The Best Beauty Products I Tried in 2020

Each year, thousands of new products hit the shelves and Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart suck me into trying a lot of things out. I m not good at make up, my hair is up in a messy bun most of the time and my skin care routine is minimal, but 2020 was a special year because I bought more beauty products than usual, and wore less make up than ever, so go figure.  Here are the products I absolutely loved, and not did not love so much.

Givenchy Hot Couture Eau de Toilette 

 This used to be my go to back in the early two thousands, and then they. I was so glad to see they brought it back awhile ago. Smells exactly like it did back in the day. Love this perfume, its light and last a long time.

Laneige lip mask 

Okay I might have had this for a long time but this product has been magic. I’ve searched for something that would work for my very dry lips for so long and this was the answer. Get it you def. need it.

Lano Tinted Lip Balm in Perfect Nude 

Creamy, moisturizing and the perfect nude color. Its not sticky and smells good.

Nena Clay Mask 

 This has been potentially one of the best beauty finds, ever.  I’ve tried many brands and many different clay masks and this has been one of the best. It makes my skin smoother and bright, specially after spending time under in the sun or outside in the winter. Very easy to apply and wash off. Definitely highly recommend.

Rare Beauty Mini Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick Duo 

The colors are GORGOUS and it last so long it doesn’t also dry out your lips and its really pigmented 10/10 recommend. 

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 

This was recommended to me by my esthetician and I fell in love with it. I have acne prone skin and I use this couple times a week. My breakouts have subsided all together and my skin feels smoother. 

Face Masks That Really Deliver

I am not sure if it’s the winter or the stress at work but in 2020, my skin hit a new low.. I am talking low as teenager with raging hormones type of skin issues. I tried everything from changing my diet, switching from my got to brand, new makeup, brushed…everything I can think off! You know that meme that says "I'll put a mask on, that will fix everything " so as a last resort so I decided to try it... well try all the masks I could get my hands on.

Deep cleaning mask: Nena Clay Glacial Oceanic Clay Mask
This mask has been a lifesaver - year long. This purifying and softening clay mask is made with 99% natural glacial oceanic clay, which is clinically proven to tighten pores, increase collagen production (anti-aging benefits), reduce excess oils and contain anti-inflammatory properties. I love this Pure Canadian Glacial Oceanic Clay Mask it is great for combating the effects of everyday pollution. As my skin on winter is super sensitive and dry this formula maintains my skin moisture, purify and at the same time reduces the appearance of pores. You can notice the difference after one time use!

Glow mask: LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask 

This mask is boom.com! I wear it when I have a bad skin day or couple nights a week to combat the extremely dry skin and immediately the next day, I feel extremely plump and soft.  Laneige Water Sleeping Mask is a cult-favorite because it boasts innovative ingredients like Snow Water to brighten and tone skin, ceramides to help your skin retain moisture, and a relaxing and luxurious blend of aromatic botanicals to soften and plump up parched, tired skin.

Moisturizing mask: Nena Clay Moisturizing Sheet Mask

Other than looking completely funny with this on, I love how this maks feels. My skin felt soft and moisturized. This Moisturizing Sheet Mask contains mineral-rich Glacial Marine Extract which is an extract of the Glacial Oceanic Clay from a pristine source unique to the British Columbia coast of Canada. This unique and powerful formula will reveal softened, toned and radiant skin.

Brighten up your skin mask: Origins GINZING™ Peel Off Mask To Refine & Refresh

 This mask  left my skin absolutely radiant! Even tone, tighten pores, and feeling fresh refreshing.This peel-off mask is fortified with Caffeine From Coffee Beans and Panax Ginseng. It helps lift away dull, dead skin plus dirt and debris to leave you looking clear and radiant. All while refining pores, too. Skin feels smooth and totally refreshed. Pores snap back in to shape! It's easy to use. Just apply an even layer to clean, dry skin. I wasn't bothered by the smell, and you have to make sure you apply even layer because peeling it off can be a challenge.

 What are your go to mask to combat winter skin?

Our Favorite Red Lipsticks

There's no denying it: Red lipstick is a power move. A great red lip is very much a confidence-boosting accessory, plus there is something about colder weather and the upcoming holiday season that makes me wanna put on a bright crimsons or the sexy scarlet color to finish my look. 

NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream - Copenhagen

NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream - Madrid

MAC - Soft Matte Lip Cream - Ruby Woo

Nars - Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - Cruella 

Dior - Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge Lipstick - 777 Ultra Star - Orangey Red

Rare Beauty- Lip Souffle Matte Cream - Inspire

What is your go to red color lipstick?

Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are so easy to make and so soft and delicious. I love them with fruit and tea.

what you will need:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup becel original margarine

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup of white chocolate chips

1/2 semi sweet chocolate, melted for drizzling

How to make it:

preheat oven to 375.

combine flour, baking soda and salt in  medium bowl.

Combine becel and sugar and beat until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined well.

Add flour fixture, and beat until blended.

Stir in white chocolate chips. 

Using a table spoon, spoon out mixture on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 7 minutes.

Once cool, drizzle (or dip) cookies with melted chocolate.

Enjoy.

Our Favorite Nude Lipsticks

A nude lip can be just as sexy and striking, but good nude lipstick is hard to find - I see something I love online, only to order and be uber disappointed it doesn't look perfectly nude on me. I was looking something with a perfect amount of polish for day or night, barely-there hue that best flatters my complexion and feels the most secure on my lips... is that too much to ask for?

Huda Beauty - Liquid Matte - Wifey

Stila - Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick - Patina

Loreal - Matte Lipstick Rouge Signature - Choose

Maybelline New York - Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick - Daringly Nude

What are your go to nude lipsticks?

Pecan Chocolate Cookies

I LOVE cookies - like a lot. This batter is so easy to make and you can modify it any way you want. I made two versions of it and they turned out delicious.

what you will need:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup becel original margarine

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp cocoa powder

pecans, toasted 
almonds, chopped
1 cup chocolate chip

1/2 white chocolate, melted for drizzling

How to make it:
version #1

preheat oven to 375.

combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt in  medium bowl.

Combine becel and sugar and beat until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined well.

Add flour fixture, and beat until blended.

Using a table spoon, spoon out mixture on an ungreased baking sheet.

Top each cookie with a pecan half.

Bake for 7 minutes.

version #2

preheat oven to 375.

combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt in  medium bowl.

Combine becel and sugar and beat until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined well.

Add flour fixture, and beat until blended.
Fold in almonds and chocolate chips.

Using a table spoon, spoon out mixture on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 7 minutes.

#Review: Goodfood Subscription Box

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We like everyone else around the world are living in strange times, we are told not to go out unless necessary. Not to see family or friends and keep physical distancing as much as possible. With so many people out of work and business struggling, we decided to try out another subscription box instead of going to the grocery store. We tried Goodfood and here are our thoughts. 

Pros:

1. I like the variety of recipes but since I don't eat pork or beef i'm a little limited in my choices. I would love if I could get the beef option and substitute chicken but i'm sure no one is as high maintenance as me. I might put this in the suggestion section. 

2. Quality ingredients, now I know all the food subscription boxes give quality ingredients but I found with Hello Fresh sometimes the food would go bad sooner or there would be more bad bits to cut out. 

3. As with any subscription box, there is the convenience of getting a box on a schedule and they give enough time for you to trade out recipes. 

4. I'm not sure if other boxes have this option but I was able to customize my dietary preferences so I could exclude pork and beef and then the options chosen for the next week wouldn't have pork or beef as one of the predetermined options.

5. You can skip the week easily and they send you a warning email or text if you subscribe to warn you when it's coming to the last day to skip. They also make it super easy to deactivate your account which I appreciate. I don't like jumping through hoops just to unsubscribe to something. You can also reopen your account just as easily.   

Cons:

1. The portions are small, I know we shouldn't be eating too much but compared to Hello Fresh the portions are a lot smaller especially for the price. Hello Fresh gives you more for less money. 

2. Price, I got my first box for free from a code I got from a friend so I didn't pay too much attention to the price. When I didn't skip the next week and got the confirmation, the price was about $20 more than Hello Fresh and while I like the recipes I don't like then enough to pay $20 more for less food. 

3. I don't like that you have to email them to cancel your subscription. With Hello Fresh it's super easy you just click a button. I don't like subscription services that make cancelling hard it doesn't deter me from cancelling it just annoys me and makes me not want to sign up again once I've cancelled.

What are you making during quarantine?  

#Review: Natural Deodorants

We've been on a kick lately to take better care of ourselves and that includes paying attention to the ingredients in the products we use. Normally,  like most people we use whatever was on sale at the supermarket or was popular, like Secret or Dove but when my underarms started getting super itchy every time I used deodorant we figured it was time for a change. We saw a Shark Tank episode where they showed a product called Piper Wei and it was an all natural, aluminum free deodorant and we thought I must try this. It took awhile for me to find it, so in the meantime I tried out some brands from my local stores so I will review a few brands below.

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Tom's of Maine-  I am sensitive to strong smells so I tend to like lighter scents, they had a few options and all were super light which I liked. I do have to say it took awhile for my body to adjust, honestly I had to reapply part way through the day, but after a few months I go a whole day with just applying in the morning. 

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Piper Wai- Like I said it took me awhile to find this brand, without having to pay crazy shipping prices to get it in Canada. I just happened to come across it at Costco in the states. It came with one solid stick and two travel size tub of the product. I have to say I don't really enjoy the smell of it, and I find the stick doesn't work as well as applying the product from the tub with your fingers, I do not love having to remember to apply it and then washing my hands, does not work well when you are late. 

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Herban Cowboy - I got the scent blossom and I love it, out of all the deodorants this one is my favourite. It doesn't work as well as the Tom's but it smells better so it's still my go to, and I can always reapply it and it helps with the sweating.

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Routine- I got a sample of this in a gift bag, I tried it out and while I don't like having to apply it with my fingers as it's messy and not really convenient when rushing out the door. Now while we are in quarantine and working from home it  works out well for using this product. I might not be leaving my house but I still want to smell fresh. I usually apply it after my shower at night and then again in the morning. The scent of this is okay it's a little too musky for my taste but not too bad.

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Native- I haven't been able to try this one yet but it's all over my Facebook and Instagram ads so i'm really curious to try it out, I know this is a review post but I had to include this one since it has been recommended to me a few times by a few different people. I will update this post once i've tried it, but in the meantime let me know your thoughts. Love it, hate it or indifferent.

Do you like natural deodorants? Have you gone aluminum free?

#Review:Unbound Cordless Titanium 1-inch Curling Iron by Conair

I love a good cordless device, I love to travel so cordless devices are super helpful. I mostly use these tools when I go to the lake in the summer, there is no electricity so having a cordless styling tool is super helpful, I usually charge them on the drive down since it takes about 6 hours to get there. I love to wear my hair curly so I was looking for a quality cordless curler and I found this one on Amazon.

I previously reviewed a cordless flat iron and now I wish I had returned that flat iron and bought the Unbound Cordless flat iron or the multi-styler because the quality is so much better. The curling iron came in and I charged it for the 3 hours it stated in the instructions and once it was charged I used it and it's amazing. You can choose the temperature so if you have thick hair you can set it higher and if you have thinner hair you can set the temperature lower. The device feels heavy and works really good. I was able to curl my whole head and still have battery power left over, and you can see what temperature you set it at. I love, love, love this curler and I want all the products. I also love how it has a small clip you can use to clamp the hair in place or you can use it more like a wand. 

Do you like cordless devices? Which ones do you suggest?

#Review: Yeti Travel Mug

I thought this mug was over priced for no reason. I did not feed into the hype, but once I got one. I mean I'm all in!! I'm drinking the kool aid, i'm on the Yeti train, it is amazing. I do have some things I would change but overall I love it.

The Pros:

1. This is a big one it keeps my coffee hot/warm for longer. I was using a Starbucks mug and while it's great and the price is better my mid morning my coffee would be cold and I would never finish it. At work I have meetings, and places to go so it helps to have my coffee stay warmer for longer because I want to finish my coffee, it flows through my veins. 
2. I love the size I have the 20 oz mug and it's the perfect amount for me to get my coffee intake every morning. I've cut down to one mug a day and this is just the right amount. 

The Cons:

1. It is bulky to hold and the outside is slippery. It would be nice if it came with a silicone sleeve so you have something sturdier to grip onto. I find when i'm going from meeting to meeting that it's a bit bulky and slippery to juggle with my keys, laptop and phone. Especially on days when I don't have a pocket it makes it super difficult. I know first world problems but still. 
2. I have the new magnetic lid which is a big improvement over the original but there are still issues. Like today it was freezing cold out and I had no hands so I put it in my lunch bag and it fell over and I didn't notice so there was coffee everywhere. The point of this is in my Starbucks mug this would not be an issue the closure is secure. 

A side note I did manage to find a silicone sleeve off of Amazon that I think will fit so I will update you here if it does in fact fit and a link to the product. 

The Best Advent Calendars to Gift

I love Christmas I love buying gifts, I love getting gifts, I love spending time with family and spoiling the little ones. I also love the time off, I definitely did not appreciate it enough when I was younger and in school. One gift that keeps giving are advent calendars here are my favourites.

Betsy Johnson Women's Sock Advent Calendar - These socks are so cute, and they feel soft. For anyone on your list that loves funky, cool socks you should get them this calendar.

Ilchester® Cheese Advent Calendar- A blogger created a cheese advent calendar in 2016, I don't know how this didn't exist earlier. Who doesn't love cheese! This calendar will be a hit with anyone.

Glossybox Advent Calendar- This is any make up lovers dream. You get so many really good quality items. I won an advent calendar last year and it was the best, I still have some products I use and it came with make up brush and hair ties, so worth the money. 

Chocolate Advent Calendar- I was going to pick just one but I felt like that would be too controversial. Whatever your favourite is, or the person you are buying for get it for them. Especially if they are obsessed with chocolate. There are so many Reese, Godiva, Hersheys, Lindt, or Cadbury Dairy Milk.

Liquor Advent Calendar- There are different ones again I couldn't pick just one. There's calendars for whiskey, beer, hard seltzer, tequila, sparkling wine, rum and finally vodka. I know I named a lot but this is important so many people would love this gift. 

What is your favourite advent calendar? 

#Review: Make Up Brush Cleaner

I saw this as an ad somewhere and thought I need this. Yup, i'm a cliche the ad worked on me. Anything that makes cleaning faster I am all in. I tried it out and I am in love. There are some issues but overall I love it. 

The brush if it's a size that fits into the holder goes in easily, you add a little bit of water and I used baby shampoo as it's super gentle you can use any soap you normally use for your brushes. 

As you can see the brush spins in the bowl and you don't need a lot of water just enough to cover the bristles, so you don't spray water everywhere and it remains contained in the bowl. 

Once you have cleaned the brush, dump the water add in fresh water with no soap. Spin the brush in the water, it should be clear. 

Final step spin the brush above the water and it should dry fairly quickly. This is the best part of the whole thing, you can now use your brush immediately because it's both clean and DRY!! You don't have to wait a day it's so worth it. Especially because it is so affordable. 

One draw back is the holders are not really good for sizes that are out of the ordinary and it's not good for double sided brushes, which I have a lot of to save money but putting the end with a brush on the end wrecks the bristles so I wouldn't suggest using it on those. I'm not sure if you can find other size holders but if I find any I will update you here. 

Would you try this make up brush cleaner or would to stick to traditional methods?

I would love to know what you think.

#Review:FK*IT Lashes

 

We have the hardest time applying fake lashes and the glue normally irritates our eyes. We went to the launch party for this new brand of lashes FK*IT Lashes and we are in love. They are the best. We didn't have to trim them, and the glue was amazing. Our eyes normally get so irritated but as we learned at the launch it only has two ingredients acrylic resin and distilled water. 

We were lucky enough to get a free pair each and have them applied. They went on easily and stayed on till the end of the night. We have worn them many times after we got them and since they are so easy to apply we wear them to whatever special occasion we want. You know because we are extra but not too extra.  Another thing we loved about these lashes are they come with a small tube of lash glue included with the lashes. You can get a pair of lashes with glue for $31.00 CND for quality lashes and glue that's a steal!

Before

During 

After

Nermisa is wearing silk lashes in Boardroom Boss Babe and I am wearing mink lashes  in FK*IT.

What lashes are your go to? Have you tried FK*IT Lashes?

#Review: Best Moscow Mules in YEG

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We had the difficult task of trying Moscow Mules at a lot of restaurants in Edmonton. I know what you are thinking, thank you so much for completing such a difficult task. Here are our top 5 favourites. Enjoy!

The things I look for in a good Moscow Mule are:

Is it in a copper mug

does it have the right combination of mint, ginger beer and liquor

Is it not too sweet

1. Earls Kitchen + Bar

2. Urban Tavern

3. Chop Steakhouse Bar

4. Joey Restaurants

5. Cactus Club Cafe

Which bar or restaurant makes your favourite Moscow Mule? Who should have made the list?