All posts filed under: Beauty

5 CHINESE BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND TRENDS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR ROUTINE

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If you ever go shopping in China, be weary of employees pulling you into their store and handing you every item you touch. These sales tactics took me by surprise, especially while I was browsing through beauty shops at the Shangxiajiu Shopping Street in Ghangzhou. Despite the aggressiveness of store employees, China has an extensive selection of beauty items that caught my attention. I learned how to keep nails shiny, why slathering bean sprouts all over your face is a good idea, and was introduced to an anti-pollution cleanser currently #trending throughout the country. Here is my round up of Chinese trends and beauty products you need to know about.   Anti-pollution solution Smog. In. Beijing. It’s a serious environmental concern, affecting the overall health of those who populate the city, or any city for that matter. If there is smog in the air, it’s likely hitting your face causing (among other health issues) skin to age faster. The Chinese cosmetics industry jumped on the opportunity to develop anti-pollution products that includes the fight against PM …

5 TAIWANESE BEAUTY TRENDS AND PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO TRY NOW (like hangover-chic makeup)

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Two things will happen if you go to Taiwan: first, you will never be hungry thanks to the insane amount of street vendors on every corner (I recommend the ice cream spring roll) and second, beauty options will be bountiful. Whether you’re at Watsons, Cosmed or a larger beauty boutique, Taiwan does not disappoint in their selection of drugstore and high-end beauty picks. It’s no surprise since they are heavily influenced and geographically located near beauty giants such as Japan, South Korea and China. Unique ingredients make up some of Taiwan’s most popular beauty staples such as silk, ginger, pearl and even snail (don’t knock it ‘til you try it). So I knew I had to experience the wonderful world of Taiwanese beauty for myself. I traveled all over the country to seek the latest in beauty trends and products, and this is what I discovered. Hangover-chic With the help of different eyeliner shades in Taiwan, you can choose to look like you got eight hours of sleep, or eight minutes. A couple swipes of the …

SLATHER YOUR BODY WITH SUGAR & SPICE

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If you’re a last minute shopper, and you don’t quite know what to get your secret santa who a) loves the holidays b) has a personality that is both sweet & spicy and c) likes to support made in Canada products.. you can end your search here. Rocky Mountain Co’s limited edition Vanilla Ginger Hand & Body Wash, Vanilla Ginger Shimmer Lotion & Vanilla Ginger Deodorant are all under $15 each, 100% natural and toxin-free (no parabens or sulfates found here!). The shimmer lotion surprised me the most since shimmer/glitter/sparkles of any kind on my body can be a scary situation. However, my New Years resolution is to try something new every day so, I gave it a go. I spread the lotion on my décolleté when I went out with my friends the other night and was left pleasantly surprised. The lotion is not shimmery to the point where it looks like a pixie ran into me, it simply left a subtle, healthy glow with a lingering scent. Speaking of scent, WATCH OUT! The scent is super strong, like …

6 JAPANESE TRENDS & BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

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After 10 excruciating hours on plane from Vancouver to Tokyo, I can feel the recycled air drying my dull, tired-looking skin. Not a cute look, especially since I was sitting beside a young, handsome Japanese lad. Just my luck. I found myself envying his thick black hair and dewy skin. He looks more put together than I do, on a good day. #goals. Upon landing in Tokyo, he shuffled through his Tom Ford toiletry bag (ugh he would, right?) and pulled out a bottle that he spritzed all over his face. “Excuse me?” I asked quietly. “May I ask what you’re using?” pointing to the spray. He didn’t speak much English, but showed me a turquoise bottle that read, DHC Q10 Water Mist ($29, dhccare.com). If this was his secret to his healthy glowing skin, sign me up! We all know Asia is on the forefront of beauty innovation, and my mission is to find the latest trends and products from different parts of the continent. Read on as I tour Japan and round up …

AUGUST BEAUTY FAVOURITES 2015

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As I was gathering my favourite beauty products from the month of August, I unintentionally picked up solely hair products. Since my hair has been growing (FINALLY!), these products have been giving my locks volume, texture and I can actually style it into tousled summer beach waves instead of a frizzed, damaged mess (happens to the best of us) and have these beauties to thank. 1. HEAD & SHOULDERS DRY SCALP CARE I have very fine hair, which can get flat and dirty in a matter of a few hours. If I’m not jumping around in mud or walking down King St. (referring to the amount of dust that comes out from the construction sites in the morning), this shampoo keeps my hair clean and soft for a solid couple days. 2. INFINITI NANO SILVER BY CONAIR I take my showers late at night, probably 15 minutes before I go to bed. My mother has told me time and time again to not to go bed with wet hair or else it will “mush my brain up.” As a …

THE PERFECT GEL MASK FOR SUMMER

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It’s no stranger I’m a lover of organic beauty, especially when it comes to skin care because honestly, skin care > makeup. I recently discovered an organic gel mask, perfect for summer months since it has a refreshing, cooling sensation that seeps into your sun-kissed or sun-burnt (SPF, USE IT!) skin. iLike’s Carotene Essentials Gel Mask ($59, Allegra Spa) originated from Hungary (home of my girl crush, Barbara Palvin), containing natural ingredients such as apple, honey, carrot, cantaloupe and algae, which all help nourish and regenerate skin tissue. What I love most about this gel mask is that it contains beta-carotene. beta..WHAT? Beta-carotene derives from the carrot root and contains vitamin A, which help heal wounds and strengthen tissue for younger looking skin. So, if you have acne scars or sensitive skin, this mask could be your saviour. When I first applied this mask onto my face and neck, the texture reminded me of baby food, with pulp (note: not extracts, which can be harsh), and it actually felt quite nice to massage onto my skin. I left the …

FEATURED ON MMF SALON

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I was beyond flattered when MMF Salon approached me to answer a few Q’s on their blog! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I realize more than my mom reads my blog (hi mom!). Click HERE to see the original version. Enjoy! ===== Jessica Moy on Toronto Summer, Health & Life Know how some bloggers just seem simply down-to-earth, approachable and completely down for anything? Jessica Moy is one of them and she’s also based in the Greater Toronto Area (representing the six!). For those who don’t know her or her blog, Walk In Beauty, Jessica blogs about everything from beauty, fitness, her work life (yes, she also has a full-time job!) to Toronto nude beaches. She’s relatable and has a no-fuss style we love… In a nutshell, she’s a blogger and PR-gal to look out for. So we decided to turn the tables and ask her what’s up in the city. Read on to get to know more about Jessica! Briefly introduce yourself in a 3-sentence paragraph! Who is Jessica Moy? I stand at 5’10” and am a …

JULY BEAUTY FAVOURITES 2015

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I’ve been having a GREAT skin month. These months are rare, so let me bask in my no acne, no discolouration, no dry patch happiness. I’ve been having a natural #IWokeUpLikeThis glow and I can’t stop raving about it. My secret? It’s been a combination of drinking a ton of water, getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night and products I’ve included in this months beauty favs. Find out more below! 1. Ddung Family Peeling Gel This Korean peeling gel visibly rolls, lifts and sweeps away dead skin cells. It works just like an exfoliator, but it comes out like a smooth gel until you massage into your skin. After a few seconds, the gel breaks a part to little enzymes which gives your skin a deep clean and (literally) rolls away any dead skin. I use this once or twice a week and absolutely love how it’s been working to clear up my skin. 2. Pure Anada Marine Mineral Hydrating Toner If you haven’t heard of Pure Anada, I’m about to change your beauty routine. As …

JUNE BEAUTY FAVOURITES 2015

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I can’t believe it’s July! With the patches of gloomy weather we’ve been having in Toronto, it doesn’t even feel like summer. The muggyness has my hair in perma-frizz and to be honest, I haven’t even bothered to brush through it (think Mia Thermopolis pre-makeover). My bitterness about the weather and semi-unkempt nature aside, I do have beauty products I used constantly last month that picked up my beauty slack, including a new drugstore mascara, a bomb face cleanser and .. a bust cream? Yup, that’s a thing. Read more below! 1. Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Moisturizer  I’m a big fan of Olay moisturizers in general but, this one from their Luminous collection has been a game changer for my skin. The cream itself is thicker than most moisturizers, which makes dryness not even a concern for a solid 24 hours and has been helping to fade away dark-spots, leaving a natural don’t-even-need-to-wear-makeup glow. The best kind of glow, amirite? 2. Maybelline Lash Sensational For three years, Maybelline’s Falsies has been my holy grail mascara. I would not buy …

GET DIRTY WITH JEALOUS BODY SCRUB

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I recently learned the dirtier I got in the shower, the better. Of course I’m referring to a body scrub, you were thinking that too, right? Jealous Body Scrub hails from Vancouver and contains 100% natural ingredients such as Robusta coffee grounds, raw brown sugar, sea salt and cold pressed coconut oil. A must-have for anyone who wants to reduce the look of cellulite, stretch marks, eczema or if you’re looking for healthy, glowing skin in general (a.k.a everyone, ever). The scrub comes in a flat, brown paper bag you zip open and close like a regular Ziploc, and if you can’t place the brown bag anywhere in the shower or if the water is making the bag flimsy, pour the contents into a clear jar like I did! Now, let’s get into the dirty details. When I first opened Jealous Body Scrub, I instantly got a huge whiff of coffee. You wouldn’t know the difference if you held the scrub in one hand and a regular coffee grounds in the other. As a coffee …

Love Korean beauty products? Here’s the beauty box you must check out

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Over the last few years, Korea has taken over the beauty world by producing products we didn’t know we needed—and now can’t live without. Think BB and CC creams, acid foot peels, cushion compacts, sleeping masks and more. Now, some of the hottest Korean beauty trends can be sent right to your doorstep thanks to e-commerce site, Memebox. They offer a huge range of products from Korea, including skincare, makeup and haircare, through a curated beauty box that ships to 51 countries—including Canada! Think of Memebox as a Korean version of Birchbox, except it’s NOT a monthly subscription. You can purchase a box whenever you want, at any time of the year. If you love a product that’s in your box, you can also purchase it directly on the Memebox site. Each pre-packaged box includes four to eight full-sized or deluxe beauty products, all chosen by Korean beauty experts and priced between $23 and $32. There are dozens of themes to choose from, such as anti-aging (the “#6 Anti-Aging” box), oil control (the “Free From Oil & Trouble” box) or masks (the “#54 Miracle Masks” box). If you’re feeling a …

TEST COUNTER: JESSICA’S EXPERIENCE WITH ALCON AIR OPTIX’S CONTACT LENS

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“Pull you lid all the way back!” “Just drop it in!” “Look at your eye, the contact is folding over because you’re squinting!” These were common phrases heard by my poor optometrist as she patiently waited until I put Alcon’s Air Optix Colors onto my retinas. Before last week I have never put contacts in my eyes and boy, was it a mission. After about my 150th attempt and 45 minutes grueling minutes later, I finally got them in. I jokingly told her they’re never coming out – she looked at me and said I needed to learn how to properly remove them too or else I wasn’t allowed to leave. Geez, tough crowd. The time and effort it took to put Alcon’s Optix Colors into place was actually SO worth it in the end. I have brown eyes naturally so when choosing my shades, I went for ones that were a lot different from mine – “Gray” and “Blue” to be exact. The “Gray” was my favourite because it enhanced my hair and skintone …

DIY EGG WHITE FACE MASK

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Remove blackheads with this peel-off mask containing ingredients found right at home! Blackheads are dark spots found on your skin that form when skin produces sebum. Sebum is a natural lubricant for your skin and hair to prevent both from drying out. If you have naturally oily skin, you typically have larger pores, so when sebum moves up to the surface of your skin, air enters. Sebum contains melanin, which turns dark when exposed to open air, aka your blackhead. Blackheads are NOT dirt and scrubbing does NOT remove them. What does? You can try pore strips for your nose, but some of us (like myself) have blackheads on our cheeks and forehead. When I tried this egg white mask, it was a total game changer on the overall complexion and feel of my skin. This egg white mask will help reduce sebum and tighten pores, which will also help with the elasticity of your skin and slow down the wrinkle process. I also like to squirt a bit of lemon juice in the mix …