with my husband's family in Fairmont for the week - they have a beautiful cabin on the river! If you follow me on Instagram (any if you don't - find me here @reneeclementine) then you have seen how gorgeous it is here! We don't have any wifi or anything so we have been enjoying a lot of family time! 

TWO

Today is the day the new Spiderman movie "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is released - for all you super hero fans out there, Lip Smacker has released some Spiderman lip balms for the occasion! This Spiderman Tin is $12.95 and includes flavors: Super Strawberry, Scientific Blueberry, Radioactive Lemon, Crime Fighting Cherry, Ultimate Cinnamon, and Vanilla Frosted Web. 

The Face Shop - NEW Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Toner & Moisturizer!

I have featured The Face Shop a lot on this blog - they are one of my favorite, affordable, and accessible Korean skincare brands! 

The Face Shop recently released a new line of skincare - Dr. Belmeur is a line of products formulated without 10 additives or artificial fragrances. Skin-sync is Dr. Belmeur's custom made formula that offers solutions to common skin problems! This new line comes in "Daily Repair" for dry sensitive skin and "Clarifying" for acne prone skin.

Mask Wednesday - Boo Bamboo Sheet Mask "Hydrating" Review

Happy Mask Wednesday everyone! Charcoal in skincare is all the rage right now (does that saying make me sound old?! - either way, it is definitely the skincare trend right now!) And for good reason - activated charcoal draws out toxins and impurities in the skin for a bright and clean complexion! 

Boo Bamboo Sheet Mask "Hydrating" - Activated Bamboo Fiber Charcoal ~ $3.29 (or 3 for $7.49). Boo Bamboo's natural 100% bamboo fibre charcoal Sheet Mask is enriched with Coconut, Aloe, and Bamboo extracts which join forces to protect, soften, detoxify and moisturize your skin while leaving it with a soft radiant glow.

Boo Bamboo is a Canadian company whose philosophy is "you don't have to compromise performance by going natural!" They are certified cruelty free and vegan and all their products use certified organic bamboo extract at the highest possible concentration!

June 2017 - Monthly Favorites!

Here is what I have been loving in June:

Mizon Water Volume Aqua Gel Cream ~ $15.00. This moisturizer is formulated with Alaskan glacial waters, coral reef waters, and more to hydrate and refresh your skin!

Gel cream moisturizers are amazing - especially in the Summer! The texture is so light and it feels amazing on the skin! I actually mix this with the Skoah Hydradew and it is the perfect Summer moisturizer! 

June 2017 - What I Bought This Month!

Hi all - happy Monday! Sorry there will be no nails post this week - I am keeping the nail treatment on a week longer because I am at the family cabin for the week! (so this week will be a little lighter on posts!)

But now, it's time for my monthly haul!! I have really enjoyed seeing what I buy every month! I like that I get to share everything I have purchased (because really some of it would get lost in my beauty collection if I didn't!) 

Also these posts helps to keep me on track - I am planning on trying to only spend around $100 per month on beauty since I am be on a smaller budget now with a new baby! 

I will only include products I have spent money on - gifts, pr samples, and freebies are usually shared on posts like my Five on Friday posts! 

Here is what I bought this month (spoiler alert, it's WAY over my budget):

ColourPop Order ~ $67.10 ($54.16. + 12.94 import fees). Real whoops, I didn't need to put in another ColourPop order right after I just had an order, but ColourPop released their 3rd birthday add-on shadow (Birthday Cake) and I have resisted a lot of their limited edition releases, but this one looked so pretty! Plus, they had free shipping on orders over $35 to Canada so I thought I would pick up a few items I was really interested in trying! You can see a look at Birthday Cake shadows here, and here is my review of the other goodies in my order! 

Skincare Sunday - Getting Summer Ready With Rodial!

It's Summer, which means we are getting ready to bare some skin with this warm weather! Rodial skincare wants to help you get "super fit" with their body care range!  

I have a few products to share from their Super Fit line - basically, a workout in bottle! (haha.... don't think you don't have to exercise at all...)