Saturday, April 30, 2016

e.l.f. Eye Refresher





This is going to be one of my shortest posts ever! Not because I don't think the e.l.f. eye refresher  deserves my usual in depth blog post but really because this is one of the easiest and relied on products in my daily routine and in a short post I know I can convince you it's a worthwhile product!

The e.l.f eye refresher is a rollerball tool that can be used day and night. It's purpose is to refresh, brighten and combat undereye puffiness and discolouration. The refresher contains pomegranate, rosemary,green tea, cucumber and grape to hydrate and nourish the fragile skin. All these ingredients are beneficial in soothing and brightening the skin.  

I use the refresher in my morning routine to prep my undereye for my Cerave eye cream. So before I add my eye cream, the refresher is the first thing I reach for! The eye refresh is an amazing base for my eye cream just like the Urban Decay primer potion is for the lids.My eye cream applies easier and absorbs faster into the skin. I usually have dry undereye patches but I haven' seen them since starting the el.f. refresher. Yeah! I love the cooling sensation that I feel after using the rollerball and my eyes instantly look refreshed and brightened. In my night time routine I do the same and apply the e.l.f. refresher before my night cream. I have noticed major reduced undereye puffiness in the morning, however I can't say that it's helped with my dark circles. For $6 you're buying and eye product that cools, refreshes, brightens and also can be used as a base or primer for eye cream. Seriously love this product! I think I'm on my 3rd tube now :) 

In Canada, you can buy the e.l.f products online or at Old Navy.

Maha
XOXO

P.S.As per usual, I disclose all information to my readers. I was not paid for this post. I purchased this product with my own money. I am not affiliated with e.l.f cosmetics.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Kiehl's Turmeric and Cranberry Seed Radiance Mask


The last sprinklings of Winter have faded away and Spring has finally settled it's sweet self around here. The sun is setting later and the weather is quite warm. I so deeply enjoy that feeling of rejuvenation that comes with this season. 

Speaking of rejuvenation, don't you feel your skin from the cold and bitter wind seems a bit dry and dull? I noticed this the other day as I was cleansing my face. Where did my glow go? I have to admit I've been lazy with my night time skin routine...Gasp! I decided to fix this quickly as I don't like knowing I look dull and lack lustre!  



Kiehl's recently launched a new masque containing Turmeric and Cranberry seed. As I was curious to unconver the benefits of these ingredients I ended up purchasing the 75 ML jar and received the deluxe sample as a bonus. 

Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory spice that is used while cooking but also has amazing skin benefits. Turmeric can treat acne scars, exfoliate dead skin, clear eczema, and provides a youthful glow to the skin.

Cranberry seeds are loaded with anti-oxidants that help fight premature ageing and is the only oil that has a perfect ratio of Omega 3&6 fatty acids so it absorbs quickly into the skin.

The masque is packaged in a red tub. It's not fancy packaging by any means and stays true to Kiehls brand of minimalist packaging. When I opened the tub I was expecting a strong fragrance but it was very light. I appreciate products that don't have an overwhelming scent, especially masques that are meant to be left on your skin for some time.




\\Top,Turmeric and Cranberry Seed Masque Applied to right side//
\\Bottom, Masque Washed Off //

 This masque is very easy to use. You apply a thick layer of product on your face and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Once ready to remove,you add a bit of water to your face and rub the product, gently, in circular motions. As you can see by the first image above the masque dries to a firm consistency(the right side). By adding water you're releasing the exfoliating cranberry seeds. The exfoliation is very gentle so no need to worry about over or harsh exfoliation to your skin. After exfoliation, either splash water on your face to remove the rest of the product or use a facial towel dipped in a bit of water to gently remove the product. Kiehl's is advertising this masque as an "instant facial" that will brighten the look of dull skin. By looking at the second image above(the right side) of my hand)you notice a considerable difference from the left side of my hand where I didn't apply the product. The skin on the right hand side is very smooth, brighter and radiant. The skin on the left hand side is still dull and lacklustre.  Even after washing my hands through out the day the right side felt very smooth and baby soft:)

I have used the masque on my face twice a week for 6 weeks now. I haven't broken out or experienced dry itchy patches after exfoliating.

My only concern with this mask is that I don't believe it helped shrink or fully clean out my pores like a regular facial would. I believe the cranberry seeds may actually be too gentle as an exfoliating product. Overall the Kiehl's Tumeric and Cranberry Seed masque is a good mask that will give you a gleaming,lustrous and healthy glow to your skin. The exfoliating cranberry seeds are not harsh on the skin and offer gentle exfoliation for an improved overall complexion.

The radiance you achieve with this product lasts for a couple of days wich is a bonus!I'm very happy with how brightened and radiant my skin looks after each use and I plan on continuing to use the Kiehl's Turmeric and Cranberry Seed Masque.


MAHA
XO

*I purchased this product.It was NOT provided to me as a gift. Opinions expressed in this post are my own*




Saturday, April 16, 2016

First Impressions: Curl Keeper Styling Collection


The generous team at Trade Secrets sent me the Curl Keeper Styling Collection to experiment with.I was under no obligation to write a post about these products or provide a good review, just my honest opinion. I'll get right to point and not keep you all in agonising anticipation.I Love these products! I don't recall the last time I was so excited about a hair styling product. Finally, I've found my holy grail solution to taming my unruly frizzy curls! I know I sound like an infomercial but holy moly these products work. They REALLY work(in my infomercial voice of course)!

The Visionary Behind Curl Keeper:

Jonathan Torch, the Master of Curls, as he's referred to in the industry, is the man behind Curly Hair Solutions that led to the creation of Curl Keeper Styling Collection. He has over 25 years experience with curly hair and has revolutionised how curly hair is cut, styled and cared for. He's so dedicated to helping people maintain their curly locks that he runs the uber successful Curly Hair Institute on Shepard Avenue West in Toronto. Yes ladies and gents , you read that correctly, there is a salon exclusively for us curly haired peeps! Excuse me as I squeal with excitement!


The Products:




The package that I received included:


The Curl Keeper Styling Cream is not like any other styling product you have ever used before. It's not a gel or foaming mousse, it's a lightweight fluidic styling cream that allows you to manipulate your curls while never drying your hair out, creating frizz or build up on your scalp. The cream has a light aroma and adds some shine to your locks.

Curl Keeper Original is the  recipient of several beauty awards in the industry including 2006 Readers Choice Beauty Award.Curl Keeper Original provides all day frizz control and gives you major curl definition. This product is water based so it's safe to use everyday and it will not draw out any moisture from your hair or cause build up. As it doesn't cause build up on your scalp you can re-apply it as many times as you like in a day. On average with CK Original your curls will last 4-5 days and can be reactivated by simply applying water with a spray bottle to your hair. 

Curl Keeper Slip, 30 second detangler is a "silicone free detangling leave in conditioner that will instantly loosen hair knots".

Curl Keeper Leave in Conditioner smooths the hairs that are responsible for causing fly aways. This product is not meant to be washed out and works wonders under high humidity.

First Impression:

I received the Curl Keeper package early on a Monday morning and I had just woken up. I thought what a great opportunity for me to try the products out right away! I quickly showered, combed my hair and applied all the products while following the directions on the bottle and...was disappointed. Yeah, I know, I wrote earlier that I loved these revolutionary products so what's with the conflicting statement right? You see , when you are dealing with innovative formula's such as the Curl Keeper products there comes with it a learning curve. I just assumed because I had been using mousse and gel my whole life along with shampoos, conditioners and detanglers that they all work the same way so they should be applied the same way right? WRONG! To fully benefit from Curl Keeper products you need to watch these very short and extremely helpful tutorials on how to use specific techniques to style your hair so you can achieve maximize results from Curl Keeper.Once I learned and applied these easy techniques I was in love with my hair results!

My hair is very thick, heavy, curly and long (the longest it's been in years)! My curls have a mind of their own and sometimes they want to curl and other times they want to separate, which is normal for curly hair. I wanted a set of products that allowed me to have control over my curls, reduce my frizz and achieve all day volume
and hold without the damage.


To achieve these spiral results above, I ONLY used Curl Keeper Original + twirling technique that is mentioned in the tutorials(life changing)!. As a teenager I had crazy spiral curls like these and loved them, however the only way to keep the curls in place all day was to use mousse or gel. It gave me a bit of the results I wanted but also made my hair very crunchy and caused a great deal of build up. Because of the high alcohol content in the mousse and gel my hair became very dry and unfortunately caused me quite a bit of damage. After using Curl Keeper Original + twirling technique I was able to achieve these bouncy well defined curls that lasted all day. I haven't seen these curls in years!! I was ecstatic. As I had a coffee date with my friends later that night, I decided to loosen some of the curls a bit by separating the bigger ones. The results were beautiful and my friends complimented me endlessly over the curls *blush*! They have always loved my curls but I hadn't worn my hair curly in so long because of the hassle and time it took to actually achieve the results I wanted. With Curl Keeper products it took me 20 minutes including drying time to achieve these curls. For a mom of 3 this is life changing. 

P.S My friends are now CK girls!


This picture above was taken 2 days after the 1st picture in this post. As you can see I did seperate my curls that night to achieve a looser curl. Even on day 3 with no added water to my hair to reactivate the Curl Keeper, my curls still had volume and bounce.



The big waves in this picture were achieved by using Curl Keeper Original + Styling Gel + 30 Sec Detangler + Crunching technique from the tutorials online. I did not add any heat to my hair as I let it air dry. Even without the heat I was able to achieve volume and bounce in my hair.

I'll leave you with my final impression of the Curl Keeper Collection as I know I can go on and on about these products. I've really benefited from CK products because they are so easy and quick to use. I can depend on them to achieve bouncy, healthy lightweight curls without the crunchy texture and without sacrificing volume. I love that the CK Original doesn't weigh my  hair down. Usually because of the thickness of my hair,  volume boosting products don't work on me but this was not the case with Curl Keeper. Try these products out for yourself and see the difference in the silicone free formula and quality for yourself. Even if you have a slight curl and want to enhance that, CK will help you achieve envious curls. I strongly suggest you watch the tutorials on the site and experiment with the technique that best suits your curl definition. To continue to see my curls evolve while using Curl Keeper, please follow me on Instagram here. As well I've uploaded a short clip of Jonathan Torch, founder of Curl Keeper, demonstrating the Curl Keeper techniques used in his salon on me. It's on my new Youtube Channel here!

Curl Keeper Styling Collection can be bought from Trade Secrets.

Maha
XO

Disclaimer: Trade Secrets gifted me the Curl Keeper Styling Collection, however I was not obligated to write a positive review of the product. The opinions and experiences described on this post are my own. 

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Currently Coveting : Beauty Wish List

I put myself on a self inflicted " no makeup buy" for 2 weeks. It's been a struggle and I had to rely heavily on will power but I survived! Now that the ban has been lifted I'm back online creating my wish list. What can I say? I'm a true beauty junkie! So many of these  products have been on my radar for awhile and I can't wait to try them out. With Summer coming I know I'll be putting these products to good use! As well, be on the lookout for new product reviews on the blog !



// Kiehl's Tumeric and Cranberry brightening masque //
// Charlotte Tilbury Miracle Wand //
// BITE Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstik //
// CHANEL brightening base //
// Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer //
//Minerlize SkinFinish Future M.A.C (highlighter )//
// Soleil Tan De CHANEL //
//  Fist Timer essie nailpolish //
// Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Blush Parfume //
// L'Oréal Extraordinary Oil //
// Bio Ionic 10X Pro Ultralight Speed Dryer //


Thursday, March 31, 2016

We're talking Shoes! DSW IS NOW OPEN



Did you hear the news?

Designer Shoe Warehouse Canada is making it's grand debut in O-town today and I was lucky enough to receive an invite to the media cocktail event last night hosted by Black Book Lifestyle.


What a night it was ! Not only was I surrounded by some of the most influential bloggers and media personnel in Ottawa, but also by hundreds upon hundreds of amazing shoes!! What's a girl to do but of course squeal with excitement and take pictures!


Now, before I show you drool worthy images of the stilettos I was mingling with last night, let me introduce you to DSW Canada. DSW is a well-known footwear and accessories retailer that offers a wide range of brand name and designer dress, casual, and athletic footwear and accessories for men, women and kids. DSW is now partnered in Canada with Town Shoes Limited. Town Shoes Limited is a well established company with over 60 years of experience in the footwear industry, and with over 200 locations across the country it's the largest branded footwear retailer in Canada.


Now let's talk shoes!!!


Walking into the cocktail event, I had a thought " I hope the cash registers are open! What if I see the perfect pair of heels and I can't take them home with me?." Now that's a fear that I'm sure many of us have had. Finding the perfect pair of heels is like finding the perfect man. You have to scoop them up right away before someone else does! Now, that's just my giddy humour talking, but it's true. It's amazing what a beautiful pair of pumps, heels, wedges, and boots can do to a girl. Drive us crazy until we have them in our possession!


Well have no fear girls, we now have the best selection of men..I mean shoes..in our lovely city!



//Designer and Brand Name Stilettos, Booties, Pumps, Flats up to 40% off suggested retail price//


//Blazer, BCBG//
//Top, Dynamite//
 //Shoes, Forever 21 (last season)
//Pants, H&M//
//Clutch, Vintage//

//Blogger and good friend Seema from glimpse3sixty//
(We didn't plan to coordinate!)



//Nine West "Lace Up" came home with me!//

I hope you take some time out of your day today(March 31)to attend the official opening of DSW located at Train Yards. Doors open at 8 am and the first 200 shoe lovers will receive a $25 DSW CASH CARD!

P.S If you can't make it in store to shop, DSW.TOWNSHOES.CA is now open !


Happy Shopping!


XOXO
Maha 

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Currently Coveting

Happy Easter weekend! 

I hope you've had time to relax and enjoy this time off with your loved ones. For me it was all about good healthy food, amazing company, reading and of course surfing the net! If I got paid to surf I would be rich I tell ya! Here are my weekly internet bits and pieces :)




//These healthy almond milk popsicle's look amazing. I have to make them soon. I'm craving a healthy dessert!\\
//This is my vision of a "She Shed". It combines my two favourite loves ; vintage/rustic decor + nature.\\
//This is definitely an outfit I would rock on the weekends! Loose fitting,layered sweater, tights and a cross body.\\
//Added stand up paddling to my bucket list this year!Look at that scenery!\\


XOXO
Maha 



Saturday, March 26, 2016

First Impressions : Firmoo.com



Firmoo.com, a global online eyewear store, contacted me offering to send me a pair of glasses and If I liked the sunglasses to kindly write about them on my blog. As I was under no obligation to write a positive review, I accepted their generous gift and my gold aviator lenses were shipped 1 week after I placed my order. 


About Firmoo.com

A global eyewear online store that has many years of experience in the optical industry and offers a variety of male and female perscription and NON-perscription frames. Firmoo.com caters to the fashion-conscious consumer by making high quality fashionable eyewear available at affordable prices. 

Frames

Firmoo.com offers hundreds of frames such as Cat Eye, Round,Wrap Around,Titanium, Square, Clear, Aviator and Wayfarer,Computer, Reading and Bifocal.. just to name a few! 




Customer Service

I had never ordered eyewear online so I was apprehensive as to which frames would suite me. I contacted the customer service for some advice and they ultimately helped me decide on my gold rimmed aviators. They were polite, friendly and helpful as they answered all my questions about the ordering process (which is super easy btw). 


Virtual Try-On Feature

Customer service also kindly pointed me to the Virtual Try-On Feature on the Firmoo.com site. With this feature, you can upload a picture of your face to virtually TRY ON any style of frames you like to see how they look on you. It's a helpful feature and you'll get some giggles out of it as well. I now know I look hideous in  round frames!!

How To Place an Order

Placing an order on Firmoo.com is quick and easy. It's a 7 step process and Firmoo.com makes it easy by highlighting the steps for you so you're not wasting time navigating the site wondering " what do I do next?". For a detailed explanation and tutorial on how to place an order, read here.

Signing Up

Firmoo.com allows you to sign up to their site via Facebook. This makes log-in simple and easier as you don't need to create a completely new account. As well Firmoo.com will save your prescription(s) for the next time you want to place an order.

Order Status
Firmoo.com likes to keep you well informed on the status of your order. You will receive emails to keep you updated on wether your order is Pending, New Order, In Process,  Shipped and Delivered! I found this very helpful as I anxiously awaited my order. 

First Impressions on Aviator #SC1611

A week after I placed my order on Firmoo.com my non prescription sunglasses were shipped. I received the sunglasses,a case, cleaning cloth and a mini screwdriver. The sunglasses were in great condition, no scratches or deformities on them from the shipping process. Firmoo.com suggest that you tighten the screws on the sides of the glasses to ensure they fit you best (hence the reason for the mini screw driver)! The aviators are lightweight, sturdy and definitely a step out of my comfort zone but I think they look good and I've received many compliments on them.

I'm really pleased with my first Firmoo.com experience. I'm also very pleased that Firmoo.com has graciously decided to give my first 10 readers a voucher code, makeupblog2, that covers a complete pair of glasses from this page http://www.firmoo.com/promo-free-glasses-samples.html 
(Shipping and handling fees are extra.Free frame + single vision lenses.Must be first time Firmoo.com customer and voucher expires April 15).

If you are one of the lucky ones that received a free pair using the voucher code, let me know how you like them in the comments below :)

Enjoy!

XOXO
Maha 




DISCLAIMER : Firmoo.com gifted me these sunglasses. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I have not been paid for this post. 


Thursday, March 17, 2016

3 Essential Steps To Becoming Spring Ready !

Spring is almost here - so some changes are in order! Not just your wardrobe needs an overhaul but so do your skin, makeup and hair. Let's start by swapping our winter coats and boots for a light spring jacket and rain boots(ankle boots as well!).I've compiled for you an easy 3 step guide that will take you from feeling damp and dreary to feeling beautiful, refreshed and ready for Spring!


PREP SKIN





Your skin is your biggest organ(yes it's an organ,look it up!) and should be taken care of just as you do your heart. We all know good skin is highly sought after. It all starts within. It's been proven that a well hydrated body emits a natural glow that rivals the best highlighter on the market. For your body to be well hydrated you need to  drink at least 6-8 glasses of water. By consuming water you are flushing toxins out of your system and allowing your glow to come thru. It's not magic, it's science! 

At times, drinking 6-8 glasses of water isn't enough or practical so you need the help of exfoliating products. A cleansing power tool helps to rapidly exfoliate the body to reduce dry patches and leaves skin feeling very smooth.


Cleansing your skin is so important first thing in the morning as well as at night to ensure all the products and environmental toxins are removed from your pores. Choose a cleaner that is right for your skin type.


Using a reliable water based toner after cleansing helps to ensure your skin is receiving a healthy dose of antioxidants for the day.


Weekly exfoliating of the skin is necessary! Since many of us can't make it to the aesthetician on a weekly basis, it's great to rely on a solid BHA exfoliating product that improves skins texture, appearance and gets rid of blackheads. As well a decent BHA product will help with collagen production. 

A serum loaded with antioxidants will help to firm, brighten and hydrate your skin all day.


If dryness around the eyes during allergy season is a factor then adding an eye cream to your Spring prep routine will definitely help. An effective eye cream will hydrate the under eye and reduce puffiness.

There is no excuse for leaving the house without sunscreen. Sunscreen is the #1 defence against ageing skin and skin cancer.



Update Makeup Bag



Put away those matte lipsticks and reach for a coral lippie! Spring is the time of new awakenings and rejuvenation so don't hesitate to be inspired and try different colours.

Adding a soft cheerful pastel shade to your lids is not only fun, but will also make them pop. Adding a bright bold colour to your inner and under waterline will tie the look together. If a bright purple in your waterline is not your thing, you can always reach for a nude toned eye pencil to give a bright eyed and awake look!

Feeling like winter took away your colour ? Add a soft bronzer + highlighter to your makeup routine to liven up your colour and give the illusion you just came back from the islands!

Blush is magic! It's an instant "pick me up" and if applied properly  can easily transform your look. During the winter months the plums, golds and nudes were in high demand. This Spring, go after the pinks, purples and corals.

Wearing a lightweight concealer and foundation as a base will help enhance your natural beauty and won't make you look overdone. 

Applying a coat or two of black mascara always pulls the look together. If your feeling adventurous, teal and pink mascara(a light coat obviously) is a big hit this season. 

Pampering your feet and nails is a luxury. Schedule a mani - pedi as soon as you can. Once the sun starts shining you're going to want to wear sandals and open toe heels so it's best to be prepared. If you can't make it to an esthetician, read this article for a DIY mani - pedi at home! When choosing colour go for the pinks, reds and pastels.

When choosing a Springtime scent, ensure that it represents your personality. If you're not a flower lover than don't choose a citrus or fruity scent.If you don't like attention than a bold scent such as musk or amber is most likely not for you! If you're Vegan or a Naturalist, there are many companies that offer natural organic scents. Whatever scent you choose, ensure it represents your style and personality well. A lingering scent is at times how people remember you, so make it fabulous!

Transform Hair


\\ Otto-Keunis Intensive Mask \\
\\ L'Oreal TecniArt Volume Mousse\\

We can finally say goodbye to Winter hat hair, frizzy and unmanageable tresses! It's time to pamper your hair. Your hair says a lot about you so ensuring it looks healthy and shiny should be a top priority this Spring. 

At the start of every new season you should trim your ends. This will promote hair growth without breakage and thinning. If your  fearless and ready for a change you may want to try a sexy pixi cut or a cute and very wearable LOB (longer bob).

Using a sulfate and paraben free shampoo and conditioner will help hydrate the hair and clean your scalp. A clean scalp ensures your hair can breath and in turn can grow easily. 

An intensive repair mask should be your best friend this Spring.
A hair mask will help heal the damage from the cold Winter months. Once or twice a week is necessary to bring life and hydration back into your hair.

Styling your hair is always fun, but at times can damage your hair. Constant heat and tugging at the tresses weakens the follicles and over time destroys vital proteins needed for hair repair and growth.
This Spring go "Oh Natural" with your hair!If you have curly or wavy hair, shampoo your tresses, let it air dry and add a bit of volumizing mouse to your roots and ends. If you have naturally straight hair, towel dry the hair and comb out any frizz that may have  developed from the towel. 

If you must add heat to your hair, ensure you keep the hair dryer as far from your hair as possible to reduce damage. Coating your hair with heat styling products beforehand will minimize the damage.

Applying a shine spray to your hair will create a luminous shine and this will give the illusion that you have natural healthy hair. A good quality shine spray will also offer UV,thermal and environmental toxin protection.

If you decide to tackle any or all of these 3 essential steps, leave a comment below and let me know how it goes! I love hearing from you all!

Happy Spring  :)



XOXO
MAHA


 
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