Caryl Baker Visage Brow Experience

If you've been following my blog you already know I have a strong devotion for well groomed brows. I try to stay true to my #thickbrows and keep my natural shape. I used to religiously see a threading goddess (yes that's what I officially called her) but I got tired of the same look and wanted something slightly different.  I felt the goddess was getting lazy with them and never wanted to give me what I asked for so of course I decided to bounce! Why waste time and money on a service only to be unhappy with it in the end ?Fast forward 2 months after my last threading appointment and I noticed my eyebrows looked like a jungle and monkeys would soon inhabit them so I started searching for a new eyebrow goddess.
That's when I decided to give Caryl Baker Visage a try.

So happy I did!

First, let me tell you a bit about this beauty boutique. They have locations all over Ontario and Calgary, but specifically within Ottawa you can find them at St.Laurent, Rideau Centre and Bayshore.

They offer a wide range of services by trained professionals such as brow waxing, makeup application, lash extensions, ear piercing, facials and many many more ! For a complete list of their esthetics services click here. Caryl Baker Visage has been pampering us ladies for over 45 years and has earned a great reputation for being in the know on the latest treatments and techniques. They have a great membership incentive that offers a wide range of benefits. For a yearly fee of $25 you receive discounted brow waxing as well mini-facials and makeovers.

 So I made an appointment for later that same day and luckily for me they had a spot open. I was greeted by a lovely Face Expert who's makeup was on point gurl! She confirmed my appointment and asked me to take a seat in their comfy chairs. The Expert assigned to give me gorgeous brows was Conrad, who is also the Rideau Center location manger. Lovely gentleman that had envious soft skin and eyebrows to die for. How unfair I thought! I put my jealousy aside and hoped for the best! He was very pleasant,super happy and chatty! I really enjoy a service more when the professional offering the service is delightful and puts you at ease within seconds of sitting in their chair! In only 20 minutes I had laughed and smiled profusely and came out of the boutique with gorgeous brows. I can truly say I loved the whole experience and I've already scheduled my next brow waxing and eyebrow tinting appointment! 

Here are my brows au natural :

( bad iPhone picture yikes!)

Here they are with some added love :

( better iPhone photo.no filter, curly natural hair and )

 #thickbrows!)

DISCLAMIER: I paid for my eye brow waxing service and I was not compensated for this post. I just really enjoyed the service and wanted to share it with my readers!

First Impressions : Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

Have you ever stayed in an upscale hotel or driven in a luxury car and felt that from now on you can't settle for anything less than this experience? This is how I feel about the Estée Lauder Double Wear, Stay-In-Place Makeup. I truly believe I have found the Maserati of all foundations! Double Wear exudes glamour and luxury and I desperately need it in my life from now on!

Double Wear is long wearing, 15 hours to be exact, has a fluid texture, provides medium coverage, very lightweight and gives a semi-matte natural finish. This foundation comes in 3 tones (C) cool, (N) neutral, and (W) warm and has over 30 shades to choose from. 

Maha Matar

//Wearing Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup in Ivory Beige. Soft lighting and NO editing//

I was introduced to the Double Wear Makeup on one of my lunch break visits to Nordstrom. I really wasn't shopping for a new foundation, but sometimes god has plans for you and you must accept it ( I'm being a bit dramatic I know). The overly exuberant sales lady insisted I test it out and promised me I would be pleased. I had a hard time saying no, so I reluctantly propped myself onto her mini stool and waited while she matched me to a shade. I convinced her to let me take the lead and I applied the makeup the best way I knew how to apply foundation. I warmed the foundation on the back of my hand in circular motions and applied it to one side of my face with a flat brush. I stepped into the light she had setup beside her counter and was pleasantly surprised at the overall natural finish + semi sheen I saw to my skin after one coat. I liked how silky and soft it felt on my skin and how even my complexion looked. I was impressed but wasn't blown away. I did the other side of my face and told the sales lady, " I would think about it, I like it but I don't love it". Back to office I went with a fresh foundation application. As a coincidence, Ottawa that day hit temperatures of 30 degrees and to my surprise my foundation stayed in place. It didn't separate, oxidize or become patchy. Actually , it looked better 4 hours after the initial application. I was a bit perplexed as I had never experienced this with a foundation. How is it that it looked better now than when I applied it at noon?  I researched this magic of a foundation online and it seems that Double Wear was formulated to provide built in long lasting wear. The longer you wear the foundation, it starts to look better on the skin. My skin looked airbrushed 4 hours after I applied it!I have worn the foundation almost every day  since I first purchased it 3 weeks ago and it hasn't let me down.

Final Impressions: I like how soft it feels on my skin and doesn't dry out my already dry skin.I love the fluid rich texture and I'm very pleased with the variety of shades available. I appreciate how it evens out my complexion and provides great medium coverage. I did have to use concealer on a few areas but this is expected with any medium coverage foundation. At $53 it's very comparable cost-wise with other brand name foundations, but I believe Double Wear is best value for your money because not once did I have to "freshen up" my face while wearing this foundation. So I never used any powder to prolong the life of my foundation. The only setback I have with Double Wear is that it doesn't have a pump to extract the foundation. I don't like having to dig into the foundation to get the product. Overall, I can say I have found my HG of foundations! It works so well on my olive toned skin and gives me that perfect fresh, natural and even complexion that I lust after. I truly enjoy wearing this foundation as it does add a bit of luxe into my life and who doesn't want that!

DISCLAMIER: I bought this product with my own funds. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not affiliated with Estée Lauder

Happy Canada Day!

 So by the title you've guessed it, this isn't a beauty related blog post. Happy Canada day to all my fellow Canadians! How amazing is it that we live in this beautiful country and every year we gather to celebrate our achievements as Canadians!

Have I told you lovely readers that I, along with my 2 sisters and brother were born in Lebanon?  At a time where safety and freedom were scarce and the war was about to begin pouring down on our beautiful homeland, my parents were provided with an opportunity to leave Lebanon for a safer place called "Canada".The situation worsened quickly and so we fled Lebanon with little in our hands but much in our hearts. I recall my father telling us years after arriving in Canada  that he had heard Canada was a good place to raise kids but he was unsure of how immigrants would be treated and he felt unsure of leaving all the comfort of his home. We will see, he would say. 

Was it an easy transition for my parents? No, it wasn't. Being  a young immigrant family in the 80's in  Canada was challenging for them. Not only were they not used to the winter months , but they had little income. My father took up work in various restaurants and hotels while studying at both the University  of Ottawa, as well as  University of Toronto. The work was humbling for him, as back home in Lebanon he was a teacher, and a great teacher that was loved by all his students. He took such pride in his service work at the hotels and restaurants as his strong work ethic ,regardless of the work, was paramount and ever present . Months go by and my siblings and I are learning to speak English, making friends and feeling welcomed in Canada.

Fast Forward 30 years, and here I sit reminiscing about my younger years as an immigrant child in this now culturally diverse and accepting country.What if my parents never left Lebanon ? Who would I be today? Would I dress the same, enjoy the same food, listen to the same music? I don't know the person I would have become had we stayed in lebanaon, but I do know the person I am today. Being raised in Canada has shaped me immensely.  Because we believe in Freedom, I'm not afraid to speak my mind ; because we are diverse , my neighbours are Asian, Italian, and Indian; because of our acceptance of all faiths I can visit a mosque, synagogue and temple all within 4 km of each other.  I would never have had the educational opportunities that I did or the security that surrounds me  and the compassion and inclusivity I feel with my fellow Canadians. I type this post as I 'm sitting in my lovely backyard while my kids are jumping on their trampoline laughing and enjoying their freedom, unbeknownst to them the struggles that came before in order for them to experience these moments. Thanks mom and dad for sacrificing so much of your life and your comfort to travel to an unknown country for a better life! Because of your sacrifices my kids have opportunities available to them that would never have been possible. We really are living the   "Canadian dream " eh?