Tea & Topaz

If you read my July Favourites  post, you'll know that I recently purchased the limited edition Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye and Cheek Palette . Today I thought I would review and swatch this palette for you. Although Tarte Cosmetics is one of my favourite beauty brands, they are not well known for their eyeshadows. In fact, they don't have any eyeshadows in their regular product line, and the only time they seem to be released is in limited edition palettes. I've tried their eyeshadows in the past, and I loved the formulation. As always, these products are formulated without parabens or phthalates.  This is the third disk palette that Tarte has released, and the first one that I've purchased. What initially caught my eye is the fun packaging as well as the eyeshadows, which are perfect colours for my green eyes. It's rare that I find a palette where all the shades seem made for me. This palette is a steal at $46. It contains six...

These are my favourite fashion, beauty and random products for the month of June! Boyfriend Jeans: I've been living in boyfriend jeans all month. I got this pair on mega sale at American Eagle a little while ago. They are no longer online, but these three pairs are similar and are also on sale.  On sale at ae.com Olay Pro X Advanced Cleansing System : I have been loving this cleansing brush so much! It makes my skin feel so clean. As promised in my most recent post in my natural beauty series, my review is coming soon . I highly recommend it if you are hesitant about investing in a Clarisonic.  $24.99 at well.ca and drugstores Strawberries: Fresh local strawberries have been everywhere lately. They're so flavourful and I've been enjoying some everyday.  Yes to Tomatoes Oil Control/Acne Control Gel Cleanser : Between the hot, very humid  weather and wearing sunscreen, my face has been a bit temperamental lately. I've been using my normal ge...

Have you ever thought about what's in the products you use everyday? I certainly didn't, until about a year ago. If you've read any of the posts in my natural beauty series , you know that I've been trying to make my skin care routine more natural and environmentally friendly. Everything from skin care to shampoo to hand soap to dish soap to laundry detergent is made with chemicals that have been linked to both disrupting the endocrine system and causing cancer. The EU has banned or regulated over 1,300 ingredients used in personal care products. Here in North America, we are much more lenient. The FDA has banned only 11 ingredients, while Health Canada's list of banned ingredients is only slightly longer!  (Source)  As well, terms such as "green," "eco-friendly" and "pure" are often meaningless as they aren't regulated and are often only used to market products. For example, the majority of Green Works products receive a grade of F...

I can't believe it's the end of May already. Hopefully the summer weather will be here soon! Here's what I've been loving during May. This month's list is as random as usual. 1. New Balance SuperLight/SuperFresh 895V2 Walking Shoe : I'm definitely not a sneaker kind of girl. It's been years since I last owned a pair, but I bought these New Balance 895V2 sneakers a few weeks ago in preparation for the Shape Up Challenge , and I love them! They are perfect for walking or running. $89.99 at newbalance.com 2. White Noise Lite App : Sometimes I have a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. I stumbled upon this free app in the Apple App Store and I can't believe how quickly it puts me to sleep! There are a selection of soothing sounds to choose from such as crashing waves, thunder and a ticking grandfather clock. Free, available for iPhone and Android 3. Revlon Lip Butter in Sorbet : Lately I've been turning to this bright cool-toned p...

Not long ago, I received a trial size of Tarte Maracuja Oil , which is passion fruit seed oil. The trial size lasted me for about two weeks, and I just recently ran out. Today I wanted to share my thoughts about this product as well as compare it to coconut oil, which I have been using as a facial moisturizer for about four months now . Pros: 1. I definitely noticed an improvement in my skin when I used Tarte Maracuja Oil. It was brighter and softer. My skin did get a little oily midday (more so when compared to coconut oil), but that is usual for me.  2. It absorbs into the skin much faster than coconut oil. Cons: 1. This stuff is veryyyy expensive with 3.4 oz costing $90! In comparison, a 860 ml jar of organic virgin coconut oil is about $20. I've been trying to find a generic passion fruit seed oil online, but so far I haven't had much luck. 2. There are tons of complaints online about the packaging, which is a bottle with a dropper. I don't love th...

Today I wanted to share with you my latest and greatest drugstore find. Kit Detoxifying Mask is nothing short of amazing. I picked up a few packages of this mask last week at Rexall (sorry international friends, but it seems that this product is only available in Canada! I will update this post if I find a suitable substitute for you) having never tried it before. I was quite excited to try a skin care product that contains algae extract as  algae is known to fight free radicals, inflammation and blemishes . I am so happy that I gave this product a try! When you apply the mask, you will feel a tingling sensation, which is due to the algae extract detoxifying the skin. After you remove it, you will notice that your skin looks brighter and instantly refreshed. This mask is extremely affordable at $1.99 per package! I am finding that one package provides enough product for two applications.  Kit Detoxifying Mask, $1.99 at Rexall chain drugstores

Today I want to share with you a simple, natural and cost-effective DIY lip scrub. The best part is that all the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen! Simply mix 3 parts honey and 1 part sugar until well combined. Apply a small amount to your lips and lightly rub until your lips are well exfoliated. Remove the scrub with a damp cloth. Store the leftover scrub in your bathroom so it's always there when you need it, and apply once a week or as needed. That's all there is to it!

This is the first post in a new series which explores natural beauty products. I recently went for a facial at a new-to-me spa and was told something that has resonated with me ever since: why would you put something on your body that you wouldn't eat? During my facial, I was told about all the yucky ingredients in conventional skin care products, and about the importance of feeding our skin with everything it needs. She explained that we should not use products that contain alcohol, which dries out the skin causing it to produce oil, and should look for products that contain oil, especially those of us with oily skin. Immediately following my facial I scoured my local drugstores looking for natural skin care products with oil and no alcohol. I had no luck and came home empty handed. At this time, I was never completely happy with the skin care products that I was using. After checking the ingredients of my current products, combined with my unsuccessful shopping trip for ...