March IPSY Glam Bag

Another month, another glambag!
Once again I have received some amazing products, however, I only received four products this month. One shy of my usual five... What's up with that, ipsy?

If you'd like to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag for just $10.00 a month, click HERE! 

Aside from being one product short, this months glambag is perfection in every way because everything I received this month is great for my go-to everyday make-up look.

Here's what I received this month...

Chella Indigo Blue Eyeliner Pen

The first thing I received in this months bag, and the product I am the most excited about, is the Chella Indigo Blue Eyeliner Pen. This product came at full-size (1 mL or 0.034 fl oz) and normally retails for $24.00 on the Chella website. That's over twice as much as you would pay for the whole Glam Bag!

I am a huge fan of the essence eyeliner pen and use it almost everyday. This product seems similar (obviously more high-end) so I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

NYX Love in Rio Eye Shadow Trio in "Segredos De Giselle"

This trio came full-size in my glambag (1g each) and usually retails for $6.00 on the NYX website.

This product is perfect for me because the colours are absolutely perfect for how I wear my make-up everyday. The lighter colours will also be great in the summer time when I'm looking for a lighter look!

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in "Get Ready"

This gorgeous pink lipstick came sample sized in my glambag and usually retails for $18.00 for a full-size on the Bare Escentuals website. I'm not sure exactly what size the sample is, but I'm going to guess it's about a third of a full-size.

This lip colour is super versatile and can be worn with almost any look!

pixi Flawless Beauty Primer

I was so excited to receive another pixi product this month!

This primer came in a generous sample size (12ml / 0.4 fl oz) and usually retails for $34.00 for a full-size (30ml / 1 fl oz) on the pixi beauty website.

This product seems to have a bit of shimmer effect to it - PERFECT for summer!

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Altogether this month I received about $53.00 worth of product!

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Once again, if you want to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag for just $10.00 a month (or $14.00 if you're in Canada, like me) just CLICK HERE!!! I promise you won't regret it!

Fem-Talk Friday [FTF] - My Hormonal Contraceptive Experiences

Happy Friday everyone!

I wanted to kick-off my Fem-Talk Friday [FTF] series by talking about my personal experiences with hormonal contraceptives.

I began using hormonal contraceptives when I was just 14 years old as a precaution against pregnancy, but also to help with heavy periods and acne control. It was my best option at the time...

I can't remember exactly what pill it was that I was given at first but I remember being on both Alesse and Tri-Cyclen at some point in time. I continued on the pill without any side-effects for about a year before deciding to give the EVRA Patch a try. The main reason I made the decision to try out the contraceptive patch was because I liked the idea of not having to take a pill everyday, however, I was an avid dancer at this time and the patch would always end up falling off (or half falling off) and getting full of wooly bits from my clothing. Unsatisfied with the delivery of the EVRA Patch, I switched back to pills after about two months.

I stayed on pills regularly until I was 20 or so (about 5 years) without any side-effects. At this point in time, after hearing about the depo-provera shot (a contraceptive shot which requires one injection of hormones every twelve weeks) from my aunt, I decided to give it a try. I received my first shot and didn't experience any side-effects until about 4-5 weeks later when I began to bloat and spot. I was told that these side-effects were not abnormal and that the spotting would subside with prolonged use of the shot. I spotted on and off into my twelfth week and when it was time for my second shot I decided to go ahead with it. It was not until after my second dose of the contraceptive that I experienced some major side-effects... I began to spot and eventually ended up having a combination of full-blown bleeding and spotting for a period that lasted about five months. I remained bloated. I began to break out in painful cystic acne all over my chest, shoulders and back. I became dehydrated and thirsty all of the time and also noticed a significant decrease in my appetite. It is no surprise then, that twelve weeks after my second dose I decided to opt against getting a third, and again went back on the pill to regulate my cycle.

After such a terrible experience, I stayed on the pill regularly for another couple of years, until recently... About a year and a half ago I noticed that my periods were becoming irregular to the extent that I would spot and bleed for a month straight, and they were also significantly more painful (cramps and sharp pains in my ovaries) despite being on the pill regularly. After many consultations with my doctor on the issue, and the discovery of ovarian cysts, my doctor suggested that I go off the pill to see if my body would regulate itself.

At first, the thought of going off a contraceptive terrified me... What if I started to break-out again? However, it has been five months now and I have never felt better. My periods seem to have regulated themselves and I don't break out as bad as I thought I would.

I have considered going back on the pill, but having been on hormonal contraceptives regularly for nine years, I think my body needs the break. I am 23 now, and although I am a single lady and not planning for any children in my immediate future, it is not impossible that I may decide to have children in the not too distant future.

I think when planning to use hormonal contraceptives, women have to choose wisely and weigh all their pros and cons. We have to remember that such wide-spread use of hormonal contraceptives by women is a fairly new phenomena, spanning back only about 40-50 years, so many long-term side-effects may still be unknown.

Always find a doctor that you are comfortable talking with about these issues, and be sure to always put your health first. What may work for another woman may not necessarily work for you.

Thanks for stopping by!

If you have any suggestions for next weeks Fem-Talk Friday [FTF], please leave a comment below.

November IPSY Glambag

Another month, another glambag! And once again, I'm beyond impressed!

If you'd like to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag for just $10.00 a month, click HERE! 

I feel like the team at ipsy really hit the nail on the head with this months Glam Bag, because everything I received this month will be perfect for festive make-up looks for the holiday parties coming up in the next month or so!

Even the metallic gold bag itself will go perfect with a few party dresses I have hiding away in my closet!

Here's what I received this month...

Gem Eye Pencil by Starlooks (in Topaz)

The first thing I received in this months bag was this Gem Eye Pencil by Starlooks in the colour Topaz. This pencil came at full-size (2.4g) and normally retails for $14.00 on the Starlooks website. That's more than what you would pay for the whole Glam Bag!

At first glance I was a little iffy about this product because it is sparkly, but once I gave it a swatch on the back of my hand, I fell in love!

I can't wait to rock this awesome eye pencil with some holiday looks!

em michelle phan Lash Gallery Mascara (Dramatic Volume in Black)

There is only one word to describe this mascara: AMAZING!

In the past, I haven't been too impressed with the mascara that I've received in my Glam Bags, but this is definitely an exception.

This em michelle phan Dramatic Volume Lash Gallery Mascara in the colour black came full-size in my Glam Bag (7ml/0.236 fl. oz.) and usually retails for $20.00 on the emcosmetics website.

This product really builds your lashes, and doesn't flake - I've even worn it through my workouts at the gym and haven't had a hitch!

I also really love the slight curve in the wand, and the fact that the product doesn't smell too much like glue like most mascaras do.

Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon (in Shameless)

This is without a doubt the best product that came this month. I even did a little dance when I pulled it out of my bag. What could be more perfect than a beautiful red lip for the holiday season!

On the Be a Bombshell website, this colour is advertised as a "burgundy" shade, but I find it works perfectly as a bold red for me.

Again, this product came full-sized (2.5g) and retails for $14.00 on the Be a Bombshell website.

I find this lip crayon so great because it is very hydrating and goes on nice and smooth! This is a product that I will definitely consider repurchasing.

Nailtini Straight Up Colour Nail Lacquer (in Champagne)

This nail colour looks like it will be perfect for any occasion, but I was bummed to discover that this colour seems to be discontinued on the Nailtini website.

That being said, this product came full-size and other nail polishes from the "Straight Up Colour Lacquer" line retail for $13.00 on the Nailtini website.

I haven't had a chance to try this colour out yet, but when I do I'll let you know how it is in one of my Outfits of the Week posts.

Galaxy Chic Baked Eyeshadow (in Neptune)

I can't express enough how perfect this eye shadow is for a holiday party smoky eye look! I'm so excited!

This product came in a "sample size" (basically the same as a single pot that you'd pay $1.00 for) as a promotion for a new eye shadow palette by bhcosmetics. The entire palette retails for $14.95 on the bhcosmetics website.

The packaging of this product is super fun, and I can't wait to give this product a try.

Bronzer by Pixi Beauty (in Subtly Suntouched)

This bronzer comes from a UK based cosmetics company. This product came in a generous sample size (3.2g/0.11oz) which is about a third of the retail size (10.21g/0.36oz). A regular size of this bronzer retails for £15.00 or about $25.00CA on the Pixi Beauty website, so let's say the sample size is worth about $8.00CA.

This bronzer is nice for contouring, and I find that my brush picks up a nice amount. The product isn't loose at all, so you're not wasting product with flakes and fly-aways!

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When all was said and done, I received about $70.00 worth of product this month! That's a steal!

I cannot rant and rave enough about how much I love ipsy. The team there certainly knows what they're doing, and they're doing it well!

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Once again, if you want to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag for just $10.00 a month (or $14.00 if you're in Canada, like me) just CLICK HERE!!! I promise you won't regret it!

iHerb.com HAUL & First Impressions

Today I received my very first order from iHerb in the mail! I ordered ten items and from what I paid, it averaged out to about $6.00CA an item.
In addition to this blog post, I've also made a vlog talking about my order, which I will add at the end of this post.

If you plan on making an order on iHerb, you can use the coupon code VDG871 to save $5-$10 off of your order!

Here's my HAUL with first impressions! :)

Now Foods, 100% Natural Coconut Oil

One of the main reasons I decided to make an order through this website was to get some coconut oil at a great price. This evening I decided to give this a try around my eye area for my eczema, and so far it seems to be working wonderfully!

Cococare, 100% Tea Tree Oil

The second main reason I wanted to make an order was to get some tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is ridiculously expensive at the drug store, and I've really been wanting to try it out for my acne and acne scars.
I used this as a spot treatment on my face this evening, and so far I love how it makes my skin feel! It's so refreshing!

Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent

I picked up this witch hazel astringent because I'm currently using the Dickinsons brand and I'm almost out so I wanted to give something else a try.

I really enjoyed using this product today because I found that this brand had less of an odour than the one I'm currently using.

Sierra Bees, Organic Tamanu & Tea Tree Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E

Let me just say that I am IN LOVE with this lip balm. It is the best lip balm I have used in a long, long time. I'll definitely be repurchasing this one!

Hugo & Debra Naturals, Essential Mist, French Lavender

I bought this product to keep in my gym bag. I think it will be nice and refreshing post-workout. The smell is wonderful and the product is bigger than what I was expecting!

Queen Helelne, The Original Mint Julep Masque

At first I thought that this product was the same as the St. Ives face masque that I have, but once I did a comparison of the ingredients and actually tried this product, I realized that they are very different. They do smell exactly the same, but this product is much thicker and feels more cleansing on the skin.

Apparently there is a scrub that you can buy to go along with this masque, so I'll definitely have to try that out next time.

Cococare, Jojoba Oil, Natural Hair & Skin Conditioner

I decided to try some jojoba oil because I've been using the Michael Todd Jojoba Facial Scrub for a while now and it's definitely one of the best facial scrubs I've used.

I massaged this oil into my scalp before shampooing my hair today and I found it helped keep my scalp from flaking after wearing a hat. I'm pretty prone to dandruff, but so far this seems to be working well at keeping that under control.

Country Comfort, Herbal Savvy, Golden Seal-Myrrh

This is one of the products that came up on the site when I searched "eczema". It doesn't really have a smell, but so far I find it works at soothing the itch of the eczema on my hands really well. It also doesn't tingle or sting when I put it on which is really nice!

Boericke & Tafel, Sulphur 30C, 100 Tablets

This is another product that came up when I searched "eczema". These tablets are supposed to work in relieving bad eczema itch and pain - you can take up to three a day.

I haven't had the need to try these yet, but I figured they'd be good to have on hand to try when needed.

NutriBiotic, Long Lasting Deodorant Stick, Lavender

I was in the market for a new deodorant so I figured I'd just pick one up with my order. I'm not very picky when it comes to deodorant because I've never really been one to sweat much under my arms, so I can usually get away with using whatever deodorant I want. This one is lavender scented and it smells so good! I'll definitely be repurchasing this product.

Sagittarius Syd on YouTube:

*Save $5 - $10*

Coupon Code: VDG871

Quick Review: Equate Brand Facial Cleansing Towelettes

My quest for finding a "holy grail" status facial wipe has been hard. More often than not, facial wipes cause my facial eczema to break out, badly!
Sadly, this is one of those cases.

I picked up the Equate Brand Facial Cleansing Towelettes to try for a number of reasons... First, the attractive price of about $7.00 for two packs of 60 wipes. Second, it is advertised as being "for all skin types." And third, I wanted to try something new.

The first night I used these wipes I was satisfied, they removed all of my facial make-up nicely and didn't leave a residue like the Olay wipes do. Unfortunately, I woke up the next morning with my face and neck broke out in a nasty rash.

I had a similar reaction to the Balea facial wipes this past May and documented the reaction with pictures and mentioned it in one of my first YouTube videos. The reaction to the Equate wipes wasn't as severe, but it's been about three days now and my skin is still recovering.
So, if you have eczema prone facial skin, I would be weary of using these wipes.

Luckily, one of my girlfriends uses these wipes regularly so I can give them to her instead of tossing them away!

Until next time!

October IPSY Glambag - First Impressions

I was so happy to get my ipsy glambag in the mail today, and I was even happier when I opened it up to see what was inside!

I've been subscribed to ipsy since May, and I have to say, I think this month has been my favourite bag so far.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the ipsy glambag, it's a monthly mail subscription 'box' ($10/month if you're in the US and about $14/month if you're in Canada) in which you receive five beauty products. The products range from sample sized to full sized, and you most definitely get your moneys worth, or more!

***You can subscribe to ipsy by following this link: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hgsmbzd8udy6tho ***

My favourite product in this months bag at first glance are the La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser wipes.

This product came in a typical wipe packet with 10 wipes. A pack of 30 wipes retails for $9.99 on the La Fresh website.

These wipes smell absolutely ah-maze-ing!

I particularly liked this product right off the bat because the wipes are biodegradable and compostable, and it claims to have a formula that is 99.25% natural.

I'm almost out of my OLAY wipes and was looking to try something new, so these came at the perfect time!

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My second favourite product at first glance is the bigsexyhair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel.

This product came in a sample sized 1.7 fl oz. (50 ml) red plastic bottle, typical of other sexyhair products I've received through ipsy. A 8.5 fl oz. (250 ml) bottle of this product retails for $16.95 on the sexyhair website.

Now, it's not very often that I get excited about hair products, but I've been trying out different products for volume lately because my hair is flat and lifeless, so I'm really excited to give this product a try!

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The third product that I am excited to see in this months bag is the Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion.

This product came in a 1 fl oz. (30ml) sample tube. An 8 fl oz. (236 ml) tube of this lotion retails for only $11.99 on the Nourish Organic website.

The lotion feels amazing on my hands, and doesn't leave a greasy residue at all! Something about it reminds me of the Indian Coconut Nectar Lotion from Pacifica which is an all-time favourite of mine. I can definitely see myself purchasing this product in the future.

Oh! and did I mention? It's 100% Natural. USDA-Certified Organic. Bonus points!

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Next, the BUXOM Full-On Lip Polish in the colour Dolly.

This product came in a very generous sample size of 0.07 fl oz. (2 ml) tube. A 0.15 fl oz. (4 ml) tube of this gloss retails for $23.00 through Sephora.

This is a lip-plumping gloss. I enjoy the tingling sensation of this gloss, and the colour works perfectly with my skin-tone!

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Lastly, my bag contains a ZOYA nail polish in the colour Giovanna.

This product came in a full-sized bottle of 0.5 fl oz. (15ml) which retails for $8.00 on the ZOYA website.

In general, I find myself pleased with the product, but I'm not a huge nail polish fan. The colour is gorgeous though, so I am going to wear it!

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I hope you guys enjoyed this first impressions review!

Don't forget to CLICK THIS LINK if you'd like to subscribe. You'll definitely get your moneys worth!

The Post Break-Up Friendship: A Do or a Don't?

“We can still be friends…”

The infamous line that we’ve all heard at the end of a break-up speech. It’s meant to warm the heart for a few minutes and soften the blow to the fact that you, my friend, have just been dumped; but should we take this line literally? What if he really does want to be friends? What if by being just his friend he’ll realize how amazing I am and want to get back together with me? Is taking the line “we can still be friends” literally a break-up do, or a break-up don’t?

Does he really want to be your friend post break-up?

I’m sorry ladies, but the answer is ‘no’. A man knows when he’s hurting your feelings, he only says he wants to be friends because, in that moment, he’s trying not to seem like the ‘bad-guy’ he’s being.

Taking up his offer for a post break-up friendship will only push him further away, it will make him uncomfortable and eventually irritated with that fact that he’s probably seeing you more now than when you were even together!

If you stay friends with your ex, you're giving him nothing to miss so you’re actually slimming down the possibility of you two getting back together. With a clean break he will, and take my word for this ladies, he will wonder about you and how you’re doing, especially if you refrain from using your Facebook status as a diary–he can see that you know!

Your ex wants to wonder about how you’re doing so stay on the down low when it comes to your social media updates, aka, don’t act overly happy but also don’t post about how sad and heartbroken you are, keep it in a neutral area. Men love a mystery, and if you don’t act too broken or needy post-breakup he’ll wonder if he was really all that great in your eyes in the first place.

Remember ladies “we can still be friends” is just the ice on the break-up burn. You shouldn’t take it literally, especially if you plan on trying to win him back. You're better than that anyways, it’s his loss really.

Don’t ever forget how wonderful you are!

8 Great Products for Dry and Eczema/Acne Prone Facial Skin

Happy Thursday everyone!

Over the past couple of months I've really been sticking to a routine that I've been finding works for me when it comes to my facial skin so I figured I would share!

So, here's a list of 8 great skin-care products that I use on my face daily to keep my dry and eczema/acne prone skin at it's best...

These Quo Mini Eye-Makeup Remover Pads are something I use almost daily to remove my eye-makeup at night. My eyes are a big problem area for me because my facial eczema seems to concentrate around my eye area. These pads are great because they don't sting my skin or my eyes and they aren't harsh at all. Usually one pad per eye does the job for me. This size comes in a pack of 30.

Every night, after I've used my eye-makeup remover pads, I like to use one of these Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes for Sensitive Skin to remove the rest of my makeup. I find these wipes are great when I use a facial cleanser afterwards, but if I use them on their own they tend to leave a sticky feel on my face. I also find that these wipes are no good for use around my eyes as they tend to sting. The main reason I've stuck with this brand of facial wipe is because others I have tried (i.e. the Balea Cleansing Cloths from Shoppers) have caused me to break out in a really bad rash. Given that Olay products have never irritated my eczema (I also use Olay products for my body skin-care) I've decided to stick with these for now as they serve their purpose well enough.

Noxzema is a classic when it comes to facial skin-care - you've probably seen it in your grandmas medicine cabinet. Nonetheless, the Noxzema Deep Cleansing Cream is a great and affordable option if you're looking for a cleanser that won't dry out your skin. I use this cleanser both in the morning and at night after using the Olay wipes. I love the cooling and calming effect of this cleanser from the eucalyptus oil. I find it keeps my skin hydrated and removed any dirt and oils from my face nicely.

Sometimes, if my skin is feeling extra dull, I'll sleep with a layer of this on my face and wake up to a super soft and smooth face!

This product is a newcomer to my routine. The Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Astringent is a great alternative astringent for people with dry skin. Basically, I bought this product because I was finding other astringents way too drying and harsh. I also didn't like the alcohol smell of other astringents. Although the smell of this astringent is strange and takes a bit of getting used to, it doesn't dry out my skin at all and I've actually noticed a big difference in how inflamed my blemishes get. I still get some blemishes, but they don't tend to be getting as swollen up or as sore since I've been using this product. I use this astringent both morning and night after my facial cleanser.

Depending on how dry my skin is on any given day I will use at least on of the above moisturizers. I tend to lean more towards the Cliniderm Soothing Cream when my skin is really dry, and the Life Brand (equivalent of Cetaphil) Moisturizing Lotion on days when I don't feel like I need as much moisture. However, I will always use the Cliniderm around my eye area in the day no matter what.

The Equate Brand Vitamin E cream is something I use mainly at night when I will use it all over my face, but I will also put an extra layer on over the Cliniderm if my Eczema happens to be flared up because I find it really helps heal it quickly.

Last, but certainly not least, is good old Vaseline - a staple in everyone's household.

I like to use Vaseline in the morning on my lips. I also like to use it at night around my eyes, on my lips, and on my nose because my nose tends to get dry and flaky. I don't find Vaseline very practical for daily use as it is thick and sticky, so I like to stick to only using it at night, with the exception of using it on my lips throughout the day.

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Thanks for reading! I hope this was informative. :)
Keep checking back for my suggested products for dry/eczema prone body skin, along with much, much more!