The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel & Tinted Leg Mist

My neck and body have gone on a vacation, while my face has been living in Antarctica. Thus, I've come to the realization that I should probably take a break from my Asian "whitening" skincare products, as there is now a massive difference between the colour of my face and the colour of my neck and body. What's been helping me out? The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel ($16). And while my legs are darker than my face, they're still a little pasty-looking from winter so The Body Shop Tinted Leg Mist ($20) has been helping me get my Summer glow on. 

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel smells exactly like The Body Shop Honey Bronze Highlighting Domes, a light floral/sweet scent. It could bother some but it fades away within 5-10 minutes of application. The gel feels super light weight, almost watery in texture and slightly cooling.  The colour is a tad orange but extremely sheer and subtle without a trace of shimmer/glitter/iridescence, perfect for matching for my light-borderline-medium complexion to the rest of my body. The gel texture of the product sinks immediately into the skin, lasts ~6 hours and it's neither moisturizing nor drying. 

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Tinted Leg Mist

The word "mist" is misleading. The spraying contraption atop the Honey Bronze Tinted Leg Mist is kind of messy and sprays more product than you'd expect. It's runny and you'll definitely need your hands to distribute the product. A word of warning, you might want to apply this naked (or with minimal clothing) because it will stain. The good news? It's not at all streaky or shimmery. The colouring of the Honey Bronze Tinted Leg Mist is a little more potent than that of the Face Gel. Furthermore, it's slightly less orange and more bronze. Again, it works perfectly with my colouring for a subtle yet sun kissed tan. I have yet to experience the product transferring onto my clothing and it seems to last until I shower the product off. 

It's important to note that both the Honey Bronze Face Gel and Honey Bronze Tinted Leg Mist are non-permanent, wash-off tanning products. Overall, they both serve they're purpose. Since I'm working in an office this summer,  I'll happily be using these to look like I went on a vacation without needing to sit out in the sun! 

Do you use bronzing products on your face or body to colour correct? 

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Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate & Body Mist

Deciem is an umbrella brand for 10 innovative beauty brands, one of them being Hand Chemistry, which is a brand focused on treatments to fight all aspects of hand and body aging. 

One of Hand Chemistry and Deciem’s biggest selling points is its sciency take on beauty. For most products, their website (handchemistry.com) has info about the product, its ingredients and a large blurb about the science behind it. I’m no chemist but I do like the idea behind a high performing product with the power of science behind its ingredients. 

Enter Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occuring component of skin tissue that helps skin to retain moisture, reduce inflammation and help prevent moisture loss (I fact checked this all using a simple Google search) that is said to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Hand Chemistry uses Hyaluronic Acid derived from algae in its Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate ($30) and Hyaluronic Acid derived from tamarind, corn and mushroom in the Hand Chemistry Body Mist ($20).

Sciency stuff aside, both products claim the following:

- Lasting Hydration

- Instant Hydration

- Improved Texture

- Reduced Tightness

- Delivery of Actives

- Softness 

In addition, Hand Chemistry says that use of the Hyaluronic Concentrate promotes the skin’s ability to produce its own moisture and that the Hyaluronic Body Mist provides hydration for up to 72 hours. 

In a nutshell the two are similar products with different methods of delivery. The Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate (240mL) is housed in a large pump bottle, while the Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist (150mL) comes in a nifty non-aerosol continuous mist spray bottle. 

The Hyaluronic Concentrate is a jelly consistency with no scent that feels almost wet on the skin and absorbs almost immediately, leaving no residue. It feels a lot like Hydraluron from Indeed Labs (except far less expensive). The Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist looks, feels and smells like a lightly scented water. Both products give a cooling sensation upon application – super handy to have in the heat of summer. 

So these two products both feel like water on the skin? Could I just pour water on my skin and get the same results? Nope. If you’re anything like me, stepping out of a hot shower without moisturising immediately after leaves skin feeling dry. Use of the Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate and Body Mist leave skin feeling plump and refreshed. 

Instant Hydration? Yes. Lasting Hydration? Yes, but neither products leave my skin feeling hydrated for more than a day. Improved texture? Yes. Softness? Yes… and I’m not really sure what “Delivery of Actives” mean but the Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Concentrate and Body Mist seem to be ticking all the boxes for me. Also, I love the fact that I don’t need to wait 5 minutes for the moisturizer to sink in before putting on clothes. It’s an apply-and-go kind of thing. Thankfully, my skin has been looking a lot less pasty lately. 

Have you ever used a product with Hyaluronic Acid?

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The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Scrub & Body Butter

Like happy hour for your body and a vacation for your nose, the limited edition Virgin Mojito Body Range from The Body Shop is right up my alley. The scent is on par with my love for all things citrus. There isn’t a hint of lime so much as a punch. It’s an acidic and powerfully refreshing scent that leaves your body and bathroom smelling like a party (minus the alcohol and sweat) as soon as you step out of the shower. 

Not much to say about The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Butter ($20) other than that the Body Butters are my fave hydration product from The Body Shop. This one is no exception and the scent makes it even better buy. 

As for The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Scrub ($22), I find that it’s less of a scrub and more of a gel with little beads that aren’t quite abrasive enough to remove dead skin. If you’re into non-abrasive, gentle body scrubs then this product is better suited for you than me. Don’t get me wrong. Scrubbing properties aside, it’s a good body wash that leaves me feeling clean and smelling nice. I’m still going to use it. 

Overall, I’m highly in love with The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Range. If you like strong citrus scents, be sure to check this out because I have a feeling this limited edition will get swept up quite quickly. That being said, instead of typing away at my laptop in a cold, air-conditioned office on weekdays, I’d like to slather Virgin Mojito all over my body and laze in the sun all day long. 

Have you smelled the Virgin Mojito line? 

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Tea Time with The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Wash, Exfoliating Soap & Body Lotion

It’s tea time. But don’t drink this tea. Slather it all over your body. 

The Body Shop recently released its Fuji Green Tea line – a range with everything from the classics (body wash, fragrance, body butters, etc) and gift sets to a bath tea, along with a matching bath infuser… all infused with antioxidant green tea from Japan! The Fuji Green Tea scent is fresh and crisp yet subtle. It’s not sweet nor is it floral. I like to think this is the aroma of a shirtless, handsome man after climbing Mount Fuji in Japan. 

Scent aside, The Body Shop products perform well, as expected. The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Wash ($9), which contains Community Fair Trade honey from the UNESCO Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve in Ethiopia, lathers quite nicely without drying out the skin. 

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Exfoliating Soap ($6) was surprisingly gritty, in the best way possible. The scrubbiness of the exfoliating soap is perfect for all over the body, especially in my areas prone to skin flakies like the back of my upper arms, elbows, and legs. The soap contains Community Fair Trade Shea Butter from Ghana but what’s impressive is not the moisturizing properties of the soap but its ability to schluff away dead skin cells. 

Finally, The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Lotion ($13) is infused with sesame oil and provides lightweight hydration. I hadn’t tried a lotion from The Body Shop in years. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was quite a rich lotion (but not as thick as the Body Butters) that sank into my skin in an instant.

Unlike other scents from The Body Shop, this one doesn’t leave my shower smelling like candy. Besides that, I’ve been appreciating a scent that’s a little more subtle and clean than my typical smell-me-I-smell-like-fake-fruits! (though The Body Shop does have that as an option). 

Do you like the scent of green tea? 

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The Body Shop Smoky Poppy Poppy Seed Body Scrub

Valentine's Day may be long gone but you can still feel sexy with the Smoky Poppy scent from the Body Shop. Early this year, the Body Shop released a line of Smoky Poppy scented products - from bath bombs, body butters, massage oils, perfumes, and shower gels. If you a sultry scent, then you can upgrade your entire body care routine into this. I've attempted to incorporate the Body Shop Smoky Poppy Poppy Seed Body Scrub ($20) into my shower routine. 

Admittedly, this scent is not for me. It's one of the sexiest scents I've ever smelled. It smells good but I'm preferential to fruity scents (mango, satsuma, vineyard peach) and very light florals. Smoky Poppy reminds me more of a deeper floral perfume. It's not overly heavy but it's more sexy and euphoric than sweet. 

As for the product, I like the idea behind the ingredients (as with most of products from the Body Shop). The scrub contains Community Fair Trade Cane Sugar from Paraguay. The poppy seeds are a very gentle exfoliant. I find that they're not as concentrated or as harsh as I'd like them to be for a deep-cleaning exfoliation. 

Overall, while the product works and the scent is nice, the Body Shop Smoky Poppy Poppy Seed just wasn't for me. Perhaps if you have more sensitive skin or like a sexy, sultry scent, then this product would be better suited for your needs. 

Have you smelled the Smoky Poppy scent from the Body Shop? 

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I Love.. Strawberries & Cream and Raspberry & Blackberry // Valentine's Day 2015

Does your the boy/girl you like, like fruit? Consider wearing I love...'s fruit-scented bath and body products this Valentine's Day (or even better, ask the boy/girl you like to get this for your Valentine's Day prezzie). 

I love... is a UK brand that landed in Canada last year. The I love... range is minimal and easy to navigate. There are 3 products - bubble bath/shower cream, body butter, and now fruit spritzers. Each of the products are available in all four of their delicious scents - Coconut & Cream, Mango & Papaya, Raspberry & Blackberry and Strawberries & Cream. I love the adorable packaging of I love... cute and simple with lots of hearts and you can easily see the product inside the containers. 

Fittingly, for the Valentine's Day season, I've got 3 pink/red body products to share with you! 

Strawberries & Cream Bubble Bath and Shower Creme (400mL, $9.99)

While I enjoy the I love... Strawberries & Cream scent, the aroma is a bit artificial. Keep this in mind if you like "natural" smelling products. The Bubble Bath/Shower Creme itself is an interesting consistency. It's a little watery to be a gel and is thin enough that a little runs through the spaces between my fingers before I can get a chance to lather it up. The lather is a bit weak, thus I prefer the product as a body wash as opposed to a bubble bath. In terms of cleaning properties, the product is fairly mediocre

Raspberry & Blackberry Nourishing Body Butter (200mL, $9.99)

Again, it's not the most natural smelling, but I still like it! Compared to something like the Body Shop Body Butters, the scent of I love...'s is lighter, the moisturizer feels more whipped and thinner in consistency, and it absorbs more quickly and doesn't leave a residue with just as much hydration to the skin. All in all, a great option for body butters, especially if you enjoy the scent. 

Raspberry & Blackberry Spritzer (100mL, $4.99)

Oddly enough, I prefer the scent of the fruit spritzer to the body butter of the same Raspberry & Blackberry scent. It's slightly sweeter with a bit more punch. This fruit spritzer smells like spray-in-your-mouth candies that I used to use as a kid. I'm so tempted to spray the I Love.. Raspberry & Blackberry Spritzer in my mouth, though it probably won't taste quite as good as it smells as the ingredients include alcohol, water, and fragrance. The strength of the scent dissipates after 10 minutes to leave a lighter scent, which sticks around for a little over three hours. It's not the longest lasting but it's a good thing you can layer this with the body butter to smell extra fruity!

Overall, a great drugstore option for bath and body products. Now that I've tried the Strawberries & Cream and the Raspberry & Blackberry scents, I'm so down to try out the Mango & Papaya (as I prefer tropical scents over berry scents). 

I love... is exclusively available at Shoppers Drug Mart and PharmaPrix stores in Canada.

Have you tried I love...? What kind of scents do you like in your bath and body products? 

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Love from Lush - The Kiss, Prince Charming & Unicorn Horn // Valentine's Day 2015

What's not to love about limited edition Lush stuff? From locket-shaped bath bombs (Love Locket Bath Bomb - $11.95) to heart-shaped soaps (Cupid's Love Soap - $6.95) to gift sets containing both, Lush is a one stop shop for the perfect Valentine's Day bath and body gift. Here's a few thoughts on three from the Lush 2015 Valentine's Day collection: 

Lush The Kiss Lip Scrub ($9.95)

Prime your lips for the perfect kiss! Lush's The Kiss Lip Scrub is formulated with pink caster sugar and sea salt. It smells like bubble gum and has adorable little sprinkles and candy hearts distributed throughout the pot. While I'm not sure how I feel about lickng the dead skin off my lips, you can safely eat this lip scrub after you apply it! My only gripe is that it's a little messy. If you pick this up, avoid opening it sideways (or face sugar all over your floor). Plus, it gets stuck under my nails when I scoop it out of the pot. Other than that, The scrub is not overly gritty and definitely gets the job done while being pink and glittery and smelling adorably bubble-gummy. 

Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel ($9.95)

If Prince Charming smelled like this, I'd run off with him in an instant. I've heard a lot of complaints about Lush's products being too sweet. I kind of like it real sweet. The only way I can describe the aroma is... juice from concentrate. The combination marshmallow root, fair trade vanilla and pomegranate juice with grapefruit, sandalwood and geranium smells so juicy that I could just drink the stuff up. Like other Lush Shower Gels that I've tried, it lathers up quite nicely and makes me feel squeaky clean but not dried out. But buyer beware, this does contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), so if that bothers you or makes your skin dry than watch out. 

Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar Before and After

Lush Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar ($7.95)

YES. UNICORNS! I wish I could wear this on top of my head. Fittingly, it's sparkly and pastel-rainbow-coloured. Unfortunately, the strong ylang-ylang/neroli/lavender scent is a little too herbal right out of the packaging but in the bathtub it's more diffused and quite relaxing. Using the entire bar yields fluffy and long-lasting bubbles. Also totally noteworthy, the bubbly, magical, purple bath that comes from this pretty bubble bar kind of makes me jump for joy. 

Have you checked out this year's Lush Valentine's Day Collection? 

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Best in Beauty 2014 - Hair, Skin, Bath & Body

2014 wasn't just about wearing a ton of makeup, so here's some of my nail, skin, body, and hair favourites. Also, if you haven't already, be sure to check out my 2014 makeup favourites here.

NAILS

< base coat > I've been using Essie First Base ($8.50, review pending) for every manicure for about a year. It's still going strong and non-gloopy. My nails aren't particularly strong or brittle but at least they're not yellow!

< polish > The Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Polish in Soul Session* ($5.95) is the perfect pink nude for my colouring. It kind of sucks on it's own lasting 2 days or less (despite the "up to 10 days" claim) but stays for at least a week with the addition of the...

< top coat > Revlon Gel Envy Top Coat* ($8.39). I know this is meant to be used alongside other Revlon Gel Envy polishes but it actually prolongs the wear of all of my polishes in general. Miracle top coat right here.

SKIN

< cleanser > - the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil* ($44-93, review pending...) removes waterpoof mascara, full-coverage foundations, and everything in between with a couple pumps. I double cleanse with another face wash for good measure, but this is the star of the show when it comes to nighttime cleansing.

< makeup remover > - I'm on my second bottle of the Annabelle Eye Makeup Remover Lotion ($9.95), if that says anything about it. When I'm lazy but my makeup wipes can't take off waterproof eye makeup, a couple pumps of this one does the trick. Plus, it's non-stinging, non-drying, and oil-free. Huraahhh!

< mask > - After the whole CBB Mask-off, the Montagne Jeunesse Hot Chocolate Self Heating Mask* ($2) was my favourite. It's perfect for a cold winter night paired with a cup of hot chocolate. It's like warm chocolate on your face and hot chocolate to warm up your body. Double whammy. Since it's no longer in my stash (I need to pick up some more), there's a photo of my second favourite - the My Beauty Diary Brightening Pearl Mask ($1, review pending) 

BODY

< body moisturizer > - The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter ($20)... uhhh the scent, so delicious. There's nothing quite like the aroma of fuzzy peaches in a body butter. It's supposed to be "special-edition" but I think the body butter lords for not discontinuing it quite yet.  Not pictured because it's an empty, but I've popped in what I'm currently using (Glazed Apple)

< body scrub > - Second to peach scents are anything sweet and citrus-y. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub* ($20) is on point when it comes to citrus + brown sugar and does the scrub-a-dub-dub job like a charm. Not pictured because it's an empty!

< perfume > - I can't describe scents for the life of me but I've been really loving a sample of carven Le Parfum ($115 for full size). It's fresh and clean and a little sweet. For reference, here's the Sephora blurb: A burst of spontaneity and gracefulness are carried by neroli, mandarin blossom, and the delicacy of white hyacinth. This lighthearted floral bouquet is built around a hint of jasmine and ylang ylang, and touched by a whiff of sweet pea. White sandalwood and a precious wood harmony create lingering impression of rare purity. Can't say I can afford it at the present time at $90 a bottle but when I'm rich and famous I'll be bathing in it.  Not pictured because it's an empty!

HAIR

< shampoo/conditioner > - My hair was blessed during the four months I used the Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner* ($25 each). Featuring a rich lather resulting in sleek, shiny but not oily locks of luscious hair, I'm kind of sad I've moved on to less expensive (under $25) haircare products for the time being.  Not pictured because it's an empty!

And that concludes my favourites of 2014 :)

What were your fave hair/skin/bath/body products of 2014? 

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Last Minute Gifts from the Body Shop

Today marks two days until Christmas, so if you still have gifts to buy, then the Body Shop is a great place to shop for everyone on your list (because everyone needs skincare, body wash, shampoo, and fragrance). 

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter ($20) 

A new scent this holiday season, the Body Shop has released a plethora of Glazed Apple products including bath sprinkles, body polish, lip balm, fragrance oil, bath jelly, hand cream, and more. I opted to review favourite product from the Body Shop - the Body Butter. The Glazed Apple Body Butter looks and feels just as amazing as others I've tried - smooth, hydrating, thick and creamy. As for the Glazed  Apple scent, I expected it to be a bit more bright and punchy (like the scent of green apple) but this Glazed Apple scent is more subdued and sugary. 

The Lip and Cheek Doll  ($15) 

The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Doll is the perfect stocking stuffer for any beauty lover. The special edition Geisha doll packaging is adorable while the product inside (the Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain) is a bright, warm red with subtle hints of golden shimmer running through it. On both the cheeks and lips, this dual-purpose product can be worm as a natural flush or can be built up for a bolder look. 

The Body Shop Strawberry Premium Selection ($45)

Give a loved one this entire set or separate the set into smaller gifts. The Body Shop Strawberry Premium selection is pre-packaged in a gorgeous red box wrapped up with a silver bow. Inside, there's the Strawberry Body Butter, Strawberry Body Polish, Strawberry Body Mist, Strawberry Lip Butter, and a Red Mini Loofah (a total value of $59!). Personally, I'm not a fan of the Body Shop's Strawberry scent but this set will be going to a home that I know will appreciate it much, much more. Luckily, the same set also comes in Olive, Pink Grapefruit, Satsuma, Shea, Wild Argan, Moringa, Coconut, and Mango, for those of you who like a bit of selection. 

And there you have it! Three quick gifts from the Body Shop - a body butter, a makeup item, and a set. The Body Shop has on-going sales, so the prices of these items are likely less than the full retail prices shown here. Plus, if you wait until Boxing Day, you can stock up! 

Do you have all your Christmas shopping finished or are you a last-minute person? 

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eos 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a great opportunity to learn more about the breast cancer. eos (evolution of smooth) makes it easy to support the cause with a limited edition three-piece collection for which 100% of the net profits are to be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The eos 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection ($9.99) is available September 2014 through November 2014 at Shopper's, Loblaws, Target, Walmart, Giant Tiger, Rexall, Lawtons and evolutionofsmooth.com! 

As mentioned, the set contains three eos products - the Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick Lip Balm, Pomegranate Raspberry Smooth Sphere Lip Balm (see blueberry acai review) , and Berry Blossom Hand Lotion. I've tried two of the three products (everything but the Limited Edition Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick). 

My feelings about the eos are just about the same as the rest of the world. Awesome 96-100% natural and organic, paraben-free, gluten-free product housed in stylishly ergonomic, purse-friendly packaging. I love the scent of the Pomegranate Raspberry Smooth Sphere and find the Berry Blossom fragrance a little strong but still nice. The Limited Edition Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick looks and feels just like the Smooth Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet (except for the tube form). Like all eos balms, the scent is fairly lightweight and the balm is on the hard side, which can be good or bad depending on what you're into. 

All in all, if you're a fan of eos products, this is the perfect way to stock up and support a good cause at the same time! 

Have you purchased any products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? 

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Falling in Love with Baths and the Canadian Bath Bomb Company

I can be in and out of the shower and out the door in 10 minutes flat. I'm a shower gal through and through... or so I thought. Something about the rush to class/rush to this meeting/rush to that meeting, rush/rush/rush lifestyle requires some relaxation. There's something about lazing around in a tub of hot water that puts me so at peace...and to add to that experience... a bath bomb. 

Since four bath bombs from the Canadian Bath Bomb Company landed on my doorstep, I've actually forced myself to take a bath (instead of shower) and I haven't really looked back. I think I'll be taking one or two baths a week now that the weather's getting colder. 

The bath bombs came tightly wrapped in bubble wrap and everything was intact by the time I'd opened it (even after I dropped one on the floor). Each bath bomb is approximately the size of a tennis ball and I prefer to use one bath bomb per bath for a full aromatic experience. I received four of the many scents available on the etsy site. 

I'm terrible at describing fragrances but what I can say is that all four of these scents are strong but not sneeze-worthy strong, invigorating, last for my entire 15-20 minute bath and then some and smell absolutely delightful. As for body-care properties, regardless of scent, all of the bath bombs contain a mixture of organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter and organic canola oil to leave skin feeling soft and supple. 

Rosemary Lavender (herbal-floral) - Last week, I had a cold and decided to take a bath hoping that the scent of one of the bombs would help me relax. The Rosemary Lavender scent cleared my sinuses better than ginger tea and I pretty much K.O.'d after stepping out of the tub. 

Ruby Grapefruit  (fruity) - This scent is new to the Canadian Bath Bomb Co. for fall, emerging from a customer suggestion (talk about stellar customer service!). The grapefruit scent is bright and fresh. 

Mandarin Pomander  (spicy-warm) - According to Jackie (the owner of CBBC), this is a staple fall scent since 2009 and I can certainly see (and smell) why. This bath bomb has an almost cinnamon-like warmth to it that makes me crave pumpkin spice lattes. 

Lemon Verbena (citrus) - Last but not least, my favourite scent of the bunch. I'm always down for soaking myself in a citrus scented bath product. Citruses are always quite sharp and fresh - quite awaken

Considering Lush bath bombs are around $4.95 to $6.95, the Canadian Bath Bomb Co. products fall right in the middle, competitively priced at $5.69 with discounts for bulk orders. 

Yep, the Canadian Bath Bomb Co. has rekindled my love for baths. There's nothing about a shower that compares to soaking in a vat of deliciousness...

Baths or showers - which do you prefer?

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Mary Kay Little Gifts Hand Cream and Lip Balm Set

I say this a little prematurely but you know it's true. Winter is coming. And it ain't gonna be pretty if you're not prepared - think chapped lips and peeling hands... ick. Good thing you can fend off those little nightmares with Little Gifts - a hand cream ($13 each) and lip balm set ($20 for 3) from Mary Kay. 

Little Gifts Hand Cream - These guys are just the Mary Kay Satin Hands reformulated with Vanilla-based scents (see my review of the Honeydew Satin Hands here). The scent and the moisturizer itself are lightweight and not at all overbearing (Bath and Body Works I'm looking at you!). Furthermore, the vanilla scent wears away within an hour of application. The bottles are quite large, so not the most convenient for my side satchel... but it'll likely last through the fall, winter, and then some! 

Little Gifts Lip Balms Set (vanilla mint, vanilla, and vanilla berry)- In a nutshell, these are a nicely scented, lighter version of Vaseline for the Mary Kay holiday collection. The moisture lasts as any other balm would at an hour or so. Like the hand creams, the scents are quite light and vanilla-based. And yes, I have a favourite of the three... the scent of vanilla berry reminds me of lip smackers, the ultimate beauty throwback. 

Personally, I'll always prefer fruity scents but these Little Gifts are perfect if you're into more seasonal scents!

SORRY if I'm talking about Winter too soon... but...Winter is coming... also, sorry for the inappropriate use of Game of Thrones references. 

Do you change the scent of your beauty and body products as the seasons change? 

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Kiss My Face Lip Shimmer in Ruby and Moisturizer in Pomegranate Acai

KISS MY FACE - A brand founded in the 80s that is cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS free, free of dyes and synthetic colours. Kiss My Face's goal is to help consumers "nourish naturally" because what you put on your body is also what you put in your body... Today... two products from the brand - the Kiss My Face Pomegranate Acai Moisturizer ($11.95) and the Kiss My Face Lip Shimmer in Ruby ($4.95). 

Kiss My Face Pomegranate Acai Moisturizer

The Kiss My Face Pomegranate Acai Moisturizer has a touch of iridescence in it to make skin look glowing and radiant. Both in texture and in scent, the moisturizer is fairly lightweight and smells AMAZINGLY FRUITY. Summer is the time to show off a little leg. My legs are a little on the dry side and the Kiss My Face Pomegranate Acai Moisturizer has saved me from the dry and the pasty. If you're not into Pomegranate or Acai the moisturizer is also available in olive and aloe, honey calendula, coconut, vitamin A&E, lavender shea, peaceful patchouli, and peaches and cream. 

Kiss My Face Ruby Lip Shimmer

The Kiss My Face Lip Shimmer in Ruby is great for lazy, natural makeup days when I don't want to go for a ridiculous pop of colour or vinyl gloss. It's subdued and adds the right hint of shimmer and shine to the lips. There's a little bit of a light minty flavour. As I find this particular product to be on the harder side, it's not as moisturizing as I'd want this kind of product to be. It's a nice product to have in your arsenal but not a must-have in my opinion, as I have more preferred lippies that I think of and the Kiss My Face Lip Shimmer isn't much different from the Burt's Bees Lip shimmers. Also available in Amethyst and Garnet.

Overall, one home run and one not-home-run. I love what the brand stands for and would love to try more products (currently drooling over the thought of the Key Lime Moisture Shave...).

Have you tried Kiss My Face? 

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EVENT: Katy Perry Killer Queen Fragrance #RoyalRevolution Review + Recap

Last Friday, I took a day trip to Toronto for the unveiling of Katy Perry's new fragrance - a sweet little tea party at the Windsor Arms. Coincidentally, Katy Perry was also in town the next day for a concert. My thoughts on Katy Perry? She's a stunna - talented, unique, quirky. Yes, yes, and yes. First, take in the beauty of sweets, scones, and sandwiches and then scroll down a little further for my thoughts on Katy Perry's new Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum! 

TOP NOTES: pink freesia, pomegranate

MIDDLE NOTES: sandalwood, orange flower, jasmine petals

BASE NOTES: blackthorn, skin musk, vanilla orchid 

Consistent with the other fragrances (Katy Perry Killer Queen and Oh So Sheer), the bottle is a multi-faceted jewel topped with a regal crown - a pretty addition to any perfume collection. Compared to the previous two scents, Royal Revolution's base note includes blackthorn while the other two have a base note of Celosia (velvety red flower).  I smelled each one at a time and noted that Killer Queen is the heaviest scent while Oh So Sheer is the lightest and Royal Revolution falls somewhere in between.

I have little something to admit... I am not a fragrance person. When's the last time you saw a fragrance review on the blog? NEVER. There's a reason why. If I'm not sneezing, coughing or having an allergic reaction to someone's Bath and Body Works smell, I'm having a hard time finding something that suits me. Once upon a time, I loved Marc Jacobs Daisy and lately I've been fawning over Philosophy's Loveswept and Carven Eau de Toilette... but they're a little much for me on the daily. Hence, my terrible explanation of scents. 

TL;DR... I stink (not really), but Katy Perry's Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum might change that - it's not overly sweet, a little more sultry and deep than my current faves (Carven and Philosphy Loveswept) but still wearable for everyday. I wish you could take a whiff of me right now. You'll have to go sniff it for yourself. 

Oh.. and be sure to check out this bad-ass promo animation for the perfume: 

Katy Perry's Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum (50 mL, $59.99) will be available as of August 2014 at Shoppers' Drug Mart. 

Are you a fan of Katy Perry? What's your go-to daily perfume.. or do you not wear perfume at all? 

Press sample featured, not sponsored (none of my posts are...) 

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New from LUSH: Mangnificent and D'Fluff #freshnewlush

Attention! Attention! Lush has just released 6 brand-spankin'-new products and here's two of the six fruity beauties: 

D'Fluff ($9.95 for 70g) and Mangnificent ($6.95 for 100g)

D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap

"When you've had enough of the rough stuff, there’s D’Fluff! This fluffy, sweet shaving soap will have you dreaming of Strawberry Fluff sandwiches while you shave. It’s packed full of effective ingredients: fresh strawberries, egg whites and golden syrup, all whisked together with rosehip oil, coconut oil and maple sugar to create a light, marshmallowy texture that will leave your skin silky smooth. Plus, Fair Trade cocoa butter leaves skin moisturized and helps keep post-shave redness to a minimum."

A little word of warning - beware of the way you store this guy. When I broke the seal, a sticky red liquid started dripping out - yum! The strawberry scent is quite light, not as fresh and punchy as I would have expected. When applied over wet skin, D'fluff the pillow-like strawberry fluff turns into a light lather. I found the product overly slick and oily when lathered which made it hard to catch some of the itty bitty leg hairs with the razor, but D'fluff left my legs feeling smooth, soft, and moisturized (like baby dolphins)... 

not why girls shave: boys why girls shave: so our legs can feel like fucking baby dolphins
— tina (@tinatbh) July 14, 2014

INGREDIENTS: Water , Rapeseed Oil , Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera) ,Saccharide Hydrolysate , Glycerine , Organic Rose Hip Oil (Rosa canina) , Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao) , Fresh Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) , Fresh Organic Free Range Egg Whites ,Fragrance , Organic Maple Sugar (Acer saccharum) ,Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia) , Sweet Wild Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) , Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena) , Sodium Chloride , EDTA ,Tetrasodium Editronate , Sodium Hydroxide , Titanium Dioxide , *Eugenol , *Limonene , *Benzyl Alcohol ,Hexyl Cinnamal , Red 27 , Red 40

Mangnificent Hand and Body Soap

"Turn up the energy on groggy mornings with this juicy splash of soapy paradise! Simply strip down and suds up to get whisked away on a sunny adventure of fresh fragrance: zingy Sicilian lemon oil, mandarin oil and neroli oil awaken your senses and brighten up dull-looking skin. Fresh pureed mango and dried mango slices tone and gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it looking vibrant, feeling fresh and smelling gorgeously fruity. Now you’re ready for action!"

Mangoes are my favorite fruit and I can't resist sniffing and smelling or oohing and ahhing over body products that smell as such. Mangnificent is the epitome of delicious body products. I can leave it sitting in my shower and the whole washroom smells delightful 24/7. Soap and cleaning properties aside, I could probably leave this soap in my closet and all my clothes will be left smelling like mangoes and citrus. I can't say much about the "exfoliating" properties of the dried mango inside Mangnificent, as I can't feel any physical scrubbing. Though what this soap does do is leave me feeling fresh and clean - which is basically all I ask for from a soap.

INGREDIENTS: Water , Rapeseed Oil , Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera) , Glycerine , Fresh Mango (Mangifera indica) , Dried Mango (Mangifera indica) , Fragrance ,Sicilian Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum) , Sicilian Mandarin Oil (Citrus Nobilis) , Tunisian Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara oil) , Sodium Chloride , EDTA ,Tetrasodium Editronate , Sodium Hydroxide , *Linalool ,*Limonene , Lilial , Red 4

No lie, I think I've spent a good half an hour sniffing these two products up. So if you're looking for a sweet (calorie-free) treat, be sure to check these delicious new products out! 

Find the fresh new products at Lush.ca or a LUSH store near you:

• African Paradise Body Conditioner
• D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap 
• Granny Takes a Dip Bath Bomb
• Mangnificent Hand and Body Soap 
• Parsley Porridge Hand and Body Soap 
• Zeste Hair Gelly 

Which fruits do you like your body care products to smell like? 

Press samples featured

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