reviews

Glossier Solution Review

I’ve been a long time fan of Glossier as a brand as I had followed the blog Into The Gloss for years and could not wait until the products were available in Canada. Last year the brand started shipping to Canada and then I proceeded to fall in love with the Boy Brow, Stretch Concealer and Cloud Paints. I also got to visit their showroom in New York last November and let me say it was my pastel pink dream! Once they announced that they were bringing out an acid toner called Solution I knew I had to try it. I started this review originally on Instagram Stories when the Glossier Solution had come in the mail with the hopes of comparing it to The Ordinary Glycolic Toner. I had promised to follow up with my thoughts on the new hyped up product that had a lot of promising claims. As I tested out the product and dove a bit deeper into at home acid treatments I found that giving my opinion on the Glossier Solution would not be able to be so black and white. To set the stage for this review I’m going to give you a bit of backstory on my skin. I have very oily skin with large pores in my T-zone and skin that is prone to congestion with blackheads and whiteheads. I do also get cystic breakouts around that time of the month. I have been using acid toners for years and I surveyed my friends and found most of them had no idea what acids could do for them. I thought I should break down the type of acids out there and what they claim to do and which one you should choose based on your skin type or skin concern. I am not a doctor so please test these products first before using them. The purpose of most acid toners/creams is to help shed dead and dull cells which results in brighter, more even-toned skin with fewer clogged pores and smooths wrinkles. Once you know to look for either AHA, BHA or PHA on labels you’ll be able to narrow down what products will work for you. Keep in mind that you have to try out skin care for at least a month to see the full benefits of the product. You would use the acid product in your morning skincare routine before your SPF…

Best Beauty Discoveries of 2017

Janna •

Looking back at what an amazing year 2017 was for us and our clients as we did in our year in review blog post here, had us thinking about what were the best beauty discoveries of the year. We decided to pick out the best of the best to share with all of you! Let us know what products made it to the top of your year last year as we are always looking for amazing products to use for our clients! Microneedling at Hemingway Medical Spa – We wrote our praises of our experience trying out Microneedling at Hemingway Medical Spa in Edmonton here and we had to include this service as one of our top discoveries of 2017. If you want to spend money pampering yourself while at the same time actually helping your skin improve then you should check out Microneedling! We found the effects to be long-lasting as the service helped improve our skin texture as well as fine lines. Don’t let the “needle” in the name of the service scare you as it feels more like a little suction cup going over your whole face. Try it out and then thank us in a month on the money well spent for your face health! Puff Me by Design Me – The first ever volumizing hair powder spray in a pump! Gone are the days of pouring too much hair dust powder as the new method of spraying out the powder makes it so much easier to control where the powder is going and you can even spray it into the lengths of your hair to have volumized curls. It is so perfect for all our traveling as it is in powder form and so light so we don’t have to lug around cans of texturizing sprays. Overnight Garden Mask by Pura Botanicals – Ever since picking this mask up at the RAAS opening at West Edmonton Mall my skin has been thanking me! This thick hydrating mask is geared towards those of us with problematic skin that tends to be oily and acne prone. After I wake up from putting on the mask the night before I find my skin to be tightened as well glowing. If you have a dryer skin type we’d recommend trying out the Overnight Mango Mask (antiaging) or the Overnight Watermelon Mask (super hydrating). We also love that this product is…

Microneedling Treatment Review

Janna •

Our team was approached by Hemingway Medical Spa to come and try out the microneedling (microchanneling) treatment at their Spa and share our experience with all of you. Last week we headed into the Medical Spa and met with Antoinette and Dr. Olesen to discuss our skin concerns and what treatment would be best for each of us. The staff at Hemingway Medical Spa were so kind and amazing to work with. No skin concern was deemed too big or small and they offered different treatments in the future and you never felt like they were pressuring you to do anything drastic. One surprising fact about the treatment is that it can be more effective than Botox because you are treating your full face and over time it can reduce your fine lines. Microneedling has the following effects for your skin as per their site: Stimulates a natural response to increase collagen and fibroblast activity resulting in plump, hydrated skin Minimize fine lines, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, scars, pore reduction, acne, and uneven skin tone We had before photos taken and then were individually ushered into the treatment room to have the microneedling treatment started. We were each offered an option of serums that would be administered along with the treatment and based on our skin type we each picked a serum. They had options for dry skin, skin lighting, acne prone skin and then a serum for anti-aging. We asked about this service for our clients and were told that even one treatment is enough to see a difference in your skin texture and fine lines but up to three would be optimal if you had the time. They recommend getting the treatment a few weeks before a big event and they even have a Red Carpet Chemical Peel that peaked our interest for a potential treatment in the future. They also have a Botox Membership that a few of us are considering signing up for because you get so many perks beyond just Botox and you also get three microneedling treatments in a year. During the treatment, you feel a suction with tiny pricks to your skin that doesn’t hurt too bad at all. We thought of some questions that our friends and readers may ask and then had each person from our team answer based on their experience with Microneedling. What is your age: Janna: 29 Stefanie: 28…

Fenty Beauty Review

Janna •

If you are a beauty junky then you too may have heard of the Fenty Beauty range brought out by the beauty queen herself Rihanna this past Friday, or you want to read a review on some of the products before you shell out your hard earned cash. Some people may not be as up to date on all the beauty launches but this one was pretty significate to the beauty community for a few reasons! Instead of testing the waters by launching a few limited edition pieces, a la Kim Kardashian with KKW Beauty, a huge range was brought to over 1600 stores world wide as a permanent launch without giving any sneak peaks to beauty bloggers or magazines. The foundation color range alone rivals the range of MAC with 40 shades to suit skin tones from very light to dark with warm, neutral or cool undertones. The types of products she brought out are innovative in that she bypassed traditional blush, bronzer, or eye shadow powders by introducing a line with a soft matte primer, soft matte foundation, blot power, blot sheets, stick products called Match Stix that click together with magnets, a singular universal gloss and then several colors of highlighters. Packaging wise Rihanna killed it with the nude tones and geometric shapes. Many people have been commenting that she copied the KKW Beauty launch but production for these lines would have started months ago and I would just chalk that up to a coincidence. The products are also produced by the same lab that Kat Von D and Marc Jacobs Beauty are created in which stands to point out the higher quality of Fenty Beauty products and also that they are cruelty-free. From the products that I’ve tried, I noticed the foundation and Match Stix may suit people more of a combination to oily skin type vs someone with a drier skin type. The price range is just right also with nothing being over $45 CAD (the trio of Match Stixs come in at $67 or $31 individually). I also got a sample of the foundation and primer but didn’t find them to be anything to write home about for my super oily skin type as I found the matte finish didn’t last as long as my YSL All Hours foundation or the MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation when combined with my favorite Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Perhaps the…

Pink House Love

Janna •

I’d been following Tegan and Lindsay and their blog/instagram Treasure and Travels for years now and I’ve always loved their aesthetic and the different products they promoted. When they joined their Aunt to help with Pink House I knew I wanted to reach out to try and work with them and test their products out. The company was started by two sisters, Tracy and Karen, with the aim of bringing all natural products to women everywhere and when Tegan and Lindsay’s mom, Karen, passed after a battle with cancer they stepped in to help their Aunt Tracy with running the company. Their story and desire to bring natural products that are made with love and actually are amazing drew me in. As an artist and a beauty product junky I was drawn to their glow sticks and dry shampoo’s and they graciously sent out samples for us to try out on our European trip this past May and June. All the products were used and loved by all four of us ladies and I used all the glow stick shades to create a JLo glow on our bride Kim in Positano Italy as well as our engagement session client Kailey in Nice France. I loved how the glow sticks meshed with foundation and didn’t melt away after a long, humid and hot day shooting. I used the Copper shade as a bronzer/contour shade and then alternated between the Rose and Rose Gold shades for blush and lip color and then the shade Ice was the perfect highlight to layer under the powder highlight I brought to last all day. The dry shampoo comes in two shades Blondie and Hot Chocolate which worked out so perfect since half of the people were blondes and the other half were brunettes so we got to use both shades. The powder absorbed any and all grease and made our hair feel so fresh and clean even after having sweaty hair from walking up hundreds of stairs in Positano. Knowing their products have no harsh chemicals in them and lasted so well on so many skin types and skin tones I couldn’t recommend their products enough! We are going to be stocking their products very soon and in the meantime check out their online store here. ** the first two behind the scenes photos were shot by Nicole Ashley!

May Favorites – SPF setting spray, SPF Hair protectant and a waterproof foundation

Janna •

In the month of May the weather has started to heat up and we are also currently in Italy for an elopement we were hired for so we decided to share some of our favorite products to help beat the sun and heat! Supergoop Setting Mist SPF 50 – This setting mist is a life safer for anyone trying to reapply sunscreen throughout the day but is also wearing a full face of makeup. It has an SPF 50 rating and protects against UV rays while also keeping your face matte in the summer heat. The rosemary mint scent is also super refreshing when you are really hot. If you live in Canada you can pick it up at Anthropologie in their beauty section or if you live in the US you can get it at Sephora. – Review by Janna Davines Su Hair Milk– This hair product is what I always recommend to people going on a hot holiday! It’s a light weight leave-in treatment that protects hair color and also helps to keep your hair hydration during sun exposure. On a recent trip to Palm Springs Janna’s beautiful pastel pink locks were getting so sun bleached until she started using this product! Pastel is hard to maintain on a regular basis and when you add chlorine and sun bleaching you have nearly no hope of maintaining the perfect pastel or blonde until now! Thanks to the anti UV-A and UV-B filters your hair is protected and left feeling soft shiny and weightless. I also recommend wearing a hat to protect your hair even further and prevent any scalp/hair parting sun burns. – Review by Stef MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation – When I first tried this foundation I hated it but to be fair I tried it during the winter when my skin was much more dehydrated. Then when one of my friends who was getting married raved about this foundation I knew I had to give it another chance. I tested this foundation on my oily skin in the summer months and was blown away how it didn’t budge at all on my skin and was true to the waterproof claims. I have even jumped in a pool and my makeup stayed perfect because of this foundation. The best part about this foundation is that MAC just expanded this color range so there should be a shade for…

April Favorites – Featuring Dior, Davines and MILK Makeup

Janna •

April has seemed to fly by so fast!! This time for our April favorites we are featuring the best/only highlight you need to own by Dior, stunning cream eyeshadows from Milk Makeup that are finally available in Canada and a red tinted Davines conditioner to turn your blonde the prettiest pink or to help maintain your red hair! Florals by FaBLOOMosity. Dior Nude Air Luminizer Powder – Dior created the perfect highlighter and it has a shade range to suit every skin tone! I personally use Nude Glow and I find it gives the perfect shimmer that looks like glowing skin without any visible shimmer or glitter. It lasts all day on my oily skin which is a feat in of itself. I find it has a better glow and lasts longer than the famed Becca Champagne Pop – sacrilegious I know!! It is on the pricey side but the powder would last you almost a year at least! -Review by Janna Davines Alchemic Conditioner Red – My love for the Davines Alchemic Red Conditioner runs deep. I love being able to amp up a beautiful blonde to a fun pink and keep my amazing red clients a perfect shade! I also used it on some of our child models from a styled shoot coming out soon! It’s simply a red pigmented conditioner that is safe for both adults and children. If you have a little girl whose blonde is so light that it turns white when in the sun- your little girl could use conditioner to have fun pink hair for a week! Blonde locks that you want to have some fun with? This is the perfect take home product! The Alchemic line has many colors to choose from including red, chocolate, copper, tobacco, silver and golden! The Davines Alchemic Red conditioner is available for purchase at our studio, and also our online store (if you live in Edmonton use the code “Edmonton” to do a free pickup of any online purchase)! -Review by Stef MILK Makeup Eye Pigment – Finally the brand MILK is available at Sephora in Canada and I can sing their praises!! I bought some of their products when I was in USA and loved them but didn’t feel right review something a fellow Canadian could not purchase. These little tubes hold the most long wearing beautiful cream eye shadows. I have the colors After Party…

March Favorites – Featuring Marc Jacobs, Davines, and The Ordinary

Janna •

March means most of us are desperate for any signs of spring! This time around our favorites are spring focused with products to take your hair and makeup game into warmer months and prep you for the upcoming summer! As always let us know if you have any products you’d like us to review! Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo – I have the color in Flesh & Fantasy and have found it to be the most perfect nude peach color that flatters so many skin tones. I’ve used this on myself as well as dozens of clients and it has looked amazing on so many skin tones. I love that it blends flawlessly as well as builds up the color slowly so you don’t have to be scared you are putting on too much blush. It also gives you the most beautiful glow on the cheeks that doesn’t look like glitter or frost. This blush is a must have in my books for spring as you can pair it with any eyeshadow look or lip color as it is in the nude family. If you are going to buy one blush this season be sure to check out this one! (Review by Janna) Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray – There is something so beautiful about voluminous beachy waves, and a sea salt spray can give that to you no matter the climate! “This is a sea salt spray” is perfect for all hair types and works on both wet or dry hair! You only need a small amount of product on normal hair types. Just let your hair air dry after spraying the product in and you will love that beachy texture your hair is left with! A must have for any holiday in the sun, or everyday tousled volume. (Review by Stefanie) The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% Serum – So an acid serum sounds scary but in this case it really isn’t! This serum is for dry and dehydrated skin to help lock in moisture after the dry winter months. I use this serum as the first product after I wash my face and I have found it to help reduce any dry patches as well as it helps to plump up your skin before you put makeup on. The best part about this product that it’s $6.80. You read that right. It costs less than…

February Favorites – Featuring the Ouai, Davines and Niod

Janna •

Even though February seems like it flew by we still managed to pick a few of our favorite products to give a review on. Check out our February favorites below! Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam – You may be wondering what a dry shampoo foam is and I am here to tell you it is a new product created by the hair genius Jen Atkin to solve your greasy hair woes. It is a foam that you rub into your hair and it absorbs the oils and makes your hair look just washed. There is no color residue so even dark haired mavens can use this product and it gives you some serious volume as well! We have discovered the key to this product is to use it when your hair is greasy and not wet from sweat or anything. It works amazingly well to refresh your hair and take away the greasy look. The smell of the product is also a winner in my books. (Review by Janna) Davines Your Hair Assistant Duopack – The volume powder is an all natural product that has mattifying and moisture repelling properties that keep your locks looking consistent and voluminous. This dry texturizing powder should be applied using the volume creator applicator brush, on roots or even throughout mid shafts and ends for more texture. I use this right after blow drying or heat styling, and have even been known to use in place of a dry shampoo. A definite favorite of mine for personal use as well as on clients for both daily do’s and special event styling. The best trifecta on the market- volume, texture and consistency. The possibilities really are limitless! (Review by Stef) NIOD Flavanone Mud – If you have ever been on the market for a mask that deeply cleanses your skin and leaves it looking younger and tighter than ever before then look no further. This mud mask is a three-phase rinse-off system that uses science I don’t even understand so you will just have to click on the link to read more about this miracle product. It has worked for my oily problematic skin in a way that no other mask has. I also enjoy the fact that I can order it off of the Deciem site with free shipping in Canada. Word of warning though: when you take the mask off your face feels like it is…

January Favorites – Featuring Davines, Marc Jacobs and Nars

Janna •

We know we haven’t done any product reviews recently, so for 2017 we decided to make a goal of reviewing several products each month in monthly round up. Here are the products we’ve been loving this month! Davines Oi All in One Milk – The Davines Oi line has to be an all time favorite hair line from Davines. The Oi line consists of a shampoo, conditioner, oil, and the milk: a leave in conditioning spray that will change your life AND is perfect for any hair type, so we all win! This spray has to be one of the best leave in conditioners and detanglers on the market. Pros: detangles, it can be used on wet or dry hair, heat protecting, moisturizing and conditioning, also adds softness and a silky shine. This product is both Stef and Janna approved as we both use it and it’s even used on Stefanie’s two little girls to help comb through any unruly tangles. Bonus: Stef sells this wonder product at her salon! (Review by Stef) Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Liquid Lip Creme – If you have been living under a rock you may not have noticed that the liquid lipstick tread has taken over the beauty industry with every brand from high end to drug store having a variation on the product. That’s why we wanted to do reviews of products to introduce people to new trends or products out there! Some liquid lipsticks are super drying on the lips (for example the Kat Von D ones) and require a lot of prep to make them look good. Marc Jacobs Beauty changed the game with their recent release of their Liquid Lip Creme. It goes on with more of a satin finish that eventually dries down but it doesn’t feel tight or drying on the lips at all. I bought the shade Slow Burn and have been wearing it almost daily. I would recommend this product for someone wanting to dip their toes in the liquid lipstick trend but want their lips to feel hydrated throughout the day. (review by Janna) Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer – I was always a fan of the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer so when I saw that Nars was going to release a new pot concealer to the family I knew I had to try it. I love the color selection of the Nars concealers as they…