The Body Shop & Tea Tree Line

I thought I'd share with my readers a product line that I've been using a while. I tend to talk about new products I've found and feel like I leave out some of the products that I've used for so long that I forget that you might not know about their greatness. For someone who is constantly trying and excited to try new products, something that still holds my attention must be good!

I love The Body Shop for many many reasons. The are completely cruelty free and were that way, way before it became trendy. They strive to have as much fair trade as possible, starting their own fair trade program, "Community Trade", over TWENTY years ago. They believe in being completely transparent in all that they do, as well as promoting this philosophy with the great corporate community. And if you aren't yet convinced that this company is all round awesome they also have their own charity "The Body Shop Foundation" launched in 1990 and focusing on the assistance of those working in areas of human and civil rights, environmental and animal protection. Seriously a company after my own heart! 

(animal love evidence below)

I have used tones of various The Body Shop products! Not only are they all of which I mentioned above, they also make quality products that are often far superior then their competition that cannot come close to The Body Shop's reputation as a respectable company. Some of my all time favourites are their Body Butter's of which I always (always) have at least one on the go (although its winter right now and I have 5 on the go!). But for today's post I want to give an honourable mention to their Tea Tree line.

This line has everything you'd need for your blemish prone skin. Washes, Cleansers, Toners, Exfoliators, Wipes, Blotting Paper and Concealer, etc. and of course Tea Tree Oil. I love the use of this natural oil to clear up skin. I find this line really hydrating too! Tea Tree Oil on its own can be drying but the Face Mask and Exfoliator are really hydrating, cooling and effective. I have an issue with a lot of lines for blemished skin is they are striping and drying (ahem proavtiv ahem), which in turn promotes the natural oil in your skin to overact and create even MORE oil- the last thing you want when suffering from breakouts!

I've used many products from this line over the years and find it always seems to calm my skin down. It really means something to me to use a brand that is doing whatever it can for its community, the greater world and animals. I can feel good using their products in an industry that can be self absorbed and a luxury. 

Have a look in your nearest Body Shop next time you walk by!

 (by the way, this post is not sponsored and I have no affiliation with The Body Shop whatsoever)

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XOXOX

Hump Day Hot Tip - Drysol

So for my first Hump Day Hot Tip I thought I'd let you know about something that I like to use for special occasions. Now that I've made this sound all classy, I'll let you know that it's a product to stop you from sweating.

I am someone who absolutely HATES sweat marks. They drive me crazy! I can't think of anything worse than being a a special occasion and being self conscience about your underarms.

Now this product that I'm telling you about is a little extreme and something you certainly wouldn't want to use on a regular basis. After all, sweating is your body's way of cooling itself down and also releasing toxins! This product will completely stop any sweat, and essentially clog the glans under your arms. So hence why I will once again mention, this shouldn't be used often.

That being said, there are some situations you don't want to be the sweat mark person at. A Wedding, Your Wedding, A family function, a reunion. Maybe your first day at work where you want to wear that perfect tight grey top?!

This product is called Drysol. The active ingredient is Aluminum chloride hexahydrate. It is a clear liquid that you apply to your underarms right before bed. When you use this you should wear a a shirt that will cover your underarms so you don't transfer the product to your bed sheets. Also DO NOT use this if you have any broken skin or irritated recently shaven skin, you will know if you've made that mistake! Trust me! (There is more info in the box you buy and I'd suggest you read that). When you apply the product it will tingle and be uncomfortable until it drys.

So if I've scared you enough I will now let you know that this stuff works amazingly well. I will have the driest underarms ALL DAY!

If you have a special occasion coming up and you're worried about sweating and feeling embarrassed, give this a try! I am glad to have it in my drawer just in case and you might be too!

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Wet N' Wild Comfort Zone

At only $4.99 I was seriously worried that everything I've read about this palette was a lie. I used to have a lot of Wet N' Wild when I was younger and I haven't thought much about the brand as I've grown up and started paying more attention to make-up. 

I don't know if they have just picked up their game, or maybe they've always had great quality and I was too young and unexperienced to notice? Regardless, this is an awesome product! 

I love these colours and have used this palette non-stop since I picked it up. They are really pretty colours that go lovely together and on their own. They aren't chalky, don't crease and are highly pigmented - really what else could you want?!

Here are what they look like on my arm: 

There really isn't a colour I don't like, although the red-ish blue colour I haven't used, but I think its really interesting. The darkest brown colour I really like to use close to the lash line as a liner and the pinky "eyelid" colour is so beautiful and subtle, I've used it the most.

I would certainly have a second look at the Wet N' Wild eye shadows next time you walk by and would feel comfortable highly recommending this "Comfort Zone" Palette (Im so funny and Punny). 

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XOXOX

What I Won! - Elizabeth Arden

I was at Winners the other day! Winner's is the same company as TK Max/Homesense which can be found in the UK and the US. Winners was bought out by TK Max and because it was already a trusted name round these parts, they didn't change the name! 

If you aren't aware of these companies, please go find them! It is essentially an overstock store. Everything can be found at around 40% less than it is usually priced at regular stores. They have everything apart from perishables and lots of name brand products. ( I mean seriously everything - I also got my Dog a coat while I was there!)

So I always take a look at the beauty section, there are amazing deals to be found! I stumbled upon these Elizabeth Arden products and knew I had to pick them up. The Perpetual Moisture is now discontinued, buy still well within its use by date. I have wanted a nice thick night cream and this is really luxurious and non-irritating. The Eight Hour Cream is..well really do I even have to say?! It is Elizabeth Arden's most well known and likely most popular product. An all purpose balm that is amazing on the lips, cuticles and really anywhere else you are in need of some serious hydration during these bitter winter months. AND when I say bitter I mean it, Its so so cold here in Canada. The middle of the day today read -15 and that's not even mentioning a wind chill factor of -27, I can't handle it. Lets just say I really hope, where ever you might be, that you are warmer than me right now!

So all in all I highly suggest that you make sure to check out your closest Winners (Homesense/ TK Max) because you might just find some winners (hehe) for a fraction of the price!

(I also like to say that "I Won" things when I get them from Winners, life's simple pleasures HAHA)

Happy Shopping & Stay Warm!!!

XOXOX

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Thanks for reading!

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

So here is another recent purchase a la my return to Canada. This brand, along with many others, is not available in Australia and was on my "must check out" list for a while. I saw quite a few bloggers loving this Nuxe Lip Balm, namely Estee from Essiebutton (a fellow Canadian and therefore I like her even more!). I knew that coming from the beautifully hot Australian summer, right into the shockingly cold Canadian winter, that I would be in need for some real moisture! I usually get dry lips in the winter and hate hate hate it. So this winter, I decided to be proactive and pick up a solution before the problem.

The Nuxe brand is available at Shoppers Drugmart and that's where I picked my lip balm up. The little pot says that it is "For dry or chapped lips" and it certainly keeps mine from getting to that point. It is a thick consistency with dominant smells of lemon and honey. It can be a little gritty, but doesn't leave your lips with any colour or sticky-ness. It also lasts on the lips for a really long time!

I use this mainly in the evenings, before bed and after I use a lush lip scrub. I also put it on just before I leave the house to walk my dog. I take out my lab for about 45minutes twice a day and it's cold! This balm last me the entire walk in the cold wind. 

It retails for $17 (before tax! Gosh I miss Australia for that!). I'd give this a go if you too are in need of some lovely hydration during the brutal winter! 

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XOXOX

Also, I got a super cheap hair curler, but I am happy with the result! What do ya think?!

GlamGlow Mud Mask

So I'm back in Canada and it only took a few days before I made my way to my closest Sephora. Coming from the nation (Australia) with the least access to popular brands than anywhere else, an inflated pricing system that had me spending near 60% more and a need for lots of products unnecessary in a colder climate, Sephora was SO exciting!!!

I had a limited amount of money to spend while there and so spent a fair amount of time deciding what I'd get. As I was spending money I'd been given as a gift, I decided to pick something up that would be a bit of a splurge instead of something I needed. Gifts are better that way!

So as the name of this post suggests, I got the famous cult mud mask product by GlamGlow. I had heard about this first from Ruth from AModelRecommends and really trust her opinion as a quite a few of her suggestions are now products I couldn't live without. Check out her blog here. 

The product I decided to pick up was GLAMGLOW's Super-Mud Clearing Treatment. It is the newest product from the brand along with their first product the Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask. I was lucky enough to pick up the last special offer kit with two samples of the Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask attached. Both products as that you leave the mask on anywhere from 5-20 minutes and wash them off with warm water. The Tingling & Exfoliating mask asks that you remove using small circular motions to benefit from the little bits that will exfoliate your skin. The Super-Mud Clearing Treatment can be used as both a mask or a spot treatment.

The Super-Mud Clearing Treatment Mask boasts a huge amount of claims on their packing. It claims to be 

The World's most-Scientifically Advanced SUPER-MUD Clearing Treatment, Clinically Developed by GLAMGLOW Dermatological Chemist to help fight all common skin concerns.

It goes on to mention some of those skin concerns as Problem Skin, Blemishes, Pimples, Breakouts, Zits, Spots, Black & White Heads, to name a few. But I think if you look a bit closer you will find you just read eight ways to say acne. 

Now don't get me wrong, I think this stuff is pretty awesome and after using it I seriously had a blemish disappear into thin air. It dries quickly and its super hard, you can't even laugh whilst completely covered. It is also cruelty free, good for all skin types and paraban free (not to mention the long long list of wonderfully natural ingredients), and I love that too.

(Follow me on Twitter - @LJ1224 & Instagram - laurajane1224

to see me post pictures like this :p )

So although this product is hyped up, comes in a super swanky package, boasts all sorts of claims that add up to very little and costs $69 dollars for a 34g pot, I also think it is luxurious and WORKS! It isn't something I'd keep buying, but that's just because of the price. I think its certainly worth thinking about buying and is really a treat. A little really does go a long way and I'll say it again, its really effective. 

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XOXOX