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!

A Simpler Skincare Routine

So as a jump back into more regular blog posts I thought I would start off with an updated skincare routine as you all know I love me my skincare products but recently as the warmer months are among us I have decided to simplify the amount of products I use. 

Now this may not be simple for everyone, in fact some people might thing that this is far too much stuff and some may not think that this is enough but the important thing to keep in mind is that everyone's skin is different and I have really been finding that these items are working well for me. 

Now let's get started with a breakdown of the stuff...

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.

Lush Dark Angels Scrub Review

So I am a scrub-aholic. I love exfoliation and getting rid of dead skin cells but lately I have been using a lot less of the scrubby products to give my skin a break but you should still exfoliate a couple times a week to keep skin fresh. 

One of my go-to exfoliators is this one by Lush. I had heard of it through browsing on Pinterest and have been using it religiously for about a year now and there is a clear reason why. 

Product Info: Now at the Lush store you can purchase this scrub in any size amount you would like and it will vary in cost from around $12.00 to $30.00. 

Cleanser Spotlight: La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

Today I am going to share with you one of my holy grail cleansers that I use for keeping my skin as breakout free as it can be. 

Product Info: This cleanser runs you around $23.00 for the 200ml and if you are lucky you can find the 400ml size for just a couple bucks more on offer. 

Consistency: This is a gel based cleanser which foams up quite nicely so it does feel like it cleans your skin super well. 

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus: 3 Week Test

So given my long battle with post acne scarring I have tried any and everything I can come across to help with the spots. Recently I got a sample of the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Serum after purchasing some things from Shoppers Drug Mart and I decided to give it a try.

I haven't had much luck with Clinique skincare in the past; if you remember I tried their 3 Step Skincare System in the past and was not a fan so I was reluctant to give this a try but after reading some positive reviews online I put my hesitations aside and gave it a go; at the very least if it sucked I would be able to let you all know, of the joys of blogging... 

Product Info: The full size cost of this serum is $59.00 for 30ml and $88.00 for a 50ml bottle. 

Consistency: The serum is a thick gel-like consistency that absorbs a little slower into the skin but it does absorb after a couple minutes. 

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.

St. Ives Timeless Skin Mineral Clay Firming Mask Facemask Review

As many of you know, I'm a self-proclaimed facemask addict. This time instead of going the individual facemask route (my usual), I'm trying out a squeeze bottle mineral clay firming mask from St.Ives.

I've recently become a huge fan of St.Ives because of their Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer and their Apricot Scrub, so I knew I had to pick up their facemask when I saw it (especially since it was on sale!)

St.Ives claims, due to the kaolin clay in their mask, it will "deep clean while visibly firming and tightening the skin" and I have to say, it does the job!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum-In-Oil Review

So back when I showed my Spring Favourites I promised to do a more detailed review of The Body Shop Vitamin E Oil and today I am finally doing that.

Since it was in my favourites post you can probably guess that I do like using this facial oil and I will tell you just why.

Product Info: This oil is available at The Body Shop and costs $28.00 for a 28ml bottle. 

Consistency: This is a very light weight oil and it absorbs into my skin in around 10 minutes. It is not a heavy oil by any means but it does pack a powerful punch and my skin instantly looks radiant when I apply it.

Andalou Naturals Creamy Clay Mask Review

Normally I let Meg do all the face mask posts since she is addicted but today I am going to show you one of my favourite clay masks I use for clarifying my skin when I get those dreadful breakouts.

I picked up this mask by Andalou Naturals for the first time over a year ago at my local Natural Grocer and have been in love ever since.

Product Info: You can get this at most Natural Grocers or at some Grocers that have a natural skincare section. The cost of this mask is around $12.00 to $15.00.

Teen Skincare Series: Toners

So today we are continuing in the next phase of my Teen Skincare Series. If you missed the first post in the series all about Cleansers, you can check that out here.

Toners are, to me, a very important step in my personal skincare routine. There is a lot of debate on whether or not toners are necessary in your skincare. Many people have argued that it is just an unnecessary step but on the other end toners can be good for removing any excess soap you may have  missed while rinsing off your cleanser and they can also help to rebalance the ph levels in your skin and soothe your skin.

I personally have gone with and without toner in my years of experimenting with skincare and I have found that my skin looks better and much more even when I am using a toner that suits my skin type.

I went into detail about the importance of knowing your skin type and how to figure it out in my first post in the series so before you continue on reading this, make sure you know your skin type and if you don't, I explain how you can figure it out here.

There is a Toner for an array of skin issues, you just need to find the right one for you.

Is Acne Your Issue? 

If acne is what you're struggling with (don't feel bad, most teens do) then you need to find out what acne ingredient works for you. The most popular being Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide. Once you know that, look for a toner with that ingredient in it. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 for Oily/Combination Skin works for me because it contains Salicylic Acid but if your ingredient of choice is Benzoyl Peroxide try looking at Neutrogena, many of their toners contain a good amount of Benzoyl Peroxide and if you need more Salicylic Acid, Clean & Clear is a good brand to check out. 

Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer With Mangosteen Review

Hello again everyone, 

Today I am going to be doing a skincare review for you. This time on a bit of a higher end item. I purchased this about a year ago and did not like it at first so I stopped using it and I decided to give it another try and share with your my thoughts the second time around. 

Product Info: I purchased this product at Sephora with a gift card I received and it was on the pricier side at $45.00 for a 50ml, standard size bottle. 

The Good, The Bad, and The Alright: Dark Spot Correctors

So it is finally time for another instalment of my little series. This time I am focusing on Dark Spot Correctors.

As you may know from previous posts, I have been fighting a long and arduous battle with my dark spots which were leftover from last years serious breakout session. So I have tested out quite a few of them and have been generally left quite disappointed by most.

Back in January I reviewed the Kiehl's Dark Spot Solution which you can see here, and I was left very discouraged by the results. Since then I have tried 3 new dark spot treatments that I will talk about now.

Vichy PROEVEN Daily Dark Spot Corrector

I was really excited to try this one from Vichy because I have had a lot of luck with the brand. During the winter time when I was experiencing many dry patches I reached for their Aqualia Thermal line and found my skin some relief so naturally I wanted to give their dark spot treatment a go. 

Texture and Application: This product honestly feels like a light weight moisturizer rather than a serum based formula which most of the corrector I have encountered in the past have been. The instructions say that you can apply a moisturizer over top the corrector which I did end up doing on occasion but a lot of the time, the product itself is enough. 

Results: I did not see a great deal of results from this product. I liked the lightweight texture especially for the warmer weather. This product contains Vitamin C which is actually a brightening product that generally works for me really well but I am not sure the percentage of Vitamin C in this product but it had no effect on my skin. 

Review: St.Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

I was a bit hesitant to pick up this scrub because I was attempting to not spend money needlessly. After all, I already have a Clarisonic, did I really need a scrub for exfoliation? Apparently, the answer is yes because I'm loving this Apricot Scrub!

There is nothing but good things to say about this one- I love that it's gentle, it's natural, and it smells AMAZING!

DIY Simple & Customizable Body Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrubs are one of my favourite DIYs because they are just so simple and quick to make, cost next to nothing (depending on your ingredients), and you can customize every single step to your personal preferences! They are great for a day of pampering and make great gifts for friends and family!

Here's what you'll need: 
Sugar Scrub Ingredients

• 1 part oil (Coconut and olive oil are my favourites, but you can use any you have handy)
• 2 part table sugar (White or brown sugar work well, but even table/sea salt is an alternative if you are running low on sugar!)
• Add ONE/TWO (optional) add-in: 
• 5-15 drops of an essential oil (such as lemon , mint, lavender). The amount will depend on how much you are making: adjust accordingly!
• 1 tablespoon (raw) honey (it's antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and hyper-moisturizing properties are perfect for scrubs and masks!)
• 1/2 tablespoon vitamin e oil or a few capsules
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of citrus zest (lemon, limes, and grapefruits anyone?)

Personally, my favourite combinations are:

5 Beauty Bad Habits To Break: Skincare Edition

I wanted to share with you some of the beauty bad habits I've been trying to break up with. 

1)  Not getting every tiny bit of makeup off before bed

Going to sleep with makeup is probably on every beauty blogger's DO NOT DO list. It's so important to get every bit of makeup off before you go to sleep, lest you not give your skin a chance to rejuvenate over night and end up with acne and aged skin.

This is where waterproof mascara comes back to bite me... so keep cleansing wipes and make up remover pads by your bead, break out the Clarisonic, or use some good old fashion cleanser... whatever way you do it, get that makeup off your face before bed!

2) Sleeping on your face

I'm one of those sleepers that even if I'm insanely tired I can only go to sleep when I'm completely comfortable... And I happen to most comfortable on my stomach with my face in a pillow. 

Sleeping with your face in a pillow unfortunately causes fine wrinkles on your face. In other words, if you wake up with lines all over your face, they may be come permanent. The best position to sleep in is on your back... if only I could get comfortable.

Kit Peel Off Mask with Pomegranate Review

Today I'm bringing you another review of the Kit's Peel Off Masks, as I enjoyed the first one I tried so much. I was doubly excited to try out this mask because it is enriched with pomogranate which is chock full of antioxidants! 

Like the cucumber peel off mask, this mask went on clear. Though when you take it out of the package it looks rose tinted and smelled like raspberry jelly. It has the consistency of jelly too; it's a lot more firm than other facemasks. 

Cate's Morning & Nighttime Skincare Routine

I did a skincare routine a while ago and to be quite honest back then I was using, pardon my French, a shit ton of products on my skin and while that is okay if it works, it really was not working for me.

Since then, I have really dialled down the products I use on my face to truly essentials and I am much happier with the results. 

Nighttime Routine

Clarisonia Mia 2

I have had a love/hate relationship with my Clarisonic for the last little while, I think because I may have been over using it but now that I have found that right balance of using it for my particular skin type, I love it! I don't use it every night but I do use it at night when I wear a lot of extra makeup just to make sure it all gets off and to make sure my skin is thoroughly cleansed. 

La Roche Posay Efflaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

This is one of my all time favourite cleansers, so much so that I bought the big tube. It is the only cleanser that I have found that keeps my skin consistently clear (aside from the occasional breakout) without stripping my skin and making it super dry and tight. 

Andalou Naturals Clementine + C Illuminating Toner

This is a new toner for me (well a month or so) and I am liking it. I love anything citrus-y and this is great and I really do notice that my skin is brighter with it. 

Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Overnight Peel

I have been using this for a while now (expect a review/comparison post soon). I love it, I definitely notice a different in the appearance of my dark spots, more than any other corrector I have tried and I have tried a lot. This is my second bottle. 

Review: St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer

I first picked this product up because Cate reminded me that Dr.Oz said it was one of the best, most cost effective moisturizers for anti-aging. I can't attest to those changes yet, being only 25 and not having used it long term, but I have to say I'm loving this moisturizer!

I haven't seen any huge signs of aging on my skin yet, though I do see a few fine lines around my eyes. I do think this moisturizer is helping me be proactive in dealing with them and I've seen visible improvement.

Every night, and sometimes in the morning or throughout the day as well, I apply this St. Ives moisturizer to my face and neck. I also try to get my chest area as well, as the skin there is quite delicate as well, especially due to sun exposure. I love that a little goes a long way- the moisturizer is creamy, luxurious and hyper-moisturizing. I find that a small amount is more than enough for the areas I want to cover.

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!