Back Bow

 

I just love a good bow...

xoxo

S.

Beauty Tip # 5: Face Masks

 

Facial are one of the most important procedures to have when wanting to have a gorgeous, luminous, and young looking skin. It is my belief that facials should be part of every woman's top priorities and followed through properly. I make sure to have a cleansing facial every month, and maintain my skin as best as I can by doing weekly mini face peels, detoxes and/or pore cleansing. By keeping your skin cleared of all daily impurities you can boost your anti-aging speed and overall health and beauty of your skin. There are countless spa all throughout the country, and with today's leading technology inventions and at-home spa-like treatments there is truly no limit to all the wonders that we can do to keep our skin looking fresh, young, and glorious.

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Simply The Best - Moisturizers

Eyes

The Best Eye Cream:
Bobbie Brown Hydrating Eye Cream $49.00 Sephora.com

The Best Eye Serum:
Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage $28.00 Sephora.com

Face

The Best Moisturizer:
Amore Pacific Rejuvenating Crème $150.00 Sephora.com

The Best Inexpensive Moisturizer For Dry Skin:
POND'S Dry Skin Cream $8.00 drugstore.com

The Best Skin-Care Line For Sensitive Skin:
Avene Eau Thermal  - aveneusa.com

Body

The Best Spa Body Cream:
Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream $29.00 blissworld.com

The Best Hand Cream:
Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream $12.00 Sephora.com

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Dior Airflash

Advertised as an ultra-light foundation that delivers an airbrushed effect with precision and ease Dior's Airflash foundation is a jewel amongst the sea of foundations available on the market today.

 

Besides the big selling factor that it is very convenient for those of us who are always on the run and have minimum time to spend every morning doing our makeup, this spray on and buff with a flat foundation brush alternative is a given. You can also easily customize your coverage by choosing to apply straight from the can for a lighter finish, or with a Kabuki brush for fuller coverage.

 

It has mother of pearl pigments that help to even skintone and diminish the appearance of skin irregularities and fine lines, leaving your skin glowing with optimal radiance.

 

In my opinion it is definitely worth a try, and I personally prefer to wear this on vacation due to its lighter finish and illuminating aspects.

 

 

xoxo

 

 

S.

MAC Fix +

 

 

 

Truly the best thing that has happened to the beauty industry since the invention of facial toners. MAC's Fix+ is a must have in every makeup addicts cosmetics case. Promoted as an aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, it is infused with green tea, chamomile and cucumber, allowing the skin to calm and add radiance to the finished look of makeup application. Need I say more?!?

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Simply The Best - Toners

The Best Toner:
Lancome Tonique Confort - Comforting Rehydrating Toner $25.00 Sephora.com

The Best Toner for Normal/Dry Skin:
Clarins Toning Lotion - Normal-Dry Skin $22.00 Sephora.com

xoxo


S.

Simply The Best - Cleansers & Exfoliators

The Best Cleanser For Sensitive Skin:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser $12.00 cetaphil.com

The Best Cleanser For Dry Skin:
Lancôme Galatee Confort - Comforting Milky Crème Cleanser $30.00 Sephora.com

The Best Cleanser for Oily + Acneic Skin
Murad Clarifying Cleanser $26.00 murad.com

The Best Exfoliating Cleanser:
Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser $35.00 Sephora.com

The Best Enzyme-Based Exfoliator:
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment $85.00 katesomerville.com

xoxo

S. 

Beauty Tip #4: Exfoliate

Among the various beauty regimens that I make sure to stick to for proper skin care is exfoliating my skin 3 or 4 times a week. It is extremely important to gently remove all the dead skin and impurities that collect on our skin daily, and in order to have beautiful skin you have to take care of it constantly. There are thousands of products on the market that serve this purpose, and whether you choose to buy products or make them yourself with simple ingredients that we already have in our pantry (honey, sugar, lemon, baking powder, pure oils) the important thing is to exfoliate gently but thoroughly. 

xoxo

S. 

Chanel CC Cream

 

 

 

 

 

Chanel's newest fusion of skincare and makeup is one of this year's most anticipated beauty products. Backed by true expertise, this Asian secret to flawless skin combines five actions in one single step. The CC Cream is a skincare lover's best friend to put is mildly. The benefits of this miracle product are endless to say the least, however I will list its five primary actions that make the skin appear flawless and glow with natural beauty. They are:

 

1. SOOTHES. Cornflower water comforts sensitive skin.

2. MOISTURIZES. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain hydration level all day long by trapping and retaining moisture inside the skin.

3. PROTECTS. SPF 30 and PA+++ sun filters block aging-accelerating UVA-UVB rays. A mineral filter guarantees higher tolerance on the skin.

4. PREVENTS. An active ingredient of natural origin, Rejuvencia, provides the best shield against external aggressions.

5. EVENS OUT IMPERFECTIONS. Redness, dark spots and pores are visibly diminished.

CC Cream's are the most talked about beauty items and Chanel's version is a must try for me. How can anyone pass up an opportunity that has the potential to make your complexion visibly even-tined, fresh and radiant. It sounds very promising and I will surely include this in my future posts if it truly does what it claims to do...

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Beauty Tip #3: Water

 

 

There is no question that the beauty benefits of natural water are endless and vital to the survival of all human beings. However, many of us tend to reach for the more sugary drinks to help quench our thirst instead of nature's number one gift to humanity. The benefits are countless and the importance or water consumption could never be underestimated. So the best thing to do is to drink as much as possible or at least 8 cups per day.

 

Here are some of the most know benefits of drinking water:

 

1. Helps to lose weight

2. Healthy skin

3. Fights infection

4. Get rid of body toxins

5. Healthy heart

6. Prevent joint pains and arthritis

7. Boost energy

8. Prevent constipation

9. Reduce risk of cancer

10. Improves productivity

11. Increase metabolism

12. Relieve fatigue

 

AND ALL FOR ZERO CALORIES!

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Beauty Favourite: Amore Pacific Skincare

Among my many beauty obsessions, the one that is at the very top of my list is proper skincare and good quality, life changing products. The reason for this is because no matter how well you apply your makeup, and how wonderful you look with a painted face, what really matters the most is the quality and healthy of your actual skin. And if you do not have a good canvas to paint on, then there really is no point piling on all that makeup just to cover flaws and imperfections. When I say this, I do not refer to imperfections that could not be treated or that are out of our hands (more on that in a latter post), but those that could be diminished with proper skin care and treatments. Ever woman deserves a luminous, healthy, and almost flawless skin. And although makeup is God's gift to all women, no matter their skin type, color, or age, it is very important to take care of our most precious and most alluring  feature: our face!

 

There are thousands of beauty products on the market ranging widely in price and quality, which is why choosing the right product is more important that anything else. No matter your budget, you can always find good skin care within your own personal budget. Juts because one product is priced highly does not necessarily mean it is the best or the right one for you. Luckily there are so many alternatives that everyone can find something that suits his/her skin type and needs. However, what is important is the purity of the product, what I mean by this is that the less harsh chemicals in a product, the better the results and overall satisfaction you will get.

 

My personal skin care choice is from the Asian skin care line called AMORE PACIFIC, and is from the moisture bound and deep hydration line. Although a little pricey, I find that I works best due to the fact that it is mainly based on botanicals such as Green Tea, Bamboo, and Red Ginseng.

 

Keep in mind that I have dry skin, that is very sensitive and prone to redness. So my choice would not be suitable for those who have different skin concerns. It is an absolute gem of a product, and even though I sometime rotate between different brands and products, I always come back to this miracle worker for my skin.

 

This nature's gift to women can be easily found online, at luxury department stores such as Nordstrom, or the beloved one stop beauty retailer: Sephora.

 

I suggest everyone to take a sample on your next visit to the skin care aisle and give this beauty and skin care must have a try!

 

xoxo

 

 

S.

 

 

Beauty Tip #2 - Sunscreen

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned in regards to my skin is the vital role that the use of sunscreen plays in our daily skincare regimen. It is a step that no woman should skip, wether it is incorporated into your daily moisturizer or not, sunscreen should not be forgotten whenever you are exposed to natural light (yes even if there is no glimpse of the sun for miles ahead). Daily sunscreen application will help delay signs of aging, protect the skin, and help with moisturization. There are so many facial sunscreens on the market these days, the important thing is to find the one that works best for your specific skin type and concerns. I personally have three favourites that I use in rotation depending on the activities I have planned for the day.

1) Amore Pacific Natural Protector SPF 30 

   This is my go-to everyday sunscreen that I apply before my moisturizer and makeup.

2) Dermalogica  Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25

   I love this for when I have no time for makeup and need to have protection and a little tint. 

3) Eucerin Everyday Protection SPF 30

   This I use whenever I am on vacation on the beach or laying out by the pool. 

xoxo 

S. 

P.S. You many only and I mean ONLY skip your sunscreen when you have important photographs to take (wedding, engagement, professional profile, etc). This is due to the fact that sunscreen has a reflective   component and will make your pictures not so "picture perfect"! 

Clarisonic Mia

There are thousands of reviews on the breakthrough in the skincare industry know as the Clarisonic. This is my personal version and it's pretty simple: GET IT!

One of my all time favourite presents was for Christmas of 2010, when my husband gave me the greatest gift of all (well besides his love), he surprised me with a Clarisonic Mia! I had wanted to purchase one for years, but never truly believed in the hype and reviews that it had received. Little did I know, this single  device would change my life and my skin forever. It has been a year and a half since my first use and I cannot, for the life of me, cleanse my face without it. I use it once a day, mostly during my morning shower, and enjoy ever second of it. My skin feels refreshed, clean, smooth, and rejuvenated after every single use. With a touch of my favourite cleansing Milk (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser), and water I am immediately transformed to a mini spa, where my skin is the guest of honour and my inner beauty addict delighted. The pre-programmed timer allows me to fully cleanse my face without over exfoliating. 

Now I am well aware that this luxury does not come cheap, nonetheless, it is worth every single penny and more. It is my belief that there is no price on beauty, and even though there are limits to everything a little self indulgence never hurt anyone. If you cannot afford to purchase it right away... then by all means save up for it. Remember, companies such as Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are constantly running promotions that help even the savviest budgeter.  I promise it would be the best investment you ever make as far as your skin is concerned. 

xoxo

S.

Beauty Tip #1 - Exfoliate Daily

One on the most important and life changing beauty tips that I have learned in the past three years is the crucial role that proper daily exfoliation plays in the clarity, glow, and anti-aging of our face. Exfoliating helps get rid of the dead top layers of the skin, which then allows serums and moisturizers to better penetrate the skin. This simple task in my daily beauty routine has made a world of difference in my way my skin looks, feels, and most importantly delays the signs of aging. I am lucky and young enough not to deal with visible wrinkles, serious pigmentation, or excessive acne. However, I do have mild redness (not really rosacea) due to sensitivity and dryness. Our skin is know to repair itself at night, this is why during my morning shower I make sure to exfoliate my face using a Clarisonic Mia face cleansing system, along with a gentle cleanser (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser). In the evening, once I completely remove my make-up, I wash my face using an gentle exfoliating face cleanser (Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser), and then continue with my nightly beauty regimen. Note that I only use gently exfoliants for daily use, however for a deeper exfoliation I use a stronger scrub with coarse and fine sea salt once a week for deeper cleansing (Lush Ocean Salt). This extra step in my beauty regimen is a priority of mine and an advice I give to every single woman I know, especially the one's who compliment on the clarity, elasticity and glow of my skin.

xoxo

S. 

P.S. I will review each beauty product I have mentioned in my upcoming posts. Keep in mind that there are multiple wonderful products on the market today that work with each individual's skin type and beauty concerns, these are simply some of my personal favourites which I find work great with my skin type and needs.