Friday, September 28, 2018

Huge Empties | Health, Beauty, Makeup, Skincare + Declutter


It's time to clear out the empties that I've accumulated. My last empties post was in August (linked here), so this is 2 months worth of empties.

As always, I will link to products whenever possible in the product headings or link to a similar product if the product is no longer available. I'll also share a brief review as well as whether or not I would repurchase.

Health

This supplement contains a variety of immune-boosting mushroom extracts. I love using mushrooms in my supplements to boost my immune system and for overall health support.

Repurchase- Yes

I take Evening Primrose Oil to help balance my hormones. It's also supposed to help build progesterone in the body, which is something my body needs and unfortunately, I cannot tolerate even bio-identical topical progesterone, so I look to supplements like evening primrose oil as well as Vitex etc. As a side benefit, EPO is also great for skin and hair!

Repurchase- Yes

Many women take prenatal supplements to boost skin and hair health. I happened to win this product in a giveaway and was happy to try it out since I take a multivitamin daily anyways. Although I do like this brand, I did not notice any special with these supplements. 

Repurchase- No

Glycine is the smallest and simplest amino acid, making it versatile for a wide range of functions. It's necessary for the production on glutathione, DNA, creatine, bile, haemoglobin and most proteins, Glycine also works as a calming neurotransmitter in the brain, where it facilitates nerve impulses and is important for the maintenance of healthy sleep patterns.

I purchased this for the reported sleep benefits. I had tried it years ago but didn't notice anything. I decided to try it again as things can change with our bodies. This time, I took a teaspoon daily in some water and although I didn't notice anything right away, it had a subtle action over time and I began to notice that I was feeling much calmer during the daytime. The jury is still out on how much it has helped my sleep but I will continue to use it and see what time of day might work best for my insomnia issues.

Repurchase- Already have (different brand but I'm going back to this one)

If you've seen my empties posts in the past, you've most likely seen this product before. I use it daily in my morning smoothie. It tastes great and contains immune boosting cordyceps and reishi mushroom powders ( you cannot taste the mushrooms). I have an aversion to mushrooms, so this is one of the few ways that I can get the health benefits of mushrooms.

Repurchase- Already have


Skincare

I received these in a beauty box from TopBox. They are very gentle and do a great job at removing makeup and I found them very soothing to my skin. However, when it comes to cleansing, I do like to purchase less expensive products and save my money for the serums, skin treatments, and moisturizers. If you like to splurge a little on this type of product, I do recommend them.

Repurchase- If I see them on sale

I have tried a few products from Robin McGraw's Revelation line and had fantastic results! If I wasn't always testing out new skincare, I would stick to mostly her products along with a few others peppered in here and there. This is a great night cream and very hydrating without being greasy (full review here). From the products I've tried from her line, I found that I had the most anti-aging results from her brightening line. Not only did I notice a difference but I had compliments galore! That always speaks volumes about how a product is working. Review of her Brightening line linked here.

Repurchase- Yes

I received this product for testing purposes and really enjoyed it. I always have good luck with Vichy products and they never irritate my skin. I'd say I prefer Vichy's Rosy Cream over this one. The Rosy Cream seemed to make my skin feel denser.

Repurchase- Perhaps as I get older I might try it again and see if it benefits me more

I don't really have dark circles so I cannot attest to whether or not it helps with that. I do have quite the puffy bags under my eyes though and this did not help with that at all. Obviously not the right product for my concerns.

Repurchase- No

Haircare

This is definitely my current favourite hair mask. I find it really hydrating for my parched hair and it definitely improves the look of my damaged, dry, and bleached hair. I do test out a lot of hair products so I don't use it as much as I'd like to. 

Repurchase- Bought a bunch of backups already!

I'm a big fan of these products! They claim to combat hair loss and repair hair shaft. This brand is Canadian and their products are all natural and void of harsh chemicals, and naturally preserved. I love both of these products! They both contain many of the amazing ingredients that are purported to help with hair loss and maintain a healthy scalp and hair. 


Lavender Shampoo:
"Contains Lavender essential oil to promote new hair growth and prevent hair loss by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. For thinning, color treated, chemically treated and heat damaged hair."

Lavender Conditioner:
"Seabuckthorn & Lavender come together to create the perfect deep penetrating and revitalizing conditioner. Omega rich seabuckthorn oils help to increase shine, repair & prevent damage and breakage, and seal the hair shaft to prevent moisture loss. Lavender oil has been used for centuries to combat hair loss, stimulate new growth, and heal a myriad of scalp problems. These oils work synergistically to detangle, protect, and nourish your hair and scalp while making your tresses bright, shiny, and strong. This therapeutic conditioner is suited for all hair types and any scalp condition."

A few of the fabulous ingredients are; Hemp seed oil, coconut oil, seabuckthorn oil, lavender oil, aloe, chamomile, panthenol, and hydrolyzed wheat protein.

Repurchase- Already have

Pets/ Misc

My whole family takes Q10, including my cat. Q10 is especially important as we age and is just important for our pets as it is for us. I give my cat 1-2 drops in his food and he laps it up. This bottle lasts about 6 months so it's very affordable. Feeding guidelines are based on your pet's weight so the bottle won't last quite as long for a larger animal. But, you can't put a price on health!

Repurchase- Will never be without this!

I've been using this toothpaste for years!! I had better dental checkups after I began using it so I continued with it. Plus, it's free of fluoride, SLS, gluten, and parabens. I have tried some other natural brands but at this point, this is still my favourite. There are also mint flavours but I adore this cinnamon.

Repurchase- Yes
Makeup & Declutter

Sonia Kashuk Longwear Gel Eyeliner
I am tossing this as it's super old. It worked really well and didn't budge at all. Sadly, Sonia Kashuk is no longer selling cosmetics.

Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara/ Brow Gel
I love this product. It really holds my brows in place and has a great spoolie. It's quick and easy, great for a no-fuss but groomed look to your brows.

Repurchase- Yes

Doucce Maxlash Volumizer Mascara
This mascara has a crazy wand with very long bristles. It was intimidating to use at first because I was always afraid of poking myself in the eye and in fact, I did a couple of times. Once I became accustomed to it, I loved it. It gave me great looking, full lashes.

Repurchase- Probably not. Only because I prefer to buy mascaras that are not only cheaper but easily accessible at the drugstore

Loreal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Cherubic
This is a great cream blush option as it seems to fill in pores as if it has a built-in primer. It's called "magic smooth" so it probably does. This colour is gorgeous for light-medium skin tones and gives the most beautiful flush to the cheeks. I am tossing this as it's super old and I rarely use cream blush. Since I have very oily skin, I have to powder over any cream products so they aren't the best choice for me at the moment.

Repurchase- Possibly. If I was in the market for a cream blush, this is the one I would pick up.

City Color Collection Highlighting Cream
Although this product is fairly new to my collection, I am giving it away because I rarely reach for it and when I do I have a hard time getting it to blend evenly. Again, I have to powder on top of any cream products due to my oily skin, so it kind of takes away from what's underneath my face powder. I do like the finish of it though as it doesn't contain glitter, just a beautiful shimmer. Hopefully, someone else will use it more than I did.

Repurchase- No


Speaking of decluttering, it's something I love to try and keep on top of so I'm not swimming in things or ending up on the show called Hoarders! I tend to keep on top of clothing but never thought of my undergarments!  When was the last time you decluttered your bras and undies?! Well, I finally did, and I was astonished that I had at least 17 pairs of undies stuck in the back of my drawer that needed to go (No photo for obvious reasons). I had about the same amount of old bras that were all ill-fitting at this point! Yikes!

 #brasonly #thisisreallife #reallife

This is part of the aftermath with my bra declutter. My little helper is taking a break! lol

I figured I'd throw this part in there in case you like decluttering as well but never thought to tackle your undergarments.


Thanks for stopping by to see what I used up and what I'm decluttering.

Happy weekend, everyone! 💗





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Thursday, September 20, 2018

If I Could Only Have One | Vasanti Blush in A Charmed Life Review


Last year, I had a series called "If I Could Only Have One." This referred to if I could only have one of a particular item, which one would I go with. I hadn't completed the series yet, so I am continuing with this post. I actually didn't have "the one" yet for a blush, but now I do! So, of course, I have to share it with you.

I picked up this Vasanti blush in A Charmed Life on a whim at Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse sale in Markham, Ontario. It was $12.99 but retails for approximately $30. There are 7 grams of product in the compact. There is also a nice mirror inside.

I almost didn't buy it because I already own so many blushes, am I ever glad that I did! I've never owned a blush that could liven up my face in so many ways! If I knew how much I was going to love it, I would have purchased a backup!



This blush imparts the most beautiful glow to my skin and seems to give a lifted look to my cheeks. It's unbelievable! The shade is very natural and kind of hard to describe. I don't look "made up" at all with it on, just the best version of myself. I can actually skip bronzer and highlight with this product. It's like a blush, bronzer, and highlight in one.



The swatch shown is in natural daylight with no filter. You really can't see the beautiful glow until you apply it to your face. I mix the 2 sides, they don't look much different from each other to me anyways. 

I'm not sure how this shade would look on deeper skin tones but if you have fair to medium skin, this shade should work really well for you. 

This product contains lotus, orchid, and evening primrose to nourish the skin. It's also made in Canada.

After trying this blush, I definitely want to try more from this brand! 



Happy almost Friday! 

Thursday, September 13, 2018

How To Clean Pleather and Remove Denim Stains From Your Purse In Seconds!


Disclaimer:
Always test a spot on the item you plan to clean before proceeding.

Every Summer, I tend to switch to a lighter coloured purse. As a result, dirt and stains show up very easily on my handbag. I wear denim a lot and regardless of how many times they've been washed, the colour ends up transferring to my purse. I've tried everything to clean my bags, scrubbing away endlessly and I would end up having to toss my purse and purchase a new one the following year.

I finally found a solution that takes seconds to wipe away all the dirt and denim stains. Maybe you are already familiar with this cleaning hack, but it's all new to me, so I figured I'd share this hack in case you haven't discovered it yet!


Here's the hack- Mr Clean Magic Eraser

Apparently, Mr Clean's Magic Eraser is good for a lot more than just cleaning your house!

Just dampen the sponge and very gently wipe your purse and all of the stains wipe away in just seconds!

I caution you to do a test spot. I have not tried this on real leather, so I am not sure how that would work out.  This sponge is very powerful, so I do not recommend scrubbing, plus, there is no need. A gentle swipe is all that's needed to wipe away all of the stains, including the denim stains. Just check out my before an after photos. It took seconds to clean my entire purse.

I'm sure this hack would work for shoes as well. I'll definitely be giving that a try.



Before

After

Before

After

My purse looks like new! I no longer have to throw out the handbags that I love because of the unsightly stains that I couldn't remove!

This hack is not only cheap but super effective using the Mr Clean Magic Eraser!

Note: The purse shown in this post is Pleather or Vegan leather.


I hope this helps you if you were also looking for a solution to save your favourite handbag! Let me know how it works out for you.


*Use this hack at your own risk. My experience has been nothing but great using this method but I cannot attest to the results on all products and fabrics.




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