Argan Magic - 100% Pure Argan Oil

Happy Saturday!! I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekend so far!!

As many of you may know, I am a firm believer in limiting the use of cleansers on my face and try to wash with only water. I do exfoliate my face with Pür Minerals Pür Polish (which you can read more about here) 1 to 2 times a week but other than that I only wash my face with H2O. I completely understand that all of our skin varies and many people have to use special cleansers, washes, creams and so on but I won't discuss cleaning routines given that I don't really have one. What I do want to discuss is Argan Oil; which many people have heard me refer to as "Liquid Gold".

Argan Oil is by far my favourite beauty not-so-secret. It's not a secret because I share my love for it with everyone that I possibly can!

Over the past five years I have tried quite a few brands of different Argan Oil's. Zinn's Beauty Collection has always been and will always be at the very top of my list but I have found another that is in extremely close running - Argan Magic 100% Pure Argan Oil.

This oil is exactly as promoted - Easily absorbed with no residue or greasy feeling. Of course it is an oil so you can expect to see an oily finish at first but it quickly lessens as the oil soaks into your skin. If you apply it as I do, in the evening right before bed you will wake up in the morning with glowing skin.

I have found that dark circles under my eyes disappear, redness diminishes and small spots that I had on my face are no longer. Argan Oil refreshes my skin and keeps it looking young and healthy.

In the winter my daughter suffers from terrible eczema around her thumbs and on the palms of her hands which can become very red and painful for her if we don't care for them properly. Although we don't use medications, we have tried many different lotions and creams, none of which have worked for us. This past winter in Canada was the worst winter I have ever experienced in my life. Not only were the temperatures so low they were breaking records all over the place, the weather was so bad it was causing our skin to do terrible things. We weren't having any luck keeping my daughters hands under control and one night the eczema was causing her so much pain that she was in tears.

It was in pure desperation that I smothered her hands in Argan Oil and covered them in fluffy socks over night. Argan Oil is very rich in Vitamin E and Omega 6 Fatty Acids which work wonders for skin. To our surprise, when she woke in the morning her skin was no longer burning, the redness was gone and the eczema was clearing up. We continued with this routine on a nightly basis until her hands will fully cured which only took one week! As a preventative we continued to oil her hands before bed and put the socks (which she prefers over gloves because they are so soft) on over top to really seal the moisture in.

Argan Oil truly is amazing and although I only use it on my face and my babykins only uses it on her hands, I highly suggest that you try it out on any skin condition that you may have. You have nothing to lose!

xTx

It is important to note that it is suggested that those with nut allergies not use Argan Oil. Should you wish to try it, please speak to your Physician or Allergist prior to using.

My Top 27 Beauty Products Picks of 2011

As we wave adieu to 2011 and shake hands with 2012 I look forward to trying out some of the new and upcoming products that will be hitting the shelves this year. Although there are a ton of new beauty products on the horizon, below are my top 27 picks of 2011 in no particular order...

Urban Decay
Naked Palette

Naked is definitely my go-to palette each morning before work. I like a natural look for work, so my daily shadow routine includes Virgin for my highlight, Naked for my brow and Buck for my crease. Sometimes I add in a bit of Toasted or Hustle in to mix things up but I try to stay away from frosty colours during the day.

pürminerals

Pür Polish & Correcting Primer 

Pür Polish has done wonders for my skin. I started using this exfoliator late September/early October and have been using it ever since. You can read more on my 30-Something Skin here. The Correcting Primer is better than any other primer I have ever used, it works great with all concealers and foundations that I have tried it with and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. I use the neutral primer but there is also a Colour Balancer and a Redness Reducer that both serve different priming purposes. 

Sephora

Sephora Makeup Palette and Makeup Brush Shampoo

The top of the palette has 33 different eye shadows and 3 eyeliners. On the left side there are 12 different lip glosses/lipsticks and the right side has 4 blushes and 2 bronzers. I really like that this palette includes 10 matte shadows. I also like that the colour pay-off on my skin is great. I had never tried Sephora's brand of makeup prior to this so I like that this cutsie little palette has given me the opportunity to try many colours at once and is absolutely perfect for travelling. This exact palette is Limited Edition so if you're looking to grab one you should purchase it quickly here. The Sephora brand Makeup Brush Shampoo is definitely a fav of mine. I find that many brush shampoos are heavy and I don't like washing my brushes with olive oil and soap because I feel that the oils hold bacteria. This shampoo is anti-bacterial, weightless and leaves my brushes with a squeaky clean brand new feeling.

L'Oreal Visible Lift

Smooth Absolute Foundation & Concealer

Honestly, when I hit 30 my skin started doing crazy things. I have never suffered from breakout's or anything of that nature but it seemed like the year leading up to my 30th birthday my skin started to change. I never wore foundation in my teens or 20's because I always felt that it was heavy on my face and looked completely un-natural. Foundations can be nice and flawless in photo's and on video but in person, I find that many look cakey, crumbly and just plain gross. I much prefer a natural look which is why I have fallen in love with L'Oreal's Visible Lift Foundation and Concealer. They are both soft and smooth, have amazing coverage and are both still in place at the end of the day when I am done work regardless of the temperature or weather outside. If you try them out, don't be alarmed when you look like you're 19 again!!

Maybelline

Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation & Concealer and Express Finish Nail Polish

Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind is almost an exact dupe to L'Oreal's Visibal Lift products except I find the Age Rewind to be a bit thinner. Although I love both of these foundations and concealer's, if I had to choose between the two I would go with L'Oreal's Visible Lift Foundation and Maybelline's Age Rewind Concealer. The Age Rewind Concealer is amazing! Babygirl and I are always trying out new brands of nail polish and I must say that Maybelline's Express Finish polishes are my absolute favourite. I much prefer them over any other high end brand. Not only are they cheaper than other high end polishes, the Express Finish polishes provide perfect coverage with 2 light coats, are quick to dry and can last me over a week without chipping. My favourite colour to wear is Sheer Pink #90 - It looks great all year long, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. A definite must-have in my polish collection.

M.A.C.

Mineralize Skin Finish & Blush and Satin Lipstick

MAC's Mineral makeup makes me so happy! I use the Skinfinish (the larger of the two pods in the colour of Soft and Gentle) for highlighting after I bronze. I often shy away from blushes because much like foundations I sometimes feel that they look un-natural but MAC's Mineralize Blushes are gorgeous giving off the perfect amount of colour. My favourite lipstick colour has been Spirit in Satin Finish since I was about 18 years old. I can't even tell you how many of these lip sticks I have gone through. Not only are the satin finishes hydrating but they last for hours even after countless lip gloss applications.

NYX

Eye/Eyebrow Pencil, Jumbo Eye Pencil and Felt Tip Liner

I'm new to the world of NYX. One night when I was browsing the makeup aisles at a Rexall drugstore I stumbled across their little NYX display. The NYX makeup was ridiculously cheap, I'm talking cheap as in all three of the above cost me less than $20. I have to admit, the prices scared me lol. I couldn't help but wonder if I would be wasting my money. WELL!! Was I terribly mistaken!! Where did this NYX stuff come from?! It's amazing! The white eye liner glides on so smooth, the jumbo pencil is so creamy and perfect for blending and the felt tip eye liner is brilliant! The tip is perfect, the colour is perfect and the lasting power is more than perfect. I don't go anywhere without eyeliner. Ever. So you can imagine how many liners I have gone through in my life. I have to say that these three NYX liners are the best I have ever used over any brand I have ever purchased, and I have used every liner made by every company that you can imagine. Amazing.
Givenchy
Hot Couture

Hot Couture by Givenchy. To me it has soft scents of vanilla, magnolia

and I have no idea what else. It smells so good. It's sophisticated. It's sexy. And it lasts for hours and hours and hours. Nuff said.

eos

Lip Balm Smooth Sphere

eos lippies are hard to find but I came across the two that I purchased at the same Rexall that I found my NYX cosmetics at. The lippy above is in the scent of Honeysuckle Honeydew. I also purchased the Sweet Mint lippy at the same time. Love! eos lip balms are 95% organic and 100% natural. I love that they glide on completely smooth and have absolutely no shine. Oh and they smell and taste so yummy. My lips need a lot of hydration in the winter so along side my 800 little pots of blue blistex you will now find my eos lippies.

Bourjois Paris

Effet 3D MAX

Bourjois's Effet 3D MAX lip gloss is very pretty. I love applying it over my MAC Spirit lipstick when I'm going out at night. I have colour #62 in Rose Gold which is a translucent soft pink with tiny little flecks of gold in it. I like it because it's not sticky. I can't stand it when my lips feel like they are covered in sticky goop. Not only does this lippy smell lovely but the shine is gorgeous and long lasting. A definite must-have if you love a shiny lip.

Rimmel London

Glam Eyes Mascara, Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Pencil and Natural Bronzer

I don't have a lot of Rimmel products but I love these three. Glam Eyes Mascara is by far my favourite mascara. The wand bristles are all plastic and spaced perfectly. My lashes aren't very long but with this mascara they double in length. The 1000 Kisses lip pencil is colour #47 in Cappuccino and it lasts all day long. I am a chronic lippy applier so that fact that I can apply this pencil in the morning and still see it after all of my gazillion balm applications throughout the day is saying something. I love the Natural Bronzer because it isn't powdery and it's completely matte which means no fakey mcfakerson sparkly tanned nonsense. #21 in Sun Light is beautiful. I use it all year long to set my foundation and for a pretty sun kissed glow. 

ZINN Beauty Collection

Argan Oil

I mentioned ZINN's Argan Oil in my 30-Something Skin post back in October. This oil is truly phenomenal. I apply it at night and when I wake up in the morning my skin is completely hydrated and looks so fresh and alive. It's like a little bottle of youth. Not only is Argan Oil good for your skin but it is excellent for your hair as well providing immediate shine, frizz control, colour protection and a plethora of nutrients. Love this stuff!

So, these are the top beauty products that I fell in love with in 2011 (minus my Spirit lipstick which I have used for years). I love each of these products and if I don't use them every single day I use them at least 2-3 times a week.

Do you have any favourites? Tell me about them!

xTx

Full Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.

Contest - It's Nice to be Important but it's More Important to be Nice!

As you may be aware from reading my last blog post on Wednesday, my Tuesday of this week didn't start off on a good note but during lunch that day, my friend Katie dropped a gift off to me at my office, just because. After Katie gave me my gift of NARS Turkish Delight my day immediately started to pick up which made me happy because as a very firm believer in good karma, I know that with goodness comes goodness.

Throughout the remainder of the week I experienced so many positive things not only at work, but outside of work as well. For instance, two other people that I work with shared something with me that I thought was absolutely amazing about goals that they have. Such positive goals can only bring positive results!

Yesterday while I was shopping at Winners I was held up at the cash that I was checking out at because the cashier had to get assistance to make a ticket for an article that I was purchasing. She was so apologetic for taking up my time. I smiled and told her that I wasn't in a hurry and advised her that she could take all of the time that she needed. The "thank you" that she responded with was so sincere. It made me wonder if she regularly deals with a lot of rude and hostile people constantly in a hurry. I'm certain that that must be the case because I think that every single one of us can recall a time that we have witnessed the hostility of fellow shoppers.

As I was leaving Winners, an elderly couple who looked as if they were in their 80's were walking in front of me. They were of course walking extremely slow, the man helping his beautiful wife because she could hardly walk. They were so sweet. As we reached the outside doors of Winners I could have walked around them but I didn't. Because the parking lot is always so busy and the man was so engaged in trying to assist his wife, I stayed behind them to make sure that no one hit them as they crossed from the curb out to their car which was parked in the handicapped space near my truck. As we neared our vehicles, the man noticed that I was behind them and actually said "I am very sorry" because he thought that he and his wife were in my way. I stopped in my tracks, looked him right in his eyes and said "please, don't ever be sorry. Not ever". His wife beamed a beautiful smile at me, the man's eyes welled up with tears and he thanked me with the most amazing "thank you" I have ever heard in my life. I replied with a smile and "you're welcome". As I got to my truck I looked back over my shoulder and he and his wife were still standing at their car looking at me with smiles on their faces. I will never forget that little couple and the gratitude that they showed me for not rushing them along.

When I got into my truck, I sat for a minute thinking about the two "thank you's" that I had just received from the cashier and the elderly couple. Because I wasn't in a rush. Because I wasn't being hostile and pushy. Because I smiled. Because I was kind. It is so, so important to be kind. I didn't know my Grandma Olive, but I have been told that one of her favourite sayings was "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"; which leads me to my favourite story of the week...

Yesterday morning at 9:15am my daughter's school had a themed assembly about "Acceptance". A guest speaker by the name of John Hastings, an Olympic kayaker was present to speak to the students about how important "acceptance" is and how important it is to be kind to one another. One of the stories that he told was about about how at the age of 16 he was training in Europe. One of his fellow athletes, by the name of Pierre was from Quebec and only spoke French, or so they all thought. John said that no one liked Pierre and everyone made fun of him, never having anything nice to say about him. One day John heard Pierre speaking to their coach in English which made him ill because clearly, Pierre spoke English and knew all of the terrible things that they had been saying about him. To make a long story short, John and Pierre are now the best of friends and John credits Pierre for helping him face his dreams and aspirations of becoming an Olympian. During the same assembly my babygirl was presented with a Student Recognition Award for "Acceptance" from her teacher and her principle. It's amazing that at the age of seven, she knows the importance of being kind to her fellow peers and accepting everyone regardless of their differences.

So, in the spirit of kindness and good karma, I want to challenge you!! And I want to hear about it!!
The challenge is simple. Do a good deed for someone or a bunch of someone's. Something thoughtful and kind to bring a smile to the face of another. A good deed can be anything from baking a batch of cookies and giving them to a friend or relative, buying someone a gift, writing someone a letter or sending someone a card. Volunteering, supporting, helping!! Be creative and show your appreciation to someone that you care about - or even a total stranger!!

This contest challenge involves a prize (prizes are always fun, right?) and there are only three rules!

Rule #1: Do something kind!! Once you have done your good deed, in the comment box below, please tell me what it was that you did!! You have to comment below to be entered into the draw. Only one entry per person will be entered into the draw, but don't let that stop you from doing more good deeds for people!

Rule #2: Share this contest and post with your friends and family. Below you can see that you can share it via Email, Blogger, Twitter or Facebook - or even word of mouth. I know that kindness and good karma are definately things that we want to spread the word on!

Rule #3: Subscribe or Follow my blog via Email Subscription or Google Friend Connect. You can sign up right over there ---> FYI: by signing up via Email Subscription, you will receive my blog posts straight to your email any time that I post something new. If you are already an email subscriber then you are good to go. Easy peasy!

One winner will be chosen randomly to receive the following prize which includes some of my favourite things:

One (1) 10 ounce bottle of Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo
One (1) 2 ounce bottle of Macadamia Natural Oil Curl Reviving Cream
One (1) 1 ounce packet of Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
One (1) tube of Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker lip gloss
Two (2) Pairs of handmade (by moi!) Rose Earrings (Colour: Black - one for you and one to give to someone else as seen in the side picture)
One (1) knitted scarf handmade (by moi!) - Please note that I will determine the style, width, length and yarn used for the scarf but upon winning the contest the winner will be able to choose the colour.

The contest starts now, Saturday October 29th and will end on Saturday November 12th at 1:00pm EST. This contest is open worldwide.

Let's see the good karma, my friends!

xTx

Disclaimer:
This contest is not sponsored. This contest is open from Saturday October 29th, ending on Saturday November 12th at 1:00pm EST. This contest is open worldwide. The winner must be subscribed to Tawny. Just Tawny. via Email Subscription. One(1) winner will be chosen at random via www.random.org. The winner will be notified via email on Sunday November 13th. If they do not respond within 48 hours the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen via www.random.org and will be notified via email. The prize will be shipped to the winner via mail depending on the best way to deliver to their particular country of residence.

30-Something Skin

I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to turning 30 this past July. I felt the same turning 30 as I did when I turned 20 - I was not exactly thrilled! The only difference was that on my 30th milestone I didn't streak my hair bright pink, HA!

Over the past couple of years I have noticed a change in my skin. In your thirties your skin begins to lose it's elasticity, it requires extra nourishment and a skin regime that you should stay devoted to, especially if you want to reduce the signs of ageing (how many times have you heard that before?). Keeping your skin hydrated can be a feat if you live in Canada like myself. It is so important at this time of year to be extra friendly to your skin with the dry air of Autumn and Winter. Of course this  means drinking lots of water, cleansing and moisturizing. Keep reading...

Numero Un: As I mentioned above, drink lots of water. Eight glasses a day. Bla bla bla. I'll be honest; I hate water and I hardly drink enough of it. During the day while I am at work I tend to grab more coffee and tea than I do water which isn't something that I am proud of. I also have an addiction to Ginger Ale. This water ordeal is such a huge downfall of mine so I have to practice what I preach! I won't say anything more than the fact that it is important to drink. Water hydrates. Spritz some lemon into that glass and drink your merry little heart out. Your skin will thank you.

Numero Deux: Don't scrub your face into an oblivion, cleanse it gently! If your face hurts after you cleanse you're clearly not doing something right - Just sayin'. Find a gentle cleanser that is best suited for your skin type and be sure to clean your face every night before bed. When I shower in the morning I splash water on my face but I don't cleanse it like I do before I go to sleep at night. There are a ton of cleansers on the market that are cheap and simple - You don't have to cleanse with anything expensive. I love L'Oreal 360 Clean cleansers. Not only does this line of cleansers come with an amazing "scrublet" that is a little piece of wonderful, but I find that they are simple. Although I don't have sensitive skin, I use the blue cleanser because it is unscented and light. It is soap-free so my skin doesn't dry out with use and honestly, the scrublet (which you can see in the picture on the right - it pops in and out of the front of the bottle) is a must-have. I wish that I could find these little scrublet's for sale somewhere because the one that I have is amazing.

If you want to try a simple DIY facial cleanser that will only cost you a few cents and seconds to make; try mixing 1.5 teaspoons of melted honey with 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix together and cleanse your face and neck. Rinse with warm water to remove. It is gentle, natural and will leave your skin feeling so lovely.

Numero trois: Exfoliate. I recently started using pür minerals Pur Polish Multi-Use Exfoliator which is amazing. For $23 CDN you receive 8fl oz. of product in a pump jar that can be used all over your body including your face. Exfoliating a couple times a week is important to keep your skin healthy and looking fresh and young. Only exfoliate at night so that your skin has time to settle before you expose it to the elements. Love, love, love this product!

As you can see, my gorgeous cousin Kelsey gives the Pur Polish a thumbs-up too ;)



Numero Quatre: Once you have cleansed or exfoliated at night, moisturize your face with a moisturizer that is right for you. I was using Elizabeth Grant's Caviar Night Creme (which is AMAZING!) but I have recently switched over to 100% pure Argan Oil from the ZINN Beauty Collection. After I cleanse, I blot dry and then allow my face to continue air drying for a couple of minutes. I apply the oil to my face and massage it in gently. It is not a heavy oil and it soaks in quickly, leaving my face feeling silky smooth, hydrated and healthy. Not only can Argan Oil be used on your face but it can be used on your entire body including your hair.
What is Argan Oil you ask? It is extracted from the kernal of the Argan tree which is native to Morocco. It's extremely rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids and is safe and effective for all skin types, proving to protect against issues like premature aging, acne, rosacea and sun damage. It does NOT have Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMO's and Triclosan.

Fun Fact about Argan Oil: Way, way back in the day, day, long before you and I were here, the Berber people (the indigenous peoples that inhabited North Africa, west of the Nile River) used to pick the Argan pits from the waste of their goats (the goats used to climb the Argan trees to eat the fruit). The pits were then ground and pressed to make the amazing oil that we now know today. Fortunately in today's time the pits are no longer pulled from goat waste :)

Numero Cinq: Moisturize. I highly suggest moisturizing with a moisturizer that has an SPF15 in it to help protect your skin from the sun during the day. No matter what time of year it is, you want to protect your skin from ultra violet rays. It is no secret that too much sun exposure causes pre-mature wrinkles which we all would like to avoid. Since I have been using the Aragan Oil at night I have found that I have not required a moisturizer in the morning - I just rinse, blot dry, prime and apply my make-up.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
I will be back to talk about moisturizers in another blog post - They deserve their own :)
Quick Tip: Never use the same hand towel that you use to dry your hands to dry your face. Keep a roll of paper towel in your bathroom to use on your face. This way you use the paper towel once and can throw it away, completely avoid the possibility of germs getting onto your face.

Skin care may seem complicated but it's really not once you are in a steady routine. Educate yourself and love your skin.
xTx

Macadamia Natural Oil - Reviving Curl Cream

My Babygirl has some serious hair. Hair that extends all the way down her back and hair that is loaded with curls. I'm talking serious curls. Serious ringletty curls that take on a mind of their own. They are full of attitude and are completely untamable if they aren't cared for. A couple of years ago her ringlettes would spring into place with ease but since her hair has gotten so long and thick, the weight of it now pulls the rings down. Each night I comb and braid Babygirl's hair so that we are able to fix it up with a 15 minute ease each morning before school. Normally, I simply take the braid out, comb it through with my fingers, spray it with water and then brush it through with a wide toothed comb. To finish, I twist each curl around my finger to try to keep them as defined as possible with the spritz of a frizz tamer. Of course, when she comes home, even with a tamer, her hair is a frizzy, hot mess from her busy day at school.

Again, as we all know, I (alphabetically - LMNOP) love Macadamia Natural Oil products and have had the opportunity to try the Reviving Curl Cream on Babygirl's hair. Because these products are healing and not harmful, I have no concerns using them on my daughter's hair at all. After I spritz-spray her hair with water in the morning I run about a quarter sized amount Curl Reviving Cream through, focusing on the lower half to start; ending off at her roots. I haven't been twisting her ringlettes at all but I have been gently scrunching them into place and they turn out beautiful. I have found that this product is best used on damp to wet hair so I wouldn't suggest applying it to hair that is dry. It definately has a holding agent in it but it's certainly not a strong gel-like hold; just a nice soft hold. Babygirl's curls stay soft, defined, frizzless and shiney all day long, regardless of the amount of running (which she does a lot of) and playing (which she does even more of) that she has done at school that day. It is so nice to see her come home with the same pretty hair that she went to school with.

I can't say enough about this line of hair care and style products. To be honest, the only thing left to say is; if you haven't tried Macadamia Natural Oil, there is no question that you should. It's a simple as that.

xTx

Full Disclaimer: The product I have spoken of was provided to me by Macadamia Natural Oil. No further compensation was received and no guarantee of a positive review was promised nor expected. All opinions expressed are my own - we all know I have one! Thank you, Macadamia Natural Oil for providing my daughter and I with the BEST hair care products possible.

Five ★ Sunday - Hello Autumn, I Have Missed You xo

Five ★ Sunday is dedicated to Autumn this week. Truthfully, I will more than likely drive you crazy with my love for this season but since it's my favourite time of the year I can't help but talk about it. Below are a few things that make me Autumn-happy.

www.beso.com

So, remember back in the day, like, prior to a few months ago when I was terrified of eBay because my identity was stolen? Well, I'm not so terrified of shopping online anymore. Actually, I think that I am now borderline addicted. Maybe acrossline addicted. Maybe just completely addicted. I am loving me some eBay and online shopping. I suppose that my identity crisis caused me to be a bit more leery but I love searching the online aisles for super cheap deals on things. When I'm bidding on eBay, I don't make big purchases at all. I always refine my searches to free shipping and start with the lowest prices listed. I have bid on and won some super cool things for less than $2.00. I love chunky cocktail rings and have scored quite a few for only $1.00. Scarves, makeup, bracelets and beret's are all in the running under $2.00 too. Deals are ridiculously exciting - which leads me to my first fav of the week.
Through my stumbling for good deals I have discovered Beso - Every online shoppers dream! Beso is an easy navigation site that links to hundreds of stores and brands which makes your shopping super fun and super easy. No matter what you are looking for, type it in the search box at the top left side of the page and a listing of the item that you are looking for will come up for purchase available from all online stores. I love that once your search results come up, there are tabs that you can click on which provide all of the deals and free shipping related to the specific item you are looking to purchase. You will also find tabs along the top of the page linking to various items on sale from 20-80% off, a brand and store directory, the Beso Blog, and quick link categories for women, men, home, kids, jewelery and beauty. Obviously this isn't one of my Autumn-ism's but I think that you should check it out!

Revlon ColorBurst™ Lipstick

I don't wear a lot of lipstick. Actually, I only own one lipstick (M.A.C. Spirit) which I rarely wear but absolutely love. I know that may sound crazy given my obsession with makeup but I've never really worn a lot of lipstick. I am a lip gloss junkie (you will find various lippies all over my house, vehicle, purses, drawers and office. I am literally the Hansel & Gretel of lippies - I leave them where ever I go) but I just don't wear lipstick.
I have full lips and I love the voluptuous look of them but I don't like to enhance them with colourful lipstick (lip gloss, yes, lipstick, no). I definitely don't wear lip liner (I don't even own one) because it adds so much definition to lips. Collaborate a bright coloured lipstick with those lined lips and you have my nightmare.
I think that this is a psychological thing. When I was 10 years old and in grade 4 I knew this girl that used to occasionally wear pink lipstick to school. When she wore it she always applied it over top of her philtrum (the area between your upper lip and your nose that has those two little vertical lines). I always thought she looked silly when she did this and one day I asked her why she wore it above her lip. Her response was: "because it is a part of my lip and I want to make my lips look big and pretty". I wasn't allowed to wear makeup until I was 16 so at 10 the thought of "big pretty lips" was nonsense to me and I thought she looked like a clown. Anyway,  I think that this may be the main reason that I don't wear a lot of lipstick.
A couple of weeks ago while I was at Shopper's Drugmart browsing the makeup section, I came across the Revlon ColorBurst line of lipstick's. I am a huge sucker for matte packaging (odd, I know) and I loved the grid pattern of the lipstick shell (odd again). Clearly I only purchased the lipstick because I liked the package (obviously my sudden urge to make a purchase based solely on the packaging is every marketer's dream) but I was actually surprised when I got home and tried the lipstick on. I paid about $13CDN (tax included) for my #70 Soft Nude purchase. It has a very smooth and creamy consistency which I like and the colour doesn't bleed onto my philtrum which means that I don't have to wear a lip liner with it (bonus). The top of the lid is the colour of the lipstick so I imagine that this would come in extra handy if you had a plethora of lip stick's in your collection and wanted to find a colour quickly. I find this lipstick has a very similar feel to the one M.A.C. lippy that I own and it is rather moisturizing. The colour that I chose is neutral and also perfect for Autumn. I give the Colorburst 5 ★'s because it has made me want to try other lipstick's. What is your favourite lipstick brand? Do share so that I can try them out!

Calgon Refreshing Body Mist - Marshmallow Scent

Another thing that I love is body spray. I have plenty of perfumes but I like that body sprays are soft and don't linger everywhere that you go for 15 minutes - because a scent that you enjoy may not be a scent that other people enjoy. For example, I am not a fan of patchouli and I can smell it from a mile away. It has to be the muskiest smell in the world, it lingers FOREVER and it kicks all of my senses in the face. Just thinking about it as I type this is making my nose hurt! So, again, my point is that what you think may smell lovely may not be so wonderful to someone else - which is why during the day I only wear body spray. My signature scent is Victoria's Secret - Vanilla Lace which I wear all of the time but I have many Calgon spray's as well. My favourite from Calgon is the Marshmallow scent. Although it doesn't really smell like roasted marshmallow's to me, it is soft and sweet scent that has notes of brown sugar, vanilla and sandalwood. Very pretty and also nice for Autumn.

Kings & Queens - Queen Isabella, Cinnamon Orange Body Milk

It is the time of year that you want to start preparing your skin for Winter weather. All skin varies, but if you are like me, I don't have to use a lot of lotion during the summer because the weather is moist with humidity but come Winter when the air is crisp and dry, my skin requires a lot of TLC. Last year around this same time, I purchased a bottle of Queen Isabella's Cinnamon Orange Body Milk by Kings & Queens - I couldn't get enough this Body Milk. It smells amazing; very spicy and warm - something you want to put on after a hot bath to cuddle up next to a fireplace sans comfy clothes and a good book. Because it is a body milk, it will not leave your skin feeling heavy; it's light, goes on smooth and soaks in quickly. Made in Greece, all Kings and Queens products are free from mineral oil and parabens and are beautifully enriched with pomegranate (which we all know is amazing), blue Egyptian lotus (which was used by Ancient Egyptians as a natural aphrodisiac) and malachite extracts (which is a strong detoxifier and antioxidant). You can conveniently purchase these lovely products (with equally lovely packaging) at Shopper's Drugmart for $10-$20CDN. Additionally, each product comes bearing a story about Royal's and Noblemen during Ancient and Medieval times who each played a part in bringing herbs and spices to the New World.

BeaverTails

I love the Byward Market in Ottawa because there are so many great shops and restaurants to be had. One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon in the Autumn is to stop by the BeaverTails shop at the corner of George St. & William St. in the Byward Market. 

BeaverTails' are a thin pastry made in the shape of a, you guessed it, beaver tail. They are each made fresh at purchase, can be ordered with various toppings and are so yummy on a cool day. Babygirl and I always order the Cinnamon & Sugar flavour - delish!

What are some of your favourite things to use or do in the Autumn?

xTx

Banana's for Pravana

As I previously mentioned, this post will be the kick off to my Five ★ Sunday series. Each Sunday I will publish a post highlighting some of the things that I am currently using and consider to be super wonderful. If it has made it to Five ★ Sunday, it is because I want to share my excitement with you :)

Canadian summers (as all Canadian's know) are extremely hot and humid so I don't generally style my hair until autumn arrives. The arrival of autumn means that the humidity disappears and pretty hair styles are able to return. To me, this means curls. I adore long bouncy curls. Curls that keep their shape but are fexible. There is nothing worse than the feeling of rigid hair that won't move! Autumn hasn't quite arrived yet, but in preparation for it I have been curling my hair and trying out some new products that are amazing.

The first is Pravana's Elevate Botanical Root Boost. This booster is alcohol-free and happily fortified with natural ingredients like horsetail, sunflower and jojoba extracts and Panthenol Pro-Vitamin B5. After washing my hair and towel drying the wetness out, I simply apply the foam to my roots and work it out to the ends. I comb through, blow dry (with my head upside down) and curl with my flat iron. I love that the hair on top of my head stays awake even with the added weight of my curls. I never walk away from my bathroom mirror looking like Snookie but I do walk away with hair that stays moisturized, has volume, shine and bouncy curls that move when I move - and it smells like fresh pomegranate's too :)

My curls don't generally keep their shape for very long  (without help) in the summer. Pravana's Super Shape Hair Spray is phenomenal. It is highly concrentrated so only a small amount of product is required to tend to your hair's style and to provide a very flexible but firm hold. If you are working on a style that requires a heavy hold, just spray longer until desired. Brushing through your curls with a round brush after you have applied your hair spray will again leave them bouncy, full of life and smelling lovely. Last night I was in Quebec for an evening out - After applying my Root Boost, I curled my hair and spritzed it with Super Shape. Even though it was hot and humid, my frizzless curls didn't want the evening to end - They stayed in place all night long. Most importantly, when I use this hair spray it doesn't make my scalp itchy (which hair spray often does) nor does my hair feel like a dried out train wreck at the end of the day.

In ancient Sanskrit, Pravana means "the source of all things". Out of Woodland Hills California, Pravana's hair care and style collection (everything from shampoo and conditioner to hair paste) was created by professional stylists and all products are sulfate-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free and eco-conscious. Their fabulous products can be purchased in fine salon's and spas throughout America. An added benefit to purchasing Pravana products is that they have a Technical Hotline for any questions that you may have pertaining to their hair products. That is serious service!

Below are a couple of pictures that I took last night. I apologize for the terrible quality. Next time I will bust out my Canon.

Happy boosting and spritzing, my lovelies ;)

xTx

Product photo's courtesy of http://www.pravana.com/

Three photo's of Tawny, © Copyright Tawny Gelinas, 2011

Full Disclaimer: The products I have spoken of were provided to me by Pravana. No further compensation was received and no guarantee of a positive review was promised nor expected. All opinions expressed are my own - we all know I have one! Thank you, Pravana for assisting with my curls, I am ready for autumn to arrive!

Lina loves M.N.O. <3

After 6 long, long weeks of visiting her Grammy and Papa during her summer vacation, Lina finally came home this weekend!!
She has heard me talk about my new hair products for a month and was super excited to try them out tonight.
Just as suspected, her pretty long locks are so shiny and silky smooth. She was stoked that we were able to comb through her hair without and tangling at all. Much like I, that's also a
plus in her books!
I really can't say enough about these products!! You have to try them out!!
xTx
Sent from my iPhone