First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is that miracle cream I didn't even dare dream about. In the words of FAB:

"FAB Ultra Repair Cream is a thick, rich, emollient product that hydrates deep down with exceptional penetration. With the help of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, soothing eucalyptus oil and ceramides, FAB Ultra Repair Cream provides immediate relief and visible improvement for distressed skin. FAB Antioxidant Booster is there to defend skin from free radical damage. Ultra Repair Cream can be used all over the body and on the face."

That's right, it's a cream for the face AND body. Impossible, right? Wrong. This stuff is hydrating enough to moisturize my extremely chapped hands and make them soft, but light and non-greasy enough for me to use on my face without causing it to feel like an oil slick or break out. Which is pretty amazing if you think about it.

This one product has solved my biggest problem with hand creams. I need to put them on multiple times a day because I've got very dry skin (add to that that I'm a germaphobe and I wash my hands constantly) and they have to be pretty darn intense to make any difference at all. But I HATE when I put on hand cream, forget, and touch my face. Next thing you know, my face is covered in hand cream. Which ain't good. Unless, of course, the cream on your hands is FAB Ultra Repair Cream.

On top of that, it has this amazing cooling effect - which I'm putting down to the oatmeal and eucalyptus. It's like putting whipped, refrigerated air on your face (and hands and feet and body) that magically makes skin feel better, no matter what's wrong with it - or even if there's nothing wrong with it at all.

The smell isn't overpowering - in fact, at first I thought it was unscented. It smells a bit like Noxzema (remember that stuff from high school?), but not as strong.

It comes in a big 6 oz tub, as you can see above, but it also comes in a convenient squeeze tube so you can throw it in your purse to use as a hand cream on the go. If you're as big of a fan of it as I am, you can even grab it in the 12 oz tub - but this is a bit harder to find as most retailers (Feel Unique, ebeauty and Sephora included) don't carry it for some strange reason!

I'm starting to become a bit obsessed with this brand. Between this and their amazing Ultra Repair Lip Therapy, I'm hooked. Stay tuned for a couple more FAB product reviews in the near future!

From the French Pharmacie: Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse

I've always hated the feel of oil on my skin. Seriously, can't stand it. Every time I try to even use an overly rich moisturizer that leaves oily residue I end up washing it off within half an hour. So to say I was skeptical about the whole 'dry oil' concept is an undersatement.

For those of you who haven't heard of this fascinating product, it's an oil that contains all the nourishment and benefits of regular oil, but that is formulated to absorb quickly into the skin rather than sitting on top of it.

According to the product website:

"With its unique concentration of 6 Precious Oils (Borage, St. John's Wort, Sweet Almond, Camellia, Hazelnet Hazelnut and Macadamia) and Vitamin E, this easily-absorbed, multi-usage Dry Oil will leave your skin soft and silky in a single step, while your hair will be left with amazing softness and shine.No preservatives."

This oil seriously does it all. You can add a drop or two to foundation for an easier application and more radiant finish, or to your moisturizer to make it a bit richer. You can run it through damp hair to leave it shiny and soft and apply to trouble spots for some extra moisture. You can use it instead of a serum under moisturizer if your skin needs a little something extra or dab it on for some subtle fragrance. You can even throw a few drops in your bath for an extra-luxuriant soak.

The fragrance is a bit floral, but with a deeper note that carries it and stops it smelling old-ladyish. It's definitely noticeable, but not overwhelming, so even people like myself who aren't big on fragrance will find it pleasant, while any perfume lover will want to just stand there breathing it in.

As you can see, there are three different sizes of the oil available - and all three have a different lid. The best option is the lid that comes on the 100 mL bottle - but of course, that's the most expensive! The 50 mL is good if you're using it on your face - it has a tiny hole and you have to turn the product upside down to get any to come out. I usually turn it upside down on my finger or tap it on my hand to get the oil out, but it can splatter a bit if shaken and not much comes out at a time. Not fantastic. With the tiniest 10 mL travel size, you can pour some into your hand which is okay for body application, but it's easy to get too much. You can also turn it upside down onto a finger if you want just a bit, but like with the 50 mL bottle only a tiny bit comes out and it takes forever to cover your entire face, let alone body.

You can get a tiny 10 mL trial size in the Nuxe Travel Kit (available for USD 20.64 on Feel Unique), which gives you an opportunity to try it without investing in a big bottle, and a very little goes a long way, so it'll still last you awhile. But trust me, after you try it, you'll want to make that investment. This stuff is like liquid gold!

Beauty Blogger Crush: Vivianna Does Makeup

I only just discovered this girl and I honestly do not know how I didn't find her earlier! She's so cute, so pretty, so natural - both in appearance and on camera - and she just seems like someone you'd want to grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and girl talk with. Plus you know I love my Brits.

The video I posted above might seem like an odd place to start you on her channel, but there's a reason I picked it. Though Vivianna knows what she's talking about in any area of beauty, girl really knows her skincare and haircare. And, as you might have noticed, I've been on a real skincare kick of late.

She's not just a YouTube guru, she also has a blog of the same name - Vivianna Does Makeup, which you can check out here. 

Of course, you can't watch half her 2012 faves, so if you want to see part one, here it is. And, of course, go check out her channel, subscribe and check out all the great videos she's already uploaded!

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette - 594 Original

Some of my most popular posts of all times were the ones I did about Sleek's Pout Paints and Glossed lip glosses. This might just be because you guys love lip colours - but in case it's Sleek you love, I'm going to be posting up reviews of some of their other products. Starting with their uber-popular eyeshadow palettes.

Let's start, predictably enough, with the Original palette (number 594). Coincidentally, I think this was the first Sleek eyeshadow palette I ever bought.

It has a good range of shades for those of you who are looking for a palette that has a few neutrals for every day, but also a few more fun options to play around with.

They're all shimmer finish except for the black one, which I don't think is matte, but definitely not as shimmery as the others. I'm a neutral shadow girl, for the most part, so my favourites are mostly on the bottom row, though that navy is amazing as a liner for a smokey eye!

I swatched these without a primer, since I know a lot of you who are just getting into makeup might not yet have the hang of (or budget for) eye primers. As you can see, the colour payoff is still pretty darn good and the finish is beautiful. These blend very easily and last nearly as well as high-end shadows.

What I like about this particular palette is that it's great value and gives a good range of options for all eye and skin colours without getting too wild and crazy, and you get a decent amount of each shadow. I think it's a great one to give as a present, particularly to a younger makeup fan who's just starting out with their makeup collection.

For drugstore eyeshadow palettes, you can't beat it. Unfortunately you can't find these in drugstores in North America, but you can get them online direct from Sleek for $9.99 - and shipping is only $2.77! Not too shabby for 12 shadows, I tell ya.

Monthly Faves: March 2013

I'll admit it. I'm nosy. I love watching bathroom and makeup organization tours on YouTube, I'm obsessed with watching faves, empties and product review videos and I love hearing about other people's skincare regimes. I like seeing what people have been using on a daily basis and what they have been reaching for again and again. Nearly every product I buy is based on reviews I've watched or read, and I look forward to the turn of the month to see everyone's product roundups.

So I figure it's time for me to jump in on the action and share some of my monthly faves!

Makeup:

1. MAC Fix+ - I hadn't been using this much lately, but I decided I needed to use it up, so I added it back into the routine, partly because it works well with #6.
2. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - I have two of the Nakeds - this one and the original. I don't know why, but they rarely get used. I decided to make some use out of it. I've been using Tease (5th from left) as a blending crease colour and Busted (2nd from right) over my Elizabeth Arden pencil to add depth and a hint of plum.
3. MAC Select MoistureCover Concealer in NC15 - I was using a Stila concealer, but it just doesn't give enough coverage, so I've gone back to this one - it covers well but is moisturizing and blends well.
4. MAC Lustre Lipstick in Plumful - I saw this featured in a couple of YouTube videos and decided to bust it out - it's great for daytime to add a bit of colour without going overboard.
5. Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Espresso 03 - One of my all-time faves and holy grail products. Intensely pigmented, easy to blend and wears well. 'Nuff said.
6. MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15 in Light - I started using this again because it's been sitting around and I don't want it to go to waste. I like that it's easy to apply with just my fingers, gives decent coverage and isn't too heavy on my skin. The only thing is that I find it a bit dull, and since discovering Laura Mercier's Bare Radiance it just isn't quite as good. I've been spraying Fix+ over it to give a bit of dewiness, and I like it but probably won't stick with it once it's gone.
7. Dior Diorshow Mascara - I've had this for longer than you're supposed to use mascaras (but that's a rule I habitually break anyway) because I've been saving it, but I've been using it more lately. It's not my all-time fave, but I like the brush, which is large and has long, bushy bristles. The formula isn't bad but even when I bought it it was a bit on the dry side. It smells lovely, though and works well for daytime.
8. Nars SPF 30 Pro Prime Multi-Protect Primer - The warmer weather has led me to worrying about SPF in my products. I love this stuff. It isn't too heavy, creates a good base for makeup application, has a lovely citrusy scent and the SPF is an added bonus.

Skincare:

1. Bioderma Sensibio (or Créaline) H2O Micelle Solution - I'm a little late to this particular bandwagon. I actually bought this over a year ago and it had been sitting sadly forgotten in one of my boxes. But during my French skincare kick I decided to dig it out and give it a go. So far, so good! Full review to follow.
2. Nuxe Gentle Toning Lotion - I haven't used toner in years, but I started again this month. I really like this one - it's cooling and gentle and does a great job of removing any last little bit of makeup, dirt or cleanser. Not astringent and doesn't dry out skin.
3. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré - You've all heard plenty about this one already, so I won't bore you. Go here if you missed it.
4. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm - Likewise with this one - I use it every night before bed. Here's more.
5. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash - Still loving this stuff. Seriously awesome. Again, I've already gone on about it at length here.
6. Clinique All About Eyes - This is a little sample size that I got and figured why not give it a go? I love it as a nighttime cream - it's gentle, rich, easy to blend and absorbs quickly.

Body:

1. Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - I'm in love with this stuff. I keep it on my bedside table and in my purse. I put it on throughout the day and when I'm going to bed. It has a very subtle scent that's hard to describe - but it's similar to other Caudalie products. It's like grape, but not synthetic grape scent, more like when you pick a sour green grape straight from the vine. It has a lovely consistency, isn't overly greasy and helps my dry skin survive my frequent hand-washing!
2. Neal's Yard Citrus Hand Wash - I got this as part of a gift set that I've been saving and saving... but it expires soon and I didn't want to waste it, so I busted it out. This has the most refreshing, delicious and light lemony scent. It's not at all synthetic or sweet, just a lovely clean scent. Best. Ever.
3. Mountain Ocean Coconut Skin Trip - I've had this sitting on my shelf since last summer, and as you can probably tell, I'm on a mission to use up products I've had for awhile. I know it's more suited to the warm summer months, but it's actually nice to wear a summery scent in early spring because it makes me feel like summer really is right around the corner and picks me up on days that are grey and mopey. Love the natural coconut scent that isn't overly sweet or synthetic. Consistency is nourishing but not heavy. Love this stuff.
4. Lavanila the Healthy Deodorant in Grapefruit Vanilla - I've been looking for an effective natural deodorant. This stuff smells amazing - like baby powder mixed with light vanilla and a hint of grapefruit. The only down side is that it doesn't last as long and I find that if I use this exclusively it actually works less effectively as time goes on, so I need to switch off with a traditional deodorant and can't use it if I'm going to be particularly active.

Nails L-R:

1. OPI Lincoln Park - This is nearly black, but with a hint of burgundy red in it that takes the harsh edge off a bit. Love this for a dark polish look.
2. Sephora by OPI Ocean Love Potion - One of my fave turquoise polishes, I've been wearing this for a couple of years now. I find myself reaching for it as soon as the sunny weather hits.
3. Nails Inc. Baker Street - I saw Lily Pebbles from What I Heart Today wearing this in her videos a couple of times - and every time I saw it I was like wait, stop everything, what is that polish?? And each time, this was the one. It's an amazing electric blue that stands out and catches the eye. Loving it!

That's it for another month! What have you been loving?