Velour Mink Lashes

I've never been a fan of lashes, until this past summer of 2017. I discovered that eyelash extensions were booming and you can get them done at every corner salon, and even privately in lash artist's homes! I also found out that they could be done for less than $200 (which was my initial thought of what eyelash extensions cost). So I did extensions for about 2 months, I tried 3 different lash artists and ultimately I did not have good experiences. I don't know if it is just my super straight lashes, but I had a hard time with them (I'm planning to write about this soon!).

I began using daily false strip lashes instead from the drugstore, and then I was asked to test out these 3 lashes from Velour Lashes. Perfect timing! I know Velour is an expensive lash brand, with lashes ranging from $34 and upwards, but I have never tried any high-end lashes so I was definitely curious to see how worth it they were.

I chose 3 different styles of lashes, but they are all mink hair. They come in super fancy boxes with a container inside, which I think is a bit wasteful, but it definitely feels luxurious. The lashes that I chose all have an invisible band, I prefer it because I think it gives a more natural look.

Velour Mink Lashes in Serendipity

Velour Mink Lashes in Strip Down

Velour Mink Lashes in Skin to Skin

I honestly have no idea why I chose lashes that all sound the same. I had a hard time remembering which pair was which: Serendipity, Strip Down, Skin to Skin? Velour you're killing me here!

The first pair, Serendipity is my favourite. I have smaller hooded eyes so the other two, even when cut to size, are still a little large for my eyes. Skin to Skin looks a little ridiculous on me I can't even wear that one.

First I wanted to mention the Velour Lash Adhesive ($15 CAD). I think it is fairly priced, but I didn't find it holding these lashes on. I found that these lashes were a little thicker, and so the glue was not able to hold the shape on my eyes. I think the glue would be alright for thinner, lighter, drugstore lashes, but it was definitely struggling to hold these.

I use the Velour Too Easy Lash Applicator ($28 CAD) to apply the lashes on my eye, and to clamp the lashes to my natural lashes so it blends them together. I do not use the comb side for anything really. I love the lash applicator and it makes the application process a heck of a lot easier.

Now onto the lashes:

The lashes themselves are great. I have used a single pair about 4 times already and they are holding up nicely. I'm seeing a few strands begin to fall out but I am hoping they will last at least quite a bit longer. Honestly, it'd be nice to see these last at least 30 uses due to the high price you pay for them, but I don't see that happening. I won't say it can't happen, I'm sure if you are the type to take great care of them, they will last. But for myself, I get a little irritated when trying to remove my lashes and I will go to the ends of earth to remove them (heh).

They are strong and I can definitely see the difference between drugstore or cheap no-name brand lashes that I've used in the past. The band is thick and doesn't seem like it will fall apart anytime soon.

Wearing Velour Mink Lashes in Serendipity (all photos)

All in all, I'd definitely splurge on a pair of these and I now understand why people do. They look awesome and for a special night or night out, I'd say they're worth it. I wore Serendipity to a friend's birthday and to my own birthday, and I would definitely purchase a pair for my next birthday! They do last more than one use, so if only being used for special occasions you can probably get away with only purchasing two pairs a year or so. I won't stop purchasing more affordable false lashes (like drugstore, Ardell, Kiss), but I also think it's fine to splurge on a pair of two of these! Shop Velour Lashes at Sephora, or on their official website here.

These products were received as press samples. This article is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.

The Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask

Acne as a teenager? Probably the worst thing ever. All I want to do is impress the boy I have a crush on, yet I have growing pimples on the most inconvenient areas of my face. Even in college, I had yet to grow out my regular breakouts. I am so happy that now in my early 20's, I only face the occasional breakout (usually around that time of the month) and I don't have to worry about eating the wrong food, or using skincare with the wrong ingredients.

The Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask uses light to fight all types of acne, sending therapeutic red and blue wavelengths to the skin at the speed of light. This works to disrupt the acne cycle and kill bacteria. The red light reducing inflammation, and the blue light kills bacteria. This mask is at a class of it's own, because it is currently the only drugstore available light therapy acne treatment.

The mask comes with little cut outs that contain the red and blue lights, as well as glasses to help protect your eyes from the bright light. The mask itself does not feel expensive and is a little flimsy, but it is to be expected when you look at the price point (drugstore, not Sephora pricing).

So what do I do when the activator runs out of uses? Good news, you can recycle the activator through Neutrogena's partnership with Stericycle. Navigate to the Light Therapy Acne Mask page on Neutrogena's website and they will generate a pre-paid shipping label for you! Yes, I know, I hate that there are only 30 cycles on the activator and it won't work forever. But I can understand why they did this, because they wanted to keep the price point lower and maintain the drugstore affordability.

Oh, and I also got my boyfriend to try out the mask a few times.

He seemed to like using it a little more than I thought he would! Besides the fact that it was a little too small for his face.

I know that it's hard to get men to use skincare products nightly, but for some reason getting him to test this out was a breeze. I guess he was drawn to the look of it, and the fact that it lights up red and blue light (see how easy it is to distract them?)

The instructions say to use it everyday. Who is not lazy enough to do that? I'd say I can use it a few times a week but I definitely cannot commit to using it every single day. But using it is actually so simple. You just put the mask on, and activate it with the controller, keep it on for 10 minutes and it will shut off automatically.

I'd definitely recommend trying this one out, at the very least, if you struggle with getting rid of acne. I don't think it will break the bank and I think it is worth a shot. If it doesn't work for you, at least you didn't spend upwards of hundreds of dollars (not sure actual pricing!) getting treatments done at a clinic.

I have no actual complaints about the construction of the mask itself, but I do wish the sunglasses were a bit darker so the light would not be so bright on the eyes. It'd be cool if we could just use our own sunglasses with the mask, instead of these universal built in glasses. They are UV FREE so the light is not going to hurt your eyes, but I just found the light itself a bit bothersome and it was difficult to keep my eyes open so I could preoccupy myself while I wait.

The Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask retails for $45.99 - 49.99 CAD for the full mask, and 30 session activator pack, and a refill/new activator will cost you roughly $19.99 - 21.99 CAD!

I partnered with Neutrogena for this article! This article is sponsored and the product was received for review and promotion purposes. It may contain affiliate links.

Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge & Mini Eraser Review

Most beauty brands eventually come out with sponge makeup applicators, in competition with the famous, Beauty Blender. Real Techniques tried this already, with their Miracle Complexion Sponge (reviewed here). Although I did really like the Miracle Complexion Sponge because it was the best dupe I could find for a Beauty Blender at the time, I realized it didn't hold up as long as I thought it would and began to lose it's sponge-i-ness.

With these new Miracle Mini Eraser Sponges & Miracle Sculpting Sponge, the sponge formulation seems improved, and I've found myself using it quite often with it still holding up!

The sponges come in hangable plastic containers, with instructions on the back to replace every 3 months. With proper weekly washing, I haven't had to replace mine yet, but I am very thrifty so I try to make them last as long as possible!

Both sponges have angled flat sides so you can get into the curves of your face and are both latex-free. Although I prefer to use them mainly for foundation, you don't have to, and many people use them for contouring, highlighting, concealing and sculpting. I do like them for blending out cream contour or simmering down too much highlight if I don't have a brush with me.

Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge ($10.49 CAD)

I prefer using this one for applying foundation to my face, but as I mentioned, I have used this for cream contour and controlling too much highlighter as well. I only use this sponge damp, as I don't like the results using any sponges dry. I find I can still get high coverage using it damp. This sponge actually looks like a previous sponge I've reviewed by Sephora, and I have to say, I think I like this one better! Pretty sure it's also a bit cheaper.

Real Techniques Miracle Mini Eraser Sponges ($10.49 CAD for 2)

I wasn't sure why these were called the Mini 'Eraser' Sponges until I took a double-take on the website. They list 6 different uses for the mini sponges: to sweep away eyeshadow fallout, wipe away liner mistakes, pick up brow powder fallout, wipe away mascara smudges, pick up over-applied eyeshadow, blend away too much blush/highlighter.

I don't typically need to use it for any of those things, but don't let it deter you from trying it out! I loved using these, damp, for applying under eye concealer. They got big enough when damp that they were perfect for concealer, but a little too small when dry. I also did use it for baking and for applying cream products.

Overall, I would definitely purchase these. I think they're great dupes for the beloved Beauty Blender, and I actually find myself using these sponges more often. I found a multi-pack on Amazon.ca, here for a good price! I've linked a few good amazon deals below:

You can find all of the Real Techniques sponges and brushes available directly from FarleyCo in Canada. As well as online at Amazon.ca, ObsessedCanada.com (free shipping over $29 CAD),  In stores you can find certain products at Rexall, Walmart, Pharmasave.

These products were received as press samples. This article is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Review & Regime

I am a big believer in tea tree oil, I think it's a great, more natural way to help get rid of acne faster. I used to use tea tree oil religiously when I was in high school, because my skin was going through puberty and was way too sensitive for any salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide products. I got lazy over time and haven't really used many acne products since then because I found them to be too harsh for my skin. I totally forgot that tea tree oil was my thing in high school!

Thursday Plantation mentioned these five tea tree face care products to try, I said yes because I knew that tea tree oil worked well for my acne, and I was curious to see how the rest of the products would perform. I have seen the brand in Walmart before and I know that they are a reputable brand. They originated in Australia, and are actually one of the first brands in Australia to utilize tea tree oil there.

All of the products here contain 100% pure Australian tea tree oil.

I had no idea, but upon doing some research I found out that tea tree oil is also good for bacterial infections, chickenpox, cold sores, congestion, earaches, fungus, bad breath, head lice, psoriasis, dry cuticles, itchy insect bites, sunburns, staph infections, and probably more!

STEP 1: Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Face Wash Foam (150 ml, $14.99 CAD) is a thin, non-oily/greasy foam that gently removes sebum excess, dirt, and make-up without stripping the skin. The face wash does (half) of what it says, it is very gentle and does not strip the skin, but unfortunately it was not strong enough to remove my makeup or have the skin feel 'cleansed' which is what I look for in a cleanser. It also contains chamomile to help soothe redness, but I didn't notice whether it improved my red cheeks or not.

STEP 2: The Thursday Plantation Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Toner (100 ml, $12.99 CAD) is alcohol free so it does not disrupt the skin's pH, and uses both tea tree oil and witch hazel to purify and tighten pores. It also contains aloe vera and calming lavender to sooth redness as well. It feels slightly cooling on the skin at first, and is quite refreshing. The scent of tea tree oil is a little strong, and it does leave the skin with a bit of oiliness/residue. I definitely would prefer to use this during colder months of the year, because during the summer I want to have as little oil on my face as possible. It is a little too 'residue-y' (I know, not a word *sigh*) for me.

STEP 3: The Tea Tree Face Cream (65 g, $15.99 CAD) is step 3 in the tea tree regime, and it contains tea tree oil of course, along with Rosehip and Vitamin E to moisturize and maintain clear skin. It is supposed to restore the skin's moisture balance after cleansing and toning, and also contains macadamia oil, rose hip oil, and shea butter. It is said to be easily absorbed and won't leave an oily residue. After testing, I did feel like this was true, -that it absorbed well and didn't leave an oily residue on my skin. Actually, out of the 3-step routine, this moisturizer was my favourite and I would probably purchase this out of the 3 when I run out. Aside from the toner, it just felt most effective because it stays on and absorbs into the skin. I also didn't have an issue wearing this during the day under makeup, thankfully, it didn't cause any excessive oil on my face. I didn't think this was anything super special, but it does what it says it does and is a nice daily moisturizer.

Now for the famous Tea Tree Oil, this is the smallest size available (10 ml, $7.99 CAD) but is more than enough for casual use. It also comes in a It is a natural acne treatment, and also is said to relieve minor cuts, abrasions, bites, and stings. I totally would never have though to use this for cuts/bug bites!?!? Mind-blowing. I didn't really test it for that, but I can say I like it for, 'assisting', in improving my acne faster than if I didn't use it. It's just a great alternative to harsher chemical 'acne-busters'. Knowing that this little bottle is such a multi-use product makes it feel like such a great investment.

And lastly, Thursday Plantation's Tea Tree Medicated Gel for Acne (10 g, $11.99 CAD) is a similar product to the Tea Tree Oil, but is more of a treatment gel to help dry out acne and pimples. It only contains 20% tea tree oil and also contains cinnamomum camphora (0.5%). The gel comes in an aluminum tube, which, I must say, is quite annoying because when opened it squeezes out EVERYWHERE. I literally tried to avoid using this unless I needed it because I knew a ton was going to explode out of the tube every time. I didn't find this effective, like the tea tree oil itself (obviously, since it is only 20%, duh Michelle!), and I would personally rather invest in the pure tea tree oil than this. I also would like to emphasis my hate for the packaging.. :p

Swatch Samples (sorry they are difficult to see): Tea Tree Face Wash Foam, Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Toner

Tea Tree Face Cream, Tea Tree Medicated Oil For Acne, 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil

All of the Thursday Plantation products should be available in Canada at Walmart, Loblaws, Superstore, Rexall, Well.ca, and some Natural Health Food Stores.  Overall, I'd 100% try out the Tea Tree Oil first, out of the line, but if you are already a fan of tea tree oil there is a great product line-up here to try out. Except the Medicated Gel (sorry Thursday Plantation, please fix the packaging issue and then it might be a decent product!). For drugstore, the prices aren't the cheapest, so in my ranking order of what you should try first, I'd probably go with Tea Tree Oil, Toner, Face Cream, Face Wash Foam, and then the Medicated Gel (or not the Medicated Gel at all, unless you're curious).

These products were received as press samples. This article is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.

Le Petit Marseillais Shower Cremes & Shower Gel Review

Le Petit Marseillais is not a new brand, but it is new to us here in Canada. The french brand launched into the Canadian market earlier this year. They have been around since 1981, but have only been able to launch across North America this year of 2017. In 2006 the brand was actually purchased by Johnson & Johnson! The brand is now available in 21 countries worldwide.

Seriously, don't ask me to pronounce this!! Just kidding, I try. But I'm terrible at speaking sometimes, so you would definitely not understand what I was saying.

It is officially pronounced "Leuh Peh-tee Mar-say-yay"

The scents of Le Petit Marseillais are formulated by top perfumers, and make for a great shower experience due to their lovely fragrances. The 5 products that were launched in Canada this year are their Shower Cremes and a Shower Gel. The brand does carry a ton of other products in the European market, but not currently in North America.

• Extra Gentle Shower Creme Cotton Milk & Poppy
• Extra Gentle Shower Gel White Peach & Nectarine
• Extra Gentle Shower Creme Orange Blossom
• Extra Gentle Shower Creme Vanilla Milk
• Extra Gentle Shower Creme Lavender Honey

The body washes are at a decent 400ml size, with an MSRP of $7.99 CAD, but I've seen them go for as low as $4.97 at Walmart!

I love the packaging, it's simple yet still somehow cute, and the 400ml size is decent for the prices they can be found at. There are no special promises made about the body washes, besides that they are gentle to all skin types. I have had no issues with them, my skin feels moisturized and not drying after using these. The scents are probably the main selling point though! They are all wonderful but I can't get over the Cotton Milk & Poppy, White Peach & Nectarine, and Orange Blossom scents! They are unique to the 'body wash industry' in my opinion, and I would definitely purchase them once I run out! Likely if I happen to catch a sale, because I rarely buy things full price ;)

Find Le Petit Marseillais at Walmart, Amazon.ca, Well.ca, Metro, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, & Sobeys in Canada. Find them at Amazon, Target, Walmart & more in the US.

These products were received as press samples. This article is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.

Summer Savvy: Newbies from P&G

I've had the pleasure of exploring P&G beauty products for a while now, and although their formulas are solid, they continue to change things up as often as they can by introducing new scents and designs to their collection. I have a few things from their 'Summer Savvy' Must-Have package to introduce and share with you, not in-depth reviews but just an overview of some of their new stuff!

The new Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner duo has a light refreshing scent with a 3 Action Formula to cleanse, protect, and moisturize. Head & Shoulders is the only brand of shampoo my bf will touch! He actually stole my Instant Cooling Relief duo from me because he had a super itchy scalp over the winter so I'm excited to get to test this duo out now.

And from Olay, the Fresh Outlast Purifying Birchwater & Lavender Body Wash is one of their newer scents. The formula is designed to work with skin's natural pH and won't dry out the skin. I've never had a problem with Olay body washes drying me out at all. The scent of this one isn't anything special and I much prefer their fruity scents over this one!

The Gillette Venus Swirl isn't a new product, but with the warm weather here I've got to be stocking up on razors! I try not to shave my legs but I do always search for the best razor for my lady parts. I try to change things up so my body doesn't get too used to one product. The Venus Swirl promises flawless shave with 5 contouring blades, Flexiball technology on the handle, and water-activated MoistureGlide serum for smooth sailing.

Herbal Essences Bio:renew Curl Defining Mousse comes in a grey bottle, part of the somewhat new Bio:renew line. It is designed for girls with curly hair for a non-sticky and flexible hold against humidity. I wish I did, but I don't have curls! So this doesn't work very well for my super straight hair.

The bottle of the Herbal Essences Bio:renew Cucumber & Green Tea Dry Shampoo is beautiful and I love trying new dry shampoos, but I haven't had many successful tries. I used to really like the Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo, it worked really similar to my favourite Batiste Dry Shampoo. But I then I started having issues with the nozzle getting clogged or just not working from the start. This one also contains tapioca to absorb the oil, as well as aloe, sea kelp, and antioxidants. Overall the ingredients list is quite small which is a good thing and I definitely feel the powder when sprayed onto the hair.

Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion contains SPF 30 and is designed to hydrate, even skin tone, and protect against harmful UVs. I like this scent of this one because it has a light fragrance mixed with SPF, so you know the SPF is there. I don't believe there are any whitening ingredients, but it does have a very faint shimmer, and the SPF does work to brighten the face a bit.

And finally, the Secret Fresh Clear Gel in Ooh La La Lavender is a new scent of the Secret Fresh Antipersperant/Deodorant. It is a gel formula that dries fast and doesn't leave major marks or residue. It does dry fast and doesn't feel uncomfortable on the skin but the scent is a little strong for me. I will see how it holds up keeping me smelly-free!

ban.do super chill cooler bag - lemon style

I also received this AMAZING cooler bag by ban.do in the shape of a lemon! I am definitely NOT a sucker for cute things but I can't get over this bag! It is called the Super Chill Cooler Bag and actually comes in 4 different styles. After stalking their website I noticed they have other styles of cooler bags too (I had no idea this was a thing or I'd have been all over it sooner).

Find the ban.do cooler bag at amazon.ca, on Asos, and Urban Outfitters.

These products were received as press samples. This article is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.