Summer Night-time Skincare Routine

It's been a while since I've posted on my skincare routine. I'd like to describe me skin as indecisive. It used to be so consistent... sigh. Since I stopped BCP and went on thyroid meds, my skin has gotten a lot more oily in my t- zone. I actually use blotting papers sometimes when I'm not lazy, and until this year, I've never had to use them!

After pulling my hair into a scary-looking ponytail and putting on a hair band of some sort, I use my first cleanser. Yes I have two. One for my chin (the evil area) and the other for the rest of my face. I rub Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser on my dry chin, then add a bit of water and massage. Then I wet my face and put Jouviance Cleansing Gel on the rest of my face. I use my Forea Luna Mini to do the hard scrubby work. I find the Glamglow too drying for my cheeks and since it's so expensive, I'd rather use it on just the bit that really needs it!

To remove eye and brow make-up, I use Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution on a Quo cotton pad. This works AMAZING and a bottle lasts about six months. Sometimes I actually do the eye makeup removal first, before I wash. Depends on the day.

I gently pat my face dry with a towel and apply my current eye cream Avene Physiolift Eyes with
my ring finger (it's the one that uses the least pressure). Then I use a serum (lately it's been The Body Shop Drops of Youth). I let that sink in for a minute and then apply my moisturizer - Olay Total Effects  or Ole Henricksen Pure Youth Truth Activating Oil. If I need a bit of a glow (I'm so pale), I mix in two or three drops of Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster which is a fabulous facial sunless tanner. It never streaks and can be added to whatever your current moisturizer is.

If I'm being totally honest, I have noticed my skin changing over the past year - the effects of gravity and being a side sleeper. I'm trying hard to sleep on my side for at least part of the night. I also have some uneven tone on my chin from prior breakouts. I've been considering trying microdermabrasion or even IPL. 

My skin care routine will always be in flux as I'm a total product junkie. I'm trying to get better at actually finishing a product before I go out and replace it. I get so bored with the same thing that I have to be obsessed with something before I'd buy it again. I always want to change it up.

I didn't mention any treatments or masks because I think I'll do a separate post on those later for you. I've been loving sheet masks lately!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Little Loves Lately: 12/22/14

If you're scrambling for last-minute presents for someone who loves girly things, I have some ideas for you! It's been quite some time since I've shared the products that have been on high rotation in my routine.

Sephora VIP Pass Eyeshadow Palette

So, this is no longer available on-line, but I managed to find mine in-store a few weeks ago. Who knows if there are any left....

This was basically too cute to pass up for $12. It's tiny (smaller than my hand), lightweight (perfect for stashing in your purse when you need to change your look from day to night), and comes with eight neutral colors (most which have a bit of shimmer to them). I'd also never tried Sephora brand shadows, so it was a good way to give them a test.

I've used this palette three or four times since I bought it. Most of the colors have a bit too much shimmer for me to use them on a normal work-day, but I love the colors in this kit for a night out. The matte shades are definitely do-able for daylight too.  They seem to have good staying power and good pigmentation. A great mix of light and darker shades as well.

It would be worth stopping by your local Sephora to see if they have any of these left!

Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit

This was a purchase I made before the wedding. I wanted a "real" foundation for Vegas, as I normally just use BB creams. I'd heard a lot of really good things about this foundation, so I decided to give the complexion starter kit a try.

The kit comes with a full size foundation, a nice kabuki brush, a small primer, and a small powder. I love everything about this kit! Well, except for the price, but it actually is worth it. Used together (with some concealer - not an item included in the kit) these products can give a flawless face.

I think this would be a great kit for anyone looking to find an easy to use foundation. I think I'll buy a blender sponge soon or a nice foundation brush for applying the liquid as the kabuki included (a beautiful brush by the way!) is really just for the powder.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask

My skin has been described by estheticians as dehydrated. It's not dry or flaky, just prone to looking dull and tired... not a great look. I struggle with my fluid consumption, especially since getting my Invisalign braces.When I'm wearing them, I can't drink anything but plain water (which I don't love less it's super-cold).

On recommendation from one of the sales associates, I decided to try this mask. I got it half off (40% off sale plus my Love Your Body discount).

I've been using this once per week. I apply thin to medium layer at night, just like a moisturizer. You can tissue it off after a bit or leave it on (I leave it on). The next day, my skin is very noticeably softer and looks more plump and healthy. This got rid of my post-cold dry patches around my nose too!

Given the time of year, I think this would make a great addition to your skin weapons against winter.

Christmas is just around the corner... three more sleeps! I hope all of my blog readers have a wonderful holiday! I'll be taking about a week off from blogging and will return with some holiday outfit looks just in time for New Year's. 2015 should be an exciting style year as there are rumours of several fun stores coming to Halifax (Urban Outfitters, Zara, and Brandy Melville to name a few).

Merry Christmas!
XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Wedding Wednesday: Night Skin Care Routine

A little while ago, I shared with you my daytime skin routine. I'm trying hard to be diligent with my skin in the months and weeks leading up to the wedding.  Nighttime skin care is quite important as your skin is very clean, allowing for anything you apply to really be able to sink in and do some magic!

I start by cleaning with the same thing I do in the morning, The Body Shop Nutraganics Foaming Cleanser.

Second is my Olay Regenerist Intensive Repair Treatment. I use this on my forehead and the smile lines around my mouth. It doesn't cause me any sensitivity, but my skin isn't very sensitive as a rule. I bought it quite some time ago and it was on clearance, so I'm not sure if it's been discontinued.

Third is The Body Shop Nutraganics Smoothing Night Cream. This leaves my face feeling really soft and well-moisturized.

Last is The Body Shop Nutraganics Smoothing Eye Cream. My eyes never feel dry after using this product. I love how the dispenser allows you to get the exact right amount, so you're not wasting anything.

That is my basic routine and then once per week I exfoliate and on another night I use a mask.

My go-to exfoliators are The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliator and The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion.

I've usually been using some samples I've had of masks from The Body Shop, but last week I used a mask I found at Target, the Cucumber Peel-Off Mask by que bella. My face has been so soft ever since! I can get rough spots on my cheeks at times, and I have had none since I tried this mask. For $1.99, it was a great deal and I have enough left over to apply it again.

I buy my products from The Body Shop when they are half-price (happens once per month or so, although the products last a lot longer than that).

Do you have any night time products that are must-haves? I tend to be a product junkie! I'm happy with what I'm using now, but admit I really would like to try the new Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Wedding Wednesday: Daytime Skin Care Routine

I like to think I generally take good care of my skin. I've been wearing SPF every day for over ten years, I've been using night cream and eye cream faithfully since my late 20's, and I never EVER sleep with makeup on.

With the wedding a few months away, I questioned whether I had to make any big changes to my routine. After some careful thought, I decided to invest in a few more products and actually use them rather than spend a lot of money on facials. I LOVE facials, but wedding prep s expensive enough and where I don't have any major skin issues, I need spend my dollars on something else.

My daytime routine is more simple than my nighttime routine.

1) After working out (which I will share the details of in another wedding prep post) I wash my face in the shower with The Body Shop Nutriganics Foaming Face Wash. 

2) Once I'm out of the shower and dried off, I immediately apply The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth. I've been using this product for almost a month now and it is ahhhh-mazing. It gives my skin a glow that nothing else does. I can tell if I forget to use it (which doesn't happen often) and it does wonders to reduce the little lines on the sides of my eyes.  A little goes a long way - I only use a drop or two.

3) I'm not too picky with that I use for SPF. I've tried a few from The Body Shop, but I'm not a huge fan of their SPF 30 product. In the winter, I use SPF 15, but in the summer I always wear SPF 30. Right now I'm using Olay Complete.

4) The last thing I use before make-up (which in the summer is often just concealer and BB cream as far as face products go) is my Vitamin C Skin Boost. from The Body Shop. It makes my skin really soft and acts as a primer. Plus, it smells like oranges which is a great scent to energize you for the day!

I am by no means an expert on skincare, but this routine has been working for me! I'm going to be diligent with it all the way up to the wedding. I have a Love Your Body membership from The Body Shop, which always saves me 10%, and I also only buy my products when they have 50% off skin care (which happens about once a month). I don't have to restock often as it takes me at least three months to get through the products. I just keep a mental note of what I'm getting low on, and when a sale pops up, I buy.

Did you do anything special for your skin before you wedding?

XOXO
Gltterary Girl

Currently 01.12.14

It's a lazy Sunday following a big rain and windstorm last night. It was so loud! I'm surprised that there isn't more debris around the neighbourhood. Most of the snow is gone, which makes things look kind of blah. I'll take advantage of the thaw by wearing some skirts to work this week... and I will try my best to get a work outfit blog post. I never want to drag out the tripod after a long day, but I need to start.


Reading: I'm in the middle of reading a book on my Kobo - Twenty-Six by Leo McKay Jr.It's set in Nova Scotia and was inspired in part by the Westray mine explosion of 1992. I was thirteen at the time of the disaster, so I still remember the events, but they have a teenage spin on them. 

Amazon

Writing: I've been working on our wedding website on theknot.com (285 days to go!)

Listening: To constant football commentators (why do they have to yell all the time?) Is it almost time for the Superbowl? Red Hot Chili Peppers are playing half-time so I will be doubly excited for end of the season and listening to my favorite band.

Thinking: I'm going to have a hard time finding wedding shoes. I need something pretty but not boring, with kitten heels. Please, Nine West, create me something.

Smelling: Glitter and Gold tea from DAVIDsTEA. It's my favorite lately.

DAVIDsTEA

Wishing: We had a housekeeper. Not looking forward to cleaning today. My weekly big clean somehow got switched from Thursdays to Sundays over the holidays and I need to switch it back.

Wearing: Honestly. Pyjamas. Joe Fresh to be exact.

Loving: My Vitamin C products from The Body Shop. I don't think my face has ever been softer. The microdermabrasion is not exactly comfortable but I love the results! The skin boost is amazing as a primer. 

The Body Shop

Wanting: A good few hours at Forever 21. Just might be happening this week! I love the look of this long white sweater to wear with leggings. 

Forever 21

Needing: To get back into a real workout routine. Just as soon as all the Christmas decorations get removed from the gym room. T25 it is!
Watching: Too much TV lately! I'm watching the second to last season of Desperate Housewives on Netflix and Six Feet Under (re-watching Season One).

Feeling:Kind of blah today. I had a migraine last night and still feeling the aftereffects.

Clicking: Blogs, theknot.com, and wedding invite sites. We're still trying to decide if we're going to do paper or e-invites. I think we'll get at least a few paper invites done for keepsakes.

I'm linked up today, click below to see

That's what's new with me lately! Thanks for reading!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Holiday Beauty Sets

I love the amazing holiday sets that stores have out right now. The deals are fabulous and it allows you access to a ton of products without breaking the bank. I'll share a few of my favorite sets with you, and maybe Santa will stash them under your tree!

Sephora Lash Stash

Buying mascara is always frustrating for me, because it's expensive and I always end up throwing it out when there is still a lot of product left. I actually prefer sample sized mascaras as I like the tiny wands and I don't feel wasteful as I finish the tube before it's time to throw it away (which is every two months FYI). This set would last me easily over a year.

MAC Stroke of Midnight Brush Set

MAC brushes are so great! I bought mine TEN years ago in a holiday set and they are still going strong! I like the holiday sets for brushes because they are more compact than the regular brushes and they come in a great case that is a good size for travel. The holiday brush sets are an amazing value - especially when you compare to how much the full sized brushes are bought separately.

The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle gift

I've been buying a lot of stuff from The Body Shop lately. I received the Ginger Sparkle body butter last year, and it's such an amazing winter scent... spicy and fresh at the same time. The Body Shop is constantly having sales. If something you want isn't on sale, just wait a few days, seriously.

Happy shopping... and have fun building your own wishlist!

XOXO

Glitterary Girl

Little Loves Lately 28.08.13

Welcome to another installment of the simple things that have been making me happy lately. Happiest of all is starting initial wedding plans. No date or venue is set yet, but I did try on a few dresses and it was SO much fun.

I've been scoring great finds at The Body Shop, and I am in LOVE with this hand lotion. It smells so good and sinks into the skin quickly.

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream

Lawtons is the greatest store for marking down beauty products. I scored a mini-set of OPI polishes from the Oz The Great and Powerful line for $4.99 a few weeks ago. Lately I've been liking more neutral tones on my nails, which is shocking since I am usually the queen of crazy when it comes to polish choices.

There were four sheer shades and one liquid sand in the collection.

What Wizardry is This?

This was my first experience with liquid sand. The texture looks great (it's on my toes right now) but I'm a bit worried it will be hard to remove.

I Theodora You

 A very pretty soft pink. I used two coats, but I think three coats would look best. It was still a bit see-thru.

Don't Burst my Bubble

This is the only one I haven't tried yet. It's an off-white color that will probably need a lot of coats and I haven't had the time to experiment with it.

Glints of Glinda

I think this one is my favorite of the bunch. It doesn't look like much in the bottle, but on the nails, it's a pretty beigey/champagne color

How happy was I to get a great deal on hand soap? R and I stopped at Bath and Body Works a few weeks ago and they had their hand soaps on 10 for $30. Then I asked at the cash if there were any email promos on, and there was a $10 off any $30 purchase. Brilliant!

Ten new smells to add to the six that already live in my bathroom cupboard! My favorite scents of this recent haul are Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (with a cute Halloween bottle), Sugar Maple, and Vanilla Buttercream. Can you tell I have a sweet tooth???

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Cool BB Cream and Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer

For years, I avoided The Body Shop, as it conjured up vivid memories of junior high where there was a constant White Musk scented fog throughout the building. To be really really original, in grade nine, I started to blend mine with Satsuma.

Recently, I once again boarded The Body Shop train, and found out that their products absolutely have a place in my bathroom cupboard without being too reminiscent of 1994.

I joined the Love Your Body rewards program and have been stocking up on goodies ever since. I'll share with you two of my recent purchases with short reviews and I'll blog more on some other products another time. Instead of being like a normal person and buying form one of their lines, I went a bit bonkers and decided to mix and match from a bunch of lines.

Vitamin E Cool BB Cream

*All images from The Body Shop

I really enjoy BB creams. I'm usually too lazy to wear foundation that requires any sort of skill in applying, and BB creams give me just the amount of coverage I need. My skin tone is fairly even and usually clear (watch me break out because I said that). This stuff is really easy to blend and you literally only need a pea-sized amount to do the entire face. This would be my dream product IF it had a built in SPF.

Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30

The smell of this SPF is so incredibly fresh!  I love putting it on in the morning because it's orange-scented and really wakes me up. I always wear SPF 30 on my face, even in the dead of winter so I often try out new brands.

The one thing I'm noticing with this stuff that I don't like is that if I put it on under my BB cream, it can make the BB cream ball up on my face a bit. Perhaps the products aren't meant to be worn together (they are form two different lines). Or maybe I'm using too much BB cream. Anyways, I really like each product on its own, so maybe I'll just have to wear this when I'm not in need of any BB cream - days when I go bare-faced or days when I wear real foundation.

Do you have any must-haves from The Body Shop to share with me?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl