Category Archives: Reviews

Skincare Saturday: Smooth Wax Bar – Toronto

February 20, 2016Reviews, SkincareWaxingChelle

Smooth Wax Bar- Toronto

There’s something to be said for a place that prides itself on doing one thing, and doing it well. Smooth Wax Bar Toronto in Liberty Village (located at 110 Atlantic Avenue, 416.516.9229) got their roots started in London, Ontario, two years ago and have just now opened their Toronto location. They don’t do anything else except remove hair from your body. No manicures. No pedicures. No facials. Only wax. Do one thing, and do it well, right?

I was kindly invited out to have a waxing of my choice done. After perusing their site for a while, I opted for full legs. A bit of background on my body hair (cuz I’m sure you were just dying to know): I have very fine, nearly translucent body hair. I can often get away with shaving once every one to one and a half weeks even during the summer. In the shot above, I’ve actually got about two weeks of hair growth on my legs (as this shot was taken before I got waxed) but you really can’t see anything cuz there isn’t much to see.

So here’s how it went down. My waxologist, Liette, was probably the nicest person I’ve ever met (and I’m someone who struggles to talk to hair dressers, so I wasn’t sure how this was going to go). She had this air about her that just made me immediately comfortable. As I’d never actually had a wax before, she walked me through every detail. She started with my thighs, which I was pleasantly surprised to find out didn’t hurt nearly as much as I was expecting. I asked her about this and she confirmed that areas that have more fat deposits on them are places that tend to hurt less. As she moved down my legs, the pain levels definitely went up, but at no point was it even remotely unmanageable. My lower legs, particularly around the ankle, was the most uncomfortable area to wax. Liette pinpointed how it was an “angry” pain that a person feels when that area gets ripped off. And she’s totally right – in that split second when the wax strip comes off, you’re absolutely freaking livid. It was kind of hysterical actually. Overall, I was pleasantly impressed with how LITTLE pain I actually did feel throughout the entire process. She was quick, efficient, friendly and easy to talk to. What more could you ask for from someone who’s ripping your hair out by the follicle?

I was also super impressed that my legs never turned red, my hair follicles never rebelled, and I was essentially left with quite content skin. And it may have something to do with their imported waxes from Australia that are “specially made to reduce the ouch. The hard wax is made of all natural bees wax and is infused with the highest quality polymers. It also contains titanium dioxide and Micro Mia for superior skin protection. They carry a second hard wax that we refer to as their Superhero wax because it can remove even the most stubborn hairs as short as 1mm.”

I will say though that since my hair is so fine, the wax that was used on me was not strong enough to pick up some of the tiniest baby hairs, so I was left with a little bit of stubble even the next day. Make sure you let them know what kind of hair you have so they can use the right kind of wax on you! (I didn’t know any better frankly, but I will for next time! I probably could’ve done with growing out my leg hair for longer than two weeks too.)

Smooth‘s pricing also didn’t make me gasp with shock, so that’s always a pleasant surprise (check out their price list on their site). Additionally, their Smoothaholic Membership gives you 20% off any service and is perfect for those who are hooked on staying smooth all year round. They also have something called a “Bar Tab” that are for people who want savings but need flexibility (if you prepay for six services, you get the seventh for free).

Smooth Wax Bar - Toronto — Smooth Wax Bar – Toronto

So here’s the kicker, Smooth Wax Bar has given me a promo code for my readers. If you use the promo code “makeupyourmind” you’ll receive 25% off any service until March 31, 2016. If you were considering getting waxed for the first time, or want to try out a new location, why not take advantage of 25% off? (I receive no compensation for this, this is strictly a freebie for you guys!)

Let me know if you go and give it a shot! And feel free to ask me any questions in the comments. I was a waxing newbie myself, but I feel like I’ve got a much better grasp on the process now!

Skincare Saturday: Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque

February 13, 2016Reviews, SkincareDermalogicaChelle

Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque

I don’t know what the heck it is, but I always find it intriguing when skincare has either volcanic ash or charcoal in it. Maybe it just seems like such a strange thing to put in skincare that it makes me eager to try it out? Anyone else feel the same?

Anywayyyyyyyyyyy… Dermalogica has a brand new mask in their lineup – the Charcoal Rescue Masque. It’s a “fast-acting, easy-to-remove masque [that] rescues tired, lackluster or dull skin. Activated Binchotan Charcoal powerfully adsorbs impurities while Sulfur promotes cell turnover for dramatically brighter skin. Volcanic Ash, Sea Silt, Bamboo Extract and alpha hydroxy acids further accelerate skin brightening with dual-action exfoliation. Niacinamide helps reduce congestion and calm the skin while Chilean Wild Mint helps refine pores.” It’s billed as an all-in-one, detoxifying treatment for your face and it’s formulated without artificial fragrances, colours or parabens.

After cleansing, apply generously to face and throat, avoiding your eye area. It has the feel and texture of grey mud with rough, tiny particles in it. After 7 to 10 minutes, lightly massage with very wet hands (I basically cupped my hand under the running faucet and splashed that onto my face) to enhance exfoliation properties during removal. Rinse completely from your skin.

Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque on my face

I took the shot above just after I’d applied it, which I definitely would not have been to do even four minutes later. The mask starts to solidify and tighten up your skin (making smiling impossible!). I felt a strong tingle on my skin (probably from the Chilean Wild Mint) which I personally find quite satisfying, but some people may find themselves sensitive to it I think. Removal did require a bit of work since the mask does dry onto your face, but it was really nice rubbing the exfoliating particles into my skin.

In the end, while I didn’t notice any particular brightening effects on my skin, but it did leave me feeling extremely clean. It was a satisfying mask to use, you know? Great for giving yourself a treat after a long work week!

The Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque can be purchased from Dermalogica.com for $48 USD or Dermalogica Canada for $60 CAD.

The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.

Skincare Saturday: Bioderma’s Micelle Solutions (Sensibio, Hydrabio & Sebium)

February 6, 2016Reviews, SkincareBiodermaChelle

Bioderma's micelle solutions in Sensibio H2O, Hydrabio H2O and Sebium H2O

Bioderma‘s micelle solution (often mis-said as “micellar” in English, which is really just an attempt to anglicize the French “solution micellaire”) is a product that I begrudgingly jumped on the bandwagon for several years ago. (I say begrudgingly because it was a little on the expensive side and basically only readily available in France – which is where I first picked it up!)

Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bathroom.... — Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bathroom….

And now… it’s everywhere in my apartment and I’m loathed to be without it! It’s in my bathroom to help clean up and refresh my skin after I’ve removed my makeup. My husband even uses it when he’s feeling a bit greasy in the face after workday and wants a refresher.

Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bedroom... — Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bedroom…

I also have it sitting on top of my makeup table to help me fix any makeup mistakes and clean up under my eyes when I experience fall out from my eyeshadows.

Bioderma micelle solution in Sensibio H2O

I was, however, slightly unaware that Bioderma actually made a few varities of their micelle solution. The one that’s most easily recognizable is the Sensibio H2O (called Crealine H2O exclusively in France) which has a pink top. For those unfamiliar with the product, Sensibio H2O has the consistency of water and is considered perfect for sensitive to intolerant skin. It is fragance, alcohol and paraben-free, as well as hypoallergenic.

Some people use it to remove their makeup entirely, however I don’t find the formula is heavy duty enough for that on my face because I often wear waterproof and/or longlasting products. I prefer to use this after I’ve removed the bulk of my makeup with an oil-based remover/cleanser and then go in with the micelle solution on a cotton pad and clean up the excess that I missed by washing my face (and trust me, no matter how much you wash your face, you will still have excess makeup somewhere!). It’s odourless, but not tasteless, so if you use this to remove your lipstick, it will be a touch bitter.

I also use this to clean up any makeup mistakes while I’m doing my face and to clean up the inevitable eyeshadow fallout on my under eyes during application.

Bioderma micelle solution in Hydrabio H2O

The Hydrabio H2O formula is entirely new to me. I don’t notice any difference in my skin when I use this (as in, it performs just as well as the Sensibio H2O), however this is formulated for dehydrated sensitive skin. One thing that I thought was interesting about this one is that it smells really, really nice. Bioderma‘s web site indicates that it’s an allergen-free fragrance, as it would have to be since this is intended for sensitive skin. I’ve actually grown quite fond of the scent of the Hydrabio one and if it comes in the larger 500 ml bottles like the Sensibio, I’ll be switching to this one once I’ve finished all my bottles up!

The final micelle solution is the Sebium H2O which was created for combination, oily or blemished skin. I’m none of these things, so I can’t tell you how it does, or does not help the skin in those respects. (I mean, I’m potentially combination skin, but it’s February here in the northern hemisphere so I’m basically just a dry bastard right now.) This one is also scented (although interestingly not marked as allergen-free), hypoallergenic, paraben-free and has no colouring agents. I assume the colouring agent comment is indicated on their site because unlike the others, this liquid is actually blue!

Final Thoughts

I cannot live without the Bioderma micelle solution in any of its formats. It’s a gentle, easy to use product that works wonders to help clean up my skin, or refresh it if it’s feeling tired and dirty. It’s rinse-free, which means you can splash it all over your face and not have to worry about reaching for a towel. If there’s one skincare product out there that I can recommend to you, it’s this one.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration, although I did already own the two larger bottles of Sensibio H2O.

Skincare Saturday: Zaya Body Oil

January 16, 2016Reviews, SkincareChelle

Zaya Body Oil in Grapefruit & Rosemary

The older I get, the more I want oil on my body to keep it hydrated. Unlike in my teens when I felt oil was evil, now I long for it to keep me looking healthy and young. I’ve already been applying oil to my face, and now I’ve started adding oil to the rest of my body!

ZAYA, a Canadian company, has a grapefruit and rosemary scented body oil that I was eager to try out. I’m a sucker for grapefruit, but unfortunately this smelled like neither grapefruit nor rosemary to me. Instead, it smelled “herbal” and “natural”.

And natural it is! This particular body oil is rife with: Prunus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Oryza Sativa (rice) bran oil, Macadamia Ternifolia (macadamia nut) seed oil, Triticum Vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Persea Gratissima (avocado) oil, Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil, Citrus Paradisi peel (pink grapefruit) essential oil and Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary) essential oil. Most of which are organic! That’s a whole lot of goodness bottled up.

Zaya Body Oil comes with a cap to keep it mess free! — ZAYA Body Oil comes with a cap to keep it mess free!

If you’re using it on yourself and need it to sink in quickly, go easy on the amount of product you use, otherwise you’ll end up transferring some oil to your clothes. However, if you’re giving someone a body massage, make sure you pump out plenty since the oil will start to sink into the skin pretty quickly.

Final Thoughts

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the box and bottle the body oil comes in are incredibly sturdy and luxurious. Honestly, this is one of the best made boxes I’ve encountered in a product AND the bottle top actually comes with a protective spout cover to protect the bottle during travel – so you don’t accidentally get oil all over everything! On a product like, that’s an incredibly nice detail to have.

Although the oil scent wasn’t what I was expecting, it was still enjoyable to use. The scent does dissipate after a while too, so if you’re not keen it, you won’t be stuck smelling it on yourself all day. This oil sank into my skin extremely well and keeps my skin feeling hydrated, healed and infinitely softer to the touch. And isn’t that something we ALL want out of our skincare??

The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.

Skincare Saturday: Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Firming Line Minimizer

December 26, 2015Reviews, SkincarePaula's ChoiceChelle

Paula's Choice Resist Skim Firming Line Minimizer

Paula’s Choice has recently released the Resist Skin Firming Line Minimizer to help smooth out the fine lines on our faces. It is a “silky, fast-absorbing, skin-firming serum uses advanced technology to visibly improve fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness, especially around the mouth and eyes.”

Intended for all skin types, especially for those who are sensitive to products containing retinol, the Line Minimizer contains an amino acid complex that revs up cellular metabolism which stimulates collagen production and elastin repair.

Paula's Choice Resist Skim Firming Line Minimizer - applicator — Paula’s Choice Resist Skim Firming Line Minimizer – applicator

The delivery system is really quite nice. The tube comes with a push button at the base which pushes the product down the needle nose and out onto your hand. The tube is completely opaque, so you can’t see how much product is left inside, but the opacity helps keep the product safe from the light.

I applied this product nightly for three weeks straight as the last product in my nighttime routine. A pump and a half was enough product to completely saturate the outer corners and underneath my eyes, cover my forehead, and even a bit of my smile lines near my mouth. It sank in quickly and never felt sticky on my skin.

See a difference? Unfortunately, I don’t. If anything (and this could be the lighting) the lines underneath my eyes are slightly faded, but my crow’s feet are actually stronger. (The sharp indentation you see above my crease is a decades old scar, so ignore that.) I tested this for three weeks straight without missing a single nightly application, so I’m kind of sad about the results. At $50 USD per tube, I can’t tell you that this worked on my skin. However, Trysh of Prairie Beauty Love did have good results though, so be sure to go read her post on the Line Minimizer!

The product featured in this review was provided for consideration.