Tea & Topaz

Lately I've been trying to break all my bad beauty habits. Things like touching your face and not drinking enough water can wreak havoc on your skin. These are 10 bad beauty habits that you must break!  1. Don't touch your face without washing your hands first. Your hands are full of germs that you don't want to transfer to your face as they can cause breakouts. 2. Drink more water. Make sure you stay hydrated as dehydrated skin looks dull and tired. 3. Don't forget your SPF. We're all guilty of this. Remember to apply sunscreen before you apply your makeup, and if you're out in the sun, make sure you reapply often. When I was growing up, my mom used to say that we didn't need to wear sunscreen after 4 pm. Well the sun has become so strong since then that it is now recommended that we wear sunscreen until sunset! Don't forget about your lips either! 4. Don't hoard makeup. I've seen some pretty impressive makeup collection videos on Y...

I can't believe it's October! Today I'm sharing my fashion, beauty and random favourites from the month of September. 1. Faux fur vests: I loved this trend last fall and winter, and I love it again this year. Unfortunately last year I didn't pick one up, so I've been on the lookout recently and hope to find one soon! $49.95 at H&M 2. Paula's Choice Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution : I've been doing some research on BHA exfoliants lately so I wanted to give one a try. I chose this particular product because it's affordable and well reviewed. Well, it's amazing . Unlike scrubs which slough off dead skin cells, chemical exfoliants work by turning skin cells over faster. They reduce breakouts and scarring, and brighten the skin and improve its overall texture.  I would definitely repurchase this product over and over. I've been using it for six weeks and it has already made such a difference in my skin. $26 at ...

Some of us are blessed with flawless skin and some of us aren't. I unfortunately belong to the latter group. Throughout high school until my mid-twenties, my skin care routine consisted of using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser and spot treatment at night, and in the morning, Spectro Cleanser and a heavy moisturizer like Nivea Soft to combat the dryness caused by my cleansers. My skin was oily but clear apart from the occasional breakout.  If you're a reader of this blog, you know that for about the past six months, I've changed both my skin care and makeup after becoming aware of what conventional products can do to our bodies and the environment. Switching all of my products at once has not always been easy on my skin. I've tried a lot  of products recently - I've only blogged about ones that have worked for me - and it's not always easy to decide when you should stop using a new product. Many of us expect new products, whether they are anti-aging or an...

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...

I can't believe it's that time again! To be honest, this list was especially difficult to compile this month. I spent April finishing up a very intensive 8 month + internship postgrad program. Between the exams, reports, projects, presentations, late nights and early mornings, I had very little time to myself to discover new products, so this list mostly includes old favourites that I found myself reaching for this month. 1. Cadbury Mini Eggs :  Mini Eggs are my favourite Easter candy and I don't even want to think of how many I consumed this month (stress eating!). At least I was balancing all that chocolate out with vegan bowls . 2. Live Clean Fresh Face Foaming Daily Cleanser : I picked up this cleanser in my never ending quest to find the best skin care products. I'm glad I did as I really love it. It doesn't contain any harsh ingredients, so it is extremely gentle on the skin. It is for all skin types, and is reasonably priced. $15.49 at S...

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

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 ...