Luuux

Products I've Repurchased

We can all say countless times that we've found a product that we love SO much that we're going to use it for the rest of our lives...but we all know how it goes. Something better comes along and that product is old news in no time. Technology in cosmetics & beauty is developing more and more each day and products are getting better all the time. I think true "Holy Grail" products are ones that you have repurchased time and time again. They may not be your favorites, or your current favorites may not be on this list... but those that have stood the test of time deserve special recognition. That is why I made this video showing you mine, and I would love to see yours if you want to make a video response :) Enjoy!

Review on Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment

I was recently sent a small sample of the Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment from Folica.com to try out. I had never heard of the brand Sedu before I had received my tools from them but since I'm so in love with my flat iron & hair dryer I thought I'd give a haircare product a try. THE CLAIMS Absorb instantly for a lightweight feel Eliminate frizz Increase shine and smoothness Heat protection Healthier looking hair MY HAIR Similar to any review I would do for skincare, I can only speak for girls of similar hair type. My hair is very straight, quite limp and fine. I always have to fight to keep a curl or any volume. The main reason I wanted to try this serum is to help control fly-aways and give my hair a silky, soft shine. THE PRODUCT The product I received was a small sample size with about 2-3 uses however I think that someone with a hair texture similar to mine would get many more out of it because I only use a tiny drop for my entire head. I take a drop about the size of a dime (it's more viscous than you may think for a serum) and rub it in between my palms then use my two hands like a flat iron and run them over my hair. I avoid the top 1/3 of my head because my flat, straight hair tends to look oily if I use any type of moisturizing, shine treatments on my roots. The product also has a lovely smell- not too strong but lightly fragranced that lingers for a little while. It leaves behind gorgeous, smooth hair and really helps flatten down fly-aways. I found that it lasted a few hours, but not throughout an entire day without touch-ups. cannot comment on how it makes frizz more manageable for frizzy, curly hair but I would definitely suggest it to try. As for heat protection, I wouldn't consider this my primary heat protectant as I find I use so little to just smooth down fly-aways and add some shine, I don't feel like it could possibly protect my hair as well as a true heat protectant spray. It's not a fault of the product, I just wouldn't use the amount necessary to actually provide protection. PROS Adds smoothness and shine Lightweight (as long as not put on roots) Nice scent Makes hair soft to the touch CONS Doesn't last all day (requires touch-ups) Can make roots of straight hair look oily FINAL SAY I think this treatment works great as a shine/finishing serum to tame fly-aways although I cannot comment on its abilities to manage frizz for curly haired ladies. I really love the scent and how healthy it leaves my hair looking, as long as I don't over-do it! :) Have you tried Sedu products? Do you use a anti-frizz serum?

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• Dead Sea Spa Magik Conditioning Scalp...

Clinique GWP Is At The Bay

Attention all Canadian Clinique Lovers! The seasonal Clinique gift-with-purchase has hit the Bay stores from now until September 18th! I always like using these events to purchase my back-ups because 95% of my skincare products are by Clinique and why not get free stuff for buying what you are going to buy anyways? WHATS IN THE BAG... High Impact Mascara in Black High Impact Lip Color SPF15 in Extreme Pink All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage Color Surge Eye Shadow Quad Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula I'll be picking up a backup of my beloved Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, my HG makeup remover...will you be grabbing this gift?

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• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluid for...
• La Roche-Posay Physiological Eye...
• Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-aging...

Bobbi Brown is Now At Sephora!

Awesome news, eh? This is really exciting because its not always easy to get your hands on Bobbi Brown products...they are usually kept only to high end boutiques that not everyone has near them :) Let's hope they will be stocking up the stores too!!! If you need any recommendations- their Corrector is a godsend for anyone with dark circles!

Product of the Week #18

WHAT IT IS A liquid eyeliner with a navy blue metallic finish WHAT I LIKE The felt tip - Usually I don't like these types of eyeliners (L'Oreal Lineur Intense, Lancome ArtLiner, etc) but this one has a much more precise tip which allows me to get those super sharp cat-eye flicks that I love The formula - It's a water-thin liquid so it transfers onto your lashline very easily, unlike some pigmented eyeliners that are goopey The longevity - Once dry, these eyeliners last ALL day. WHAT I DON'T LIKE Limited Edition - These eyeliners came out with the MAC Fabulous Felines Collection, so I am not 100% sure if they will be back. Some say yes, some say no... Washing Off - These eyeliners are difficult to get off, which is a trade-off of going for a waterproof formula. They flake and peel off instead of coming off smoothly with an oil-based remover. HOW I USE IT I like to use a bold eyeliner like Signature Blue on its own, slightly hidden behind big, black, voluminous lashes. I'll wear a nude eye, with just a bit of eye primer, concealer and nude eyeshadow. WHERE TO BUY IT MAC $21 CDN / $17.50 US FINAL SAY If you want to create the perfect cat-eye with ease, try to grab one of these liners before they are all sold out- especially if you like to play with color in a subtle way

Favorite Beauty Products of August 2010

I do apologize for not making a video this month for my August favorites...my MCAT exam was on September 03, and now it's already the 7th so I figured it's too far gone haha! And to top it all off, I think I wore makeup like 4 days out of the entire month of August....so theres really not much to talk about anyways! I'm sure you've noticed I've been blogging like crazy and it feels SO good to be back in the swing of things :) So here we go...a couple favs from this past month. I know I recently featured Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous ($36 CDN/$28 US) in a recent favorites video, but I just had to mention it again- but this time paired with the Sigma F50 Duo Fiber Brush ($16 US) These two products are a match made in heaven and deliver the most gorgeous looking skin (re-read 'skin', it does not look like makeup at all). I used to use a traditional foundation brush, my fingers or even the sponge that it came with....but once I tried a stippling brush- oh my goodness. I'll never go back! It airbrushes your skin so quick and effortlessly, I'm not kidding when I say I stare in the mirror in amazement. Not only do they pair together, but the foundation is an amazing product all on its own! They come in 3 shades (picking up the lightest one for winter soon!) and I know it may not seem like many, but this is probably the one and ONLY product that actually lives up to its claim (in my opinion) of self-adjusting to your skintone. I've been able to wear the Original shade as an NC20, NC25 and NC30. And it always looks natural! It feels so light, hides pores and it's oil-free, what more could you want?? (Ok ok. A smaller price-tag, I agree). Amazing product, amazing pair, I'm in love. I had to throw this one in my favorites because I've used a couple this month in attempts to calm me down, relax me and soothe my aching muscles (you may remember my tweets about me falling down the stairs a few weeks ago...yes, I am still bruised). LUSH Butterball Bath Bomb ($4.75 CDN/$4.95 US) is my absolute favorite bath bomb. First and foremost, it doesn't turn my bathtub an icky, green or purple color that takes half an hour to scrub off after I'm all relaxed (grrrr, I'm pointing at YOU Avobath Bath Bomb!) so I really enjoy that. It has such a delicious scent of cocoa butter and vanilla, AND it leaves your skin so soft you can skip the moisturizing lotion after your bath. That's my favorite part...soft, smooth skin with no effort at all. Perfect for winding down at the end of a long week or before a stressful event :) I don't want to spill too many beans about L'Oreal Touch Magique in C1 Rose Porcelain (About $10 CDN), because I am planning on a much more thorough review, however I did want to mention it because it definitely is one of the best drugstore products I have come across (it takes a lot to impress me from the drugstore). This is a brightening concealer-type product that comes in 3 shades with different undertones (pink, neutral and yellow). I chose pink because I find it to be the most brightening and color-correcting for areas like undereye circles, inner corner, brow highlight and cheekbones. It's basically a dupe for the famous YSL Touche Eclat, which will run you around 4x the price. Now I've never tried the YSL one, but I am really loving this one! I'm very impressed with the pigmentation (which is usually what I struggle with from drugstore concealers). It reflects light without being shimmery and I can make my whole face look 10x brighter with using only this pen. Again, like I said...look forward to a more thorough review (perhaps my first YouTube Review Video?! We'll see) Those are my favorites for the month of August! I'd like to know what you've been loving :) I promise to have my regular favorites videos back up on regular schedule for the upcoming months.

MAC Fabulous Felines Haul & Review

I'm probably the LAST person in the world to do a MAC Fabulous Felines haul (and its probably going to be the crappiest haul you've ever seen...but I still wanted to do it! lol). I was so busy with studying for my exam I literally did not leave the house for the past 3 weeks...even though I really wanted to get my hands on some Fabulous Felines, I had to wait until yesterday to check it out. I knew that the only thing I wanted was the liquid eyeliners- everything else didn't really catch my eye. So I was quite pleasantly surprised to see many of the MAC Superslick Liquid Eye Liners ($21 CAD) left over, except the one I wanted most which was the plain old black one. But thats okay! I managed to snag the blue & purple ones... so here they are (along with a little review for each!) Smoky Heir is a deep purple with micro shimmer (please excuse the horrific swatch). I have hazel eyes and I absolutely love the look of purple/plum liners...they really make my eyes pop! Of course, other eye colors can use this color too no problem. I love how easy these liners are to apply...it basically feels like using a felt tip pen to draw on your eyeliner (which you should never do...lol). I like the applicator much more than the sister L'Oreal Lineur Intense because I could never get a precise enough wing. I love my sharp wings :) The only downside to this product is the fact that it is SO liquidy, if the applicator isn't soaked up enough, it will apply a bit sheer. Other than that, its got a gorgeous shimmer and pigmentation if used correctly! Signature Blue has to be my absolute favorite color from this entire collection, especially because navy blues are so hot this fall! I find this one to be much more pigmented than the purple one- and the shimmer is so gorgeous too. Anyone can wear this blue- you can see in the photo below my favorite way to wear colored eyeliners (I know my eyes are red...darn allergies!)... UDPP all over the eyelid, concealer & translucent powder for a perfectly even nude base. Apply the colored liner close to the lashline, then finish off with curled lashes & black mascara. I love how subtle the color is, yet in just the right light it really gives you a nice pop :) Did you haul anything from Fabulous Felines? What were your impressions of these eyeliners?

Product of the Week #17

WHAT IS IT A luminescent moisturizing cream that leaves your skin with an ethereal glow WHAT I LIKE IT If you have dull, dry skin- you absolutely need this product. Even if you have normal skin or combination skin, you can benefit too (just don't slather it on all over). I love how it can be mixed with moisturizer, foundation, etc. or just worn alone! It gives a really gorgeous, youthful glow. I actually like the scent too (I didn't at first, but it grew on me)! Its not shimmery, its 'sheen'-y, and that is much more natural-looking! WHAT I DON'T LIKE At first I didn't care for the scent, so there may be some others out there who feel the same. I don't mind it now, but it is quite odd. If you over apply, you kinda have to start your entire makeup over....and that really sucks. HOW I USE IT I prefer to use it everywhere except my T-zone (I don't need anymore highlighting in that area!) and I just apply it with my fingers. You can use a brush or mix it in with your foundation. I use it before makeup and to refresh my skin sometimes I will take a tiny bit and pat it where I want a little extra healthy glow :) WHERE TO BUY MAC $38 CDN / $29.50 US FINAL SAY If you're always searching for that healthy glow, without being sparkly- you need this product! Especially great for normal-to-dry skin textures.

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• Max Factor Flawless Perfection 44ml...

CoverFX Scavenger Hunt!

CoverFX is an amazing, highly recommended brand by many makeup artists and dermatologists as well. They are launching a new product this fall and it may be just around the corner from you! Here's how it works! From September 7-11, CoverFX will be placing treasure boxes throughout selected cities across US, Canada and the UK. Fan Cover FX on Facebook to learn specific clues and locations on where you can find the hidden treasures in a city near you. All packages include the new Eye Prep FX, and some lucky winners may receive gift cards up to $100 in select treasure boxes redeemable at participating Cover FX retailers. About Eye Prep FX: Eye Prep FX anti age smoothing primer is an innovative cosmeceutical eye smoothing formula with clinically proven anti-aging benefits: • The blend of ultra-elite ingredients, Haloxyl and Eyeliss work to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness • Peptide Flash Complex is also incorporated, which instantly tightens and firms while long-term improvements include repairing and strengthening the eye area • Cucumber extract works with detoxifying minerals to cool, soften and hydrate the skin leaving the eye area feeling fresh and revitalized • Eye Prep FX instantly binds concealer and eye shadows to lids and eye area with Dermaveil Cool Technology, a proprietary complex that immediately reduces the appearance of fine lines and creases and creates a smooth base for makeup Eye Prep FX will retail for $43 CA & US / £41 at CoverFX.com, select Sephora stores, Nordstrom, The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser stores. I think this is very exciting! Think you'll participate? *All information was provided by CoverFX with their permission to re-distribute*