Pucker Up and Make Today All About Lips

Good afternoon girlies!
What are you up to today? I have multiple loads of laundry to catch up on but other than that I'm just enjoying my day off. And even though it's only January I'm already dreaming of spring. I can't wait until I can wear sandals again and leave home without a bulky winter jacket. Most of all I'm looking forward to smooth, moisturized lips! No matter how much lip balm I use and how many times I exfoliate I never can seem to keep my lips flake free. Dry, flaky lips make it difficult to wear lipstick (especially the matte kind) so I've been finding myself reaching for gloss instead.

That is, until I found Clinique's All About Lips.

All About Lips is a silicone-based lip primer which smooths the appearance of fine lines and gently exfoliates away dry skin on the lips. The smooth formula glides onto lips easily and is absorbed readily. More than one coat can be applied and to help with the exfoliation you can also gently scrub lips with a toothbrush.

Lipstick glides on so smoothly and the colour looks so true and flake free that I'm wearing lipstick more than I ever have. Oh, and did I mention it prevents colour from feathering? What an unsung makeup hero!

All About Lips is $27.50 (but lasts forever) and can be found at Sears and The Bay.

Sarah

Put Blushing and Flushing in Their Place

One thing (among the many things) I love about Clinique is the variety of product lines designed specifically to treat real skin concerns. There's a system for acne, products that erase dark spots and a relatively new line which helps to neutralize redness.

13 million people in the US alone suffer from rosacea; a condition characterized by persistent redness, broken capillaries and small papules that can be mistaken for acne. There are even more people that suffer from occasional redness that can be triggered when they're in hot environments or eat spicy food. There are so many people who can benefit from Clinique's Redness Solutions line which includes a cleanser, a moisturizer and a daily protective base containing SPF 15. Though these products can't cure rosacea or persistent redness they can help to sooth they skin by repairing the moisture barrier and protecting against sun damage.

Along with skincare the Redness Solutions line contains a few cosmetic products to help to cover and conceal redness while still being good for skin. The Instant Relief yellow-tinted Mineral Powder was the first product release and a pressed powder version is currently being featured on counter. But for the girl who prefers a liquid makeup there's Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 with Probiotic Technology. And to conceal those stubborn red spots there's the Redness Solutions Targeted Corrector.

The foundation comes in 6 shades each with an appropriate undertone to both neutralize redness and match skin tone. Combined with moderate coverage and a comfortable feel this foundation does so much more than just cover. It's an oil-free formula and it's important to note that if you're a redness sufferer you should stay away from products with oil as oils can actually exasperate redness and irritate skin. It also contains SPF 15 which protects delicate skin against sun damage. Finally, it contains probiotics which help to strengthen and repair skin's moisture barrier and improve the overall look of skin.

The targeted corrector is a yellow-toned creamy concealer that further neutralizes the look of redness. Also oil-free this product is perfect for covering those red papules associated with rosacea, broken capillaries and even plain-old pimples. I also use it under foundation to lighten the darkness under my eyes! It's the perfect multitasker to go along with your Redness Solutions Makeup.

Redness Solutions Foundation retails for $30 and the Targeted Corrector is $25.

What do you have planned for this week? I've got laundry on my to-do list for tomorrow :)

Sarah xoxo

Mid-Winter Bronze Glow For A Pale Girl

Looking like a naturally sun kissed goddess doesn't have to involve a trip down south and possible skin damage. All it takes is a good bronzer! Sounds like an easy task but in reality it's more complicated than doing your taxes.

[Side note: I have never done my own taxes before but I would like to learn. I've heard it's not as complicated as most people think.]

Being a pale girl I find most bronzers are either too dark or too orangey and tend to make me look more dirty than tan. So you can understand how excited I was to discover Clinique's Almost Bronzer!

It's an oil-free dual shade bronzer with SPF 15 that can double as your all over face powder. It's different in that it's an extremely naturally looking bronzer that's great for bringing colour back into the face after everything's been evened out with foundation. 

The brush that's included with the bronzing powder is also a welcome surprise: its natural hair is incredibly soft and it's perfect for touch-ups. This powder is a multitasking queen and it's definitely getting me through the winter with a healthy summer glow! 

Clinique Almost Bronzer Powder can be found at Sears and the Bay for $34.

Sarah xoxo

P.S. How`s the weekend going? Have you been catching up with your girls or just laying low at home?

What Am I Wearing...On My Nails?

Hey Ladies! How goes it? I had a relatively uneventful day. At work the department was the quietest I have ever seen it but I suppose that's just the way it is post-holiday. Here's hoping business picks up a little for the weekend!

In between helping the odd customer and organizing the product shelves I`d get a little thrill of happiness every time I looked down at my nails. I love the nail polish colour I`m wearing right now! It`s called Petal Pusher and it`s part of Sally Hansen`s ever popular Insta-Dry line of quick drying lacquers.

Petal pusher is the ultimate gorgeous pinky-neutral to class up any dull work day. I love Sally Hansen products because they are the best in terms of drugstore nail care. The Insta-Dry line of polishes are designed for impatient ladies such as myself and despite their quick dry time they actually wear a good few days without chipping. That`s with a base and top coat, of course!

So the next time you`re looking for a quick-drying neutral nail colour check out petal pusher! Which reminds me, what are you wearing on your nails at the moment?

Sarah xoxo

Radiance Regained with Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub

It's all too easy to fall into an uninteresting routine during these long Canadian winters:

1. Wake up when it's still dark out
2. Trudge through 3 feet of snow on your way to the car/bus stop
3. Go to work
4. Head home after the sun has set
5. Go to sleep at 9pm because it's too darn cold to and dark to stay awake
6. Repeat

Along with the winter blahs, another symptom of the colder months is dry skin. The freezing winds outside and the warm, dry air inside join forces to make your skin itchy, flaky and dull. But don't worry, there's a simple solution to all your winter woes! Mix up your routine!

To cure the winter blahs make sure to get a little exercise each day (I like to dance) and eat bright, mood-enhancing foods like citrus fruit! Make sure to get out on your days off work. Go and see a movie or indulge yourself with a little retail therapy.

To cure your skin of its winter dryness takes a two-pronged attack: exfoliate and moisturize. There are a plethora of scubs for the body like Flake Away but make sure to use a gentler scrub for your delicate facial skin. My favourite right now is Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub.

Exfoliating Scrub is a little different than a lot of other scrubs on the market. First of all it isn't a scrub/cleanser because Clinique doesn't believe in making Jack-of-all-trades products. This is because Clinique caters to a number of clients who have ingredient allergies so making each product as simple, effective and specific as possible makes it usable to more people. It's also nice to have an exfoliator you use only a few times a week as oppose to an exfoliating cleanser you use every day because it allows you to control the amount of exfoliation.


This scrub is also different because it contains smooth microbeads which gently polish the skin without tearing or scratching. It also has some salicyclic acid which is a great chemical exfoliant. The last point of difference is it's refreshing burst of menthol which makes you feel as though you've just stuck your face into icy-cool water. It's a pretty intense feeling which makes this scrub best for oilier skins. For you dryer-skinned ladies try Clinique's 7-Day Scrub which has a creamier texture and is more comforting.

Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is $22 and can be found at Sears and The Bay.

Sarah xoxo