Review: Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water

I’ve been using this makeup remover for a while now and I love it.  No matter what else I try, I always go back to it and wonder why I even bothered trying something new.

Every night before I go to bed I use this to remove my eye makeup.  I’m sure I should be able to remove all of my makeup with whatever cleanser I’m using but that hasn’t happened yet but I’m okay with it.  I’m not sure a cleanser could actually ever get all my eye makeup off.  I wear waterproof liquid eyeliner and several thick coats of (non-waterproof) mascara daily so it’s not simple to remove.

This makes it easier.  I can usually get all my makeup off by using two cotton pads soaked in it.  It’s really gentle and not greasy at all.  I actually feel like it hydrates the skin around my eyes too.

I also use it to fix any makeup mistakes I tend to make in the morning.  I wear liquid eyeliner but I’m honestly horrible at applying it so I’m always touching it up.  I also always end up getting mascara on my eyelids or below my eyes.  A q-tip dipped in this cleans everything up really quickly and easily.

And lastly, I love this stuff because sometimes I’m lazy and do not feel like going through a 12 step cleansing routine every night.  I may be exaggerating a bit there but ugh sometimes I’m tired and I just want to go to bed but not necessarily with a full face of makeup on. #lazy  So I use this and I’m in bed in 3 minutes instead of 15.  I don’t like to make a habit of it but for that occasional lazy night, it works great.

Find it: Sephora (in store or online)

Cost: $25.00 CAD for 13.5 oz; $15.00 CAD for 5 oz.

Have a great weekend!

New Spring tops!

Happy Hump Day!

This past weekend I was on a mission to find some tops to wear under blazers and cardigans at work.  Sometimes I find it difficult to find tops that look professional (not too thin, low cut, etc.), fit well, are comfortable and are reasonably priced.  I was actually quite impressed with how successful I was finding some that I loved!. Here’s what i picked up:

1) Ricki’s Mixed Media Henley Top ($39.99 CAD)

I often have trouble trying to find sleeveless tops that are too big under the arms and this one fits perfectly.  It’s also not too long so I can wear it tucked in or out and it doesn’t look sloppy.  The colors and print on this one are great as well. I couldn’t find this exact print on their website but they do have it online in a mint green, white and a black and white print.

2)  Express Sleeveless Portofino Shirt ($44.90 CAD)

Not much to say here – basic white blouse.  Boring but I needed one.  I must say I do really like the fit of these Portofinio tops.  I usually struggle finding dressier blouses where the buttons don’t gape.  Not an issue with these and on me they are just the perfect length!  They come in a wide range of colors as well.

3) Express Pocket and Zip Crepe Fit Front Tank  ($39.90 CAD)

The color is what drew me to this one.  It’ll definitely be worn under a blazer/cardi, the material is a little thin so I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing this to work on it’s own.  It’ll be nice and light for summer though!

4) Express Neon Pineapple Convertible Sleeve Portofino Shirt ($59.90 CAD)

You may remember I had posted this shirt in my Spring Fashion Inspiration post last week.  I really liked it online and when I saw it in store I knew I had to have it.  It’s not something I would normally buy but I loved how bright and fun it was, especially for summer.  Can’t wait to wear this to work on Friday with jeans and flats!

The Portofino shirts were on sale for Buy One, Get One 50% but the other two tops were full price. Typically I never buy anything that isn’t on sale (especially @ Rickis – they always have some kind of sale on!) but when I found ones that fit and looked good I just scooped them up without thinking about it too much.

Overall I’m pretty happy with my purchases!  I’d like to get the Henley top from Ricki’s in the mint green but I think I’ll wait until those go on sale to purchase any additional ones.  I’d love to pick up a few more of the sleeveless Portofino tops as well but i probably need to give my credit card a bit of rest for a few weeks.

Have a great day!

Follow me on BlogLovin!

Hey everyone!

I just joined BlogLovin and I’d love for you to follow me! I promise I’ll follow back!  Click the link below to do so:

<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13978747/?claim=qwbn243th5d”>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Thanks so much!

Weekend recap – April 20

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!  I was lucky enough to have a 3 day weekend so I feel a little more refreshed than usual and not too cranky about it being Monday again!

I spent my Friday at the shopping mall.  I spent waaaay too much money but I’m pretty excited about the things I picked up!  If you read my Friday post you’ll know that I was out looking for some new spring work clothes and I was successful there (post coming later this week on this).  I also hit up Sephora, Lush & Shoppers Drug Mart!  Considering I just made a significant purchase online at Sephora earlier this week I’m a little scared to check my credit card balance.  Anyway, here’s what I picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart:

Left to Right: Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer ($10.79 CAD – On Sale); Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer ($6.99 CAD – On Sale), Essence I ❤ Stage Eyeshadow Base ($3.49 CAD – On Sale); Essence Eyeliner Pen ($2.99 CAD – On Sale); Essence Superfine Eyeliner Pen ($2.99 CAD – On Sale).

So far I’m really impressed with the Maybelline concealer, Rimmel Primer and Essence eyeliner pen!  Not too crazy about the Essence eyeshadow primer and the Essence Super Fine eyeliner pen.

I also picked up the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub ($9.99 CAD) and I’m really liking it!  Earlier this week I was contemplating the Fresh Sugar Lip Scrub but I was struggling with the price.  This one was half the price and works great – so far.

Lastly my Sephora purchases:

Left to Right: Rouge Dior Brilliant Lip Gloss & Lipstick Samples (free) ; Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge ($19.00 CAD); Living Proof Instant Texture Mist (100 point sample); Sephora Collection Eco Biodegradable Sharpener ($7.50 CAD)

The sponge seems to work well to remove my makeup but I’m not sure it’s doing anything groundbreaking just yet.  Haven’t tried the sharpener or the samples but I will at some point.

I plan on giving all these products at least a good week of use before I do a full review (only seems fair).

The rest of my weekend was pretty boring which was fine with me.  I caught up on a lot of sleep, went for a few dog walks and cleaned the house. #exciting.

Wishing you a great week!

Spring Fashion Inspiration

I’m not sure where you live but here, the weather has been absolutely fantastic.  We’re actually having a real Spring, which is super rare for us.  I’m very tempted to pack up my winter clothes and pull out my spring/summer stuff but there’s two problems with that 1) we can still get snowstorms well into May 2) I don’t really have many spring clothes to pull out.

I’m really in need of work clothes for Spring/Summer.  My work wardrobe consists of some pretty basic things – dress pants (I liked cropped/ankle length as I’m in between a petite and regular length at most stores and I HATE getting things hemmed), pencil skirts, tailored blazers, flowy blouses and fitted cardigans.  I love colour and I’ll tend to either wear a neutral bottom and coloured top or vice versa.  I’m really don’t consider myself trendy at all – in fact by the time that I feel comfortable wearing something that is trendy, it’s usually no longer in style.  If I had to define my style, I’d consider it to be classic, hence the name of my blog. 🙂

Some of my favourite places to stop are Express, Ann Taylor, Loft, RW & Co and Rickis.  Unfortunately there are very few Ann Taylor or Loft stores here in Canada and none in my neck of the woods so they are always two of the first places I stop in when I’m shopping in the US.  What they all have in common is that the offer really good basics – i.e. blazers, blouses, dress pants for a reasonable price and I find the quality pretty good as well.

In doing some online window shopping, there were a few trends that got me excited.  Lots of florals and scalloped hems and necklines – so feminine!  There also seems to be a lot of colour out there this year too which I love!   I’m heading out to do some shopping this weekend so I can’t wait to see what I can find to spruce and brighten up my wardrobe!

1. Windowpane High Waist Pencil Skirt – Express
2. Scallop Edge Shell – Loft
3. Scallop Bodice Dress – Loft
4. Columnist Ankle Pant – Express
5. Laser Cut Scallop Shell – Loft
6. Lace Pencil Skirt – Ann Taylor
7. Neon Pineapple Convertible Sleeve Portofino Shirt – Express 

Wishing you a great weekend!

Review: St. Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub

Okay I can barely put into words how much I loooooove this facial scrub.  I’ve been searching for a gentle, yet effective exfoliator for a while now and when I came across this one I was skeptical at first.  But I’m convinced that this is truly one of the best drugstore facial scrubs out on the market right now.  And its super budget friendly!

A while back I was having issues with my foundation not blending well.  I noticed on the days that I exfoliated, it applied smooth and even.  At the time I was using a few different products to exfoliate but all of them were way too harsh to use more than once a week.

I happened to be in Superstore a couple of months ago and noticed that they had their St. Ives products on sale.  The Fresh Skin Exfoliating Apricot Scrub was actually one I had been using and while I liked it, I found the exfoliating beads too coarse for me to use any more than once a week.  The Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub caught my eye, mainly because I find my skin can be a little dull sometimes.  I’m also pale, so I experience redness on a regular basis.  So I picked up a tube for $3 and off I went.

The next morning I gave it a try and instantly I was in love!  It has a super creamy texture and a really lovely citrus scent.  The exfoliating beads were small enough not to damage my skin but large enough to give it a good gentle scrub and leave it super soft!  Since then I’ve been slowly upping my usage to about 3-4 times a week. My skin is feeling and looking great with no irritation or dryness and a completely smooth palette to apply my makeup.

The only drawback is that I can’t say for certain that it’s doing anything to brighten and even my skin tone, so I wouldn’t recommend it for that purpose.  Also, as with any exfoliating product, make sure you keep it clear of the eye area.  I read a review of someone who got this in her eye and ended up with a scratched cornea. #ouch.  So avoid doing that.  Overall though, I am super stoked about my $3 purchase and it’s being added to my list of favorite products for sure.

In summary:

PROS:

• Gentle yet effective exfoliation
• Refreshing scent (not overpowering)
• Leaves skin smooth and soft (no dryness)
• Budget friendly!

CONS:

• No real evidence that it actually brightens or evens skin

COST: $3-$6 CAD, depending on retailer

WHERE I FOUND IT: Real Canadian Superstore; most drug/grocery stores

Happy exfoliating!

Maggie ❤

Weekend recap – April 13

Well it’s Monday again.  Weekends always go so fast and never seem long enough. My weekend mainly consisted of me alternating between laying in bed and lounging on the couch. I was still getting over this head cold/flu that I caught last week (still am) so I had no energy to do anything.  It was pretty disappointing as I missed out on a few things that had been planned for quite a while but what can you do.

Quality time with my bed and couch meant I had time to create a new header image for my blog, as you may have noticed.  I used Pic Monkey which is my new favorite photo editing tool. The photo editing options offered are literally endless, it’s really user friendly and best of all – it’s free! Another bonus: you also don’t have to log in and create an account to edit or create anything, which is great for lazies like me (just another password to remember). I also took the opportunity to change up my theme as my new header didn’t go well with the last one I was using (Sela).  I’m not convinced this one (Able) is truly the one either, but for now it’ll work.

One thing I learned about myself while I was furiously working away on my blog this weekend – I’m super critical and a perfectionist.  I’m still not happy with the fact that my header looks blurry but I finally had to let it go.  I spent hours creating one version, only to upload it and end up scraping it and then starting over again.  I had an idea in my head of what I wanted it to look like but creating that image wasn’t so easy.  Don’t even get my started on sizing #rage.

Anyway it’s done now and I feel it’s more reflective of me so I hope you like it! I also spent some time perusing Sephora.com this weekend.  If you’re a VIB Rouge member you should have received an email for 15% off your purchases from now until Tuesday.  I’ve got a long list of wants but for the sake of my credit card balance I need to scale that list back.  Here’s a few purchases I’m seriously considering: 1. Beauty Blender ($26 CAD) – I currently use a Quo knock off that I bought on sale for around $4.  It works well and I’m happy with it but I keep hearing everyone rave about these.  But $26 for a makeup sponge?  Seems ridiculous but I’ve spent more on stupider things.

2. Cover FX Custom Cover Drops ($44 CAD) – I’m running a little low on foundation and I’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews about this product.  The idea behind this is that you can blend a few drops with any face product – moisturizer, primer, oil, etc. and it works as a foundation which you can customize to create whatever level of coverage you desire.  Anything that’s versatile and customizable sounds great to me so I’m pretty tempted to take the plunge on this one.

3. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($35 CAD) – I’m also in need of a new face cleanser and again, the reviews on this one are very positive.  Ultimately I need a something that’s moisturizing and gentle, but can remove my makeup and not make me break out.  This isn’t a cheap option either but apparently it’s supposed to last a while which makes up for it.

4. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ($26 CAD) – My lips have been super dry and peel-y lately and I’ve been wanting to give this a try for a while.  The reviews on this one seem a little mixed so I’m interested to see how it works for me.

Have you tried any of these?  If so let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them!  I’ll be doing a blog post later this week to update you on my purchases.

One last thing I wanted to share – I watched the movie Tammy yesterday.  It’s a little older (released last summer) but I hadn’t had a chance to watch it yet.  Overall: HILARIOUS.  I’m a huge Melissa McCarthy fan and even though I think she’s played a similar character in her last few movies, she still cracked me up.  The critics weren’t kind to her in their reviews of it but who listens to them anyway?  If you like slapstick comedy with a touch of raunch I’d recommend it.

Have a fantastic week!

Maggie ❤

Sick Day Survival Kit

So I’ve been dealing with a head cold this week and I’ve been miserable.  I’ll admit it, I’m kind of a bear when I get sick and nothing makes me crankier than having a cold.  Aches, pains, chills, fever, sneezing, running nose, watery eyes.  Ugh.  Needless to say it’s been a long week.  The minute I get sick I usually head to the drugstore to pick up a few essentials to get me through it:

First off, Ombra Spa Aromatic Foam Bath in Eucalyptus (it must be Eucalyptus).  I’m a bath lover at the best of times, but when I’m sick, nothing feels better than soaking my aching limbs in a hot bubble bath.  The eucalyptus in this really helps clear my sinuses too.

Secondly, Nyquil Cold & Flu.  I always take a dose of this about a 1/2 hour before I head to bed and it usually knocks me out cold.  Sleep is obviously super important in kicking the cold to the curb but I often either a) can’t breathe because I’m so stuffed up or b) can’t get my nose to stop running.  This helps!

Thirdly, good old Vaseline!  I usually rub my nose raw wiping it with Kleenex, so I keep a tub of this next to my bed and apply it on and around my nose regularly.  Helps avoid a dry and peeling nose.

Other essentials: thick and super soft tissues (any with lotion work really well), Sucrets cough drops (numb throat = bliss!),  and of course the basics: peppermint tea with honey, chicken soup and lots of liquids!

Lastly, soft cozy pi’s are a must!  Love these from Victoria Secret:

Mayfair PJ’s

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

Maggie ❤

Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo (Life Changing!)

I have fine hair.  Super fine hair but lots of it.  Years ago, my choices were: a) wake up early, wash my hair every day and walk around in a zombie-like state OR b) walk around looking like a well-rested grease ball.  Some days my hair won, but most days sleep did.

Until I discovered Batiste (cue angels singing!).  This stuff has literally changed my life – I can now  go 2 whole days without washing my hair!

Like I said, my hair is pretty fine, but I have lots of it.  It doesn’t hold any kind of style well (exception: the kink from having my hair in a ponytail seems to last for eternity #ironic ) so I do apply a style primer and volumizing mousse into my freshly washed hair, which helps a bit.

Then day 2 rolls around.  I section off my hair, spray it on my roots and brush it through.  Sometimes, if brushing doesn’t get the product fully distributed I’ll rub it in with fingertips.  After that, viola – no more greasy roots!

I do the same on day 3…which in all honesty, could really be a lapse in judgement.  I do find my hair gets a little frizzy and limp on day 3…but meh.  My bed is comfy and I value the extra minutes of sleep more than having fantastic looking hair multiple times a week.  I usually pull it half up or spend a little extra time curling it on days when I feel it’s not quite looking up to par.

I’ve never attempted to go past day 3 without shampooing but I can tell you with a large amount of certainty that that wouldn’t be a good thing for me.  When I do wash my hair I wash it twice just to get rid of the two days of build up from the dry shampoo and other products I use.  I’d have zero volume or any kind of style if I attempted to extend my hair washing to Day 4.  Just not going to happen.

I know that some people find that dry shampoo adds volume to their roots but I’ve never found this to be the case with any dry shampoo I’ve tried.  But this could relate back to my hair type?  No clue.

The one thing I love about Batiste is that it’s in a aerosol spray.  I used to use the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo that came in powder form and it was so messy!  I would use a makeup brush to apply it to my roots but it always ended up getting everywhere.  I find the spray much easier to direct exactly where you want it and it’s cleaner.

I’ve purchased Batiste at Homesense/Winners and Superstore for $7.99.  I’ve also seen it available at Shoppers Drug Mart but I believe it was closer to $10 there.  A can usually lasts me a couple of weeks so I find the price really reasonable!  It comes in a variety of scents, some are better than others but overall I’d say they all smell pretty pleasant.  I’m indifferent about the one pictured above, but I have tried a cherry scented one that I really liked but has proven difficult to find.

In summary:

PROS:

• Soaks up grease!
• Pleasant smell
• Great price!

CONS:

• Can cause some buildup on scalp/roots, ensure you rub/brush it through your hair well to avoid this

COST: $8 – $10 CAD

WHERE I FOUND IT: Homesense, Winners, Superstore, Shopper’s Drug Mart

Here’s to looking less greasy!
Maggie ❤

Great find – Sam Edelman flats!

DSW (aka Designer Shoe Warehouse) recently opened a few locations in my city and I can’t tell you how excited this made me!  I’ve been to a few of their locations in the States and always loved their vast selection of shoes, purses and accessories.

So needless to say I braved the crowds and headed out there on their opening weekend.  I could have done some serious damage to my credit card about 5 seconds into the store but I restrained myself as I was looking for something pretty simple – basic black flats.  Low and behold I came across these in the clearance section:

I purchased a pair of Sam Edelman Felicia ballerina flats back in the Fall at a NordstromRack and I absolutely love them.  I have super high arches and my feet feel best and most comfortable in shoes that are flat, with very little to no arch support (no clue why that is?).  Anyway since that purchase I’ve been constantly seeking another pair, but I haven’t seen them many places here in Canada and those that I have (Nordstrom & The Bay) were priced at $100+.

These were marked down to $75 and then I received an additional 25% off so they came out to $56 plus GST.  On my way to the register I also spotted pairs in my size in hot pink (leather) and red (suede) which I tried really hard to ignore.  It was difficult but I did it.  Still impressed with myself about that.  #selfcontrol

I love that they are patent instead of just regular black leather!  It makes them a little more fancy – although I totally still wear them with jeans as much as I do my dressier work clothes.

Until next time!
Maggie ❤