(Spring) Night Time Skin Care ~ What I'm Currently Using

I have been looking to take my evening cleansing and skin care routine up a notch. And these products are helping me do just that! Here is my experience just a little over two weeks of using.

Long time readers of HHL will already know that Bioderma - Sensibio H2O has been my go to for removing my eye make-up for a few years now. Just a little squirt on a cotton pad thoroughly removes all traces of mascara, eye shadow, eye liner and brow powder (I have also used it to remove lipstick). It is the most gentle make-up remover I have tried!- and continues to be part of my skin care routine. 

Audrey Hepburn was a huge fan of this cleansing bar.

I have been wanting to give Ernoszlo exfoliating sea mud deep cleansing bar a try for some time ... WOW! I can't believe how CLEAN my face feels after each use. It lathers up equally or better than some cream cleansers I have used in the past. Enriched with 26 minerals, dead sea mud detoxifies, hydrates and restores the skin's own mineral levels. Think exfoliate - removes dead skin cells for more radiant skin; stimulates - improves circulation and motivates natural skin regeneration; and cleanse - removing dirt, blackheads, impurities and makeup without stripping skin of natural oils.

There is a cleansing oil that you can use before the cleansing bar - I tried a sample the Beauty Consultant at Holt Renfrew suggested, but found the cleansing bar on it's own did a great job of removing make-up and cleansing.

While I was happy with the toner I was using, I was looking for one that offered the same results but was a little more budget friendly ... the Beauty Consultant at Shopper's suggested the La Roche-Posay - soothing lotion. I apply it with a cotton pad - and wipe my face to remove any cleanser I may have not completely rinsed off. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and ready for the next step in skin care routine.

As we age, so does our skin care needs and lately I've noticed the eye cream I had been turning to (on and off) for many years was just not giving me the results I was looking for. After some research and speaking with the Beauty Consultant at Shopper's - Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate  - a plant based concentrate anti-wrinkle, anti-puffiness and anti-dark circle eye contour treatment, appeared to be worth a try. You don't need a lot of product, 3-4 pin head dots for each eye covers the eye area from temple to nose (think of it as a C).  After a couple of weeks I'm finding the fine lines (crows feet) are more blurred and a little reduction in the puffiness under my left eye (the side I sleep on most) - dark circles are generally not an issue for me. I also use it with my morning skin care routine.

As I look in the mirror I'm starting to see the lines around my mouth are becoming a little more pronounced (the result of having lots to smile about in life !!) and also the skin around my jaw line is falling victim to gravity. The Beauty Consultant at Shopper's suggested Stri-Vectin-AR (advanced retinol night treatment). Since making it part of my evening routine, I'm not really seeing a reduction in the fine lines and wrinkles - though I have been told because it's an over counter retinol it's not as potent as prescription so results may take longer to see. The up side the irritation that can be common with prescription retinol does not seem to be a concern - I have experienced no irritation. What I have noticed in this short time is that the texture of my skin feels smoother and looks more radiant.

So there you have it ladies, this will be the night time skin care routine that will take me through spring. Let's see what stays or goes for summer.

What skin care products do you swear by and/or are currently using?

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,

 
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Foot Care More Than Just Pretty Painted Toes ..

Happy Monday Resilientista lovelies!!! ~ Mother Nature is warming things up here in Toronto ... and before you know it you'll be slipping on your open toe shoes!! and HIGH HEELS too!! ... Foot care is so simple - yet often over looked ...check out why foot care is more than pretty painted toes HERE...


Are your toes open shoe ready?
Share your foot care tips below ...

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,


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Putting My Best Face Forward - Spring Cleansing Essentials

As the weather warms up shirt sleeves become shorter, and long pants start to be replaced with Capri pants, skirts and for the real daring folks - shorts. Its a good time to examine your face and cleansing products and make sure they are doing what you need them to do as the season changes from freezing cold to warmer temperatures.

 On the left is a photo of the products I was using through the winter and was finding my skin just no longer feeling them. On the right is a photo of the products I'm currently using. You will note, some products stayed while others have been replaced.

I have been an avid user of  Clinique Clarifying Lotion as a toner since my mid twenties - but this year I started to feel it really dried out my skin - I have switched for Sephora's Fresh Rose Floral Toner; L'Oreal's purifying gel wash cleanser has also been switched for Sephora's Fresh Rose Cleanser Foam; Shiseido replaced the Shopper's brand make-up pads; St. Ives apricot scrub has been my go to for years, when it comes to facial scrubs; and I'm still loving my Cala facial brush. I'm currently on the hunt for a great eye and lip make-up remover (please leave any suggestions in the comments below).

 Dry skin brushing is not only great for helping to exfoliate it's also great for circulation; a pumice stone keeps your feet soft between pedi; bath/shower scrubbies are not only great for lathering up your body wash they help with exfoliating. I'm loving St. Ives Indulgent Coconut Milk Body wash.

Round up of what I am currently using to cleanse and nourish my skin.

Body Wash - St. Ives Indulgent Coconut Milk

What I'm loving: the subtle coconut fragrance and deep hydrating.  

Skin Dry Brushes - Hydrea London,

What I'm loving: I have been a huge fan of dry skin brushing and these really are easy to hold and the natural bristles are gentle yet effective.

Facial Cleansing Brush - Cala

What I'm loving: the soft bristles are gentle and feel amazing on the skin.

Bath Scrubbie - Shopper's Drug Mart

What I'm loving: the way my body wash lathers up

Pumice Stone - Cleanlogic

What I'm loving: I love the curve of this stone, it is easy to use on the heel, and easily glides under the arch of my foot and polishes the sides of my big toe too!! this is definitely a keeper.

Make-up Pads - Shiseido Facial Cotton

What I'm loving: the softness and the durability 

Eye Make-up Remover - Nivea Eye  Make-up Remover* 

Facial Scrub - St. Ives Apricot scrub
What I'm loving: have been using for as long as I  can remember - the gentleness with which it exfoliates my facial skin. Continues to be a keeper.

Facial Cleanser - Fresh Rose Cleanser Foam (Sephora)
What I'm loving: the way the liquid foams up as it is dispensed and how effectively and ease which make-up is removed. My skin is left clean and the light rose scent is soothing to the senses.

Facial Toner - Fresh Rose Floral Toner (Sephora)
What I'm loving: that it can be spritzed on or applied using a facial pad. My skin feels refreshed and when I spritz it on and before the toner is fully absorbed into skin , I begin to apply my moisturizer - it feels like the skin absorbs the moisturizer much better. And again the light rose scent is soothing.

* (new -will let you know if it stays)

Please share cleansing products are using & loving?

You are the curator of your life so make it luxurious,


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Putting My Best Face Forward - Part 3 - Make-up Chanel

I have been a big fan of Chanel cosmetics since introduced to the line by a friend almost 20 years ago. Once I tried the blush I was hooked! No matter how often I used it it seemed endless - Unlike the drugstore brands I was use to - that ended up with a gaping worn hole in the centre and then floating pieces as it broke completely.  I was told it was the raised bubble like design that help distribute the product onto the brush unified and easily. Whatever it was I was happy, it cost almost three times what I was paying for the drugstore brand (at that time) - but it lasted six times longer so well worth the initial investment. And did I mention the beautiful compact!!

I remember saving up to try other products in the line. Some like the Chanel Le Crayon Khol also became a staple in my cosmetic bag. It's soft texture glides smoothly to line the inside of the lower lid or to outline the eye. And I loved that it came with its own sharpener. Throughout the years there have been times when only Chanel products would be found in my cosmetic bag and other times they ruled but other products also captured my attention. So as I embark on the journey to up my look - I'm returning to Chanel for a refresher and to re-discover the line again.

Putting My Best Face Forward - Part 2 - Make-up Sephora

Image Credit - Google images

Speaking with friends about make-up I have concluded that most of us have a love hate relationship with make-up. Some can't seem to get enough - buying up the latest and greatest; others keep it simple and some avoid it unless absolutely necessary (i.e. special occasion, wedding, etc.). As little girls all dreamed of the day when we would be "grown-up" enough to wear make-up. As teenagers we were fearless - trying the latest products and techniques, need I say it BLUE EYE SHADOW anyone? Make-up was the answer to making us look "grown-up". We learned the basics and for the most part looked pretty good when we walked out the door. Fast forward a few decades years and we want make-up to make us "look younger". 

Putting My Best Face Forward - Part 1

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, 

then the eyebrows are the curtains that frame these windows...

Looking in the mirror lately, 

I would have to admit my curtains could use a little TLC.  

How about yours? 

I decided to start "Putting My Best Face Forward" series with eyebrows, because properly shaped eyebrows can do more to improve your appearance than most other beauty treatments. It doesn't matter if you are young, mature, high or low maintenance, learning to properly shape your eyebrows is a must.

We look at magazines filled with pages of faces with seemly perfect brows, while staring back at us in the mirror our own brows appear too bushy, too thin, straggly and/or sparse. Before you know it the tweezers are out or we rush into the closest nail shop or hair shop for some waxing or threading trying to get those "perfect brows". In most cases after such rash attempts we commit the next misstep - trying to fill in what has been lost without proper instruction - remember when you first held a crayon as a child and tried to colour? Need I say more ... What we over look is that the women looking back at us from the pages of the glossy magazines with their seemly perfect brows, have professional eyebrow groomers (whose sole job is to make the brows look seemly perfect) shape them and craft them. The results are not achieved by plucking, waxing or threading alone - but with pencils, powders, wax and most important a skilled hand.

Putting My Best Face Forward ... Series Introduction

What I've been using ... and looking to update...

Are you feeling like me -  "your beauty products have started to fall short in their results" - And with all the information overload you end up sticking with what you are using and doing because it's all just too confusing? Well I'm right there with you! Though I have been pretty good about keeping up with cleansing my face each night and an AM and PM skincare routine I'm finding that my skin is looking a bit dull these days and not feeling like I would like it to. 

Being in the city and getting out among people I'm ready to move past just mascara, eye-liner and lipstick when it comes to make-up. So I'm looking to up my look too ... But with all the products on the market and techniques where does one start? So I've decided to approach this as a novice and have gone in search of help and answers from some beauty experts.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing my adventures as I explore various beauty services in Toronto, to get some expert advice on how to better care for my skin and up my look too. I hope that you will follow along with the "Putting My Best Face Forward" series and be inspired to seek out some professional beauty services where you live.

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,


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Creating me – with a little help from my friends

It was recently brought to my attention by a couple of dear, dear friends that I was letting myself go and they were concerned that I was sliding back into a “frustrated state (code word for depression)”. Even in the hospital I was beside myself that I had no colour on my toes. Yet as one observed, your colour is there but you can see the new nail growth; then they went on to the hair- and the root garden that was growing; the clean, but un-manicured nails- also did not go unnoticed; nor that some waxing was long over-due; and the track-suit had to go. You get the picture.