Review: Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution

Written on Friday, June 3rd, 2011

I’m not a fan of “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to cleansing and taking care of your skin so I was so happy to see that Bioderma made a cleansing water aka micelle solution for combination/oily skin. This solution comes in a few sizes but the one pictured above is from a starter set that includes an exfoliant and a moisturizer.

So what is a micelle solution? It’s a liquid cleanser that you don’t wash off. It can be used as a toner (depending on the brand) and it helps to cleanse the skin of dirt, sebum and makeup.

About this product (taken from the website) : Bioderm innovation, Sébium H2O gently cleanses the skin without drying it, through the micro-emulsion of impurities and excess sebum. Enriched with purifying active ingredients, Sébium H2O cleanses the epidermis in depth and regulates secretion of sebum. The patented sebo-correcting complex, Fluidactiv®, normalizes sebum quality.

How to use: Soak a cotton pad and cleanse your face. Repeat until the cotton pad is clean. It can be used morning and evening.

Overall: I really like the way that this micelle solution feels on my skin; it feels cool but not in a irritated kind of way. I also like that it doesn’t leave a residue on the skin and that I can go ahead and apply my serum and moisturizer on top.  I’ve used it to remove my makeup and it removed it pretty well; I would still use an eye makeup remover though as I don’t know that this product is safe to use around the eyes. Although it removed my makeup pretty well, I prefer to  use it on bare skin prior to a makeup application; which would make the perfect addition to the skin prep items that I carry in my professional kit.

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Review: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Written on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

I had been hearing a lot about Clinique’s new Bottom Lash Mascara for a while now so about a few weeks ago or so, I decided to pick one up to try. I’d never really been one for putting mascara on my bottom lashes and was very interested in seeing how this would work for me. I was speaking with another makeup artist on Twitter and she has mentioned that putting mascara on the bottom lashes was a great way to finish off a look; and I’d now have to agree.

What Clinique says:

Now bottom lashes get in on the action with a brush engineered for tiny tasks and a formula that resists smears. Pair it with any mascara on top, and watch what happens. A full 90-day supply. $12.00 (CDN) suggested retail. It is good for your bottom line.

What I think:

This is a great mascara and a welcome addition to my professional makeup kit. The first day that I tried out this mascara it rained and it didn’t smudge or smear. I realized later that day when I was taking my makeup off that this is a tubing mascara of sorts; the different being that the Bottom Lash mascara removed a lot easier than other tubing mascaras that I have tried in the past. The Clinique website says to splash warm water and the gently press and remove the mascara; I found that it also was removed quite easily using Bioderma’s Sensibo Micellar Cleansing Water using the same gentle press, hold and remove technique.

Overall:

I really like this mascara and would definitely repurchase it again. I like that you can get both natural and super clumpy lashes with this mascara which makes it great for the pro makeup artist as well as the everyday girl. I love that it doesn’t smudge or smear and that it’s really easy to remove at the end of the day. Also, at $12, this mascara is a steal.

p.s If your looking for disposable mascara wands for this mascara, check out Particular Polly.

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Review: Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System

Written on Friday, May 27th, 2011

After talking with Jill about skincare and skincare tools, I decided to pick up this cleaning system to try it out for myself at Shoppers; it was on sale for $27.99.

Inside the box, you get a water-resistant scrubber, a scrubber head, batteries and a sample-size  squeeze tube of Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser.

What I love about this cleansing system is that it’s super easy to use. All you have to do is dampen your face and the brush, apply your renewal cleanser or your cleanser of choice on your face and the use the brush for about 60 seconds. It also has two speeds to choose from which is a nice touch.

What I think:

I don’t use this daily as I feel that it would be too much exfoliation for me; I use it no more than twice a week and and leaves my face feeling rejuvenated. I haven’t tried this in the shower; I prefer to was my face at the sink  , so I can’t speak to the water-resistant-ness of the brush. I also noticed that the next day when I applied my makeup, it applied so beautifully and seamlessly. This would be a great addition for those wanting to take their skincare routine up a notch and for those that want to get some light exfoliation without having to purchase a separate product. This would be a great tool for brides-to-be to use the night before their wedding to help prep their skin for makeup application.

Overall:

This is a really nice skincare tool and an affordable price. It provides your skin with that little je ne sais quoi that I’m sure we’re all looking for.  It leaves your skin baby-bottom soft and radiant. While I didn’t care for the exfoliating cleanser that came with the kit (I’m using a natural like of skincare due to being pregnant) , I like that I was able to use my regular cleansing with this and still reap some of the exfoliating/massage benefits that the cleaning brush provides.

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Review: Consonant Body

Written on Monday, March 7th, 2011


I was first introduced to Consonant Body’s product, in particular their face wash, when I visited the fresh.beautiful skin studio a month or so ago. I liked the way that the cleanser felt that I went out and purchased the Jet Set kit. This kit contains travel sizes of the unscented body lotion, face wash, face cream and body wash. When I opened the face cream to use it, I noticed that that the cream was hard and slightly discolored so I contacted the company to find out if this was normal. They responded right away to my concern and sent me a new Jet Set along with a full-size spearmint and sage body lotion and a sample size Firming Eye Cream.

Right off the bat, I was blown away but their AMAZING customer service. I was really hoping that I would be just as blown away by their products and I have to say that they didn’t disappoint. Of the items that I tried out, by far my favourites would have to be the face wash, face cream and firming eye cream.

I would like to preface my overall thoughts on natural/organic skincare by saying that of the previous brands that I have tried, I found the results to leave something to be desired. While they did smell good, they didn’t really clean my skin; they just pushed the dirt and makeup around and left a bit of a film on my skin.


The Consonant Organic Face Wash is truly an amazing product for me. It has a nice earthy smell and doesn’t dry out my skin. I use it with a baby wash cloth to help remove my makeup (foundation,powder,blush) from my face first and then I followup with another cleanse using my clean fingers to gently massage my face.


I follow the cleanser immediately with the Ultra Moisturizing Face Cream. It has a nice soft texture and I find that it easily absorbs into the skin. At first I thought that it would be more of a night creme for me but I soon found out that it works beautifully under makeup. My skin tends to be a bit dehydrated and normally I would have to use a serum but this cream does it all for me. My face feels soft and hydrated without feeling overly greasy.


The Firming Eye Cream was another one of my favourites which I find surprising since I hardly ever remember to use an eye cream. I love that I can feel it firm up around my eye area as soon as I’ve finished tapping it in.

I should mention that although I do really like the body lotion, it doesn’t provide me with as much moisture as I like; my body tends to be super dry and flaky during the cooler months. I think that I would definitely enjoy it more during the summer.

Overall, I was really impressed by the Consonant Body products that I tried and can see myself repurchasing the face wash, face cream and eye cream in the future. The only thing that I feel is missing would be some kind of an exfoliant but because I use the baby wash cloth to remove my makeup, I do get a light exfoliation from that. If you get a chance or have had a chance to try out their products, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them.

*pictures courtesy of ConsonantBody.com*

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My Experience with fresh.beautiful skin studio

Written on Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Those who know me, know that I’m a skincare enthusiast. So when the opportunity came for me to test out a new skin studio I jumped at the chance. This past Sunday, I paid a visit to Lori at the fresh.beautiful: skin studio; which for me, is conveniently located in the Carrot Common on the Danforth.

fresh.beautiful: skin studio offers private and personal skin care treatments for men and woman that consists of crystal microdermabrasion and cold laser light therapy to help you achieve a fresher, more beautiful you. They focus on a natural and non invasive approach to cleaner, healthier and brighter skin. Before the treatment started, Lori talked me through their philosophy and how the treatment works. We also went over the skin care regimen that I’m currently using and what (if any) natural/organic skincare products I had tried before.

Right away, Lori put me right at ease. I had never had microdermabrasion before but I was really excited to try it out. The treatment was fast and painless. Lori even showed me all the dead skin that had been removed from my face, yuck. And to think; even though I exfoliate my face on a regular basis, there was still so much debris that she was able to remove. The cold laser light therapy felt like a really nice face massage. Afterwards, my face felt fresh and renewed. Even days later, my skin is still soft to the touch and my acne scars are a lot less prominent than they were when I went in.

Overall, fresh.beautiful: skin studio offers an amazing service, perfect for those who are short on time but still want great results. Almost a week later, my skin still looks and feels amazing. If you can, definitely book yourself an appointment; you won’t be sorry.

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Review: Sigma Makeup F82 Round Top Kabuki Brush

Written on Monday, January 10th, 2011

I had been wanting to try out these brushes since I first saw them on the Sigma website. I’ve had this brush for a few weeks now (it arrived just before Christmas) and I’ve been testing it out with a few different foundations to see what kind of application it gives. When applying makeup on myself in the morning, I use my fingers first and then use a  stippling (duo fiber) brush or sponge to blend out the edges. I was hoping that this brush will make it quicker and easier to apply my foundation/concealer in the morning.
What the website says: The F82 Round Top Kabuki brush simplifies precise makeup application under the eyes and around the nose. This brush is also perfect for achieving flawless coverage using liquid and powder products. Made of Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.
The first thing that I noticed about this brush is how dense and soft the bristles of this brush are.  I’ve never felt anything quite like it. The brush washes well but I found that when I wash it after it’s been used, it can take a bit of time to get it thoroughly clean. I also found that using a bit of oil (cleansing oils work best) to break down the foundation/concealer first really helps a lot to break down the product within the bristles.
The brush gives an amazing foundation application. It’s not streaky and I really love how the brush can get into small spaces like around the nose and under the eye. I tested it with four foundations: Faceatelier , MAC Pro Longerwear MUFE HD Foundation and MAC Studio Fix Powder foundation. I also tested it with my concealer.
I found that it preformed really well with the liquid foundations from Faceatelier and MUFE but found that with the MAC Pro Longwear, there was a bit of drag/slight tugging with the application. I figured that it was because the  Pro Longwear isn’t as fluid as the other liquid foundations that I tested the brush with.
Because the brush is so dense, it really gives full-coverage when using the Studio Fix Power; but that’s easily fixed with a fluffy powder brush.
Overall: The F82 is a fabulous foundation/concealer brush and is the perfect addition to my brush collection. I really love the application that it gives (see my Christmas FOTD) for most of the foundations that I tested the brush with. I would recommend using this brush with a liquid foundation that is a bit more fluid that way you can avoid any tugging or drag. I’m looking forward to trying out the other two Sigmax brushes that are available.
Have you tired the F82 or any of the other Sigmax Brushes? I’d love to hear what you thought of them!
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Review: Marcelle Power Volume Mascara

Written on Friday, December 3rd, 2010

A while ago, I purchased the new Power Volume Mascara from Marcelle when it was 50% off at Rexall.  I really loved the Volume Precision Mascara and was hoping that I would find a new love with this mascara.

What the website says: Give your eyes extra dimension with long lasting Power Volume mascara! Its extra thick brush is specially designed to amplify and thicken lashes. The wand’s dense fibres wrap each lash and add volume by applying the precise amount of mascara required. All in a single step!

Enriched with ingredients such as Pro Vitamin B5 and a highly sought-after combination of polishes, your lashes are thick, lustrous and protected. No smearing and no flaking, it’s the perfect mascara for full, super long lashes! Available in 3 colours.

Hypoallergenic, perfume-free and perfect for sensitive eyes.

note: *The mascara wand doesn’t come bent, I put a bend in the wand so that I get all my lashes better*

What I think: The first thing that I noticed about this mascara is that the formula is really thick and in my experience, really thick formulas tend to make my lashes clump together. With this mascara there was a small bit of clumping but I found that it was easily remedied by blotting some of the mascara into a tissue to take of the excess product. The mascara did provide good volume to my lashes with a minimal amount of coats.  The brush is a good size, not too large and not too small,  but I found that it applied much better and more evenly once I bent it slightly. What really sold me on this mascara is the fact that it doesn’t flake. I’ve been having a lot of trouble recently with mascaras flaking after a few hours of wear; this mascara stayed put until I took it off at 9 at night. I didn’t find that the Power Volume Mascara did anything to help with the length of my lashes but I’m not really one for lengthening mascaras; I want lots of volume.

Overall: This is a pretty decent mascara and I would repurchase it again; although I much prefer the Volume Precision Mascara over this one.

Marcelle products can be found at SDM and Rexall drug stores and retail for approx. $11.95.

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Review: Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil

Written on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

I have been addicted to cleansing oils since I first tried Dermalogica’s Pre Cleanse a few years ago. I love how it simplifies my evening cleansing routine by eliminating the eye makeup remover. The premise of a cleansing oil is to remove like with like. I use cleansing oils to remove lipstick, gel liners, foundation etc from my makeup brushes as well as from my face.

A few weeks ago, I picked up a bottle of Origins Clean Energy cleansing oil. I’ve been a fan of their skin care line for a while now and this is one of the few cleansers in their line that I hadn’t tried yet.

What the website says: A healthier looking future for skin begins here. This lightweight, high-tech, hybrid formula with non-comedogenic, Olive, Sunflower, Sesame and Safflower Oils removes dirt, makeup and pollutants with high efficiency. Kukui Nut and Macadamia help protect precious natural moisture resources. Vitamin E helps reduce effects of environmental hazards such as irritation that can threaten the comfort of skin. Skin breathes freely. And the energizing aroma of Grapefruit, Orange and Lemon renew your spirits.

What I think: I really like this. The oil is definitely thicker than the MAC Cleanse Off oil and  the Dermalogica Pre Cleanse; it feels more like the Shu Uemura cleansing oil for sensitive skin. What I really love about Origins products is that they are now being made without: parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral  oil, paba, parafin, dea, synthetic colour, synthetic fragrance and animal ingredients. It leaves my skin feeling clean but not stripped; so much so that if I wanted to, I could skip my second cleanse and go right to my toner and hydrating moisturizer. I think that this cleanser would work really well for all skin types. If you’re more on the oily side, you may want to following with a gentle foaming for gel cleanser.

What I don’t like: I wish that the bottle came with a pump; I really don’t think that you should have to pay extra for it. I ended up re-using the MAC Cleanse Off oil bottle for it instead.

Overall: This is a pretty decent cleansing oil. It thoroughly removes all my makeup without leaving my skin feeling greasy.

This cleanser retails for $22CDN and $18US. You can find it at the Origin counters at The Bay Yorkdale, The Bay Yonge & Bloor and The Bay Queen Street in Toronto. It can also be purchased online from the Origins website.

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Review: Giorgio Armani Face Fabric Foundation SPF 12

Written on Monday, November 15th, 2010

I’ve had this foundation for a while and realized that I haven’t done a review on it.

What the website says: “Face fabric is an invisible makeup with a 3D Micro-fil technology. Its unique Micro-fil™ formulations bring lightness and fluidity to makeup, allowing infinite blending and layering to enhance the natural glow of the skin.”

This foundation can be found at the Armani Cosmetics counters at Holt Renfrew; I bought mine (shade #6 Brazillian) at the Bloor Street location and retail for $55 cdn. Face Fabric is a sheer coverage foundation for normal-oily skins; I have combination-oily skin so this makes a really nice foundation for the warmer months. Because this is a sheer foundation, if you have any scars or blemishes that need to be covered you are going to want to use a good concealer like MAC’s Studio Finish concealer in the same shade as your skin.

The texture of this foundation is a cross between a gel and a mousse foundation. It feels as though it’s been whipped- but more so then the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation because it has an airy feel to it. The best way to apply this foundations is with your fingers. It has a nice slip to it and is very easy to blend. A little bit really goes a long way so there’s no need to pile this foundation on. It provides a semi-matte natural finish.

As you can see from the picture above, the Face Fabric foundation blends really well and feels like you have nothing on. I believe that this foundation also has a bit of silicone in it; I can’t say for sure because I’ve already thrown out the box that it came in.

Overall: Armani’s Face Fabric foundation is a nice light-weight, sheer-coverage foundation that is suitable for normal-oily skins. This foundation wears well and is definitely suited for summer or for those that don’t like to wear too much foundation. While I do like this foundation , I don’t reach for it that often mostly because I have other foundations that I prefer to this. I find that there are other foundations on the market that will do the same thing for a more reasonable price.

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Review: Metaliglow Eye Primer from Faces Cosmetics

Written on Monday, April 12th, 2010


About a few weeks ago, I placed an order with Faces Cosmetics. One of the first products that I tried was the Metaliglow Eye Primer. I have oily eyelids so I was very interested to see how this primer would work for me in comparison to UDPP and TFSI.

This primer retails (online) for $13.50. So right off the bat this primer is way cheaper the UDPP ($24) and TFSI ($22.
The website says that this primer prevents smudging and creasing, intensifies eye shadow colour, stays-put for 12 hours, has a European award-winning formula, can be worn alone for a wash of colour, has a light textured, iridescent lotion and an easy-to-use applicator.


The Pros:

  • Formula is very light and blends easily
  • Primer lasts for 12 hours
  • Applicator is easy to use and doesn’t deposit too much product
  • Adds a light iridescents to the eye
  • Affordable


The Cons:

  • Adds a light iridescents to the eye
  • Creased when the 12 hour time limit is up

Overall, I really like this primer and would definitely repurchase it. I find it comparable to TFSI which is the eye primer that I used on a daily basis before I found this one. For me, it did last for 12 hours but with a few added steps, I was able to increase the longevity of this primer even further.

You can purchase this eye primer on-line at www.facescosmetics.com or a Faces location near you.

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