Review | Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra Nourishing Argan Lip Oil Duo + Kohl Kajal Eyeliner

Today's review is on two new products from Physicians Formula's Argan Wear line.

I'll be reviewing their Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Lip Oil Duo in Liquid Gold and Pink +
The Ultra Nourishing Argan Oil Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Ultra Black.

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Lip Oils

Ultra Nourishing Argan Lip Oil Review

Physician Formula's Argan Lip oils are made with 100% pure argan oil. They are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, gluten free, paraben free, and cruelty free.

Claims: 

• Conditions, hydrates, revives, replenish immediately and long term.
• Transforming miracle boosts lips' natural colour, smooths texture, enhances lips' shape and volume for a healthy, more youthful looking pout.

Benefits:

• 100% Pure Argan Oil infused lip duo adds a hint of colour and shine while delivering deep hydration that nourishes and soothes lips
• Ultra-conditioning lip oil instantly relieves dryness and helps to protect against drying from environmental conditions.
• Ultra-luxurious coconut water flavoured formula melts into your lips, absorbing instantly, for a lightweight, non-sticky luminous shine.

My Experience: 

First of all, I just love the packaging. 

Even though they show a bit of colour in the photos, they really sheer out and are virtually clear on the lips. There are no shimmer or glitter particles whatsoever in either lip product, thank goodness!

I really like the formula, it's not sticky and not too slick either. I have tried other oil lip treatments that were very expensive and they just slid off my lips within 5 minutes. With these lip oils, I get at least a couple hours of wear. If I eat or drink, I do have to reapply.

There is no real scent or taste, just a hint of the scent of argan oil.

I really like the feel of these on my super dehydrated lips. It feels like a nice treat and quite comforting to my lips, almost like a barrier between my lips and the environment. These also make a great nighttime treatment for your lips if you apply them before bed.

I like the packaging of the lip oils. They're very hygienic and have a squeeze tube with a slanted, flexible, silicone tip as seen above. The packaging makes for easy application.

Physicians Formula Ultra Nourishing Argan Wear Kohl Kajal Eyeliner

Ultra Nourishing Argan Oil Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Review

Physician's Formula Argan Oil Kohl Kajal eyeliner is also made with 100% pure argan oil. It's hypoallergenic, fragrance free, gluten free, paraben free, and cruelty free.

Claims: 

• 24-hour wear
• fool-proof
• safe for sensitive eyes & contact lens wearers
• nourishes & conditions
• glides on effortlessly

Benefits: 

• Luxurious, intense and richly-pigmented kohl kajal eyeliner creates the most dramatic and exotic eye look.
• Infused with 100% Pure Argan Oil, known as "liquid gold" for its ultra-nourishing & conditioning properties.
• Ultra-creamy eyeliner glides-on effortlessly for dramatic definition and inner rim intensity.

24 Hour Wear
High-performance kohl formula is 100% waterproof for colour that won't budge or smudge, delivering seamless and glamorous definition for 24-hour wear.

My Experience:

I find that the liner is very pigmented and glides onto my waterline like a dream. I don't wear black liner in my waterline and haven't for years, but I put it to the test for this post. It wore all day with minimal wear. There was no transfer to my lower eyelids at the end of the day. 

The liner even wore well on my upper lash line with no transfer to my upper eyelids, which are very hooded, so I was quite surprised. I wouldn't purchase this product for the upper lash line as it would become difficult to get a nice thin line, especially over time due to the shape of the pencil. I was able to apply it to my upper lash line using the side of the pencil, which surprised me.

Update: I seem to have mastered being able to apply this thick pencil along my upper lashline and get a nice straight thin line. It just took a few tries. I use the side of the pencil as I mentioned earlier and it's working out quite well for now.

I actually had a hard time removing all of the liner before bed. This is a good testament to the staying power of this liner. I cannot testify as to the 24-hour claims as I didn't wear it for 24 hours. I'm not sure who would wear their eyeliner for 24 hours, on purpose anyway... well, maybe if you're in Vegas!

If you are looking for long wearing, cruelty-free eyeliners for the upper lash line, I highly recommend Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliners that come in a 3 pack. They are as good as high-end, in my opinion, and better for use on the upper lash line.

Above: Kajal liner in the waterline and upper lash line (no mascara + untamed brows) lol.

Conclusion

Lip Duo: I'm really enjoying the lip products and think they are definitely worth the money. They feel great on my lips and seem to condition them as claimed. I find them better than similar high-end products. I find that my lips get used to balms and lip products so I have to rotate them. Only time will tell if that will happen with this product also, but I'm kind of expecting it eventually.

Kohl Kajal Eyeliner: I think the Kohl Kajal liner is excellent for someone who likes to wear black in their waterline. It glides onto the waterline like a dream and is very pigmented. I will use it for the upper lash line until it becomes too thick to use for that purpose.

Physician's Formula is pricier than most drugstore brands, but some of the products (including these) work as well as higher end brands. If you're also looking for products that are healthier for you and free of parabens, the extra cost may be worth it to you.

Physicians Formula is cruelty-free and dermatologist approved.

Have you tried these products? What are your thoughts?

Week 20: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

I was bad again this week. Other than today, I didn't workout at all. This makes it 2 weeks in a row! I know I'm not the only one this happens to but I get rather disappointed with myself when I don't do at least some form of exercise.

This week, either I couldn't find the time or the energy.  I think the summer heat isn't helping but I shouldn't let that stop me. I could always stay indoors and do some yoga. And, sometimes I just feel unmotivated! But, I want to be here to motivate YOU & ME!

At times I wonder why I even bother to workout when I'm not losing any weight or seeing any great muscle gains. And, then I realize... even if I don't see weight loss, there are just too many benefits to exercise to stop, even if I don't see any benefits right away.

So, even though I felt super lazy and tired from the heat today, I forced myself to go for a walk. I'm getting back on the workout wagon. .At least, those are my intentions.

As Nike says "Just Do It!"

I am continuing with the Pedometer App (pictured below) to track my steps.

Workouts for the week:
Today-  48 minutes / 1.99 miles

Weigh in:
Weight: down .5 lbs
Fat: up 1%

Next week I'm going to share with you the things that I find are essential for walking and hiking safely, so stay tuned for that.

Hope to see you next week with more to report.

Have a great weekend!

Week 19: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

So, I decided that this week I would do a test and not workout at all and see what happens.. okay okay, not really. I actually wasn't able to find either the time or the energy to workout at all this week... not even one day! But, the results on the scale were interesting considering I didn't workout at all! Normally the scale doesn't budge no matter how hard I workout and lift weights. Although the changes on the scale this week are minor, they are still changes and have me perplexed.. does my body prefer that I don't workout and lift weights?

Here is a link to last weeks post if you'd like to check it out.

Since I don't have any daily exercises to report, let's get straight to the results from this mornings weigh in.

Weight: down .5lbs
Fat: down 1%

See you next week when hopefully I'll have much more to report.

New! Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette #review Hot or Not!?

One of Real Techniques latest products is this Brush Cleansing Palette. I've wanted it since it came out. It kept going out of stock when I was shopping online so I signed up for in stock notifications and stalked iHerb's website until it was back in stock and quickly placed an order for it.

I paid $14.99 USD + $2.33 shipping (but I ordered several other items at the same time so the shipping was negligible).

It claims that it cleans brushes 55% better with the palette and their gel cleanser vs. hand cleaning with water. Well, I have no way to measure that- but it sure does work well!

The cleansing palette came with 2 sample packs of their brush cleanser.

The palette is a nice size and measure approximately 6" x 3.5" x  1.5"

Info from iHerb's website: 

• Performance-grade silicone: Lightweight and ergonomically designed to fit comfortably over your hand
• Exclusive multi-textured surfaces: Designed to gently work between the bristles for enhanced deep cleansing

Suggested Use

• Small Brushes
• Medium Brushes
• Large Brushes

Step 1: Slip hand into the palette and squeeze a dime size amount of our brush cleansing gel onto the tool. Add warm water to the palette.
Step 2: Swirl brush into the gel and water across the various surfaces until the brush is clean. Rinse bristles thoroughly, being careful to not fully immerse the base of the bristles. Squeeze out the excess water.
Step 3: Rest your brushes across the surface of the tool to air dry, or use the panoramic case from our sets (sold separately) to dry brushes upside down.

Above, I have added the Real Techniques brush cleanser from the sample pack that came with it. It's clear and has a gel like consistency that is fairly thick compared to what I am used to. I normally use liquid Castile soap to clean my brushes which is much thinner and you need only a small amount.

Here, you can see the handy little strap that is built in for easy holding. It's very comfortable to hold. 

You can see the size in comparison to my hand, it's quite large. I think it's a perfect size for cleaning all sorts of makeup brushes.

The instructions say to add the cleanser and water to the dish. I prefer to add the cleanser to the dish and then wet the brush under the tap and begin swirling the brush into the cleanser and palette. Just a personal preference.

As you can see above, it really gets all the dirt out of my makeup brush. This was after cleaning just one brush. 

I rinse the palette after I clean each brush and add more cleanser for the next brush, and so on..

Squeaky clean brush after a nice bath in its new palette.

You can even use your palette to rest your brushes on top (as shown) and let them dry. But, as you can see it only holds 3 brushes here.

Here is the RT Brush Cleansing Palette in comparison to the little egg brush cleaner. 

I really feel that I don't even need the little egg brush cleaner anymore. The RT palette works much better. It's much easier to use and does a better job at getting my brushes clean.

Here's a short video of the palette in action. I had to use one hand to hold the camera and the other to hold the brush so I was only able to demo with an eyeshadow brush for the video, but you'll get the point.

I'm so glad that I got this palette. I give it 5 stars! It makes cleaning my brushes so much easier and my brushes are much cleaner. It's really worth the price as it's not something I feel I'll ever have to replace.

Because it makes cleaning my brushes so much easier, I'm certain that I'll end up cleaning my brushes more often. I can hear my skin thanking me now! lol

I probably wont purchase the Real Techniques brush cleanser as I use castile soap. It's cheap, does a great job, and will last for a very long time (you only need a small amount).

I purchased my palette here.

Have you tried this palette yet? Are you loving it as much as I am?

Ps. Come and join the blogger fun over at The Best of Blogosphere!

Week 18: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

Between the crazy summer heat this week and a migraine, it's been a bit of a struggle to workout this week. But, I did manage to get in a few workouts despite these challenges.  Here is a link to last weeks post if you'd like to check it out.

I mixed it up this week and used my stepper, walked, and continued with my customized weight routine (chart below).

I also continue to use the pedometer app when I walk (pictured in the main photo).

Personalized Workout Chart

+ 15 reverse lunges, 15, reverse angled lunges, and 15 walking lunges.

I am still using 8lb weights for the above weight routine.

Here are my workouts for the week:

Day 1- 

Day 2- Weight routine above 

Day 3- 35-minute walk

Day 4- 

Day 5- 30-minute stepper + weight routine above

Day 6- 

Day 7-

Weigh in :

Weight: no change

Fat: no change

I only worked out 3 out of 5 days this week, but it's better than nothing considering the incredible heat during the week. 

Again, we see no change in my weight or fat percentage. 

I was trying to think if there is anything that I have changed since I gained approximately 10 pounds over the last 2 years. The only thing I could think of was that I used to eat nuts daily but I had stopped over the last couple of years. That could be the key as I know that nuts are supposed to help with weight loss, particularly almonds, but I kind of lost my taste for them. I will be trying to eat some nuts daily and see if it makes a difference. This will be an interesting test, and since I'm documenting everything, we will definitely be able to see if incorporating nuts back into my diet makes any difference.

Let me know in the comments what you are doing this summer to stay in shape.

See you next week!

Monthly Beauty Basket #useitorloseit

At the beginning of August, I decided to designate a basket in my bathroom especially for products that I want to work on finishing up. These are products that I don't reach for every day and they are either expired, almost expired, or almost finished products.

It's turned out to be a great idea! I started the basket on August 4th and I have been reaching for all of these products daily now so I will be able to finish them up and not let them go to waste.

Since it's working out so well, I thought I'd share this idea with you guys. Maybe some of you will want to try this out so you too can finish up products before they expire or go to waste.

Most of these are products that I forget about as I have so many different products that I rotate through.

Having this designated basket of items and keeping it in an area where you will reach for it is a great way to focus on finishing up those products.

I will do monthly updates on my progress and changes I make to the contents of the basket as I add new products and remove those that are finished.

I lined the basket with a paper towel in case of any leaks.

Products to use up:

• Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash- almost done
• Live Clean Exotic Nectar Body Lotion- almost done
• Jason Healthy Mouth Mouth Wash- almost done 
• Pure + Simple Sensitive Skin Exfoliant + Face Mask- expired
• Pure + Simple Lactic Acid- expired
• TheraNeem Neem Oil- old/ almost done
• Amika Dry Shampoo (travel size)

Note: I only continue to use expired products if they have not changed in any way; look, scent, consistency. If any of those things change, I do not continue to use an expired product, it would get tossed instead.

Hopefully, I've inspired you to use up some products before they go bad. I think this designated basket is a great way to remember to use up all the products that you want to focus on finishing up.

Week 17: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

Welcome to week 17 of my Health and Weight Loss Journey.

Workout wise, it was a pretty boring week. I just went for walks and did my personalized weight lifting routine. At least I did a lot better that last week (post linked here).

I continued to use the Pedometer App. which I am still loving!

It has been scorching hot and humid but I've been going for my walks again despite the heat.

I think it's good to sweat, it's an easy way to get rid of toxins.

What!?!?!

Baby Egret

One day, I saw something flying past me that looked VERY strange. It looked like a bird of some sort covered in fluff. I thought it's either got some disease or it's some very strange looking bird. In 40+ years, I have never seen a bird like this. I wasn't able to get a picture of it, but I googled it and found exactly what I saw. I wanted to share a picture of it, it's such a strange looking bird. It was a baby Egret. Never heard of them, but apparently they were almost extinct at one time.

Personalized Workout Chart

+ 15 reverse lunges, 15, reverse angled lunges, and 15 walking lunges.

Note: I'm still using 8lb weights for the above weight routine.

It was a slow start to the week but I finished strong.

Here are my workouts for the week:

Day 1- 

Day 2- 

Day 3- 

Day 4- 30 minute walk + weight routine above

Day 5- 30 minute walk

Day 6- 30 minute walk + weight routine above

Day 7- 30 minute yoga - 5 Day Fit Yoga DVD (Pm routine with Rod Stryker)

Weigh in :

Weight: down .5 lbs 

Fat: no change

Let me know what you're doing to stay in shape this summer!

See you next week!

July Empties: Health, Beauty, Makeup, and Skincare!

My empties box is full again- just in time for the end of the month when I share the health and beauty products that I used up (or not) and share mini-reviews for each.

I will share links to products where possible which will appear in the heading for products.

If you want to see last months empties post, here is a link to it.

Now, let's see what I finished up in July!

Beauty

Equate Cleansing & Make-Up Removing Towelettes
I did a whole post on these (linked here) when I discovered them recently at Walmart. They came in a huge box with 4 packs of 60 wipes for $14.00. What a deal! They get the job done and are not irritating or rough on my skin. I find them comparable to other makeup wipes that I've tried.
Repurchase: Definitely!

Fluffs Cotton Pads
I always buy these at the dollar store for only $1. I see no reason to spend more. These are 100% pure cotton, hypoallergenic, and lint free.
Repurchase: Yes!

Elizabeth Grant Eye Cream
I'm not sure what the exact name of this eye cream is as it wore off the packaging. I purchased it at Winners for around $6. It was a good eye cream for the price; not too heavy, not too light and it moisturized nicely. I don't like it as much as my holy grail Goji Berry eye cream by Home Health.
Repurchase: In a pinch, for the right price

Bio-Scriptives Repiderm
This is an acne treatment. A friend gave it to me years ago. I don't even know where my friend got it from. It has 4.4% Benzoyl Peroxide and it worked really well at clearing up my acne at the time. It's way past the expiry date and has to go. I rarely breakout anymore anyways- one of the few benefits of aging. lol
Repurchase: No (I found it online and it's $33!)

Retin-A Micro Gel 0.04%
This is by prescription only in Canada. It's a pure tretinoin gel. I don't get any peeling from this product and I've been using it on and off for years. I'm thinking that maybe I should go to a higher strength now. Retin-A is a form of vitamin A that's PROVEN to help the skin renew itself. It's also great for acne (which was it's intended purpose). Make sure to wear sunscreen if you use Retin-A, and only use it at night.
Repurchase: Yes!

Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream
I've been using this BB cream on and off since it came out. It's my go-to. It evens out my skin and gives me sun protection. I love that this one is organic, so I don't have to worry about what's going onto and therefore into my skin. I'm always trying out new products due to blogging but when I'm not trying out something new, this is what I go to. Note: I wear the colour light. Some of PF face products tend to run dark. Physicians Formula is a great cruelty-free beauty line.
Repurchase: Yes!

Health

Paradise Herbs, Orac-Energy, Earth's Blend Once Daily
I love these multivitamin/mineral capsules. I REALLY love that you only have to take one per day. They contain vitamins, minerals, greens, probiotics, and herbs. I get the one with iron because I need that but it also comes in an iron-free form. These are award-winning supplements! And, they are lab certified at 4,000+ ORAC value. They are made with whole foods and are a vegetarian formula. There is so much to say about these vitamins! If you want to read more about them you can click on the heading for this great supplement.
Repurchase: Yes!

Twinlab Iron Caps
Natural, chelated, 18 mg iron caps. I need extra iron as I am low in this important mineral. It can be hard to find a dose this low. I have switched brands only because I can no longer get this one where I shop.
Repurchase: No

Nature's Answer Rhodiola 100mg
Yep, I'm a Rhodiola fiend! Anyone who's a regular reader of my blog has seen this supplement more than a few times.. sorry not sorry! I can't recommend this stuff enough! It helps with so many things you wouldn't believe it. I've been taking it for years. I had stopped for a while and went back to it when I was waking up way too early in the morning to be rested and nothing else was helping. Once I went back to this, I stopped waking at the crack of dawn for no reason. I find it also helps with my female cycle. It's standardized, gluten-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and vegetarian. I only take one cap per day.
Repurchase: Oh yeah!

Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg
Another supplement that I wont be without. Q10 is vital for heart health and I'd say anyone over the age of 40! It's used by all the cells in our bodies. I take one 100mg capsule per day. Note: I have read many articles that claim that the latest form of Q10 called Ubiquinol, that is much more expensive, is converted to the Ubiquinone form in our stomachs. So, I opt to continue taking the more cost effective form of Q10 called Ubiquinone.
Repurchase: Always and forever!

California Gold Nutrition LactoBif Probiotics (Sample)
I take probiotics every day for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) control. My IBS story can be found linked here. I decided to try this one as it was a sample pack on special for $1 or less. I'll stick to my Primal Defense. Nothing I've tried compares to my Primal Defense by Garden of Life.
Repurchase: No

Now Foods Xyli White Toothpaste
Another favourite of mine. My dental checkups improved after I started using this toothpaste. It's definitely my holy grail. It also comes in mint flavours for those who don't like cinnamon. I have a new toothpaste that I will be trying out soon as I got another brand on special. I figured why not give it a try, it's a natural one too and made with neem.
Repurchase: Yes!

Healthy Smoothie Ingredients

Genuine Health Greens +
I love and trust the Genuine Health brand. This 80% organic blend of superfoods and antioxidants will turn any smoothie into a super healthy cocktail. To read more about it, you can click the link in the heading for this product. *Well.ca is offering $10 off with promo code "healthbeauty10" only until September 16, 2016.
Repurchase: Yes!

Madre Labs CocoCeps
This is an instant organic dark cocoa beverage. It's unsweetened and contains immune boosting Cordyceps and Reishi mushroom powders, and heart-healthy organic dark cocoa. I can't live without this product. I drink it daily in a smoothie with some kefir, protein powder, and my favourite stevia. It makes a delicious and healthy shake. There are so many things you can add to make it how you want, from bananas to mint extract etc. The possibilities are endless.
Repurchase: Yes!

Now Food Better Stevia in English Toffee
This tastes like a guilty pleasure, but there's no reason to feel guilty! I now have 4 flavours of this stevia (and it comes in even more). I discovered it back around 2009 and it's the only stevia I found that doesn't have an aftertaste. I have Plain, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, and this English Toffee one. They are all delicious and I find so many uses for them, from smoothies, coffee, and tea, and baking too. I took me well over a year to finish this bottle. It's very concentrated so you only need a few drops. This particular flavour is unbelievably good!
Repurchase: Yes!

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I finished up in July and hopefully found some of the info helpful. I also did a makeup purge of my eyeshadow collection this month. If you'd like to check that out, you can find it linked here.

 As always, check with your health care provider before beginning any new supplements.

I purchase most of my health and beauty products from iherb.com as the prices are so low and international shipping is as low as $4 (flat rate). iHerb will give you 5% off your first iHerb order with this link.

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

*All products purchased by me unless otherwise specified. Some links are affiliate. Thank you for the support if you choose to use them.