What We're Loving Lately

We just wanted to give you a little update on the things we're enjoying right now from skincare to books and more!

Skincare

Meg: I've recently started trying some of the Kiehls products including their Ultra Facial Cleanser, Ultra  Facial Toner, and their Ultra Facial Cream. I'm really liking them so far- they make my skin feel so soft! After I've used them for a little longer, you'll see a review.

Cate: I picked up the L'oreal Age Perfect Cell Renewal Facial Oil while it was on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart and I have been loving the results. It is very light and dries quickly so you don't look like a greasy faced human and it definitely leaves your skin glowing all the time. 

 Food

Meg: This recipe for No Bake Energy Balls is so easy and so yummy. They make a great breakfast if you are on the run or little snack. It's hard to stop after one or two though- I'm warning you!

Cate: I have been making big pots of pasta every Sunday and having it throughout the week. I love pasta and lately I have been being creative and using my own recipe (which I do plan to share on the blog). 

Makeup

Meg: I haven't been wearing too much makeup lately because it's been so bloody hot! But I'm loving the Balm's Nude Tude eyeshadow palette when I do wear make up. It makes my life so easy with it's lovely neutral shades.

Cate: I discovered the Eye Booster Pen by Physician's Formula through Carah Amelie on YouTube and I love it like the Stila one and the bonus is that it is readily available at the drugstore.

Books

Meg: I've been on vacation this week and have just flown through the Harry Potter series, one of my all-time favourites. 

Cate: So this isn't a conventional book but a colouring book for adults. I recently picked this up and I can't wait to start colouring. The pictures are so detailed and it will definitely be a lot of work but so worth it and most importantly, fun!

Make sure to tell us what you've been loving lately in the comments!

Spring Random Favourites (Non-Beauty Related)

I love watching Non- Beauty related favourites on YouTube because I like to see what products women out there like using besides beauty and skincare because like every other girl, I have interests that are not specifically beauty related and it's nice to talk about other things as well.

I thought I would show you some of the Random things I have been loving these past few months.

Beauty Blogger Tag

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

Cate: I was going through a rough time (skincare wise) and I found that I wasn't finding a lot of information on skincare so I wanted to talk about different products I was trying and let people know if they were working. Also I really love watching YouTube videos but am way too shy to put myself on camera. 

Meg: I have dabbled in blogs and writing before and when I heard about Cate's venture I thought it would be fun to get back into. I love beauty and books which I write about on the blog, so it's right up my alley.

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

Cate: I have been in love with Ruth Crilly's blog A Model Recommends for so long because she loves skincare just as much as I do. I also love Ruth's friend Caroline Hiron's blog, she has a no fuss approach to skincare and gets down to the facts about products and whether or not they work. 

Meg: Oh, so long ago! I have the memory of a gnat, but two blogs that I loved way back when and still do are Orangette and A Certain Bent Appeal for the way their authors can tell a beautiful story- though they aren't beauty blogs. Beauty-wise, A Beautiful Mess and Zoella are lovely.

E.O.S Shaving Cream Review

I purchased the EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream in lavender jasmine because I has heard great things about the brand. My legs are really sensitive to shaving, so even though this cream was a bit pricier than the comparable brands, I knew I to try it.

I was throughly impressed by this shave cream's moisturizing power; it greatly reduced the amount of irritation I usually get. Maybe it's because this little bottle is packed with natural conditioning products, Shea butter, and vitamins e and c. It's also phthalate and paraban free (yay). 

My one complaint about this product is that it's pump doesn't not get about half the product out. It's stuck in the bottom and on the sides causing you to have to unscrew the lid and try to scrape it out. Not a fun task when you're trying to minimize your shower time.

The Body Shop Rainforest Balance Shampoo and Conditioner Review

It is no secret that I have oily hair. Last year during BEDA I wrote a post on how to deal with oilier hair that you can find here.

This year for my birthday, back in July, Meg bought me the shampoo and conditioner from The Body Shop's Rainforest Balance line that is specifically formulated for oily haired individuals.

This shampoo contains seaweed which is a powerful ingredient in lots of skincare products geared towards oilier skin types so The Body Shop decided to add it to this range to help clarify hair. Today I am going to talk about my experience with the shampoo and conditioner.

Product Info: This shampoo and conditioner is available at The Body Shop and costs $10.00 per bottle. You can however purchase travel friendly versions to try out at $5.00 per bottle.

What I'm Loving: MAC Lip Edition

Many beauty bloggers swear by MAC. But because of the price, MAC products aren't something I have gotten into until recently. I'm more a bargain/drugstore beauty lover who occasionally splurges on products that I'm really dying to try.

It takes a lot for me to spend the big bucks on makeup products, but MAC lipsticks are the one exception. I've never been one for bold lipsticks, but this year I've really come into my own and embraced them. So I've spend a fair bit of money on creating the perfect red pout.

Here are the products I used to create the look:

Prep & Prime - This is an essential step for me as I have really dry lips, despite being a chapstick and lipscrub addict. Mac's Prep & Prime makes sure my lipstick goes on smooth and stays on longer- it's definitely a lifesaver for me, especially with bold lipsticks. When all eyes are on your lips, you want to make sure they are flawless.

How to Pack Like a Pro: Weekend Trip Edition

I've been on a fair few number of trips and I really feel that I've got packing down to a science. I actually love packing. Every time I do it it's a challenge to take a little less, to fit everything together more expertly.

So today I am sharing my four simple tips for packing for a weekend trip that won't leave you stressed or exhausted.

• Only take what you need. Really.

This applies to your makeup bag as well as your clothing. Make a list with what you absolutely need. Pare it down to the bare essentials for your face: a cleanser, moisturizer, foundation, and a small amount of makeup. Clothing wise, be conscious of how long you will be there and what activities you're going to be doing. My rule: Don't take more outfits than the days you will be there- otherwise you're over-packing!

First Impressions: Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Serum Foundation

Hello again everyone,

Today I am coming at you with a first impressions review of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel serum Foundation. 

I have heard a lot of people in the beauty community on YouTube talk about this one, especially beauty bloggers/vloggers from the UK because I think this foundation is more readily available in the UK.

Here in Canada, however it is a bit tougher to get your hands on. They do sell it at Shoppers Drug Mart locations however, only select locations carry Bourjois and not all so i did travel out of my town to get a bottle.

Product Info: In Canada, I purchased this foundation for $27.00 for a standard 30ml size.

Consistency: The consistency of this foundation is definitely on the light side. In fact when I first held the bottle I thought there was nothing in it. It is almost weightless and it does have that feeling when you put it on your skin. It is not too heavy or a fuller coverage. You all may know that I do enjoy my heavy coverage, thicker foundations but it is nice for the summer time to have a much lighter consistency.

5 Beauty Bad Habits to Break: Hair Care Edition

I'm on a quest for healthier hair this summer, especially because I'm growing out my lovely locks. We're all guilty of being less than kind to our hair at times, but here are some of the biggest habits you can break to get gorgeous hair with less damage!

1) Being too vigorous with your hair after getting out of the shower

No aggressive towel-drying or brushing as it causes breakage and frizziness. Instead, gently pat dry your hair and let it air dry.

Wet hair = delicate hair. Let's treat it that way!

2) Dying your hair too often

At-home dyes can be very harsh, often leading to dry, brittle hair and breakage. Switch to a product that is less damaging, like Lush's henna dyes (review here), which contain moisturizing cocoa butter and no harsh chemicals, or take a trip to the salon instead.

Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I have had a hard time finding a drug store foundation that I am absolutely in love with.

I love Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation so so much. It has amazing coverage (so much so that I don't even need to wear extra concealer) and it doesn't budge all day but at 40 bucks a bottle, it is a splurge. So I have always wanted to find something a bit more affordable that I can love just the same.

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation claims to make your skin feel awake and radiant each and every morning so I decided to put these claims to the test.


Product Info: This foundation is available at most drugstore and will be around $11.00 to $13.00 Canadian dollars.

Consistency: This foundation has a rather thick consistency (similar to the Estee Lauder Double Wear) but not as easy to blend out.

Product Rave: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Weightless Healing Dry Oil Spray

So...

I don't normally talk about a ton of hair care on this blog, I usually leave that to Meg. That is because I have quite oilier hair. It is usually really great and healthy looking the day I wash it, but the next day it becomes a greasy mess so I don't use a lot of product in my hair.

My hair routine consists of mainly the basics like shampoo (both wet and dry), conditioner, heat protectant spray, and some hairspray to tame fly aways. Anything else usually weighs my hair down.

Lately I have been finding my hair a little more dull. Especially because I have been using more products to control the oil in my hair it takes away from the natural shine in my hair. But this Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil by Organix is a miracle worker.

(You can tell I love this because it's almost empty but don't worry I am on my way out to repurchase!)

I must admit I did steal this product from my moms bathroom and I am sure glad I did. This product is such a miracle for hair that is fine but needs a boost.

Product Info: This product is found in drugstores so it isn't too pricey. Around $9.00 to $11.00 per 118ml.

Consistency: This product, as it says, is a weightless dry oil so it does feel like an oil but not a thick oil and because it is a dry oil it does not leave your hair incredibly greasy.

First Impressions: L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

Hello everyone and welcome to another day of BEDA.  I hope you are enjoying the content we ave created for you thus far and make sure to stay tuned because we will be having new posts every single day for the remainder of August.

Today I am here with another Mascara review. If you recall, back in late June I reviewed the CoverGirl Flamed Out Mascara (which you can check out here) and I was not particularly a fan. I wanted to try out another newer mascara for you all and naturally, with all the hype surrounding it I picked up the L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara. 

This mascara is inspired by the girls in Japanese Manga comic that always have such bold and prominent lashes.

L'Oreal features their 360 Flexor Brush that is designed to get all of your lashes with its flexibility. So enough about what this mascara is supposed to do and lets get to the results.

Product Info: So depending on which drugstore you choose to buy this at or if you can get it on sale it will run around $9.00 to $12.00.

Meg's Beauty, Fashion, & Lifestyle Wishlist

FASHION

• Black Cigarette Pants (a la Audrey Hepburn) that won't break the bank

I've been searching for the perfect pair of trousers forever, but unfortunately every time I find the perfect pair, in petite, like these beauties from ASOS they are not available in my size. Alas!

• Beautiful Blouses

(Business Trip Bliss Top in French Bulldog, Fashion Copywriter Top, 

Guest Appearance Top, Everyday Elegant Top)

Like my quest for black trousers, I've also been looking for tops of a more professional (yet still chic) style as I am about to start teaching school and need clothes to, well, teach in! These are from Modcloth and there's a lot more where they come from!

BEAUTY

• Chinchilly, Smokin' Hot, After School Boy Blazer & Geranium Nailpolishes from Essie

When it comes to Essie nail polishes I can't pick just one.

The Good, The Bad, and The Alright: Dry Shampoos

Hello everyone and welcome to the first day of BEDA.

Meg and I are doing blog posts every single day for the month of August so make sure to keep followed to the blog so you don't miss anything exciting.

Today it is time for another comparison post, this time on some of the most popular drugstore dry shampoos.

As a self proclaimed oily haired girl who's natural second day hair grease can probably be used to fry bacon, I appreciate a good dry shampoo and if it costs less, I appreciate it even more. Today I am going to show you which ones I like and which ones I just don't care for.

Batiste Dry Shampoo: Clean and Classic Original Formula 

This is a really popular dry shampoo in the drug store, in fact it has been sold out many times at my local drug stores. We actually just started receiving this dry shampoo in Canada but those of you in the states have had Batiste for a while. 

Texture and Application: I always apply my dry shampoo the same day I wash my hair but in the night time. I find it much better to absorb the oil before it starts than after it is already full of oil. This dry shampoo applies very nicely and evenly but it does leave a very prominent white cast which shows up on my darker hair. 

My Thoughts: I think this dry shampoo does a great job of keeping my hair oil free the next day but the truth is, my hair always looks way too white/ grey when I apply it and it takes me a long time to brush out. People with lighter hair found benefit from this. 

Introducing BEDA

Hello again everyone,

So if you have been following this blog for a little bit, you will know that last year I did a little thing called BEDA which is a Blog post Every Day for the month of August.

It was quite an ambitious task for me last year because first and foremost, I was brand new to blogging and didn't really know what I was doing. I also decided on a whim to do it so I had a lot of prep work to do in such a short amount of time, and finally I was writing on my own at the time and it was quite a task to produce so much content on my own.

This year I think that BEDA will be a lot more exciting.

This year we have a slightly bigger blog following which will make more posts = more fun. We also have a fun month in August. Meg and I as well as one of our dear friends are headed out to Seattle for a short trip towards the end of August so we will be doing lots of travelling posts as well as American drugstore shopping and hauls. We have also recently delved into the fashion realm with our series titled "What Meg Wore" so we plan on bringing more fashion posts up to the forefront.

We are so excited for what August has in store and even more excited to share it all with you.

We hope that you will like all of the new content we are going to share with you all and that you feel free to interact with us in the comments and on all of our social media sites!

Here's to a Fabulous August!

Summer Essentials: Drugstore Sunscreens (Meg and Cate's Picks)

Sunscreens are a definite summer must-have because we all know it is so important to protect our precious skin from the sun's rays which can cause skin cancer and premature aging. The sunscreen present in our makeup alone is not enough to protect us from the sun's rays.

I hear people complain a lot about not liking to wear sunscreen because they don't like the way it feels... it's too oily and greasy, it doesn't go under makeup well, it feels too heavy... So Cate and I have found some sunscreens that fit the bill. 

But cost is an important factor too; you don't want your sunscreen to break the bank in order to find one you like. Although it is worthwhile to protect your skin from harm, I know for those on a budget is hard to see that money leaving you... sunscreens aren't cheap! Cate and I have included a range of drugstore sunscreens in varying prices to help you find one that works for you!

The Makeup Timer Test Tag Via Lily Pebbles

Ever since I saw Lily Pebble's post on how long it takes her to do her makeup everyday, I've wanted to do this tag! So here it is!

Instead of doing my everyday makeup (which is pretty much non-existent), I decided to time myself one day before going on a date with my boyfriend to downtown Vancouver.

So let's see how long it took me to go from this to this!

What I've Been Loving Quarterly: Spring 2014 Favourites

So it's time for my favourite for the past few months. I haven't had a whole lot of favourites these past few months but I do have a few things that I have been relying on that I would like to share with you.

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Tea Rose
I have heard so many great things about NYX glosses but it's just one of those things that I have never picked up. Does that ever happen to you? Well I finally decided to pick up one and I must say I love the formulation. They are super pigmented and not too sticky which is the perfect gloss.

Maybelline Colour Elixir in Intoxicating Spice
For some reason I have been into glosses lately and this one is amazing. It is like a lipstick/gloss/stain which means it gives you that extra shine with the staying power of a stain and the moisturization of a smooth lipstick. A win win in my books.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - Night Calming
These are pretty much my favourite wipes I have ever found at the drugstore. They have a very pleasant scent. They are moist but not too wet (I find the hydrating ones by Neutrogena are a little too wet). They also do a great job at removing makeup before I go in with my cleanser.
*I never use makeup removing wipes alone. I always use them before cleansing my face to get the most makeup off. Wipes should not be used to get all your makeup off, it just doesn't work.

First Impressions: CoverGirl Flamed Out Mascara + GIVEAWAY WINNER

So it is time to announce the GIVEAWAY winner. First off, thank you to everyone who entered; we really do appreciate each and every one of you. 

The lucky number was 3 and the third comment belongs to Ashley McKernan! 

Congratulations Ashley, we will be contacting you soon and getting your prize out as quickly as possible!

Now on to the review...

Today I am coming to you with a first impressions review of the new CoverGirl Flamed Out Mascara. I recently picked this up at the drugstore because I was running out of my beloved Lancome Hypnose Star and wanted to see if there was a cheaper mascara that I would fall in love with.

Product Info: As this is a drugstore product it varies in price depending on where you go but in Canada this runs at around $6.00 to $8.00. 

Consistency: I found the consistency of this particular mascara to be on the dry side and while this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can result in clumpy-ness if too dry and I did find that to be the case with this one. It definitely left clumps on my lashes and on the brush.

Weekend Wish List

It is Friday so the weekend is pretty much here. What are your plans?

I love seeing what is on people's wish lists. It is fun to see what products and items people want to own. I have done one of these in the past, which you can check out here.

Here is my current wish list:

La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

This is the only product on this list that I have owned before. I actually used it for a little while and then stopped because I wanted to try something else. Recently, I have been working my way through all the products that have been sitting underneath my skin cupboard and this was one of them. I rediscovered this and learned just how amazing it is at keeping my skin clear without being overly drying. I will definitely repurchase this but once I finish the other three cleansers I am working on.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith AKA J.K. Rowling
This book won't be released until June 19th but I am still excited for it. I love Harry Potter and I will read anything by J.K. Rowling and this books seems very interesting. I love mystery novels.

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream
I have heard from so many people and bloggers, especially one of my favourite YouTuber's CarahAmelie about this being one of best BB Creams and it is a drugstore one so it is definitely affordable and I would love to give it a try.