Aroma Wellness Clinic - Spray Tan

Like many women out there I try to take pretty good care of my skin...esp as I get older.  That means a regular skincare regime - moisturizer, night creams, facials (should do this more often), staying out of the sun etc.

Because of these things (esp my obsessive SPF habit) I usually tend to remain pretty naturally pasty and pale throughout the year.  My pale complexion might not be the prettiest thing but guess what I figure years from now when I'm still looking young and wrinkle free it will all be worthwhile...plus that's what bronzer is for right? lol.

Anyway, a couple of wks ago I decided to pamper myself at one of my favourite (and very affordable) spas Aroma Wellness Clinic.  I had been going there off and on for a few years now for waxing and different spa treatments ever since I use to live in the Annex.  Overall, my experiences have always been pretty good (esp. for the price) so when I saw they had this Summer spa package deal I thought hey why not!

For the VERY low price of $99 I got to choose 4 different spa services from a list of services (btw this special is still going on for those that are interested).  Out of the list I opted for Facial, De-Stressing Massage, Brazillian Wax and Spray Tan.

I had never actually had a personalized spray tan before and I was a little nervous to be honest.  I'd done those booth ones years ago when they first came out w/ mixed results.  This one is actually done by a technician and I'd had clients and friends that had had it done before and really liked it (not at Aroma though).  I also had my friend's wedding coming up on the weekend and my dress was a very vibrant shade of pink and my skin definitely needed some colour to balance it all out.  The one thing I will note is I had to do the tan a day after the other spa treatments b/c you can't do the waxing and the tan on the same day so just keep this in mind when you book the appt.

So on the day of the tan appt. I followed all the rules listed on their website.  My technician's name was Siobhain (straight from Ireland - accent and all) and she's a really lovely person.  You can wear a disposable thong that they supply or you can go nude.  I actually opted for nude for two reasons: 1. I had a brazillian the day before and that girl saw my bits so why get shy now 2. I didn't want tan lines.   The whole spray tan thing only takes about 15 mins but I'd leave some extra time to stay in the room w/ the fan to dry the tan which will definitely help it from creasing, smudging on clothes or wearing off on anything.

I immediately loved the results!  Not orange at all and I had no creasing or weird tan marks around the hands or feet which was a prob w/ the spray tan booths.  I can't even tell you how many compliments I got on on the tan too!  Literally all my friends and even my makeup assistant were commenting on how healthy and natural the colour looked.  No one even believed it was a spray tan b/c the results looked so natural!

In fact I loved it so much I even went back this week for another tan!  If you get another tan within 2 wks of the last one it's a reduced price ;)  Another great thing about Aroma is they have an online appt. scheduler so I made my appt. online and I could even request my technician and I thought since Siobhain was so great last time I might as well go w/ her again.  Still loving my results and I'm not going to lie I think this may become another regular thing I'm going to add to my beauty regime!

Also, just a side note it's Vegan, PETA approved, Paraben Free, Organic and Fragrance Free!

Here's a couple of other pics from my friend's wedding...it looks so natural and for once my legs don't look pasty! Tans also make you look slimmer and help minimize cellulite, veins, fine lines and acne!

Marc Anthony - Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Collection

I get to try out a lot of new and different makeup products w/ my job but unfortunately I don't get sent hair products near as much so when the ppl at Marc Anthony offered to send me products from their new Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Collection I was super excited!  And let me tell you EVEN MORE EXCITED once I got the package - boy do they know how to treat a girl right!  I got the WHOLE collection and all FULL SIZE products!  None of those tiny sample size things!

Now I'm not going to lie in the past I've personally avoided a lot of Argan Oil products b/c I have straight and to be perfectly honest limp hair and I thought it would just weigh it down but I thought why not give this stuff a try!

I've personally been using the Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner for probably a mth now and I actually really like them!  I know this might sound crazy but literally days after I started using them I had several ppl comment on how shiny my hair was...it can't all be a coincidence!  Plus I really like that they are Sulfate Free and are infused w/ Keratin, Grape Seed Oil and Argan Oil.  They help control frizz (which really isn't an issue for me) and they preserve colour (which is important for me).  Plus they are a great price point at $9.99 a bottle and the whole line is available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Walmart etc.

I've also been using the Argan Oil Treatment  mostly just on the ends of my hair where it can tend to get more dry and damaged (my hair is very long after all).  It definitely makes my hair glossier and and softer and it's good for all hair types - curly, straight, thick or thin!

In my hair kit on set and for weddings I've been using both the Oil of Morocco Volumizing Mousse and Oil of Morocco Volumizing Hairspray.  Both are like the shampoo/conditioner are Sulfate free and infused w/ Keratin and they also shield against humidity and frizz.  Like the other products they can be used on both straight and curly hair.  Both the hairspray and mousse have a medium workable hold to them which is good b/c no one likes crunchy stiff hair but be aware if you might want something stronger or a firmer hold for a final firm hold setting spray for things like bridal updos and such!

From The Lab - Primers

I'm always on the look out for a great primer so when a relatively new company called From The Lab contacted me to try out their Eye and Face Primers I was totally game!  I've actually been using these primers regularly for the past couple of mths on myself so the must be pretty good as I'm still using them lol!

First I'll start w/ the Eyelift Primer No. 328 - Like all eyelid primers it's primary purpose is to help eye makeup last longer, prevent creasing of shadow and also enhance the vibrancy of eye shadow.  I'd definitely say it does all of these things.  I don't wear eye shadow most of the time to be honest but for special occasions I do and I didn't have any sort of eye shadow creasing problems while wearing it.

What makes this primer just a little more "special" then some of the others on the market is it does have a luminous finish w/ just a touch of shimmer so it looks great alone w/out shadow if you just want to neutralize and brighten up the lid area a bit.  But beware if you're looking for a matte eye primer this is not the primer for you!

It also has beneficial ingredients like Para Cress Flower Extract which help w/ collagen production and increase skin's natural lifting capacities and it helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles so not only will this help your eye makeup stay put but it also acts as an anti-aging lid cream - bonus!

Face Primer No 327 - Like the eyelid primer the face primer's main purpose is to help your skin look more smooth and luminous and to prolong your face makeup day to day.  I do use a primer every day on my skin before my foundation b/c I have OILY skin!  What I like about this primer is that it doesn't feel greasy or thick going on like some other face primers on the market - very light!  But one thing I'll say is beware the colour - it's lightly tinted white and it says it dries invisibly and works on every skin tone but I don't know if I totally believe that for darker skin.  It worked on me but I do have hesitations that it would be a good fit for darker skin tones..that's just my personal opinion.

Like the eye primer it also has anti-aging  benefits in the form of Peruvian Rhatany Root Extract.  It also has anti-irritants to reduce inflammation, calming the skin and Sarcosine visibly minimizes the pores.

Also, it should be mentioned that all their products are paraben free and not tested on animals...I know that's a big thing for a lot of people these days!

These products are not available in stores yet and are done through a membership program on their site. They are available to both USA and Canada which is great b/c it's annoying for us Canadians when places won't deliver here ;) and they promise a 100% satisfaction guarantee promise - if you aren't happy return the products for a refund!

Hourglass - Femme Nude Lip Stylo

As everyone knows I'm a big lover of bright lipstick but even I like to go nude sometimes on the lips. Finding the perfect nude lipstick can sometimes be almost as hard as finding that perfect red.  So when the nice ppl at Hourglass Cosmetics  contacted me to try out and review their new Nude Lip Stylo I was more than happy to say yes!

And can I just say I LOVE this product!  Seriously, it has become my go-to nude lip colour and it looks great alone w/ their satin finish or w/ a gloss!  What's so great about these lip crayons is they look like fat lip liners but go on like lipstick so very easy to apply and take on the go & they come in 6 different nude shades!  Just like red lipstick there isn't one shade of nude that is perfect for everyone.  There are a lot of variables including you skin tone, natural lip colour, undertones etc.  What is a beautiful nude colour on a pale blonde might make a tanned brunette look washed out and gross.  Plus they are retractable and don't need sharpening!

I ended up going w/ #5 which is a golden peach nude w/ luminosity.  I also really want to try #4 actually so I'll definitely have to put that on my to buy list for the future.  They retail for $35 each which isn't cheap but they look and feel very luxurious and sleek so I think they are worth the splurge and are currently available at Sephora.com (.ca for Canadians) and will be launching in store in Canada this month.

My natural lip colour

#5 on my lips - no gloss

#5 w/ gloss

More Goodies From Kaia Naturals!

A couple of wks ago I did a product review on Kaia Naturals Bamboo Cleansing Cloths and I happened to mention how much I wanted to try their Nature's Matte Finish Collection.  Well the very nice and generous ppl at Kaia saw that and were kind enough to send me some more of their products to review (man I love my job sometimes ;) )!

So first let's talk about what's in these products that makes them different or special compared to some other products on the market!

What's In Them

100% Pure Moringa Oil
Argan Oil
Vitamins C & E
Aloe Juice
...They are also Cruelty Free & Vegan :)

What's NOT In Them

No Silicone
No Gluten
No Parabens
No Polymers

Before Kaia I had never heard about Moringa Oil but here's what they have to say about it: Moringa Oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the moringa tree and is indigenous to Africa and India, often being referred to as the "miracle tree" because of its nutrient rich properties.

It is considered a dry oil as it penetrates w/out any oily residue.  It contains 6x the vitamin C of oranges with complete oxidative stability as well as 17x the calcium of milk.  It works synergistically with other natural ingredients to create a matte finish, completely eliminating the use of polymers and silicones, which are commonly used in foundation primers and do not allow the skin to breathe.

I definitely like that there are no silicones in the primer/face cream as I sometimes find that makes my makeup slide off or ball up...I've had that happen before when using the Smashbox primer which can make my face a little too slippery.  I also really like the idea of a primer/face cream together b/c in the Summer the last thing I want to do is apply endless amounts of product to my skin.  I do wish though that this cream had an SPF to it b/c I always try and wear a face cream w/ SPF but I do know that can be an allergen to some ppl so I can understand why it's not in the product.  I also liked that it absorbed easily into my skin and didn't feel heavy or oily...another thing my skin definitely doesn't need in the warm Summer mths!

The eye cream was really nice too and had all the benefits that the face cream has plus I did feel like it slightly tightened the area around my eyes...I guess that's the "primer" at work.  I also like that you can see the ingredients for each of the products listed online and it tells you exactly "what they do" in the product!

The 24hr Booster Serum was also very nice and can be mixed w/ the face primer/cream for added moisture benefits.  I can definitely see this being useful in the Winter dryer mths.  I also used it at night w/ my night creams as some of my acne products can have a drying effect on certain areas of my face.

Mani Event With SpaRitual

I'm not going to lie, there are definitely some perks to my job - Pro discount on certain makeup brands, free products to review on my blog and invites to different beauty events around the city!  Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to SpaRitual's Beauty Event to introduce their upcoming Holiday nail polish line to Toronto's most influential beauty bloggers (apparently sometimes I'm lucky enough to be included in this group lol).

The event was held  Elixir Organic Spa and not only did it include relaxing manicures but we also got to nibble on some delicious vegan treats and sip some yummy wine while we waited and mingled.  The whole line of nail polish as well as spa lotions and creams are vegan which I really like.  As well all of their nail lacquers and nail care products are free of DBP, toulene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin!

The manicure was lovely and relaxing and also included a massage w/ SpaRitual's amazing Hand Print Hand Serum and Hand Print Hand Salve which were both very moisturizing w/out leaving my hands feeling greasy. One thing I especially liked was that even the nail polish remover products smelled great!

For colour I ended up going w/ Improvisation - a really shimmery pink shade which goes on light but once you add the second layer the pink iridescence really starts to come through.  One thing that makes this Holiday Collection unique is that it's infused w/ recycled glass beads that magnify vibrant colours.  I should also note that I had the manicure last week and my colour and nails are still looking great!

I was lucky enough to walk away w/ the whole holiday collection along w/ full size bottle of their body serum which promises to moisturize and firm skin!  Can't wait to play around and mix and match with this beautiful collection of colours and shimmers!

Definitely worth checking out!

Get That Summer Glow With GloMinerals!

Awhile back a makeup artist friend of mine introduced me to GloMinerals when she was RAVING about their Mineral Powder Foundation and how great it was on set for shoots as well as for male grooming. Flash forward a couple of mths and that artist had started an online boutique as a distributor for Canada for Glo Minerals and I knew I had to finally see what she was talking about.

Of course once I started checking out the other products on the site I knew I was in trouble b/c there were A LOT of things that were grabbing my attention!

But first let me talk about the GloPressed Base Palette - it's an amazing palette w/ 21 shades and it's infused with Vitamins C, E, A and greentea extract this makeup acts as an anti-inflammatory to take down redness and heal the skin. It is also formulated for the most sensitive skin. There is no talc in glomineral makeup and all mineral derived colour. Formulated with pharmaceutical-grade minerals which means it is also triple milled and crushed to its finest capacity. I will be honest though my biggest complaint about the palette is it's so friggin' HEAVY!!!  As someone who is always trying to condense their kit I'd really love it if the packaging was a little more compact and light - it looks great but it weighs a ton!  Also, at this point you can't get refills if you go through a colour...I don't see that happening for awhile but still what am I going to do once I run out of the most popular colours?  Will I have to buy another palette?  Hopefully they will develop refills in the next bit so this doesn't happen b/c I really do like the product.

Even though the pressed foundation was what originally brought me to the site I'll be honest it's not even my fav product I purchased from GloMinerals!

My absolute fav product I purchased and something that has instantly garnered an immediate staple position in my kit is their Redness Relief Powder! This product is amazing and cuts out the redness in skin like you wouldn't believe!  I was amazed how much redness it took away w/ just a light dusting over the face!  As well a lot of my clients don't want a heavy foundation look or feel and this product is so light and natural so it's perfect for that!  A lot of times I was either using a green primer or mixing some green corrector into my concealer but you have to be so careful w/ that and still sometimes to get rid of all that red I had to use more product than I wanted.  This product is perfect for the person that really doesn't want to wear a lot of makeup or foundation but still wants to even out their skin tone...it won't even feel or look like they are wearing makeup!  It's also gentle enough to use after chemical peels or microderm treatments!

I'm also really loving the 24K Gold Dust - amazing loose gold highlighter - great for cheekbones, collarboneor anywhere you want to add a bit of highlight or shimmer.  Can also be mixed w/ lotion for an all over body glow or gloss for a golden lipgloss!  Plus it's not too sparkly or in your face just really helps create that beautiful golden glow that EVERYBODY is always trying to get!  I have literally been using this product not only on my clients but on myself none stop!

The final product I purchased was the Hydration Mist - instantly hydrates the skin and makes it feel refreshed and fresh again.  It can be used before makeup or throughout the day just as a skin refresher.  The size is perfect too b/c it's safe for airport travel and we all know how dry and dehydrating airplanes can be on our skin!  I also love to use it right at the end of a makeup application if I want to get rid of a bit of that powdery finish...it instantly helps make the skin look dewy and fresh!

So as you can see I'm a big fan of GloMinerals!  Definitely worth checking out if you're a makeup artist for your kit or just a regular makeup enthusiast and consumer!

Here's some pics of me getting ready for a night on the town...featuring 24 K Gold Dust, Redness Relief Powder & Hydration Mist!