KORRES Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator Review

I am still one of those who like a good old face scrub because I love how clean and soft it makes my skin feel instantly. I like to use chemical exfoliants but I feel they can be too much for my dry skin and I almost always come back to physical exfoliants like this one because it does the job! 

Today I will be sharing my favourite scrub for the past two years - its funny how I rarely share the products that I use on the regular and repurchase all the time. But today is different - today I will share my favourite scrub and I don't even care if anyone judges me for picking this up instead of a chemical peel, or an AHA/BHA toner/serum! The Korres Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator promises to buff away dead, dry skin to reveal a visibly bright, glowing, and smooth complexion every morning. I usually use it at night because mornings are too busy and I follow with a Korres night cream which I will share in another post. 

More on this amazing wild rose scrub in today's blog...

PanOxyl Acne Treatment Wash, Oil Control Moisturizer and Overnight Spot Patches Review and Results

I had been quietly battling acne for the past few months and I could never figure out what exactly is causing me to breakout sporadically. Sometimes I felt its my hair products, so I changed those and nothing happened. Then I thought it could be my hormones, can't do much about that. Then I figured its my dirty makeup brushes and washing them regularly did not impact my random acne all over my face. It's frustrating to tackle acne when you are a grown up, as its often associated with teen years. I was at my lowest when I found out about PanOxyl's acne solutions. These products are designed to fight acne causing bacteria deep within the pores. I am so happy that within a month of using it my acne has subsided significantly. I still breakout but it doesn't get as nasty as it used to. 

More on PanOxyl and my skin progress in today's blog!

Sephora Birthday Gift 2022 - Tatcha Dewy Skin Review

Sephora's Birthday Gifts always excite me because they are one of those little perks that make me feel valued as a Sephora customer and I think many of us feel that way. No purchase required, if you sign up to be a Beauty Insider, you get a birthday gift each year! Though I am slowly turning against the little samples, because of the plastic packaging and more tiny products mean more packaging in the landfill. But since I will be travelling soon (*fingers crossed*), I thought its best I pick up the skincare gift from Tatcha which must come in handy during my vacation. Though in the past I had a bad experience with the Tatcha The Deep Cleanse (review here), but I always loved the purple range and the dewy skin cream, so there I have it!

More on this in today's blog!

GUERLAIN Abeille Royale Anti Aging Morning Routine ft. Abeille Royale Double R Serum, Lotion Toner & Youth Watery Oil

Hello everyone,

As you all know from my Instagram that I recently got a chance to try out Guerlain's Abeille Royale Antiaging morning routine and I am so please to share this sustainably produced skincare line with you today. What I love most about this routine is that it keeps my skin hydrated all day long and adds a radiant golden glow to my face. Each of these products don't just look amazing on my vanity, they work wonders for my skin type and they smell so luxurious! More on my Abeille Royale Routine in today's blog...

ESTEE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum Review

Hello October! 

As you know, October is breast cancer awareness month and this year it is more than a Pink Ribbon - its a movement to unite the global community and honor everyone touched by this disease. It's #TimeToEndBreastCancer and Estee Lauder Companies are pledging to donate up to $100,000 for public, in-feed Instagram or Facebook post during the month of October featuring both hashtags #TimeToEndBreastCancer and #ELCdonates together, because it’s always been more than a ribbon. 

So today I decided to share my favorite skincare product from Estee Lauder which is the Advanced Night Repair Serum. It comes in a luxurious glass bottle and an improved formula that has been tested on all skintypes, all ages and all ethnicities!! Isn't that amazing! The new formula promises to help skin increase its natural cell renewal and production of collagen for firmer skin.

This is the one serum that has always worked for my skin type, which is seldom sensitive, and as the days grow colder and drier, I am relying on the Estee Lauder ANR to keep my skin glowy, bouncy, youthful and completely hydrated. 

More on this amazing serum in today's blog.

CAUDALIE Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum Review

In my previous post, I shared the gel moisturizer from the Caudalie Vinosource line and how well it works to keep skin hydrated without making it oily and prevent dryness and redness on skin.  Today I will share this skincare superstar which I am finding really hard to part with. I am close to finishing the bottle of this SOS Serum and I am actually wondering if I can live without it or just move to something more potent (read: anti- wrinkle) because my skin is getting older. The sooner I find amicable products that my skin cant help but love, the better it is. So, I am writing this blog to convince myself for a repurchase of the Caudalie SOS Serum, though I am distracted by a couple of amazing antiaging serums, the light weight texture of this serum with the benefits of hyaluronic acid is making me think twice.  

More on what the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum is and how I like it on my skin on today's blog..

CAUDALIE Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet Review

I fell in love with the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet while on vacation to US and since have always made sure I had a pouch full of travel size Caudalie products every time, I flew out of country. Since flying on a plane is now a distant memory, I decided to invest in full size Caudalie products which my skin already loves. I like skincare products with organic, plant based ingredients, because they usually sit well with my changing skin conditions. You know well that I suffer from dryness and often eczema on my hands and neck and though I use mild cleansing products, often it is only micellar water, I still end up with redness on my face and if I am unable to look after my skin, it quickly turns in to a big, painful pimple.

So I switched to Caudalie Vinosource regimen and removed all other skincare treatments in hopes of making my skin look and feel its best. More on this and my minimalistic routine in today's blog. 

CAUDALIE Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil Review

After a day in the sun, I like to treat my skin with products that allow it it overcome the environmental stressors it endured and rejuvenate for the day ahead. I have always loved Caudalie products, but since my acne got worse, I started using anti-acne products and have been sorely disappointed. So, I am going back to vegan, close to nature skincare products like this Overnight Recovery Oil from Caudalie.

Ever since the lockdown started, my skin was all over the place, mainly due to stress, or just eating too much snacks.. I couldn't really plan out my skincare regimen and just started using olive oil on my skin. It worked nicely but soon I had too many clogged pores.. ouch! 

Yeah..I got clogged pores and I don't even have a facial steamer AND I couldn't go for my facial at the salon!  It was so frustrating and that is when I thought of Caudalie. The clean, vegan formulations that I have always loved. I take the Caudalie travel set whenever I am travelling, so I had the travel size Vinosource moisturizing sorbet in my stash and ordered this Overnight Recovery Oil from Sephora. 

These products work great on all skin types and I am so happy to have Caudalie Vinosource in my regimen again.

DIOR CAPTURE YOUTH New Skin Effect Enzyme Solution Age-Delay Resurfacing Water REVIEW

I had been looking for a multi purpose product like this one for a long time. The Dior Capture Youth Enzyme Solution is not just a toner,  but can be used as a face mask too. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other Dior Capture Youth products and I shall detail that routine below but first I need to highlight what it promises. 

The Dior Capture Youth Enzyme Water promises to clarify, brighten, hydrate the skin, delay the signs of aging and leave it feeling silky soft. The efficacy of this product was measured in clinical trials with only 32 women and even then only 12% (4 out of 32) felt that it improved the appearance of skin and only 14% (5 out of 32 women) felt that skin was brighter and worse of all, only 26% (8 out of 32 women) described their skin as softer! (Source: Sephora.com) These disparaging stats did not deter me from trying it. 

So did I became part of the 14% or 12% or 26 % who saw some kind of promised results or not? Let's find out!!

PEACE OUT Wrinkles - Anti Wrinkle Microneedling Retinol Patches - Review

Hello there, my friends!

I thought I am going to take a sabbatical in 2020 and just hope to stay alive and meet you all again in 2021 with good health and high spirits. Guess what, we are back at it again. And I am very excited today because I am sharing something which will make all your skin dreams come true! You know you should go for a facial, maybe a mani-pedi, but the fears of COVID-19 are stopping you? Well, here's the good news...these microneedling anti wrinkle patches from Peace Out are the perfect treatment for those in between touchups. For me these patches are a way to prolong my skin's elasticity by injecting hyaluronic acids, retinol and vitamin C so my fine lines do not turn into wrinkles. 

Ok, maybe I need to clear out my skin situation first. I do not currently have deep wrinkles, BUT I have started to notice more lines around my eyes when I smile. They stick around as fine lines for some time before disappearing. This might be considered the first sign that my skin is loosing its elasticity and I am turning 35 this year! There is another line right between my eyebrows which I noticed first about 2 years ago, while I took a selfie under the sun. I initially thought it's because I am squinting under the bright sunlight, but as the months went by that line is settling in. There is an actual line between my eyebrows which is most noticeable when I wake up, it plumps up as the day goes by, but shows up as soon as I step in the sun!!

How annoying is that?!!

Hence, I decided to partake my first 'retinol needling' experience, using a sort of hyped up brand on social media called Peace Out ✌. This is also the first time I tried a wrinkle patch, so do I like it, does it work? I will answer all of that in the post below and will also update here, as the weeks go by. 

Skincare #SephoraHaul and Sephora Tough as Nails Manicure Kit - Review

Hey guys!

This winter is much milder than last years, and though I am not complaining, but it makes me realize how we are slowly becoming part of climate change. I realized that the small samples, that I love to get with my order, add significantly to the landfills, as most are single use items, or are too small to be kept and often gets spoiled lying around in the drawers for years. They fill up my recycle bin with the excess paper packaging and the small plastic containers - well they are just landfill material. I am trying to buy bigger sizes of the products I like but I also love to get the more convenient 50ml size, which I can use for travel as well. It's a tough situation to be in and how I have become entitled to products that serve me, just because I can afford them. It is a time for change in lifestyle and something I will look forward to in 2020.

For now, let's talk about my recent skincare haul. I got these from Sephora as a bare minimum of what I need now, as compared to future. Don't we all buy more, cuz we think we might need it and often forget about using them. So I got the exfoliant, the face washes and the manicure kit that I needed and have started using! Yayy!! Using my purchases is so pleasure-full!!! LOL

Reviews in today's blog!

Burt's Bees Hand Salve Review #WinterCare

I suffer from eczema on my hands and nape which gets worse in winter time. Though I try my best to manage it appropriately, like drinking lots of water, staying stress-free (hahaha) and keeping my hands covered in gloves with petroleum jelly on, but the truth is I hardly excel at achieving any of that on a regular basis. Firstly, I hate petroleum jelly and gloves. I would do anything to avoid wearing gloves. I despise it; maybe because it makes me feel unable to feel and touch.. 

Anyways, since last year I discovered the Burt's Bees Hand Salve and it changed my life. I no longer suffer from red blisters, or cuts on my knuckles and my hands feel so moisturized even in this extremely dry weather.

More on this in today's blog

HERBIVORE Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask Review

Hello everyone,

Hope you all had a great start of the new year. I stayed very busy with my family and friends this time around and as much as I feel blessed to have great people around me, I wish the same for all of you. I missed blogging and sharing some amazing products with you, so today I am sharing a face mask from Herbivore. I had never heard of this brand, if it wasnt for Sephora and the sale season allowed me to splurge on this expensive product. This two ounce jar retails for C$60 at Sephora Canada and promises to to 'gently exfoliate, smooth, and resurface the skin' and it is recommended solution for acne, redness and pores. I have been suffering from all of this. Though my acne is under control but I still have some acne marks and scars to work on. So, I gave this mask a try and here are my thoughts. 

Burt's Bees 100% Natural Makeup and Skincare Review with Swatches

Around six or seven years ago, I was really in to natural makeup and tried so many mineral makeup brands and even shared some on this blog. Gradually, I moved away from that because they were mostly available only online and I could never be sure if I got the right shade nor were there enough online swatches. So, recently I came across Burt's Bees natural makeup line, which is available at London Drugs and almost all drugstores. I was so excited to try it out, because I love using natural products on my skin. Each of these products is 100% natural except the brow pencil which is 99.9% natural. 

A lot of you must already be using the Burt's Bees lip balm and so was I but I never explore the body care or the skincare products from Burt's Bees and I was missing out on a lot! I literally found  a solution to the eczema on my hands. I am also using the Hand Salve these days but will save that for another review.  

For review and swatches of Burt's Bees Natural Makeup collection, keep reading..

Winter Skincare Favorites ft. Belif, Marcelle, Burt's Bees, La Roche-Posay & The Body Shop

Bonjour mes amis!
Today I am sharing some of my favorite skincare products that are keeping my skin look its best in this frigid cold weather. I actually had to gather all my motivation to write this post down, as I sip my coffee and cozy up in my snuggly sweater. There is something about winter that slows me down significantly. I need to workout too, but hey those knits cover everything right?!
Anyways, so my skincare routine stays as simple as it can get and I like using products that are easily available and so affordable, that anyone can incorporate them in their skincare routine.
More on how to keep skin looking hydrated and plump this holiday season, in today's blog!

PHYSICIANS FORMULA Rosé All Day, Charcoal Detox and Refreshmint Review and Swatches

Today I am sharing some skincare products from Physicians Formula available at London Drugs. All of these products are vegan, cruelty free and free from harmful ingredients. My skin can be easily irritated by some ingredients commonly used in cosmetics, so I am extremely careful with what I apply on my skin and Physicians Formula products never disappoint! They work great for my skin type and never cause any sensitivities. All three of these come in beautiful and functional packaging and are very easy to incorporate in an existing skincare regimen. 

Charcoal Detox was a completely new experience for me as I hadn't use a charcoal stick before for cleansing and the Refreshmint eye de-puffer is so minty and delicious but my favorite is the Rosé All Day serum because its a versatile product that smells amazing!! It's really like smelling a bouquet of roses all day! 

I love these products and for a full review, how I use them and swatches, keep on reading!

Dermalogica mediBac Clearing® Skin Kit Review

This four piece kit from Dermalogica is described as 'a kit for adult acne that helps treat, clear, and prevent the triggers that lead to breakouts'.  It has four essentials to cleanse and moisturize skin, namely, Clearing Skin Wash, Oil Control Lotion, Overnight Clearing Gel and Sebum Clearing Masque.
I purchased this kit from Sephora because I was sick of my frequent breakouts and wanted something that would work fast and effectively. Ever since I turned thirty, my skin is not the same. There are breakouts, pigmentation, weird dry patches and what not. It feels like everything I do or eat causes acne! I would work in the garden and there will be breakouts, working out in the gym and guess what, swollen comedones!! I am literally at the point of checking out everything in store and in my pantry to treat my skin and there was quite a bit of a learning curve in maintaining my skin's healthy pH. I will discuss all the details on that in another post, for now, lets focus on this skin clearing kit for adult breakouts from Dermalogica.
Dermalogica products come with a promise of visible results and its a brand I trust over many others, however, this kit was far from what I expected. For the good and the bad, keep on reading...

SILK'N Titan Skin Tightening and Lifting Review

I am always excited to see the new technology in beauty and how empowering it is to be able to treat your skin at home with high quality, professional grade products that deliver results. I have been using the Silk'n Titan, from London Drugs, for almost two months and today I am ready to share my thoughts on it.
Silk'n Titan is a smoothing, tightening and lifting device that helps reduce wrinkles and lifts facial contours. It is designed to be used on face and neck and you can even go around your eyes with this device! Silk'n Titan uses a technology that "delivers energy to precise areas beneath the skin to activate your body’s natural restoration process". I was so curious to see this in action because if this device works, that means we can rejuvenate our skin and get our bodies to make the collagen and elastin for us as we age and would never have to worry about sagging or wrinkles. There is no downtime and I could apply makeup and get out of the house right after using it on my face. It sounds like the perfect solution for busy lifestyles and a little bit of treatment, literally 10-15 minutes in two weeks, could change the way my skin ages. 
I am quite happy with it, even though, there wasn't much of a drastic difference I could feel but then, I do not have deeper wrinkles and the fine lines around my eyes are not are troublesome at this point, but I could definitely use it to prevent sagging. My mom has no wrinkles but her skin is sagging. She maintains a strict no chemicals/toxin skin care routine, but looking at her, I can imagine that I may have more sagging issues than wrinkling. I have already started to notice my jaw line changing in appearance! 
More on how to use the Silk'n Titan, what to expect and what this new technology in at home beauty tools is all about, on today's blog!

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG for puffiness and dark circles - Review

Anything that reduces dark circles or help with the eye contour automatically grabs my attention. Every eye cream promises a smoother eye area and less noticeable dark circles but they don't always have their ingredients listed on the top of the bottle. The Ordinary products are named by concentration of its key ingredients and as a consumer that does not make any sense to me because I have limited knowledge about what ingredient concentration works for my skin condition and how can I incorporate those ingredients in to my skincare routine without irritating my skin or disrupting my skin's pH level. But then my social media went viral with The Ordinary products last month when they launched at Sephora Canada so I had to try something from this brand and an eye serum seemed like any easy product to use. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG has rave reviews from my favorite bloggers so I had to get it before its out of stock, like any other The Ordinary products.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG  promises to help reduce the appearance of puffiness and pigmentation in the eye contour. I have been using this for two weeks so I decided to share my thoughts on this with you guys today. 

ELIZABETH ARDEN Eight Hour Cream - All Over Miracle Oil, Skin Protectant and Lip Repair Balm Review

Today I will share with you the iconic Eight Hour Cream collection from Elizabeth Arden. This legendary skincare line dates back to the 1930s and has been a huge success because of how well it performs. They can be used from head to toe for a variety of skin issues and I have literally healed my cuticles, heels and dryness on knees and elbows with these products. My absolute favorite is the All-Over Miracle Oil which is light enough to be used on face and basically anywhere I would like to heal, protect and lock in moisture. When my skin was healing from acne, I had noticeable dry patches on my face and this helped my skin recover.
I quickly became a fan of these products and I can't wait to share more about these cult favorite skincare products from Elizabeth Arden with you.
For review and how I use each of these, keep on reading...