Shopping: Apothica.com, Avon, San Francisco, LUSH & Jean Coutu

My order from Apothica.com I'm sad to say that I'm disappointed with their shipping this time. I placed my order on November 28, it was shipped on November 30 and I received it on December 6 - the thing is that I opted for the USPS Express Mail International, which means I was supposed to get my order within 3 days, not to mention I was provided with a tracking number that didn't even exist... well, don't waste your money on that. I'm not really complaining because I didn't pay for it (I had gift cards) but still, I wanted to warn you. At least I got my whole order safe and sound!

100% Pure Caffeine Eye Cream $18.80 There's been lots of buzz in the blogosphere about this product and having tried a few 100% Pure products in the past, I decided that I had to get my hands on this one as well. I'm 23 so I'm not really dealing with fine lines and wrinkles yet but I got into the habit of using an eye cream since I'm 16 as a prevention and I actually like it, it makes me feel pampered (:

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser with Orange Oil $9.00 I looooooove this cleanser, it totally saved my skin last winter (or was it the winter before?)! You know I have super dry skin that is prone to eczema so I have to be careful not to use anything too harsh, especially in the awful winter weather. This cleanser is oily so it won't strip your skin of its moisture but leave it even more hydrated and smoothed! The only thing is that it does leave a little oily residue after but personally, I don't mind this because I like to think of it as a protective layer.

Stila Perfect & Correct Foundation in Tone $44.00 I never really used a foundation on a daily basis and I decided it was time I tried one for real! I have a few foundations in my stash but I never used them regularly but I decided that things were going to be different with this one. My skin is far from perfect but I don't think I need to totally cover it so I was looking for a light coverage and after browsing Makeupalley, I decided that I would give this one a try. I chose it in the shade Tone which appeared a bit dark on the website but I figured out I could make it work by matching it with another foundation.

theBalm Time Balm Concealer in Light $17.80 I don't have concealers that I really like in my stash and I've heard great things about this one so I ordered it in Light. I'm not sure I want to use it as an overnight treatment though, it seems a bit strange to apply makeup at night!

Voluspa Limited Edition Winesap Apple Spice and Truffle White Coca Handmade Candles $15.00 each I really wanted to get rid of the gift cards I had left so even though I think it's crazy to pay that ridiculous amount of money for such little candles (5oz), I ordered them because they seemed to smell sooooo yummy and I was right! I haven't lit them though so I won't get too excited but scented candles can be disappointing):

As always, I also received some free samples with my order that I will probably not use and give to my mother: Phytomer Oligopur Purifying Cleansing Gel, AHAVA Time To Revitalize Extreme Day Cream and NUXE Crème Prodigieuse Enrichie Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream.

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pout and Sheer Naturale on sale 2 for $7.00 According to Temptalia's dupe list, Pout is a dupe for MAC Angel at 100% so of course, Angel being among my absolute favorite lipsticks (very original, isn't it?), I had to get my hands on it! Mélanie's mother is an Avon reprensentative so I ordered Pour from her and I wanted to take advantage of the special so I asked Mélanie for her advice and she recommended Sheer Naturale, which is a nude with a glossy finish.

After reading the comments on Makeupalley about these lipsticks, I had high hopes as some even said Pout was HG material, but I find these lipsticks to be incredibly drying and their lasting power is awful on me - they won't even stay on for one hour! I've read some comments about the poor lasting power of the Ultra Color Rich Lipsticks but that's not what bothers me the most as you don't need a mirror to re-apply these but from what I've seen on the net, these lipsticks are supposed to be moisturizing! That's a shame because I love both shades ):

San Francisco blouse on sale for $19.99 Ever since I first step foot in San Francisco, I spotted this blouse and I knew I had to have it, but it was something like $29.99 and because it's so light, I wasn't sure it was worth it. This blouse being in the fall collection, I knew it was going to be on sale soon... and I was right! I was soooooo lucky to get my hands on the only X-Small available! When I first put it on, I was unsure about it but when I roll up the sleeves and cinch a belt at the waist, it's actually great!

San Francisco tunic on sale for $19.99 I'm always on the hunt for more tops I can wear with leggings in the winter because they are the comfiest thing ever! At first sight, I wasn't sure about this one because I don't usually go for a warm piece of clothing with short-sleeves, but I just couldn't let it go at this price! When I tried it on another time once at home, I was a little disappointed to see that the cut isn't as flattering I thought it would be (it's not as close to the body as I usually like) but I still like it!

San Francisco cotton pants on sale for $19.99 No, I didn't need another pair of "lounging around pants" but I got tired of always wearing the same baggy pair and this one is soooo comfy and it fits so well... and it was on sale... and there was only one X-Small available... and it makes my butt looks so nice (:

LUSH The Rocketeer and Abombinaball Bath Bomb on sale BOGO and New! Shampoo Bar $10.95 The only sales I really wanted to chek out on the Boxing Day were the ones at LUSH, but I was disappointed. OK, maybe it's my fault, maybe I waited too long before going there but I was working the days after Christmas and the stores were all crowded and there's not a lot of things I hate more than crowded stores!

I went to LUSH yesterday actually and everything I wanted was gone but I grabbed those two bath bombs as a gift for my mother as Christmas items were BOGO, and I finally took the plundge and decided to try one of their shampoo bar. I must say the reasons that kept me from buying some was the price - but I've been told that one bar is equal to three bottles of shampoo - and also that I was afraid it would be hard to use and that it would not layther well but the sale assistant assured me that it lathers really well.

I was initally going for Jumping Juniper as it's designed for oily hair, but the sale assistant told me this shampoo did nothing for her oily roots but that New! was awesome for this, and that it was also great to stimulate hair growth. From the reviews I've read on the LUSH website, many people say this shampoo is drying but I really don't care as I use conditioner and leave-in conditioner everytime I wash my hair. I can't wait to try this!

Glade Sense & Spray Automatic Room Spray Lavender & Vanilla free I recently received a coupon for a free Glad Sense & Spray and the only scent available was this one (this wasn't totally free, I had to pay the taxes).

Cooking: Easy Brownie Made From Scratch

I never thought about baking brownies from scratch, but when I found this recipe on The Girlie Blog, I knew I had to give it a try! Here is my result:

Christmas festivities are not over yet and if you are in the need for something delicious, fast and cheap for a party, definitely head over to The Girlie Blog for this amazingly fast, easy and delicious recipe!

Göt2b Rockin' It Dry Shampoo

Want to skip a day of shampooing but keep your style rockin'? New Göt2b Rockin't It Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo tunes up your do with 4Ever Stylestay effect that refreshes your hair without washing it.

Ahhh dry shampoos, what would I do without you? As for most of you ladies, my HG is, of course, Batiste, but I'm happy to declare that I have found an amazing alternative that comes in close second position for me.

I can't say I'm familiar with Göt2b products as the only other product from them that I've tried is their Fat-Tastic Instant Infusion Collagen Root-Boosting Spray that I honestly rarely use not because I don't like it, but because I lack time for this extra step in the morning. When I saw that selected Göt2b products were on sale for almost half price at Wal-Mart, I made my boyfriend buy me this dry shampoo (thanks baby!) that was new back in the day (September 2010 LOL) and I was super thrilled to try it!

All you have to do is shake the can well before use then spray in short bursts 8 inches above your head into sections of dry hair (only at the roots!). Using your fingertips, work in to your roots and then thoroughly brush out. Now you're ready to rock another day!

The first time I used Göt2b Rockin' It Dry Shampoo, the super strong spray surprised me - seriously, I was blown away! I've never used a dry shampoo with such a strong spray before, but I guess it's good because it makes it easier to target your roots without spraying product all over your hair.

L - R: Before, during, after

This dry shampoo is claimed to be invisible but really, it's not. It's grey/white and it does leave residues on your hair, that's why you have to make sure to carefully brush out the product before heading out the door. I didn't have a problem to get rid of these residues and I have dark brown hair, so you shouldn't have problems either.

I personally love the smell, it tends to be a little strong when you spray the product on your hair but don't worry, it doesn't linger. It smells very fresh and citrusy to me - very refreshing!

Göt2b Rockin't It Dry Shampoo is formulated to not only revive your style in an instant, but also to help make hair look full with boost and bounce, and I can assure you that not only does it perfectly clean my hair within minutes, it really gives it tons of volume! I actually couldn't believe it when I realized that 4 days after using this dry shampoo, my hair was still perfectly clean (my hair gets greasy super fast at the roots)!

Göt2b Rockin't It Dry Shampoo is available for around $6.99 at drugstores and Well.ca

FOTD + OOTD: & the games you play, you would always win, always win

Since some of you requested more work FOTD and OOTD posts, so here is another! It's a very simple look I put together for a 3 hours shift.

Face

L'Oréal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base*

Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation FPS 15 - Bisque*

OLAY Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream*

Marcelle Horizon Bronzing Pressed Powder - Heat Wave

Annabelle Blossom Blush - Peachy

Eyes

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender - Black* (absolutely hate this!)

ELF Eyelid primer - Champagne

Wet n Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe (brows)

Annabelle Smudge Paint - Muddy (smudged all over lid)
Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx* (smudged on lower lashline)

Lips

ELF Hypershine Gloss - Berry Cherry

White tank - Forever21 | Cardigan - gift | Pants - borrowed from my mother | Key necklace - Etsy 

* These products are NOT cruelty-free

Lyrics are from Set Fire To The Rain, by Adele

Spongeables - Shower Gel in a Sponge

Hi ladie! I hope you had a very merry Christmas, had a great time with family and ate tons of vegetarian food!    I mainly spent Christmas Eve and the day of Christmas working at the hotel, watching Christmas movies, playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (present from my boyfriend, thanks baby!) and drinking plenty of hot chocolate with marshmallows. I also cooked a little as we're having my father, brothers and the girlfriends and boyfriends over tonight.

Today I wanted to introduce you to a great product I have never heard of before, the Spongeables!

Spongeables products have a patent pending infusion technology that combines cleansing soaps and gels and effective skin care ingredients into a hypoallergenic, anti-microbial sponge, creating a long lasting all in one product that exfoliates, cleanses, massages and moisturizes. In beautiful fragrances for the body, feet and hands and for men, women and children. The patent pending time release infusion process guarantees a minimum number of uses. For instance the shower sponges last for 20 plus uses.

I was very lucky to be kindly sent a shower sponge in White Rose and a Pedi-Scrub foot buffer in Citron Eucalyptus Aromatherapy. I must say I was super curious about these products and I totally didn't know what to expect from them, Yes, I was sceptical, but I was actually super pleased with the Spongeables!

Spongeables is no ordinary bath treat. Each buffer contains a perfect infusion of gentle gel celanser, healthy botanicals, essential vitamins, antioxidants and moisturizers. It's all topped off with a feel-so-good exfoliating texture that whisks away dry skin, massages way aches, pains and tension, soothes tired muscles and buffs skin to a healthy, gorgeous glow.

First of all, I didn't expect the Spongeables to lather like crazy but I was happily surprised to experience a thick, creamy lather with the shower sponge. With the foot buffer, however, there was some foam but it's significantly thinner and less luxurious and I also had to rub it a lot to get some foam.

The White Rose shower sponge didn't really smell anything - it was pleasant but I was expecting the scent to be a little heavier. It doesn't linger on the skin after either. The Pedi-Scrub foot buffer smells amazing though! It's a real pleasure to use on tired feet as the super strong and minty smell is enough itself to rejuvenate your senses.

Unlike the shower sponge, the foot buffer has two distinct textures: one side is soft and gentle to cleanse and moisturize, while the other side as a super scrubby texture that smoothes away rough skin and stimulates circulation. Let me warn you though: do NOT try to use the exfoliating side of the Pedi-Scrub on your body as it's just too abrasive - at least for me! I really wanted to give it a try on another part of my body than my feet because I'm too ticklish to scrub my feet with it, but it was a bad idea! After scrubbing my left arm, my skin started to burn and I was left with red patches of irritated skin. Oh well, lesson learned!

I love how these sponges do everything at once (cleanse, exfoliate, massage and moisturize) as it's great if you are in a hurry and it's truly like a spa in a shower. The shower sponge is not too rough, just perfect, and as I was expecting, the foot buffer is more abrasive but it's perfect for use on your feet.

The shower sponge retails at $7.99 and it's also available in Lavender Nectar and the Pedi-Scrub foot buffer retails at $6.99 and it's also available in Lavender-Tea Tree Oil Aromatherapy at Farleyco.ca.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Tag: Christmas!

(image: wehartit)

Hey ladies! Hope you're all done with your Christmas shopping and ready to party, because I'm not! In fact, I never realized tomorrow was Christmas' Eve... oh well, I'll be working anyway as last week-end I started a new job as a chambermaid at a local hotel and OMG, I love it so much! So yes, no more pressure and stress at the clothing store, now I just do my own thing and as long as everything is clean, it's perfect!

I'm still not sure what we will do for Christmas as my parents recently divorced and so I moved in with my mother but my brothers are still living with my father. We will try to have a dinner with everyone anyway, the tricky part is always to be able to find a date that will suit everybody and their girlfriend/boyfriend. My maternal grandparents are currently away in Florida (lucky them!) while I'm not sure if we will get to see my father's family. Anyway, I won't start stressing with that, we've never had a big party for Christmas anyway as I can't say I'm very close to my family.

Since I haven't got really interesting things in the mail to show you this week (I received a super cute 2012 Telus calendar and a Julep Maven box but more on that later...), I decided to do this cute Christmas tag in an attempt to get me in the mood (:

(image: weheartit)

Egg nog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate, with tons of mini marshmallows and chocolate syrup... yum! I think I have tasted egg nog only once in my life and OMG, never again! Eggs are already off-putting, but a drink containing eggs? Now that's just disgusting!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

They are always wrapped! It never occured to me that not everybody wraps presents?

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?

I think that coloured lights are more fun and screams "Christmas!" way more than white ones, but white ones are more classy and I personally like to keep some all year round in my room because they just cheer me up without being too festive. However, I can't stand blue lights, they simply drive me crazy and come on, you're not in a nightclub!

Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope!

(image: weheartit)

When do you put your decorations up?

I would say at the begginning of December, but sometimes even at the end of November!

What is your favourite holiday dish?

I don't have one. I always hated turkey and ham and I've never been a big fan of tourtière either (tourtière is a meat pie often made with pork. It's served during the Christmas holidays and it's very popular in Québec.) In my family, we've never really followed the traditional meals and we almost always ordered some chinese! My favorite part of Christmas dinner are always desserts anyway. Now that I'm a vegetarian, I have no idea what I will cook! I was thinking maybe vegetarian lasagna?

Favourite Holiday memory as a child?

I don't have one. I guess it was fun to go in those big parties with the family and play with the little cousins. Now it's just not the same. People change, you know.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I don't remember how old I was but I think I recognized my father's watch on Santa's arm...

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes, we've always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve at night. We have tried to hold on until Christmas morning but let's just say it didn't really work!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I personally hate to decorate the Christmas tree, I'm so lazy and I don't have the patience for that! Usually, my mother does it alone. There's light, cards, baubles, ornaments, etc.

Snow! Love it or dread it?

I hate snow! I always say that snow is fun until you drive a car or until you actually have to go out to work or something. 

Can you ice skate?

Yes but I don't enjoy it, my feet always hurt after. I actually even took ice skating classes when I was younger!

Do you remember your favourite gift?

A Nintendo 64 with Super Mario 64, definitely! It was the start of a looooooong love story...

What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

I don't know, I may be the only person on heart that don't really get excited for the Holidays. I hate how my family waits until Christmas to see each other, I see that as only an excuse. Maybe it's just me being weird though.

What is your favourite Holiday dessert?

I love any desserts, especially the ones my grandmother makes!

What is your favourite holiday tradition?

We never really followed any traditions. We tried going to the church at midnight once before opening presents and never again!

(image: weheartit)

♫ Last Christmas - Wham!

M E R R Y  C H R I S T M A S ! !

Guest Post: The Best Indoor Tanning Lotion For Fair Skin

This post was written by Steve and Jess from Snizzap.com Tanning Lotion Reviews

(image: weheartit)

Lots of people enjoy tanning indoors and most believe you look and feel more attractive with a sun-kissed glow. What many tanners wonder, however, is which tanning bed lotion is the best choice if you have pale
or fair skin?

First, it is important to understand why you need to use a lotion at all. When you tan indoors (or anywhere for that matter) you are subjecting your skin to damaging Ultraviolet (UV) rays, and without preparing your body for this exposure you put yourself at a higher risk for dry, red, itchy skin or a variety of health conditions. Lotions manufactured for use in tanning beds contain special ingredients that harness the power of the UV light to enhance your color and help protect and nourish your skin to keep it moisturized and healthy.

Most of the top rated lotions sold in salons, however, contain added bronzer or tingle ingredients in their formulas that are best used by someone who already has somewhat of a base tan. If you are new to
tanning, or have very fair skin, intense bronzers can possibly cause your color to streak or be too orangey, or they may make you get too dark too fast which might seem unnatural. Lotions with added tinglers have been known to cause reddening or itching of the skin in some tanners, so those are best left to try after you have some color and understand how tanning is affecting your body.

(image: weheartit)

Any lotion that does not contain bronzer or tingle ingredients is a safe bet for newbies, but there are a variety of lotions marketed directly to this group. These products will have the phrases "Step 1", "Base Tan Builder" or "Accelerator" in their names, and they are generally the ones made for people who are just starting out in tanning beds and need to develop a base before moving up to the more advanced lotions.

Another very important thing to consider is how long you spend in the tanning bed your first few sessions, and at what level you're starting out at. Most salons will have lower and upper-tier beds to choose from. If your salon has options, the higher level beds tend to burn less and brown more than the lower level models. They'll probably be more expensive, but if you're serious about getting a natural glow you might want to spend the extra money. As far as how long your sessions should be, in the very beginning you should spend no more than about 5 minutes inside the bed. You should also not go tanning more often than once every few days, this will prevent you from turning red or burning. Once your body gets used to the routine you can slowly increase the length of your sessions, up to a maximum of about 12-15 minutes.

These tips will help you get a sexy dark glow while avoiding the common issues people encounter when tanning like dry, red or damaged skin.

(image: weheartit)

Interested in being a guest blogger? Please let me know!

November Empties

☑ Clarins Sheer Bronze Tinted Self Tanner For Legs

I have bought this out of curiosity at the first Clarins warehouse sale I attended maybe two years ago but at this time, I wasn't even into self tanners so I barely used it on my legs and it didn't impress me so I put it away. Now that I've gotten more into self tanners, I wanted to use this one up before buying some others.

I haven't used a lot of self tanners so I can't really compare this one to some others but it doesn't seem to do much for me - it barely gives me a slight glow. I don't know if it's due to the fact that I'm naturally pale - I'm a natural blonde - but I'm disappointed. I'll keep searching for a self tanner that will really make me look tan!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint For Face and Decolleté

☑ Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream and Avocado Pear Nourishing Nights Cream (samples)

These were average. The smell was a bit too strong for me and to be honest, it wasn't the most pleasant. I loved the texture too, it ws thick without being too thick.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel-Cream for dry skin (day) and Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream (night)

☑ Dr Hess Udder Stick Pomegranate

OK I'll admit it - I'm actually cheating with this one. What happened is that for review purposes, I wanted to take a picture to show you the actual quantity of lipbalm in the tube but when I tried to slide it back in the tube, it broke! So I had to melt it in a Vaseline tin but I'm still including it in my empties =P

Repurchase: yes!

What I'm currently using to replace it: other Dr Hess Udder Sticks

☑ Fruits & Passion Georgia Peach Foaming Bath

Very average foam that last about 10 minutes. Disappointing for the price.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ Equate Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes

These are great to gently wash my face in the morning. If they dry up, I simply spritz a little toner on them and them rub them on my face.

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes

☑Alberto Moisture Soak Conditioner

I bought this a long time ago when my hair was completely destroyed by the numerous bleaches I inflicted it, and I was happy to confirm that the claims were true - I really did see a difference after the first use! Of course, it didn't repair my hair on the first use, but I was actually amazed at how soft it left my hair so I kept on using it and I was never disappointed.

I also like the consistency of this conditioner, it's thicker than a lot of conditioners I have tried - it won't drip everywhere - in the past and I feel that it coats my hair really well.

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: I'm trying to use up those conditioners that come with my boxes of hair dye!

☑Escada Pacific Paradise Eau de Toilette

I bought this at a Clarins warehouse sale years ago because I instantly fell in love with its fruity yet not overly sweet scent, but I'm glad I finally used it up because I have way too many perfumes in my stash! Yes it's fun to use a different one every day, but they have a very limited shelf life, and this one almost didn't smell anything at all after all this time.

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: other perfumes like Jessica Simpson Fancy, Harajuku♥Lovers Fragrance Baby, Aquolina Pink Sugar, etc.

☑ L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara*

Repurchase: no, only because L'Oréal tests on animals, and that's a shame because it's a pretty good mascara.

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

*This product is NOT cruelty-free

Wet n Wild Coloricon Nail Color in 24 Carats

I recently won this amazing nail polish from Danielle and I couldn't wait to try it out! 

I must admit it's quite disappointing on its own - to me, at least - but I wasn't expecting much from it as I always prefer to layer glitter nail polishes over a dark base. I applied three coats of 24 Carats over Wet 'n Wild Shine Nail Color in Black Crème.

I didn't need to apply three coats for the glitters to properly show up but I really wanted to make a statement as I was going out for my Christmas work party. As for most glitter polishes, 24 Carats dries super quickly and I didn't notice a gritty finish.

I was incredibly disappointed to see my mani chip super quickly - the day after I applied the nail polishes, I noticed chips in the morning, and by the end of the second day of wear, I had nail polish left on only half of my nails! And yes, I did used a topcoat (Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Top Coat).

It's a shame these limited-edition nail polishes won't be available in Canada as from what I've seen on other blogs, they all look gorgeous and they would definitely make a great party accessory! At least I had the chance to try this one - thanks again Danielle! (:

Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant in 4 Dark Brown

You can get up to 8 weeks of vibrant, healthy-looking hair color from Natural Instincts. Natural Instincts Vibrant delivers stunning color with 100% gray coverage—and comes with an exclusive Color Refresher to give your hair a complete boost two weeks in.

• Permanent 10 minute-formula with antioxidants for healthy-looking hair color
• Lasts up to 8 weeks
• 100% gray coverage
• Includes Natural Instincts Week 2 Color Refresher, a nourishing crème formula that deposits color pigments 15 days after coloring
• Includes Color Treat™ Conditioner for radiant and healthy-looking color

I've always been curious about the original Natural Instincts range which promises shiny, healthy-looking hair color in an ammonia-free formula, but the problem is that this hair dye is semi permanent. When they came out with the permanent version, Natural Instincts Vibrant, which even included Week 2 Color Refresher, a crème formula that deposits color pigments 15 days after coloring, I jumped at the chance to try it!

What is included in the box

The first thing I noticed is how annoyingly runny the formula is - I have never experienced this before! It was a complete mess to use as it would always drips off my hair. I had to act quickly if I didn't want to dye the entire bathroom brown!

My hair was left shiny and darker than my previous color, which I was expecting. I'm pleased with the results, however, I was expecting much more from the Week 2 Color Refresher, which didn't seem to do much for my hair. I didn't notice the color being super dull or anything but after using the refresher, it didn't appear shinier or richer. Hmm.

Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant is available for around $10 in the following shades:

*This product is NOT cruelty-free

Mail of the Week (December 12 - 16)

KORRES media kit: Can you imagine my surprise when I was approached by Melissa with the opportunity to try some KORRES products? I never knew these were available in Canada, but yes, you can actually find them in selected Shoppers Drug Mart. Here's what the media kit contained:

• Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream 
• Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream
• Wild Rose Face and Eye Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum
• Basil Lemon Extra Moisturizing Body Butter for dry skin

Goodies from Time & Again by GANZ: I received the cutest package from the very lovely Sandra this week! I have never heard of GANZ before but when I was given the opportunity to try some of their Holiday products, I jumped at the chance. Who can say no to pepperminted scented body products?

• Sweet Peppermint Gift Set (hand wash and hand cream)
• Replenishing Shea Body Butter
• Sweet Peppermint Crackling Wick Scented Candle
• Strawberry Swirl Bath Fizzy
• velvety soft Tubby Tummies plush
• nail file

Grateful Body products: I was given the opportunity to try some products from this all natural and vegan skincare company that I've never heard of before. Their approach is through organic plants, food and herbs that come together to create entirely luxurious and effective skin care. The people from Grateful Body formulates all of their products to heal and strengthen damaged or ailing skin – they have helped a lot of people through eczema, that's why I was excited to try the products I was sent: Aphrodite's Feast Restorative Serum and Midnight Oil.

Shielo hair products: Remember my Made from Earth product review? Well the same product formulators  have made some organic and chemical free hair products for Shielo and I was given the opportunity to try these products as well. I realise I almost never feature hair products on my blog and I don't really know why - I guess it's because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to review a shampoo? Well I'll be happy to try my best to review these vegan and cruelty free products. I've been sent their Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner as well as their #1 seller, Antioxidant Leave-in Protectant.

Club Nintendo Original Calendar 2012 : This is my reward for having reached the Elite Status as a Gold Member once again this year, yey!

♫ Invincible - Hedley ft. P. Reign