Exfoliation

There are certain products we'll try once, maybe twice, but not bother repurchasing. And then there are other's that will have us running to the pharmacy as soon as we run out.

Here is one product that I have been using for years and that you will always, and I mean always, find in my bathroom. Unless maybe there's some sort of apocalypse and all the pharmacies had to close.

St. Ives Timeless Micro-Dermabrasionr- $25

This is by far my favourite St. Ives product. Exfoliation is a vital part of any skin routine: it removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores and gives you an overall brighter and smoother complexion.

St. Ives Daily Micro-Dermabrasion is one of the gentlest facial scrubs that I have tried. It has a granulated consistency that is not too harsh on skin, which, if you have sensitive skin like me, is a must. The beads in this product are very small, almost like sugar. If you have ever tried St. Ives Apricot Scrub and felt like a layer of skin was missing afterwards, you need to switch to this guy!

If you wear make up on a daily basis (especially foundation) you know that your skins needs to be clean, smooth (and well moisturized!) if order for your makeup to be applied properly - and this does just that.

The label says that this scrub can be used on a daily basis, but I wouldn't recommend using it that often. Over-exfolaiting your skin is worse than not exfoliating it at all!

I use this about once a week. I find I get the best results when using it in the shower, as the steam opens your pores and softens your skin, helping loosen any built-up dirt in your pores. Make sure to be gentle when using this product and not scrubbing too hard. I like to add a few drops of jojoba oil for extra moisture, especially during the cold winter months.

This item is a little pricey, but totally worth the $25 you'll spend. The good news is that even this small bottle lasts a long time (as you can tell by the faded lettering on mine).

So, if you're looking for an exfoliator that is gentle, yet effective, I highly suggest you give this product a try.

Dull to Dazzling

I have always heard my friends complain that their hair looks 'greasy', many of them using the old baby powder trick to reduce shine. Ever heard of it? I found it a bit strange when I first found out about it - wait, what? You're rubbing baby powder into your hair? You mean the kind they use for babies bottoms when cleaning their diapers? Yuck!! Luckily, greasy hair has never been an issue for me. Heck, I can go days without washing my hair and if anything it looks more dry. (BTW, I wash my hair frequently, not once every two weeks or anything ridiculous like that!)

If anything, I always found my hair could use a little more shine to it. This is where my trusty shine mist comes in.

Design Line Shine Mist - Apprx. $10

I purchased this years ago at a hair salon. I went in for a trim, and after having styled my hair the hairdresser spritzed some of this on. Wow - did I like what I saw! My hair looked healthy and glossy, but not to the point where it looked greasy and in need of a good wash.

I use this on occasion when my hair is looking a little dull. You want to hold the bottle a good two to three feet away from your head, and a few sprays does the trick. I try to aim in towards the ends of my hair and not the roots, because they tend to be drier. I find this product helps tame those little fly-aways, you know the ones that just seem to have a mind of their own?

I can't remember the exact price I paid for it, but it was pretty cheap. Wether you are wearing your hair down, or better yet opting for a classy up-do, this product ads just the right amount of shine and makes your hair style look like it was done by a professional!

Kate Winslet

Reese Witherspoon

See what I mean? It's all about the shine. Spray spray and dazzle away!

Tanda Zap

A while back, a friend and I decided to make a little shopping trip to Sephora. She ended up purchasing a product called the "Tanda Zap" - a zit zapper device. So this year, when I received a gift card to Sephora for Christmas, I though hey - why not try it out? I went ahead and purchased it. I've been using it for a little over a month now, and here's what I have to say about it.

Tanda Zap -$49

What it does according to the box:

Zap is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne.

-Clears existing breakouts

-Prevents future breakouts

-Starts clearing blemishes immediately

How it works: The Tanda Zap allows for 1000 'zaps'. Each 'zap' is two minutes long. It is very simple to use, you just turn on the device and place it on your blemish. A strong blue light comes out and it begins to vibrates softly and heat up. The blue light penetrates into the skin, killing acne bacteria. The packaging indicates to repeat this process 2-3 times. 

Now for the verdict of this product:

First off, let's talk about the price. It's not the cheapest little gadget, especially when you add in taxes and all that jazz. As if that weren't bad enough, the batteries drain so quickly you end up having the replace them every few days - so far I have had to change the batteries three times! (It takes 3 AAA batteries). By the time you use up your 1000 zaps, you will have spent a fortune in batteries - more than you paid for the product itself. That was really unimpressive. 

Is it worth it? Are the results magical? I'm going to have to go with no - they are not. I did notice some improvement after having used it, but not a significant one. And for the all the money you are putting towards it, the results should be Ahhhh-mazing. 

I would recommend this for someone who get's the occasional zit, NOT someone with moderate acne. Think about it - if it's two minutes per spot, and you've got say 3-4 of them, you're spending about ten minutes just standing there zapping away at our face. If you're busy and pressed for time, this is not the best solution.

Lastly, after your 1000 zaps are used up you have to REPURCHASE the product and dispose of the old one.... I don't know about you but I can already feel my wallet getting lighter.

Blue light therapy is offered at many different dermatology clinics, and the results usually last a lot longer, especially since they target the whole face. If you're going to spend money on light therapies, might as well have it done by a professional. 

The one good thing I have to say about the Tanda Zap is that it is the least harmful acne product for your skin. No redness, peeling or dryness. 

I'm sure that there are people who have had success with this product, but I for one will not be repurchasing.

If you're looking to spent a little money and treat yourself - go with a new perfume or make-up. Trust me, it's so much more worth it.

Hello Hydration

I absolutely have to do a review for this product, because I've been using it for years and still love it to this day! So here's my story behind the Elm Line's Hydrating Cream Masque. I few years back I decided to treat myself to a facial. Little did I know facials are not always the most pleasant experience...those guys are like dentists for your face! With all their 'extraction tools' and exfoliation... I left that place looking raw and red, which, I guess is the point of a facial... a nice, deep clean. Which reminds me...I really need to make an appointment to see a dentist...

Anyway back the the Hydrating Cream Mask! I purchased it after the women performing my facial suggested it for my dry skin. During the winter, it seems no matter how much I moisturize my face is always on the dry side. So I gave this mask a go- and I'm glad I did!

See http://www.elmwoodspa.com 

This mask comes in a creamy texture that does not dry on your face like 'normal' masks do, it really just feels like a thick cream that just sits on your face. I usually leave it on for about fifteen minutes before rinsing it off. This is like the holy grail of moisturizers, it leaves your skin feeling soft and oh so hydrated. No more dry, flaky skin! For best results I would suggest weekly use. 

If you are ever in Toronto, I highly recommend you try out the Elmwood Spa. Wether for a facial, a massage... that place is top notch. I've been to a few different spa's but nothing beats the Elmwood. The staff was very friendly and overall it was a very relaxing experience, and the decor is absolutely beautiful. Oh, and make sure you purchase the Hydrating Cream Mask on your way out if you suffer from dry skin like me!

That's it for now,

Morgs

Look Good Without Make-Up

When we're out and about, we always want to look and feel our best. This is no exception at home! So your boyfriend is coming over to spend the night. You want to look good, but what's the point of putting on make-up if your just going to sit around at home and eventually go to sleep?

Thankfully, there are a few tricks to refreshing your look that don't involve powders and liners. Here are a few things you can try:

1) Freshen' up! You can either cleanse your face or spritz on a little thermal water to plump up your skin and get it glowing.

Vichy Eau Thermale ($13)

2) Brush your teeth - plaque builds up on your teeth throughout the day and god knows what else is stuck between your teeth, so give them a quick brush. Your teeth will thank you for it, and your breath will be fresher too! Tip: scrub in a circular motion along your lips for gentle exfoliation.

Mine's the purple one :)

4) Comb your hair: One of my favourite Sex and the City quotes by Carrie: "Well girlfriend needs to run a comb through her hair - she has company". Indeed, simply brushing your hair can make a huge difference. And if boyfriends wants to run his fingers through your hair, he'll be happy you did it too.

Go get started!

5) Grooming is super important when you're not wearing make-up. We rely on make-up to fill our eyebrows, to make our eyes look bigger. We can achieve those looks that au-naturel! Tweezing eyebrows, plucking those strays and using and eyebrow brush can help tidy things up. 

Easy-peasy!

6) Eye cream! Concealer works great for hiding dark circles, but a good eye cream can help brighten things up and smooth out fine lines - it's a good habit to start wearing eye cream anyway to wear off signs of aging - hey, we're never too young!

Dermaglow Advanced Eye Therapy ($50)

7) Curl your lashes - okay so this one is a bit of a cheat. Eyelash curlers are a make-up tool, but if you use it on it's own without applying mascara afterwards, there is no make-up involved! I personally cannot live without my eyelash curler, it makes your eye looks more open and awake and your lashes look beautiful. It's not cheating, really I swear!

My baby

8) Vaseline. Everyone has a tub of vaseline lying around somewhere in their house! Apply a little to your lips to give them a boost of moisture and... little trick, dab a small amount on your eyelashes! It makes them look thicker and also helps keep them soft. Apparently, it helps them grow as well. Bonus!!

An oldie but goodie!

9) Moisture Moisture Moisture! There is more than looking good than just your physical appearance. The texture of your skin can add to your natural beauty. Rub on a little moisturizer and you will be feeling soft in no time!

I recommend this Strawberry & Papaya lotion from Shoppers Drugmart, it's absolutely divine!

10) Accessories. These are not necessary but can add a little flair to your natural look. Hairbows, headbands, whatever you feel like!

American Apparel ($14)

Et voila! You now look fresh and fabulous without an ounce of make-up one your face.

You know what that means - it's cuddle time!!

Morgsy

Eradikate

We all get that occasional zit that turns up unexpectedly and,if you're anything like me, always at the worst time. Wether big or small, we just want the damn thing off our face!

One of the many joys (cause there are many) of being a woman is that hormonal acne - yep, those little guys tend to pop up most around that time of the month. I unfortunately was not blessed, like some, with perfect skin (sigh!). Over the years I have bought a ton, and I mean a TON of acne products that claim to to clear up acne and keep it at bay. The truth is, products like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic dry out your skin like crazy. They work - better for some than others - but they are definitely not ideal.

Come in EradiKate. I purchased this product off a whim at Sephora, I had never heard of it, didn't know if it was any good but decided to try it anyway. Here is a little breakdown of the product.

EradiKate by Kate Sommerville ($22)

 Basically this is a sulfur product. Sulfur has long been used as a drying agent to treat acne - the highest percentage sold on the market is of %10, which is the sulfur percentage of this Kate Sommerville product. It comes in a small container with a 'do not shake' label on top. This is because there are two different solutions within the bottle: at the bottom you will find the pink sediments (the actual sulfur product) with a clear liquid on top. The clear liquid is simply there to prevent the pink liquid from drying out.

How it works: take a q-tip and dip it through the clear liquid and into the pink liquid, You should get a fair amount  of product on the q-tip. You can then apply the product directly to your zit(s) or whiteheads! This product is meant to be used overnight as it dries pink on the skin. Leave it on, and wash off in the morning.

Sulfur is said to have a bit of a rotten egg smell to it, I don't find this true with this particular product. It does have a fairly strong scent, but it wears off quickly.

What I like about Eradikate is that it is applied directly to the pimple. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, which you end up applying on and around the area, this does not dry out the surrounding skin. Very little of the product is actually needed in order for it to be effective!

If you're like me, you end up poking and picking at your zits. With EradiKate, it's out of sight out of mind. Not only will it dry out your pimple (and it does this very well!) it will also heal faster since you aren't touching it.

Overall, I really like this product. It is a little pricey but it does last a long time. I find it dried out the acne lesion faster that other products out there with fewer side effects such as redness and peeling.

So if your out there looking for a good spot treatment, I suggest giving EradiKate a try!

Morgsy

Split-End Remedies

At age 16, I decided to grow out my hair. I wanted it to be long - not just past the shoulders long, I wanted it to reach halfway down my back kind of long. I'd seen so many people with beautiful, long locks and wanted those for myself!

For the past few years, I've been struggling to grow out my hair. I've been told the best way to go about it is to get frequent haircuts. As much as I know this is true, I just can't bring myself to do it! Everytime I feel I have made progress, I get that 'little trim' to get rid of those nasty split ends. But they never just trim you hair, do they? That's because, according to about 95% of hairdressers out there, those 3 1/2 inches they removed was all 'dead'. If you're like me and trying to grow out your hair, 3 1/2 inches is a BIG deal!

So how do you avoid these unfortunate events? Yes, you can stop seeing a hairdresser. But will this really help? You're best bet is to keep your hair as healthy as you can. This way you will a) have to hit up the hair salon less frequently and b) lose less of that precious hair whenever you do go.

That being said, here are 3 products that can help keep you ends hydrated and healthy.

Left to Right: Moroccan Oil ($45), Biosilk 'Silk Therapy' ($18), Jojoba Oil ($14)

Moroccan Oil: I personally LOVE this product. The texture, the scent - it's one of my favourites. I apply it to damp and even dry hair and it leaves it feeling silky smooth! When used regularly, it has really helped with my split ends. It softens them and prevents further damage. The only downside of this product is the price - it is a little expensive. However, a little goes a long way. A few pumps of the oil is enough to cover the ends of your hair. I definitely plan on repurchasing this product,

Biosilk: I have had this product for a long time, even before I discovered Moroccan Oil. If you're looking for something a little cheaper but that still works well, I would go with Biolsilk. This is not an oil. The texture of this product is quite nice, like it says it the name, it feels like liquid silk. It has a nice scent to it too! It isn't quite as moisturizing as the Moroccan Oil but is definitely a close second. This product works best on wet or damp hair - not so much on dry hair. If you're looking for something to mend your split ends but don't like how greasy Moroccan Oil can be, Biosilk may be a match for you. I need to use a little more of this product to achieve the results I desire.

Jojoba Oil: I recently purchased this product from the acne.org website. Initially, I was using this product as a moisturizer for my face (I mix a few drops in with my daily moisturizer). I decided to give it a try in my hair. Jojoba Oil can be applied from root to tip, either in the shower (massaging in the product and then rinsing it out) or afterwards (leaving the product in). I found I needed a lot of this product to give my hair the moisture it needed - and it ended up looking pretty greasy. I would recommend this as a hair mask. If you know you will be staying in for the night, you can apply a (generous) amount to your hair - depending on your hair type you may wish to just apply to to your ends or to your entire hair - and leave it in. You can put your hair in a bun since it will be quite oily. Leave the oil in your hair for a few hours or even over night, then wash it out. Your hair will feel soft and smooth!

There are natural remedies for your hair as well - avocado, olive oil, depending on the amount of time you have and your budget, the are plenty of treatments available to suit your needs.

Morgs