What Would Andrea Bring To the Zombie Apocalypse? The Beauty Edition!

Judging by the amount of messages, tweets and page views I received about my Zombie Apocalypse Beauty Edition Posts there are some really hard-core Walking Dead fans who like yours truly take their beauty routines seriously.
That being said my beauty goals for the End Of the World are most likely way more complicated than it would be reasonably feasible to accomplish and stay alive at the same time but hey at least we have an ambitious plan to start out with.
It doesnt hurt to be prepared!

In today's exploration of the grossly challenging world of the Walking Dead and my shameless snooping contemplation of the contents of the impressively strong leading ladies of that particular reality, I am revealing some of the beauty secrets the late Andrea might have been harboring.

Andrea was one of those characters that took a while to grow on me and with each episode I found myself rooting for her but more than anything else I started to understand her drive to transform herself as a strong member of the group. She refused to confine herself to the traditional female role in such a society dynamic and essentially pushed against what some may have expected her to do with a determination to become strong on her own. I know a lot of people disliked her attitude perhaps but I found it extremely refreshing to see her pull herself from the depths of despair and rise to become a woman who didnt need a man to protect her or speak for her. In season 3 she showed that she didnt need to wear her "female nurturing nature" for all to see in order to try and protect those closest to her. The death of her surrogate father, Dale, inspired Andrea to honor his memory and his life by reeling in her anger and regaining her humanity in her own way. Some may have found her frustrating but I found her inspirational. Her death was heartbreaking to say the the least but Laurie Holden portrayed the character with such heart and deep passion that I am sure her many fans will never forget her time on the TV screen.
Plus she awesome enough to get her very own action figure!

Andrea might have been the clear tomboy of the ladies circle in the Walking Dead group but her "California girl", blond-blue eyed striking brand of beauty were clear signs that she knew exactly how to enhance her feminine assets to turn heads. I am sure her cosmetics bag was definitively present each and every day, even though her natural good looks didnt need all that much help!

1. Andrea hit the beauty genetic jackpot that much is clear but one of the features I admired the most was the state of her beautiful golden locks. Her hair was absolutely perfectly styled, glossy and bouncy during the Zombie Apocalypse and her entire look seemed completely effortless no matter what disgusting situation she might have found herself in. While she was with her original family group the resident drugstore runner Glenn would have provided her with certain hair products that she could discreetly use in between watch duty and her favorite past time - gun practice. The sweetly scented and extremely portable Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme could have softened and defined her curls effortlessly, while the classic Sun-In-Hair Lightener enhanced her naturally blonde crown of glory!
Unless Maggie and Hercshel had some lemon trees on that farm!

2. I have already voiced my extreme jealousy of these girls perfect complexion's despite the lack of regular water access and constant dirty situations so I wont repeat myself too much. When the circumstances were right and they had a chance to stop and rest from all those walker runs Andrea would have once again relied on poor Glenn to pick up some heavy duty drugstore wipes to take all that grime off. My recommendation would have been a package of Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes when they were on the move but in Woodberry where she briefly partook in the luxuries only the Governor could offer something like the Philosophy Purity Made Simple could have been beside her sink.

3. With her naturally sun-kissed skin-tone and adorably slight freckles Andrea would have learned early on in her beauty journey the importance of protecting your skin with high SPF sunscreen formulas. The mere urgency of their run-from-the-undead lives would have required a no-fuss, quick makeup application so a drugstore tinted moisturizer with a built in SPF would have been perfect. Lucky for her Glenn is an expert at scavenging all kinds of supplies and Aveno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 and Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream SPF 15 are pretty much everywhere.

4. Andrea's features certainly didnt need all that much help when it comes to enhancing or contouring but I have a feeling that the sun-kissed glow look she was sporting all three seasons was achieved by a small amount of non-shimmery bronzer. Again time is of the essence when there are so many dead things to kill so fussy blending and touch ups were not exactly the safest way to spend your spare time but a powder formula only takes a few seconds to apply even when you are on the fly. Great drugstore bronzers that are actually suitable for fair skin-tones are Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow and Rimmel Natural Bronzer

5. We all know how much Andrea loved her guns and craved the protection that only comes with the power of such a weapon. Her wish ultimately came true and even though she almost killed Daryl in the process her skills improved more than anyone ever expected.
The overwhelming grimy and sticky environment that is the Walking Dead would have been hard to deal with for any girl so I am thinking that whenever the opportunity presented itself the hand washing would have been pretty furious. We all know what happens when you over-wash your hands - drying out, irritation, redness and a very uncomfortable tight feeling on the skin surface. The solution to this seemingly minor problem would of course be to moisturize the skin with an uber rich, hydrating hand cream.
However our girl couldnt exactly afford to have slick, greasy hands when the need to kill something is almost constant. The gun slipping out of your hands is the ultimate Walker killing fauxpa! Lucky for her there are plenty of amazing hand creams that absorb quickly and hydrate efficiently enough to make Andrea's hands soft enough to caress both that sociopath Governor Philip and her beloved shotgun.
The hand cream shopping list should definitively include Glysomed Unscented Hand Cream and my personal favorite EOS Berry Blossom Hand Cream

I hope you enjoyed this secret and certainly uncharacteristic look into Andrea's makeup bag.
Laurie Holdens portrayal of this independent woman whose fight for survival and courage throughout the series deserves more than a little recognition and praise.
Andrea stood along all of her male counterparts with the same conviction and bravery they had but unlike them her heart and compassion is what I noticed and celebrated the most.

She was cool enough for me to get my very own first action figure and that to me says a lot!

I hope you enjoyed my little investigation! Thank you for reading and stopping by!

What do you think Andrea brought along for her journey!

XOXO

ANJA

The Honest Company Canada Essential Bundle - This Is How Honesty Is Done!

The Honest Company has started spreading its ecologically and environmentally honest products and commendable customer care policies across Canada for a few months now and after my initial Free Trial Set (reviewed here!) I took the full plunge and ordered my first Essential Bundle order.
My initial overwhelming positive vibe continues now that I am full fledged Honest Member and for the first time in a very long time I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this company's products, shipping and the way they handle their customer concerns. Basically I am more than just a little impressed and naturally I want to share why!

The Essential Bundle is a collection of five core products of your own choosing, covering all of your basic needs: household, bath and body and personal care. The price is a flat fee of $35.95, plus $5.95 for shipping and handling with an option to add three additional products to the box without any extra shipping charges. That fact alone is pretty amazing if you have any knowledge of the kind of prices charged for shipping within Canada regardless of what method you end up using. I am not sure how they are able to do that but I am very happy that they can manage it!

The perks of being an Honest Member are many and include a savings of 35% off all their products, shipping frequency flexibility, flat shipping fee, special offers and seasonal discounts and a very generous referral program. The membership literally puts you in the driver seat - you decide what you get, how often you get and if there are issues or you need to hold your orders for any reason their customer service is only a phone call or live chat away.
All of the Honest Company products are exactly as the name implies transparent and honest when it comes their origins, ingredients, methods of production and customer service.
What can I say - they are just awesome!

For my personal Essential Bundle I decided to fill out all of my product spots right away and choose the full eight product for maximum capacity. If i had more spots left I probably would have purchased even more - that should tell you just how much I enjoyed my first free trial pack!

My choices were: Dishwasher Pods ($10.95 for 32 loads), Laundry Detergent ($12.95 for 70 loads), Multi-Surface Cleaner ($5.95 for 24 oz), Body Oil ($9.95 for 4 oz), Conditioning Mist ($5.95 for 4 oz), Conditioner ($9.95 for 8.5 oz), Shampoo + Body Wash ($9.95 for 8.5 oz) and Face + Body Lotion ($9.95 for 8.5 oz)

My entire order was processed within 24-36 hours after I confirmed my product selections and shipping date, they sent me a tracking number right away, shipped out fast and then delivered directly to my door within a week. This is Canada so I have to say that kind of fast shipping is pretty rare around here.

Keeping with this honest theme I will say that I have only had about a week to test out my new essentials but so far I am very happy with their performance, ease of use and feel (bath & body) on the skin. The stand out feature is the Honest Company signature orange blossom + vanilla scent which is so mild and refreshing that I am almost positive that even those who have fragrance sensitivities or aversions would enjoy it or not even notice it. Since the scent is of the unisex version even the men in my family are happy with it, which is something that has never happened in our household before.

I will most likely be doing individual reviews on each of the products in my bundle eventually but I will say that at this point every single one of them is a superstar in the making.
If I had to select an absolute front-runner then I hesitantly choose the Honest Body Oil that has been keeping my dry skin silky smooth, moisturized and smelling lovely. I love adding a few drops of this absolutely not-greasy wonder to my hair as an overnight hair treatment before my morning shower or spiking my body lotion with just a tiny amount if i feel like I need a bigger hydration boost. The formula is so concentrated that you really only need a small dose each time making this 4 oz bottle even a better value when compared to some other sub-par, more expensive body oil concoctions.
I am pretty much hooked!

The Honest Company has just released three new products to their arsenal - Organic Nipple Balm ($13.95 for 1.8 oz), Organic Belly Balm ($15.95 for 3.65 oz) and the Foaming Hand Soap ($6.95 for 8.5 oz).
You better believe they are already in my shopping cart! :)

If you want your very own trial kit you can use my referral link here (which would be so nice!) or visit their website directly! 

I hope this was helpful!

Have you tried the Honest Company yet? What is your favorite product? 

XOXO

ANJA

*Disclosure - this post contains a referral link but is in no way sponsored by the Honest Company!

What Would Laurie Grimes Bring To the Zombie Apocalypse? The Beauty Edition!

First of all I want to thank all of you who took the time to message me regarding my last post - The Princess Guide To the Zombie Apocalypse! I am so glad that so many of you loved it and wanted to hear even more Princeza thoughts regarding the vanity I could bring to such a scary dead-people-walking phenomenon. My ability to over-complicate everything seems to have absolutely no bounds!

In order to explore the girly role in such a horrific disaster of disgusting rotten flesh walking around I thought it might be fun to take a peek in our leading ladies makeup bags. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a terrible beauty snoop so it's only natural to me to want to know what the ladies of the Walking Dead considered a must-have during such a chaotic time!
As crazy as things might have gotten during that kind of devastation you know they had to have taken at least something to remind them of their past normal "feminine" lives. It doesn't take that long to stash a few tubes in a purse, right???

In today's installment we are going sneak a few proverbial looks at the makeup bags of one the series fabulous characters that met her demise way too early and in the most heartbreaking of ways. She might have ended up as Walker chow but her loyal Walking Dead fans certainly haven't forgotten her stoic, painful memory.
In true beauty blogger fashion I decided to have a little fun with this and dispel some of the doom and gloom that is their blood-curdling reality. This really is meant just for entertainment purposes so please don't hate-bomb me over this post or the character herself!

Laurie Grimes is arguably one of the most hated and misunderstood characters to ever grace the AMC'S Walking Dead screen but one thing we can all agree on is that she was indeed very beautiful.
I am not talking about that stunning look-at-her kind of bombshell beauty, her looks were more understated with all but a whisper of classic girl-next-door features everyone can relate to. If it wasn't for her obviously terrible taste in men and perceivable minor character flaws she could have been our best friend, sister or that pretty neighbor from across the street. 

I don't want to dwell on her mistakes and shortcoming, my only purpose here is to take a quick snapshot of her makeup survival bag. My snooping was kind of successful and I managed to get some information about what she sneakily used in that tent at Herschel Green's Farm.

1. Laurie's long and thick hair obviously needed some serious conditioning, de tangling and frizz-smoothing. Seeing how Glenn Rhee only made scavenging trips to the drugstores (what no Sephora?) her choices were limited but she made do. I am betting on John Frieda Frizz Ease or Brilliant Brunette Line Up. That Extra-Strength Formula Hair Serum could have worked wonders despite the hot, drying weather in Atlanta, Georgia.

2. All of the The Walking Dead ladies had a perfect, blemish-free complexion despite the obvious lack of Clarisonic access and regular face washing. Yeah, I was jealous - my skin would not fare well at all and a pore rebellion would be a foot  in a matter of days. The drugstore wonder by Simple Skincare would have been very successful and useful in Laurie's tent.

3. For those of you that watch the Walking Dead you already know that Laurie was pregnant, which is a state she finally accepted after a few unfortunate mishaps,  so I am assuming she made some paraben-free, baby friendly cosmetic choices. Light mineral makeup would have worked perfectly to even out the skin-tone without interfering with that special "glow" that comes with that blissful state. 

Glenn would have picked up some Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation at most drugstores easily. 

4. Laurie never struck me as a high-maintenance girl (unlike yours truly) but nobody likes chapped, cracked lips, especially with all the kissing going around (just sayin!) . Pregnancy friendly and drugstore accessible choice would have been the fun little EOS Lip Balm spheres

5. Pregnancy in real-life and during the Zombie Apocalypse comes with its own body changes and in turn challenges that need regular attention. Naturally thin women like Laurie are no exception so she too might have been plagued by unsightly stretch marks. Luckily both Palmer's Cocoa Butter & Oil are easy to locate and apply. 

To all my fellow Walking Dead and Caryl fans I hope that this little glimpse in to the cosmetic world of the late Laurie Grimes gave you a little more light-hearted look into the gloomy atmosphere that the show has taken since the season started.
There is always next weekend! The Walking Dead airs every Sunday at 10 pm Atlantic Eastern Time
Stay tuned for more character Beauty Editions to come shortly? 

I am stalking Andrea's bag as we speak! 

What do you think Laurie had in her bag?

Thank you for reading!

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. The adorable and equally morbid cosmetics bag can be purchased here! 

The Princess Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse - The Beauty Edition!

Ever since AMC'S hit The Walking Dead came bursting into TV land Zombies have landed into our everyday lives and are definitively not reserved for Halloween anymore. The zombie apocalypse has become very much a real thing in the past few years and I for one couldn't be more thrilled or more terrified about the whole concept.
As a girly girl the very idea of letting go of my "personal" necessities in order to go on a never-ending hard-core camping trip in search of some safe haven, makes me freak out and come to the painful realization that if by some chance this all comes true my survival life span is extremely short. 

Unless of course I hook up with Daryl Dixon and his crossbow. However life with Daryl would bring a whole other kind of gross challenges so unless I reform my girly ways he just might end up leaving me somewhere on the road, meaning my death would be pretty much a certainty. 

This particular kind of musing came to me during one of those Walking Dead marathons and I figured that it might be time to plan out my own brand of Survival Gear. This way if the dead come calling I might be a little more prepared and maybe, just maybe my girly comfy life could perhaps be extended for a little longer. As I already discussed with my friend Heather my lip gloss littering habit can finally be proven useful or end up killing me way too early. 

I am perfectly aware that my contribution to the "group" would not be all that beneficial but if I bring some supplies to make life on the run a bit more "homey" then they might keep me around. After all every girl has a bottomless purse laying around.

Here is my Zombie Apocalypse Beauty Set! Feel free to add stuff to it in the comments - help is greatly appreciated!

1. WIPES 

From what I have seen so far the zombie apocalypse situation don't provide access to running water to shower, wash your hands, face and clothes; let alone wipe down unsanitary surfaces or remove walker grime after a good massacre. Wipes are the next best thing to water and lucky for us there are plenty of varieties and brands to choose from and stock up. Seriously you can never get enough so buy in bulk and thank me later. 

My choices would be; POND'S Luminous Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes ($6.00 for 30), La Fresh Travel Lite Female Hygiene Wipes ($2.49 for 8) and Mustela Facial Cleansing Cloths ($8.00 for 25) 

2. CLEANSING MICELLAIRE WATER

I am not advocating using micellar waters as your primary cleanser during the "civilization" time but during the apocalypse where water is scarce these convenient solutions can be extremely useful. A few swipes on a cotton pad will remove sweat and grime quickly, discretely and beautifully until you can use the real thing. The added bonus is the refreshment factor and if you choose one of the natural formulas then the scent will be helpful as well. The Zombie Apocalypse does not smell all that nice! 

My favorite portables are the NUXE Rose Micellaire Water ($24.00 for 200 ml), Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 Calming Cleansing Water ($17.00 for 200 ml) and Dior Instant Cleansing Water with Pure Lily Extract ($40.00 for 6.7 oz)

3. DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT STICKS

One of the things I will hate the most is probably going to be the smell. I am not even talking about the rotting-flesh scent! The thing i fear the most even today is my own sweat and embarrassing body odor. The mere whiff can make me feel very uncomfortable and can wreck my day so I am very familiar with the Deodorant Aisle World.
I am assuming that walkers are sensitive to scent so choosing unscented or even lightly fragranced formulas is preferred so keep that in mind when stocking up. The loose powder form is probably even better because of it's multitasking abilities (see here) so if you perfected the art of using them then by all means stash a few bottles for the road. 

My top choices are LUSH Vanilla Puff Dusting Powder ($6.95 for 55 g), LAVANILA Healthy Deodorant ($23.00 for 2 oz) and the very portable DERMAdoctor MED e TATE Wipes ($60.00 for 30).

4. LIP BALMS 

Now I know a girly girl packing some lip gloss isn't all that earth-shattering but I am not talking about the shiny, luscious kind here. The useful lip balms are the ones I consider unassuming and underwhelming today so collecting countless tubes of this stuff can really come in handy. Moisturizing, medicated and nourishing rich formulas preferably in a tube (sanitary reasons) are the best ones to bring with you. Make sure you take a few man friendly ones too - guys can get chapped lips too and Lord knows they are too busy to think to pack any for themselves. 

The lip balm choices are countless these days but here are some of the ones that I rely on today Jack Black Intense Therapy SPF 25 Lip Balm ($7.50), L'Occitane Moisturizing Lip Balm ($12.00) and my favorite eos Strawberry Sorbet Organic Lip Balm ($3.29). 

5. HAIR CARE 

If you can handle and pull off a pixie cut like Carol in The Walking Dead then that is your best bet because caring for long locks at the best of times can be taxing so doing so during the zombie apocalypse is probably gonna suck even more. Carrying huge bottles of your salon shampoo & conditioner is definitively inconvenient so an alternative must be found quickly if you insist on looking presentable. Dry shampoo can work in a pinch for a few days but eventually even that's not going to work very well. When you do have an opportunity to wash away the disgusting walker flesh from your person a solid shampoo and or conditioner is probably your best choice. 

The best ones that work that I tested on my thick, coarse, long hair are the LUSH Big Solid Conditioner ($9.95) and LUSH Jumping Juniper Shampoo ($10.95)

Dry shampoo's I love even today are Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical ($8.59), Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo ($17.00) and the ever colorful Bedhead Oh Beehive Matte Dry Shampoo ($20.00)

6. MULTI-PURPOSE BALMS 

I am already a huge multi-purpose, multi-tasking product fan so luckily for me I already have all kinds of experience with the best of the best balms out there. These little miracles do it all - moisturize, soothe, heal, smooth, replenish, nourish and protect the sensitive epidermis from the dangerous environment you have found yourself in. The portability alone makes balms an essential part of your bag of tricks because you don't have to worry about leaking, spilling or staining your other essentials. Medicated formulas can be used to treat all the typical clumsy, first-time-in-the woods girl, bumps and scrapes that are bound to plague me right away. I might not even make a good walker meal if I die from a scratch-induced bacterial infection. 

Here are some stellar choices to consider Antipodes Saviour Skin Balm ($50.00), Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant ($20.00) and my new discovery Moa The Green Balm ($15.00) 

7. TINTED SUNSCREEN + MOISTURIZER 

In typical girly girl style facing the world even if it is infested with ugly dead people , without makeup might set your heart in panic mode but sacrifices must be made for survival and really nobody is going to wait for you to finish your makeup when it's time to run! Tinted moisturizers with sunscreen are your friends and quite possibly your best beauty secret during these hard times. These miracle tubes will even out your skin tone, smooth out your complexion, add radiance and protect you from the harmful sun rays beautifully. And yes I realize that worrying about sun-damage, hyper pigmentation and wrinkles might be kind of pointless at that point but old habits die hard and I personally know my own vanity so I am sure polishing my look will actually be something I think about.
The cream if the crop are Chantecaille Just Skin SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($72.00), Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 ($38.00) and my new love Tarte Amazonian Clay BB SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer ($36.00)

8. SOAP 

I am not a huge fan of solid soap formulas because most of them seem to dry out my skin and leave some kind of icky residue on my skin no matter how much I rinse. However lugging luxury body washes while on the run will just because cumbersome very quickly so I can see my need-to-feel clean requirement winning out and a switch to a solid soap bars inevitable. Just make sure you invest in a nice soap container to make sure the soap lasts until you reach the next abandoned Sephora location. 

The few that haven't irritated me are Fresh Seaberry Exfoliating Soap ($18.50), LUSH Banana Moon Soap ($7.95) and the classic Dove Beauty Bar ($3.00 for 2)

9. PRACTICAL ESSENTIALS KIT 

Aside from my own girly girl must haves there are essentials and basics that might not be very exciting to look at but can mean a whole lot when the need strikes. I am talking about things that most girls already have in their purse today or can find easily around the house that are just waiting to be organized into one kick-ass survival kit. The Miniemergency by Pinch Provisions ($15.00) at Sephora gives you a good start but DIY set, personalized by you for your own priorities and emergencies is even better.

My start-up bag includes: mini toothpaste & mouthwash, floss, disposable toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, q tips, cotton balls, band-aids, hair elastics, bobby pins, hand sanitizer, cuticle balm, blotting papers, simple manicure set, itch and bug bite relief spray, polysporin, feminine hygiene products, safety pins, double sided tape, mini sewing kit, Tide stain remover pen ($9.97 for 3), mini hair spray etc.

Bringing food-like provisions on this never-ending camping trip from hell might sound basic but fine tuning the choices you bring with you can definitively make a world of difference. You would be surprised how many friends you can make with an energy bar.
The food products you pack need to be non-perishable, have a long shelf life, easy to carry and eat on the run but above all everything should have high nutrition value. Look for high sugar, high protein, high portability and high digestion probability (stomachache while running away from walkers is not a good position to be in).

Here are some healthy snack choices that fill me up these days: Larabars Coconut Cream Pie, Laughing Giraffe Vanilla Almond Snakaroons, Barnana, Wild Roots Greek Yogurt Trail Mix, Hippie Chow Granola and Kashi Dark Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars. 

10. BONUS GIRLY POINTS 

In true Princess style I seem to lack the ability to pack light when i am away from home (suitcase for an overnight visit?) but the zombie apocalypse will force the frilliest of us all to cut the extras and bring the bare minimum. Its not going to happen overnight but I bet that once I realize just how heavy my "essentials" really are I will learn to go without very quickly.
However there are a few extras that might be worth lugging the extra baggage for - after all I wouldn't be a girly girl without those little luxuries to perk me up. After all its the end of the world and after a long day of slaying the undead a girl needs and deserves a bit of pampering.

*Facial Spay Mist 
The wonderful hydrating, refreshing and cooling formulas of today's face mists will bring a touch of luxury to the bleak world you now live in. The best part you can use the spray to blind the incoming walker who dares to interrupt your day. I am not positive it will work but its a good theory!
Try the Josie Maran Rosey Mist - Refreshing Rose Water ($29.00 for 4 oz)

*Nail Buffer
These trying times of dead people walking around is definitively not a time where any girl can afford to worry about her manicure or nail polish. That of course doesnt mean you need to let it all go, become all Edward Scissor-hand like and ignore your hands completely. Just a few quick and simple strokes of the nail buffer in the car on the way to your zombie kill fest can make a world of difference in the aesthetics of it all. Your nails will look shiny, healthy, polished and even better preserve your femininity a little bit more despite all the gore and slimy that comes along with slaying dead flesh.
Try the Sephora 4-Step Nail Buffer ($7.00) 

*Hand Sanitizer 
This doesnt need an explanation - everything is gross, the bacteria rules the world and every little bit of fight helps! It will at least give you a little bit of peace of mind!
Try the Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-Bacterial Gel ($1.75)

*Aromatherapy & Essential Oils
I am going on the assumption that walkers are sensitive to scent and can smell a living, breathing and thinking human being pretty quickly, which translates into my theory that masking my own body odor will be beneficial. If I am correct in that then dousing perfume or fragranced oils on my person should work as a camouflage? From my own fragrance journey I know that oil scents last the longest so that's the one I am going for! If i am wrong then this smelling-good habit will only get me killed but at least i'll be the sweetest smelling corpse around?
Try my new favorite Benefit Bathina "soft to touch...hard to get" Body Oil Mist ($40.00 for 2.5 oz)

The cheesy cliche of the pampered girly girl, incapable of surviving the first 10 minutes of all the great horror films needs to change and this is my feeble attempt to diminish that stereotype. I am definitively no expert on this survival kind of stuff and I perfectly aware that my own vanity and human needs and wants are going to be my downfall if all this comes to a head. That being said I am recognizing my shortcomings and trying to change my vantage point but seeing how rough this regular world is I know I am probably not set up for the Walking Dead universe. 
That is unless Daryl Dixon finds me and I survive the first 10 minutes. Who knows i might even like camping!

What is in your survival gear? Any pointers?
And can we just talk about the Caryl ship and mean Rick Grimes was on Sunday?
That was not cool at all and warrants an arrow up the ass if you know what I mean :-)

XOXO

ANJA

Turning On the Light - Mastering the Dewy-Glowy Radiant Look

Even the most hard-core makeup lovers sometimes crave a natural, fresh look that emphasizes natural beauty and a softer everyday youthful feel to your overall appearance.

Don't get me wrong, as a beauty blogger and a lifetime cosmetics fan, I appreciate the variety makeup experimentation can bring to the table and what fun we can have with the transformations resulting from such play time, however I admit there are days and occasions where the non-makeup look is just easier and perhaps even more appropriate. There are beauty queens that can pull off bold, glamorous looks every single day and I have to admire their dedication but for me personally that simply isn't feasible to accomplish. I might over-complicate my beauty routines from time to time but even I have days when I just can't be bothered to follow through with all my essential "steps". 

The "natural" makeup look sounds deceptively simple and easy to preform but even such minimalist presentation needs a variety of products, time and technique to execute and perfect. Replicating the "no-makeup" look ironically requires a combination of both good skincare and you guessed it...makeup products!

The best way to get the dewy look is to have a good base to start with. What I mean by that is that having good skin in the first place, increases your odds of getting things right when it comes to this makeup style. It makes sense, if your skin is dry, uneven, dehydrated and lack-luster to begin with, you'll have much harder time accomplishing any makeup goal and this is no exception to that rule. If anything good skin condition is the most important for the "natural" look because the whole point is to use sheer cover-up products in order to allow your natural glow to shine through. 

Your regular skincare routine, including gentle cleansing, exfoliation factors and sufficient moisture levels are major players throughout that process. 

Beauties with already oily skin may have a hard time with this makeup effect for the simple reason that adding additional "glow" or "dew" to such skin types can only exasperate the "grease" problem. The silver lining for oily skin is that their skin cells produce an abundance of natural oils that can be tamed through the use (but on over-use) of oil-absorbing, mattifying products that will allow some natural dewiness to shine through and amplify the radiance everyone else is working so hard to get. 

STEP 1 - SKINCARE 

As i already mentioned, a good skincare routine created through the use of appropriate skin-loving products is going to be your best friend in developing long-term complexion radiance. Healthy skin is your best starting point but if that's not a possibility there are a few things you can do and products you can use to give your skin a boost and fake some glowy smoothness prior to actual makeup application. 

Replacing your usual, daily cleanser with a cleansing balm will allow you to gently remove skin impurities and add skin-plumping hydration just by washing your face. The ones that never let me down are the Antipodes Certified Organic Grapeseed Butter Cleanser ($42.00) and the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($70.00).

Good skin preparation following the cleansing step should include a radiance & hydration boosting serum topped by a nourishing moisturizer that will smooth out your complexion canvas and get it ready for additional products. My current favorite serums are the REN Radiance Perfection Serum ($66.00) and the Jurlique Purely Bright Radiance Serum ($72.00), which I follow with the MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer ($25.00) almost daily. Taking a few extra minutes to massage these potions into your skin will stimulate the circulation and elevate the natural radiance factor as well. 

Using a light exfoliator before preparing this "no-makeup look" such as the Melvita Foaming Facial Scrub ($30.00) can also increase your natural radiance exponentially. When I am feeling especially productive I like to use the LUSH Bubble Gum Lip Scrub ($9.95), following it immediately with my beloved By Terry Baume de Rose ($60.00) to pamper and plump up the pout. 

STEP 2 -  FACE MAKEUP 

After completing your skincare routine you can focus on completing and perfecting the makeup steps of this transformation process. I am sure many of you will be surprised just how many products I consider useful and necessary to achieve this seemingly basic "no-makeup look"! However keep in mind that even though the number of beauty items may be high, the application technique and time needed is significantly reduced so once you master the steps the look itself will be easy to replicate each time. 

Depending on your coloring, skin tone and skin condition the type of products you end up choosing will differ but as long as the "sheer" theme is the main attribute of the choices you make, the basis of your personalized natural look should remain universal. The texture and feel of your makeup base needs to be sheer and light, with the goal being a satin-like glowy, real-skin finish in order to achieve the youthful, fresh look we are pursuing. 

The first product I start with is a radiance-boosting primer, typically looking for a formula with light-reflecting particles included in the medium itself. Some excellent primers I have used in the past are Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow Primer ($32.00), BECCA Radiance Primer ($55.00) and Elizabeth Arden Let There Be Light Radiant Skin ($19.99). I find that using a radiance boosting formula primer can add glow to the complexion in a lot more subtle way than most highlighters and since the natural look is all about subtlety and natural lights a product like that can really pull the entire look in the right direction. 

Keeping with the sheerness theme my primary choice for coverage are usually tinted moisturizers, BB creams and very sheer, lightweight foundation formulations. To keep the finish natural I apply the base with my fingers or a damp sponge making sure to blend and buff everything in to perfection. The final result should be satin-like, sheer perfecting evenness that glows and gives the illusion of a healthy radiance. The one that's been getting the most play time on my vanity lately has been the Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer ($46.00) which has been making me glow for weeks - people actually noticed! 

To amplify the dewiness even more I sometimes apply a liquid or cream highlighter to the cheekbones, brow-bones and Cupid's bow, once again making sure to blend and smooth the targeted areas. My choice for subtle, light reflecting highlighters include: Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic ($67.00), Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! ($36.00) and Illamasqua Intrigue ($32.00). 

Using a concealer where needed will add polish to your complexion, covering and neutralizing any redness or minor imperfections that the lightweight coverage of the tinted base was unable to deal with. Once again reaching for a creamy, illuminating concealer formula is your best bet and the cult classics NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30.00) and BECCA Radiant Skin Creamy Concealer ($39.00) will deal with just about anything. The hybrid formulas such as the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch ($50.00) and its budget dupe L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Concealer ($12.99) will do miracles around the eye area, illuminating and contouring all in one step. It takes some practice but with the right touch the results can be quite flattering. 

Light layer of translucent powder to set everything painstakingly applied completes the makeup base and ensures that the achieved results will last the day without smudging, melting or uneven fading. Keep in mind that the powder dust needs to be applied with a very light touch because too much product can just end up mattifying the dewy glow you were aiming for in the first place. Powders that haven't let me down and are still going strong in my stash are: Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Quartet ($60.00), Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder ($72.00) and the trusty bareMinerals Mineral Veil ($25.00)

STEP 3 - MAKEUP BROWNIE POINTS 

Perfecting the "natural look" complexion is the key when achieving this particular makeup look because skin is where most of your radiance comes from however adding a few extra steps to just finely enhance the rest of your features can elevate your look from plain and boring to polished and youthful. 

Sheer colour, glowy blushes can add a very healthy flush to your cheeks and if applied correctly actually imitate the outdoorsy, cheeky radiance. I personally prefer cream-based blush formulas because they blend in easier than their powder counterparts and just look more natural on my face. One of my most recent discoveries are the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blushes ($31.00) and they are perfect for faking naturally flushed cheeks. 

To maintain the no-makeup vibe the eyes can be enhanced with just a sheer wash of colour with a neutral, taupe or champagne low-shimmer shade while the lashes retain the natural look (try Benefit Cosmetics Velvet Eyeshadow, $18.00)with just a light coat of brown or clear mascara (try Sephora Collection Clear Defining Mascara, $15.00). 

Going the natural look route doesnt mean that you have to underplay your pout. Applying a sheer lip stain like the Buxom Full-On Lip Tarnish ($23.00) or a sheer balm like the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balm ($7.99) will keep your look low key but still give you a believable sheer colour to draw some attention to your lips without the stickiness of a lip gloss. 

If you have bronzer experience adding a light layer to the the areas of your face where the sun naturally hits, can chisel and emphasize your features through expert contouring. That particular step is lost on me - my limited skills just end up making me look muddy and no matter how much I want to get the natural sun-kissed look every attempt fails miserably. But I am practicing with my Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel! 

The general consensus for this natural, no-makeup, radiant, glowy look is the sheerness of everything you use. This is not about strong colors, seductive smoky eyes, bronzed goddess like cheekbones, foundation masks or statement-making red lipstick. This look is about enhancing and bringing attention to our own natural beauty - spotlighting our own uniqueness and best features all the while celebrating the youthful spirit that resides in all of us. 

Sure, makeup makeovers can be extremely fun and empowering and sometimes even the most confident girl can have trouble taking the mask off BUT stripping the artificiality of it all gives us a chance to experiment on the opposite end of the spectrum and no-makeup look is still a makeup look regardless... 

Its just softer and prettier...for me anyways!

What do you prefer - nature or glamour? 

Thank you for reading 

XOXO 

ANJA

The Beauty Of Naturally Enhanced Body Oils - Hydration At Its Best!

If you have dry skin or sensitivity that comes along with that blessing then you already know the upcoming cold weather is something we need to arm ourselves for.
The weapons of choice are luxurious, nourishing, soothing and ultra-protective moisturizing potions, capable of kicking ass even through the extremes of Canadian winters. Up here in the great white north we not only have to deal with ridiculously low temperatures but the accompanying arctic cold winds as well. Since my home is right on the Bay of Fundy the sharp, freezing winds can do a number on my already delicate dry skin! Luckily I am a weather veteran now so my arsenal is well stocked with some awesome defensive moisture bombs. 

There are a lot of rich, hydration driven formulations out there that do a great job of protecting my skin but my secret weapon that elevates the whole experience to the highest level possible are naturally inspired body oils. Adding just a few golden drops can transform a simple moisturizing lotion into a ultra-nourishing body treatment. 

If you are worried about the greasy after effects (rightfully so!) you'll be happy to hear that body oil formulas have evolved so much in the past decade, making them very user-friendly and definitely trial-worthy. 

I wanted to share a few body oils that have been rocking my world and ones I would recommend to anyone year-round! 

Mother Nature brings it big time!

Caudalie Divine Oil ($52.00 for 3.4 oz)

I have already expressed my love and deep admiration for this French wonder (review here!) so including this was a no-brainer. The luxurious fragrance celebrates the essence of Moroccan and Bulgarian roses, pure Vanilla notes and traces of Cedar and White Musk. The olfactory sensationalism combined with skin loving natural oils creates a formula that not only moisturizes your parched skin but also makes you happy about using it. As usual the Caudalie signature grape seed oil along with Sesame Seed, Argan and Hibiscus oils creates a velvety, silky canvas that sinks in quickly, leaving no grease but only radiant fragrance behind. The charming amber-tinted, vintage glass bottle, topped with a "wood-like" cap only adds to its appeal and the starry blogosphere raves only reinforce its classic Parisian feel. Tres chic - if you ask me!

Cowshed Bath & Body Oils ($31.00 for 3.38 oz)

The British share the same moisture dilemma as Canadians so its no surprise that the niche UK  Cowshed brand really knows how to make a product that effectively meets our hydration needs. This adorable beauty brand battles the freeze and dryness that accompanies it with fairly traded plant extracts, organic ingredients and proven therapeutic botanicals, all blended together into one hard working body oil. The potent formula includes cranberries, grape-seeds, sesame and sweet almond oils, all which penetrate deep beyond the skin surface to hydrate and restore body's own natural moisture balance. The addition of essential fragrance oils is there to highlight their aromatherapy potential and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest olfactory experts! My ultimate favorite is the Moody Cow Balancing Bath & Body Oil where linden blossom and rose geranium freshness kicks into high gear and lulls me into relaxation mode regardless of how bad of a day I might have had. The fact that my skin is left soft, silky and comfortably smooth is obviously a major bonus!
If you value products free from nasty parabens, preservatives, sulfates, artificial fragrances and unnecessary colors then Cowshed is the safely the way to go!

Yon-Ka Huile Corps Body Oil ($62.00 for 3.38 oz)

I am not even surprised that yet another one of my favorites is indeed a French product. Yon-Ka is a Parisian brand whose catch phrase "Quintessence of the phyto-aromatic care" could not be more spot on with their products. Everything they make has that aromatherapy touch that is as lovely to use as its beneficial for our essential well-being - let me tell you, health has never smelled so good! 

The Yon-Ka Huile Corps is a fresh and sensual body oil that beautifully marries the herbal note of Sage with a soak in Lavender. Normally grassy-scents like this would not be appealing to a gourmand-lover girly girl such as myself but this combination has a very distinct crisp sweet undertone that provides the aura of absolute serenity to even my judgmental senses. The oily goodness pampers my dry skin by restoring suppleness, smoothing out any flaky, irritated patches and providing a protective barrier on the surface that prevents further moisture loss. It might be my imagination or wishful thinking but whenever i use this my skin feels warm and comfortably cozy, which is a huge bonus during the winter months. The sophisticated golden wonder is presented in a frosted glass bottle which only drives the French exclusivity and just makes you feel that you are using something very special!

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil ($65.00 for 100 ml)

My love for REN has been well established on this blog and a major portion of my bathroom is dedicated to their skincare essentials. It took me a little longer to sample their body care products but once I did, unsurprisingly their goodness had me hooked almost immediately. Seeing how my love of all things REN was combined with rose essence in their Moroccan Rose Body Care Collection I just knew it was only a matter of time before these became my new must-haves.
The Rose scent in the Moroccan Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil is as natural as it gets and completely intoxicating! This is the kind of product that you open up during the day just to give your olfactory senses a little treat. Using the complimentary REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil ($48.00 for 110 ml) prior slathering the body oil all over is one of the most relaxing, sensual and luxurious experience I have ever had in my own little bathroom.
Essentially if you love roses and clean ingredient beauty then give REN a try - no disappointment or regret at all!

Josie Maran Moroccan Argan Body Oil in Balance ($35.00 for 1.7 oz)

My love for all things roses continues with this Josie Maran powerhouse. The universally loved Rose Damascena is the star of this simplistic one-dimensional scented Argan Oil based body moisturizer so its no surprise that the scent just explodes once it hits your skin. It remains uncluttered in the blend of Argan, Apricot, Sweet Almond, Safflower, Sesame, Avocado, and Olive Fruit oils, meaning that it will dominate no matter how you choose to use this emollient rich moisturizer. The formula also contains the discrete essence of the Vitamin C rich Pomelo Grapefruit oil whose benefits include treating muscle fatigue, hair growth, skin tone improvement and even acne treatment. The beautiful rose however dilutes this almost completely so had I not done my research I would have never detected it on my own.
Despite the fact that Josie Maran markets this as a body oil treatment the little beauty rebel in me has used this as a hair mask, cuticle treatment, subtle rose perfume and a very sensual and effective massage oil.
I am more than a little impressed!

J.R. Watkins Coconut Milk & Honey Body Oil Mist ($8.99 for 6 oz)

As a self-confessed gourmand lover the J.R.Watkins Coconut Milk & Honey Body Oil Mist delivers a dollop of sweetness coupled with deep hydration at a price we can all live with!
J.R. Watkins is an apothecary budget brand that once again proof that we don't have to sacrifice good-for-you ingredients and high delivery formula when choosing a drugstore brand. Their products are made without any no mineral oil, petrolatum, glycols, silicone's, synthetic dyes or any of the other traditional chemical nasties.
The basis of this vitamin enriched body oil mist are the carrier Almond and Apricot Kernel oils which are easily absorbed into the skin and are especially recommended for dehydrated, delicate, distressed, mature and sensitive skin. The rich fatty acids help soothe any inflammation, revitalize the skin and even fight fine lines in aging mature skin. The candied scent from 100% natural Coconut Milk & Honey fragrances leave a scrumptiously fruity veil of moisture, which penetrates immediately with its sheer viscosity and leaves no greasy or tacky residue.
Its essentially good enough to eat!

Mama Mio OMega Wonder-Full Rescue Balm ($30.25 for 30 ml)

To be fair this little wonder is not a body oil in the traditional sense but it does serve a similar purpose and its texture melts into an oil form when applied to the skin. I felt that it deserved a mention because of its ultra-targeted moisture properties and the practical fact that since it comes in airtight, plastic, pump functioning bottle its also very TSA air travel friendly. That fact alone makes it an amazing find and its "nasties-free" ingredient promise is just like the icing on the cake. The results are pretty impressive too!
Its formula features Meadowfoam, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Carott Seed Oil and the trendy Manuka Oil, all of which create a balm worthy of your driest patches. The Mama Mio OMega Wonder-Full Rescue Balm scent is very nostalgic for me and reminds me of my teenage favorite Loves Baby Soft perfume with its subtle rose powdery softness. Once again aromatherapy at its finest!
The matching Mama Mio OMega Body Oil ($35.00 for 5 oz) with its Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Argan and Safflower oils can be layered over the balm for irresistibly comfortable, deeply hydrated skin for a truly baby soft scent experience.

Just a few years ago if someone would have told me that I would be using oils on my face and body I never would have believed it! My aversion of feeling greasy and slippery stopped me from giving these moisturizing innovations a try for a long time. Today things are obviously very different :-)

Do you have a favorite Body or Face Oil?

Thank you for reading

XOXO

ANJA

Are You Getting the Most Out Of All Your Skincare?

Quality skincare doesn't have to be but sometimes is expensive and time consuming. Not to mention it can become a game of trial and error in order to find the products that work with your particular skin chemistry. I am not even taking into account brand research, ingredient deciphering and the sometimes perilous process of acquiring the item of choice. The beauty industry can be a confusing place even for the best of us. 

For argument sake lets say that you discovered a product, visited the official website, consulted beauty pushers like me and finally made your purchase. The investment was made, the skincare did not make your face off and you are actually seeing the fruits of all that labor (aka results)! If it all lines up like that, pat yourself on the back and enjoy your complexion improvements! 

The story really should end there but of course it doesn't and it really shouldn't! The goal now is to maximize the results you are seeing in the mirror and make sure to utilize the active ingredients to their I full potential! Take it's for what it's worth completely. Think about it, you spent the money, you took your time so naturally you want to make sure you get the best out of it all!

Why settle for a $100 when you can work it to a $1000! 

Believe it or not making a few small changes in your beauty routine along with a few simple guidelines can make a world of difference! 

Here are a few skin loving rules to elevate your regiment from GOOD to AWESOME!

This may sound rudimentary but we all know that with skincare the main purpose is to get the ingredients into the skin so they can preform their primary function. Knowing what order your products should be applied can make sure to speed up absorption and maximize the penetration effect of the good stuff. The general rule is to go with light to heavy when it comes to texture and consistency. This means serums before moisturizers, and creams before balms or ointments. If a product has more active ingredient compared to the other then it needs to be applied first in order to maximize its power. Your aim is to get the best and most potent stuff in first! 

Applying an eye serum and/or eye cream is suggested as the first step after washing your face to make sure the delicate eye area is not compromised by products meant for the face only. The under-eye area especially is quite a bit more delicate than the rest of your face and therefore might be prone to irritation from actives it has no business with. To avoid this, just apply your eye treatment first so its somewhat coated when your face products come in to play. The Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Resurfacing Eye Serum ($67.00 for 0.5 oz) has been making quite a splash in my routine and I can't wait to review it and give it some well deserved praise.

To amplify hydration and skin recovery due to season changes on my face I have been using the Biotherm Aquasource Deep Serum ($55.00 for 50 ml) lately with some pretty impressive results (review to follow). My day moisturizers can change pretty often around here but as you know I have been loving the MuLondon White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer ($25.00 for 60 ml) , alternating between that and the lovely classic Clarins HydraQuench Cream  ($49.00 for 50 ml). I have used the Clarins HydraQuench blue tubs for so long that the familiarity alone is comforting.

If you remember your Science class then you might recall the oil and water don't mix concept and that holds true when it comes skincare as well. Water-based products need to be applied first and then sealed with an oil treatment. However if you are using a dermatologist prescribed medication then that's the one that always should be used before anything else. Generally speaking the closer to the surface a product is, its effectiveness increases. To improve absorption try misting your face with some of the many facial mist sprays available (see here!) or simply dampen the skin surface prior product application. 

The oil of the moment in my bathroom cabinet is the Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($30.00 for 1 oz), which is quickly rising to the top of my facial oil stash! It's definitively giving my beloved REN Rose O12 Ultra-Moisture Defense Serum ($80.00 for 1 oz) a run for its money :-)

The beauty sleep dilemma has been debunked by some skincare experts and I am not sure if I personally buy that skin cells renew themselves more during the night but there are definite benefits in using certain products while you dream. Retinol based formulas such as the Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Night ($47.50 for 1 oz) along with some antioxidants make the skin very sensitive to UV rays and their efficiency is significantly lowered due to sun exposure, which means those products are best to be used indoors (or at night!). Cosmetic companies have a tendency in making night-time formulas more concentrated and spiked with higher levels of active ingredients so applying them when you are not wearing makeup (at night!) provides more time for them to work their magic. Another instance when a treatment is more effective when there is no sun exposure is in the case of resurfacing serums such as the StriVectin Advanced Overnight Resurfacing Serum ($69.00 for 1 oz) or the Roc Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System ($29.99 for the set). Come to think of it if you are using aggressive treatments like that sun exposure should be limited in the first place! 

A lot of beauty products and especially skincare have silicone's or dimethicones as part of their formulation. Many of us have a love-hate relationship with these smoothing agents and I personally consider them as "cheat ingredients" that only fool you into feeling the smoothing sensation of your skin. I understand that's the appeal in the first place but my preference would be to treat texture issues not just mask them. Since silicone's coat the surface of both hair and skin, a barrier is formed so products put on top may not be able to penetrate or work properly. If products like that are part of your routine to minimize the problem just make sure that anything like that is applied as one of the last steps (ex: primer). 

Silicone based primers that I have gotten along with in the past are: Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Primer ($38.00), Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer ($39.00 for 1 oz) and The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser ($18.00 for 1 oz).

I am not even going to bother lecturing anyone about sunscreen use since we all know how essential SPF is for the health of your skin.  Melanoma, premature wrinkles and leathery skin is not a good look for anyone so it's most important to get this step right. 

As there are two different types of sunscreen it's no surprise that there are two application methods to consider. 

Chemical Sunscreen like La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ for  Face and Body require absorption in order to preform so therefore should be applied as one of the first products in your routine. Physical Sunscreen like the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34.00 for 1.7 oz) use Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to form a barrier between the fragile skin and the damaging UV rays. Since that barrier needs to remain strong these sunscreens are applied on top of your skincare but is also sustainable under light makeup. You can avoid that hassle by choosing a tinted moisturizer or foundation with high SPF protection already built in. 

As you know I have a tendency to go overboard when it comes to skincare and complicated regiments so it wont surprise you that even this post has its own little brownie point section. 

If you are indeed using targeted essentials like heavy duty lip treatments and lash conditioners you know that using such extra-credit products can sometimes interfere with your daytime beauty rituals. 

Ultra-nourishing lip treatments are perfect for overnight healing and repair but can become quite the hassle if you try using them when lipsticks and glosses are trying to be the stars of your fabulousness. Layering balms can just end up smearing and diluting your desired lip color so treatments like Hourglass N28 Lip Treatment Oil ($49.00 for 0.25 oz) and  Bite Beauty Superfruit Butter ($21.00 for 0.23 oz) are better left for indoor times. 

Lash treatments are not everyone's cup of tea but the beauty obsessed like myself find such products totally helpful and the results these days can be rather impressive. My picks are the old standby Mavala Switzerland Double Lash (15.70) and my new discovery Talika Eyelash Growth Lpocils ($28.00) However as awesome and gratifying these are I have never found one that is mascara-friendly so I have to reserve them for night use. Luckily beauty companies have recently come out with mascara's laced with lash treatments and the Revlon Lash Potion formula has been on the forefront for some time now but the jury is still out! 

The main point I wanted to make with this blog post is that we are putting our faith in these cosmetic companies, spending our hard earned money and putting in precious time researching product specifics - that kind of effort deserves the very best these products can offer. With just a few tweaks and some tidbits of information you might not have thought of utilizing, the products you already have can go from PRETTY GOOD  to FREAKING AMAZING! 

As a girl who has a very difficult time remembering to read the directions on anything I wanted to find a way to pass on real world beauty experience points to girls like me and avoid sounding like a product pusher for once... I hope this helps!

Thank you for reading

Do you have some secret skincare tips? 

XOXO

ANJA