I LOVE My Laura Geller Makeup From Apothica!!!

As some of you know I'm sponsored by Apothica.  For those that don't know Apothica is this great cosmetics site (kind of like Sephora) that has a million different brands of makeup...a lot I've never even heard of + they also have two other sites connected w/ them Skin Care RX & Skin Botanica that you can also shop at.

The sponsorship is great b/c it allows me to experience, learn about and be partnered w/ cosmetic brands I might not have even known about otherwise.  Every 6 mths I get a credit to use towards products on their websites...great deal for me as I LOVE free stuff (I mean who doesn't).

So for my latest Apothica purchase I decided to try out some makeup from Laura Geller.  I had heard about the brand before but had never actually used any of it.  Unfortunately, Canadian Sephoras no longer carry the brand and to be honest I'm not quite sure if you can get it anywhere in Canada :(.  If this is the case then I'm going to be SUPER SAD when I run out of these products b/c I have to be honest I LOVE LOVE LOVE my choices...like I haven't LOVED something this much in a long time!

So what did I get you ask?  I got the Balance-n-Brighten Face Powder in Med. along w/ the Kiss & Bakeup Collection (I'm a sucker for a good makeup set...it's the deal finder in me lol).

First I'll talk about the Balance-n-Brighten Baked Colour Correcting Foundation.  It works like a light powder foundation and gives a light coverage.  Personally, I like a little more coverage so I layer on top of my other foundation but you can use it on it's own and it really just minimizes skin imperfections and balances the skin tone and brightens up your entire face.  Seriously, a lot of ppl lately have commented on how glowing my skin looks...but not in a shiny disco ball way don't worry.  I got the Med. b/c that was the only shade offered and I think it would be a little dark for me in the Winter but for Summer it's perfect.  In fact it actually really helps me b/c as I mentioned before my Cover FX powder foundation is actually a shade too light for me esp. in the Summer so if I layer this over top of it it just totally balances me out and gives me a nice golden glow!

The Kiss & Bakeup Collection is an AWESOME Set!  It includes:

Spackle Under Make-up Primer

Balance-n-Bronze 

Blush-n-Brighten - Apricot Berry

Eye Rimz - Bewitching Bronze

Dream Creams Lip Palette - Apricot Berry

Double-Ended Face and Cheek Brush

Eye Rimz Brush

Retractable Lip Brush

The Spackle Primer is nice.  I have no complaints about it.  It does leave my face smooth and soft and it's a great base for applying makeup on.  I have to admit though and I know this sounds crazy but I'm actually really in love w/ my ELF mineral primer right now...I know I know crazy eh...but so good and so cheap!  But this is great too and it comes in the set so no complaints here.

Balance-n-Bronze is gorgeous but be careful a little goes a long way.  All of these products are very pigmented which is great.  It goes on smooth and it does create a beautiful bronzed glow on my cheeks.

Blush-n-Brighten in Apricot Berry again is very pretty but I think this set would def. work better for med. skin tones...if you're fair skin just be careful b/c it might just all be a bit too much colour for you just a heads up.  But it's gorgeous on tanned skin.  I just love how bright and glowing everything leaves my skin looking!

Dream Cream Lip Palette in Apricot Berry has 4 great shades and I actually like to mix them together a bit esp. the brown neutral w/ some of the more coral colours just so they aren't too orange, although I don't mind them on their own either but I also don't mind bold lips.  They are all pretty frosty and def. work better for Summer than Winter looks...but then again that's kind of how the whole set works IMO.

Eye Rimz in Bewitching Bronze great neutral brown colour that you can use all over the lid lightly during the day or layer it for a more smokey bronzed look at night.  You can even use it wet for a more intense, metallic colour payoff.

The only thing that was kind of disappointing is the Double Ended Face & Cheek Brush.  It's just cheap and nothing I would probably use normally on  myself or on a client.  But it's coming in a set.  I never expect the brushes in sets to be that amazing so I'll let it go.  I mean I was buying the set for the makeup anyway, not the brush lol.  The lip brush is good and I like that it's retractable which is great for throwing in my cosmetic bag

on the go.

Another thing I loved about this set was that almost everything was Full Size Products..only the Primer wasn't.  A lot of times you get sets thinking it's going to be such a great deal but then it turns out the products inside are only mini versions of the real products...always disappointing.  This one really is a good deal!

If you get a chance I highly suggest you try out some of the Laura Geller Baked Cosmetics esp. the Balance-n-Brighten it is for sure my FAVOURITE out of all the items...a real WINNER!  Here's some pics of me wearing my Laura Gellar cosmetics - Lips, Blush, Powder & Bronzer!

  

Another Contest...Just In Time For Mother's Day!

Hey

So Apothica is running ANOTHER contest!  This one w/ a REALLY BIG prize!  How BIG you ask...well let's say $250 gift card kind of BIG!  Yeah that's a lot!  Just think of all the amazing things you could buy for yourself or better yet your Beautiful Mom for Mother's Day.

How do you enter you ask?

Just follow the link and in the comment section explain why your Beautiful Mom deserves a $250 gift card!  Pretty easy...I mean who doesn't have a million stories about why their mom is the best!  Hurry though cause the contest closes soon - May 5th!

And The Winner Is....

The WINNER of my FIRST GIVEAWAY & a $50 Gift Card from Apothica.com is...

slgkag

If you're curious how the winner was chosen I went to random-draw.com entered in all the entries and it randomly picks a winner :) 

I will be contacting the winner and forwarding your info on to Apothica and they will send you a Gift Card code that you can then use on their website or their sister websites - SkinBotanica.com and SkinCareRx.com

Congrats to slgkag and THANK YOU to EVERYONE that entered my FIRST GIVEAWAY!  Hopefully I will have many more for you guys in the future!

slgkag I'll be contacting you via email for your information so I can pass it on to Apothica.com so you can get your Gift Card Code so make sure to check your junk mail!

My First GIVEAWAY!!!

So I have some VERY exciting news for my loyal followers and hopefully all the new followers I get from this...I'm FINALLY announcing my FIRST GIVEAWAY courtesy of the great people at Apothica!

What is this GIVEAWAY exactly you ask?  Well for one lucky winner you get a $50 gift card to use at Apothica or it's sister sites - SkinCareRx or SkinBotanica.  With 3 websites to choose from your bound to find something that you want to try out...knowing my makeup and beauty product loving readers I'm sure you'll find LOTS of things to try out and the harder question will be WHAT to spend the gift card on lol!

Might I suggest something from Duwop, Too Faced or Smashbox Cosmetics (some of the great lines available at Apothica).

We all know about Smashbox's amazing Photo Finish Foundation Primer...I mean I literally think it was the Primer that starter the Primer Revolution lol.  But they also have some other amazing products like their very popular Brow Tech Trios, amazing bronzers and great cream liners.  I'm also in love w/ their angled eyeliner brush...seriously this has helped make me a Cat Eye Pro!  I also really want to try out their Step by Step Contour Kit b/c anyone that knows me and my work knows I LOVE a nice contoured cheek lol!

You know what else is REALLY GREAT about this GIVEAWAY!?!  It's OPEN to EVERYONE!  Yes, that's right all  my Canadian Readers (or International Readers) FINALLY we can enter a giveaway b/c it's not just open to ppl in the USA (no offense to my American readers it just really sucks when we don't get to participate in cool giveaways)!  As long as Apothica ships to your country feel free to try your luck!

So how do you ENTER you ask...well there are 3 ways listed below (Do 1 or do all 3 it's up to you just let me know about it)!  Let me know which one you did by linking it me in the comment box w/ your Name & Email and we're all good!  The WINNER will be chosen on Apr 22/11!

OPTION 1: FACEBOOK
1. Visit Apothica.com
2. Write on Apothica's Facebook Wall about what you think of Apothica
Bonus Entry: Opt Into Apothica's Newsletter

OPTION 2: TWITTER
1. Visit Apothica.com
2. Tweet about Apothica on your own Twitter Account
Bonus Entry: Retweet Apothica's Tweet about this giveaway

OPTION 3: BLOG
1. Visit Apothica.com
2. Write something on your Blog about what you think about Apothica
Bonus Entry: Write about the brand I highlighted (Smashbox) and link it to Apothica

GOOD LUCK!!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE LINK IN THE COMMENT BOX OF WHICH WAY YOU ENTERED TO SHOW YOU DID IN FACT FACEBOOK, TWEET OR BLOG - THANKS!

M2 Product Review - I LOVE These Products!

Last wk I told you about Apothica and what a great company they are...well now I have more to tell you
about their sister company - Skin Care Rx (mostly deals w/ skin care products duh).  Now that I'm being sponsored I got to choose $75 worth of products from either site to try out and review.

Well, I've mentioned it before I'm getting older but I still do struggle a bit w/ acne so I'm kind of obsessed w/ finding a good skin care system that I really like so I thought the Skin Care Rx website would be PERFECT for this!  They have millions of products...brands I've NEVER even heard of and tons of reviews!

So after much reviewing and contemplating (hey I'm a Libra - hard to make decisions lol) I decided to go w/ two M2 skincare products - M2 Skin Refinish 20% and M2 Exfoliating Cleanser.  The line deals head on w/ the skin issues that plauge me the most - ACNE (& acne scarring) & Fine Lines/Wrinkles (sometimes hard to find skin care systems that deal w/ both issues not just one or the other) plus overall the reviews were plentiful and really promising so I thought they were great choices. 

Okay I just have to say I LOVE THESE PRODUCTS!  Like seriously I WILL be buying these again!  I have noticed an improvement in the overall tone of my skin, my pores seem smaller and my acne has DEFINITELY lessened!

Okay first I'll talk about the M2 Skin Refinish 20%. 

I'm going to preface this and say it is quite a potent product and can cause irritation.  In fact it is common to feel a slight tingling and burning upon first applying it to your skin so don't freak out.  I only use it every other night b/c it is so strong.  They do have a M2 Skin Refinish 12% for those w/ more sensitive skin...plus maybe after using that for awhile you could work yourself up to the 20%.  Also it's a night lotion...it leaves the skin a bit sticky till it dries I'm not going to lie so if that's something that might bug you I wouldn't suggest it.  Also don't sleep on your nice pillow cases if they are coloured b/c it may discolour them or bleach them in spots...I've learned this the hard way (not w/ this product but other acne products).  Some of the reviewers really seem to be stuck on wanting the Original Mama Lotion (product's old name)...I can't compare it to the old product so I really can't say if it was better but I can say I'm happy w/ this product...although I'm curious what the fuss is over the old product.

It's a decent size bottle and you don't need a lot of product at all.  The pump that the product comes out of is a little weird but nothing that really would detour me from buying it (although I'm a little curious when the product is getting low how it might effect me getting all of the product out).  I have been using it now for over 2 mths and I think there is still quite a bit of product left which to me is pretty good even though the product is a little steep at $48.50...but hey it covers so many bases - acne, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, wrinkles and fine lines. 

Okay so now that we've cleared that up I'll tell you all the good stuff about the product...to save time and so I don't miss or mess up any info I'm just taking the info straight from website.

About The Product



Eliminate all your skin care woes with one easy-to-use serum. This multi-purpose facial treatment uses a high-potency combination of Mandelic and Malic Acids to rapidly even skin tone, reduce breakouts, and soften wrinkles. (Previously known as MaMa Lotion)

1.7 fl. oz.

Who It's For

Ideal for all skin types, especially hyperpigmented, mature, and acne-prone, who want a smooth, even complexion. Recommended for all skin tones, including dark skin. Click here to read why M2 HP Skin Refinish works well on dark skin. Safe for use while pregnant or nursing.

Key Ingredients

Mandelic Acid is naturally antibacterial. Malic Acid protects skin from damaging free radicals. Algae Extract moisturizes skin.

How To Use It

In the evening, apply to clean, dry skin. Wait 10-15 minutes before applying moisturizer. Use only every other night for the first two months. If irritation or excess flaking occurs, decrease frequency of application or discontinue use. Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 is required for best results.

Full Ingredients

DI Water, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid,Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Acrylate/ Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane,Polysorbate 60, PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer, Algae Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coenzyme Q10, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tetrasodium EDTA

So basically I alternate at night - I night M2 Skin Refinish and then the next night I use my traditional acne cream. 

Okay onto the M2 Exfoliating Cleanser

I'm not going to lie, in the past I have been sometimes a bit cheap w/ my skin cleansers.  I know, I know I spend tons of money on other makeup products, wrinkle creams, diet products...but for some reason hated spending more than $12-15 on a skin cleanser.  Well I think I've changed my mind now!  Not that the M2 Exfoliating Cleanser is THAT expensive...in fact it's under $25 USD.  Again it's a good size bottle but I think what makes it so worth the money (other than the fact that it's a great cleanser) is that all you need is one pump of the product which has a somewhat thick liquid gel consistency to wash your entire face.  Again I have been using this product for over 2 mths twice a day and literally onlly about 1/3 of the bottle is gone...so it that case it's ACTUALLY CHEAPER than other skin cleansers I have used in the past!

Okay here again is what the company says about the product.

About The Product

Instantly refine your skin every time you wash. This gel cleanser combines Mandelic and Malic Acids to gently exfoliate and remove impurities from the skin. Natural antibacterial and humectant properties restore balance, clarity, and tone. Soap-free and SLS-free.

6.76 fl. oz.

Who It's For

Ideal for those with dry, mature, or sensitive skin who want a clean, fresh, and refined complexion.

Key Ingredients

Mandelic Acid gently resurfaces the skin and is antibacterial. Malic Acid moisturizes and brightens. CoEnzyme Q10 neutralizes free radicals.

How To Use It

Apply a dime-size amount into the hands and run together to create a mild lather. Gently massage into dampened skin on face and neck. Let sit on skin for 30 seconds, then rinse. Use morning and evening or as directed by your skin care professional.

Full Ingredients

Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Laurylamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid NF, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Algae Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coenzyme Q10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, PEG-150 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol

I also should add that Skin Care Rx offers free shipping in the US on ANY M2 product purchases or ANY orders over $49...sorry Canadians we don't get the shipping deals :(

BUT I am passing on a code for ALL MY READERS!  If you want to SAVE 20% on ANY order w/ Skin Care Rx - follow this link! (takes a second for the coupon to pop up)  Told you they were an awesome company!

Btw how much do I LOVE this site...well I just bought some more products from them TODAY and I CAN'T WAIT to try them!  Yes...I used my own money lol...not just free stuff!  What did I buy you ask?

Well I'm a HUGE sucker for a GREAT sampler pack so I bought

The Beauty Cache - which is ALWAYS a HUGE BESTSELLER and sells out really quick so get one now!  It includes 4 full size products to try as well as a TON of sample products to try out (don't we all LOVE samples).  Plus I believe it also includes a $20 gift card (can be used on orders of $75 or more) so basically w/ that the Cache almost pays for it's self being that it costs under $30!  The reviews are amazing and EVERYONE seems to be a fan of this product so I'm VERY EXCITED to get mine!  A different one comes out every season and I tried to get one when I ordered my M2 products before but it was sold out so act fast!

Glycolix Skin Pads - I really LOVE the Avon Anew Pads so I'll be curious to compare these...again great reviews and a reasonable price so why not...since I ran out of my Avon Pads. 

MyChelle Dermaceuticals - Mostly just got this one b/c like I said I'm a sucker for a sampler pack and it was cheap w/ a lot of really fun products to try out!

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Base Review

About a mth or so ago the wonderful ppl at Apothica sent me a full size bottle of Vincent Longo's Water Canvas Base/Primer to try.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm kind of obsessed w/ finding the perfect primer...I don't know how this even started.  I heard a lot of good things about the Vincent Longo line and esp. about the primer and their Water Canvas Foundation (which I was VERY tempted to try but worried since I was picking from online I would not pick the right colour). 

Unfortunately, I haven't found anywhere in Toronto (although it is available in Vancouver) that sells Vincent Longo cosmetics and there isn't that many places that sell it in the US either (quite a few places in California) which is a shame b/c there are some great reviews about some of the products...well at least we can all order from Apothica!

So overall I like this primer.  I really wanted to try it out on a number of my clients as well as myself to really get a thorough opinion of the product and I can say there was no one that it didn't work well on.  It feels VERY light...lighter than any primer I think I've ever used!  As you may remember I reviewed Arbonne primer not that long ago and I really liked it b/c it left a really soft almost baby powder sort of feel on my skin while this product I didn't really feel at all although it did work by extending the wear time of my foundation, helping the foundation blend and spread easier, stopping makeup from creasing in my laugh lines and minimizing my pore size. 

Some ppl might like that you really couldn't feel it and I have to say I think it's a really good primer for men's grooming jobs b/c it just goes on so smooth and light and personally when I'm doing men's grooming I try to use a very light hand w/ my makeup and literally only apply makeup where necessary b/c let's be real it doesn't matter who the guy is they usually want to spend as little time in the makeup chair as possible and want to have the makeup feel as light as possible. 

Also in the past I've had issues w/ silcone based primers like Arbonne and Smashbox getting bally on occasion when you layer the foundation on top (usually just using less of the primer solved this problem).  I had no issues w/ this primer doing that on any of the clients I used it on and I used it on ppl of all ages, genders and races. 

Technically, it's suppose to work best w/ the Vincent Long Water Canvas Foundation but let's be real usually that's just a marketing ploy to get consumers to buy both products.  It worked fine w/ any of the different foundations I used on my clients from liquid to powder to cream. 

The price is a little high for some ppl.  It really depends on what your budget is.  It's around $44 and the tube isn't that large but a little bit goes a LONG way.  It has a gel like consistency and it's not greasy feeling at all. 

I think overall I really liked this primer for my Men & Children clients b/c it did feel super light and not greasy but I think for myself I still preferred the Arbonne primer b/c I really liked velvety smooth finish I felt on my skin after I applied it and I think it just worked a bit better for my skin type.