Who
Bumble and Bumble

What
Creme de Coco Shampoo and Conditioner aka Vacation in two bottles.

Where
Salons and select retailers

Bank Breaker?
Y-E-S. The shampoo and conditioner were sold together at $38 which, for shampoo and conditioner, is rather expensive. Don’t you think?

What They Say
{Shampoo}“An extra-mild, luxurious cleanser with a blend of moisture-rich Coconut and Murumuru Butters to help restore sheen & softness, improve flexibility and minimize frizz.”
{Conditioner}“A moisture-rich conditioner that softens, adds shine, improves flexibility, and tames frizz.”

What’s Good
When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, I find that most products leave too much “gunk” in my hair making it appear dull and lifeless. With Bumble and Bumble’s Creme de Coco, my hair feels squeeky clean right after. I don’t feel like I have washed my hair only to add the buildup right after. And the coconut scent is very subtle; not obnoxious at all (more on this at a later post). However, the price is very discouraging. I bought mine at a local department store which was selling them in two’s for $38 before taxes. So, a $20 or for only 250mL seems almost absurd, right? And I believe prices go up even more PER single product at other retailers (i.e. salons).

So, yes, it is a good product, but I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to replace them once they’ve run out.

Alas, even the out-of-this-world beautiful Maggie Q is not immune from oily face. I don’t know about you, but I personally consider oily face to be one of the greater evils in the world of beauty. Who really wants to feel like their face is melting off, ummmm… their face? Or like your face is so oily that one only needs some lemon juice to make the perfect summer salad — okay, that was gross. Anyway, if you suffer from the shiny’s, as I like to call it, try switching your moisturizer to oil-free moisturizer formulated for men’s skin during the hot summer months.

As it turns out, men’s skin and women’s skin aren’t as similar as I’d thought at first. Apart from being thicker, men’s skin actually produces more oil, 20% more to be precise, than women’s skin because they have more sebaceous glands (glands found in our skin that produce sebum, or oil). This is why there is a separate line for men’s skincare — products are formulated specifically for their skin and therefore are more efficacious in controlling pesky oil. Geez, here I was thinking they were just being too finicky with the frilly packaging!

Here are a few of men’s skin care products that I sourced from Sephora.com. A product worth the mention, but not shown here, is Murad’s Essential-C Moisture. I bought the Night moisture for myself, but was not crazy about it (will do a review in a later post) so I gave it to my bf to try. He has oilier skin than I do and he loves it!
 

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We’ve all done it at least once before and despite our best intentions to avoid landing our sorry bums in this situation, circumstances “beyond” our control always preclude us from sticking to our plan. Yes, I’m talking about staying out very late the night before knowing full well that you have work early the morning after.

No matter how fun the night was, you always feel like hell the next day. Everything simple from staying awake and even talking properly (yes, I mumble a lot when I’m really tired) becomes a production. What I hate the most, though, is having very puffy eyes — they just scream sleep deprived, don’t you think so?

When you find yourself in this situation, simply follow these simple steps to calm those puffy eyes:

• Brew two bags of white or green or black (only the caffeinated kind will work) tea and once you’re done with the drink, hold on to the tea bags
• Place both tea bags in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes or until they’re cool enough to place on top of your eyes
• Once they’re ready, place a tea bag on each eye and leave them on for about 15 minutes.

What Happens
Tannin, is an astringent that is contained in caffeinated tea which, when it comes into contact with protein contained in our skin, molds itself around and constricts those molecules. Factor in the coldness of the tea bags and this is just pure heaven for tired eyes.

Finding out what Lauren Conrad’s beauty must-haves was not enough. See, I seem to have an insatiable appetite for finding out what others carry in their prized makeup bags. Am I alone? I love finding out what mascara they use, what lip balm they can’t live without and what blush they use to get that great glow. So, when I found an article detailing exactly just that, I squeeled — just couldn’t help myself.
 
For those not familiar, Jessica Stam is one of today’s top models. She has walked the runway for countless designers, has graced the covers of many a fashion magazine, and has also been the face of noted fashion designers such as Cavalli, Miu Miu, and Bulgari, to name a few. Can you believe none of that would have happened had it not been for that fated trip to Tim Horton’s (Canada’s fave coffee+donut joint) where she was ‘discovered’?

Clock-wise from top-left

Aquaphor Healing Ointment
“I can’t live without my Aquaphor. It’s a hydrating and non-irritating and has a million uses. I use it for everything. Lips, cracked cuticles, hands, and to take off eye makeup.”

Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo
“A great on-the-go shampoo for when you realize that your hair is a little greasier than you thought. It also adds volume and is perfect to use before walking into meetings for a quick primp.”

Mario Badescu Vitamin E Body Lotion with Wheat Germ
“I hate the feeling of dry skin. I carry this around with me at all times. It’s so rich and thick and smells delicious; it reminds me of hot summer nights in the Hamptons.”

Maybelline Cool Effect Cooling Shadow/Liner in Ice Princess
“I used to wear this in high school, so it brings me back to my roots. It gives my eye a light pink iridescent glow.”

Dior Diorshow Iconic Mascara in Black
“This is the classic mascara. It builds volume and also separates. I just love how black it is.”

Chanel Glossimer in #3
“Chanel beauty ambassador Jen Brill introduced me to this shade. It’s a universal pink that brings out the natural colour of my lips.”

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Porcelain
“I love this product. It looks dewy and fresh, like you’re not wearing any makepu, but still covers your skin. It gives such an even complexion.”

Kerastase Elixir Oleo-Relax
“I bleached my hair and it’s the only product I’ve found that really seals my dead ends and gives my hair shine without that grasy look.”

Mason Pearson Mini-Brush
“It fits into even my smallest Chanel bag and doesn’t snag my hair when I need a touch-me-up.”

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde
“My friend Jenny Cohen introduced me to this product. She swears by Anastasia and her brow goodies. Filling in your eyebrows makes you look more finished, polished, and put together. This crayon-type pencil is the perfect colour; I use it everyday with the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer.”

Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Tissues
“I love to use these when I’m travelling — which if quite often for my job. They’re perfect on airplanes to take off makeup or just refresh. The entire line is awesome.”

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Dove Ultimate Sensitive Care Anti-Perspirant in Fragrance Free
“I have really sensitive skin, so this is my ideal deodorant. I like that it’s moisturizing and it doesn’t irritate my armpits.”

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in #400
“It’s like applying a felt-tip pen to your lips — so easy to use, and it seriously stains your lips in a natural way. No gloss, just a wash of sheer colour.”

MAC Powder Blush in Strada
“I used this as a contouring powder. It’s a tip I picked up from makeup artist Pat McGrath. It’s a way to define my cheekbones”

Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci Eau de Parfum
“The perfume smells wonderful and clean. Every woman needs to find her scent; it’s a trial-and-error process. This is definitely my current choice.”

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Yesterday was Canada Day and I celebrated it by working. Le Sigh.  Anyway, this is a photo of my one and only at the park some time ago.  I swear, he is a thousand times more photogenic than I will ever be. He’s a natural!  I on the other hand struggle with taking photos — I’m either caught at half smile or I blinked.

I’ll now leave you with an old music video of one my favourite songs made during a time when young and innocent love was actually sung about. Why don’t they make music like this anymore? Anyway, love the 90′s hats .

And, yes, that was David SilverBrian Austin Green who recently married Megan Fox!