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Posts Tagged ‘Beauty’

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Mock Orange: A Study in Dark and Light

In Easy Elegance, In the Garden on July 2, 2015 at 9:18 am

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Our mock orange shrub has exploded this year with its fragrant white blossoms. So lovely to see and smell.

It amazes me how a plant can remain dormant or somewhat unnoticed in the garden and then, suddenly when the time is right, thrusts itself into the spotlight. Perhaps it’s an analogy for us all. Mind you, the endless rain we’ve had of late probably made a huge difference, too.

In any case, we’ll enjoy its splendor while it lasts and hope that with proper pruning it will be just as magnificent next year!

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Fight Signs of Aging

In Natural Beauty, Recently Reviewed on November 13, 2014 at 10:07 am

Looking for a natural, non-invasive way to look younger? Phytogenics has introduced a new anti-aging cream aptly named Phyt-Age, and claims it works as well as Botox but without the toxic injections. While there’s no shortage of anti-aging creams on the market promising to turn back the hands of time, few of them offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t see results in 30 days. In fact, Phytogenics is so confident you’ll love their Phyt-Age cream, they even challenge you to take a simple 15-minute test to see the difference. Then, if you’re impressed with what it can do in that short time, imagine the results with ongoing use. (I certainly won’t be returning my sample!)

According to Phytogenics, the reality is our skin shows signs of aging and becomes susceptible to sagging, wrinkles and injury due to various factors such as decreased skin thickness and dehydration. But Phyt-Age cream has been specifically formulated, with a combination of seven naturally occurring ingredients such as argan oil, topical vitamin C (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) and hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), to target these causes and restore skin to a healthier and younger-looking state. These ingredients contain bio-molecules designed to give you optimal anti-aging results by stimulating collagen production and brightening skin tone. For those individuals who wish to avoid certain preservatives and are highly sensitive or allergic to fragrance and perfumes, take note – this rich cream has no fragrance, and is paraben-free.

Known for its secrecy, the beauty industry has a history of closely guarding product formulations and limits many ingredient lists in the fine print – if you can find them at all without a special request. So it’s refreshing to see Phyt-Age is clearly labeled, and even details information and research about the efficacy of the active ingredients it contains on the Phytogenics website. They even welcome customer feedback and have posted numerous testimonials. For more information on Phyt-Age visit http://phytogenicinc.com/

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Lovely Lavender Cleansing Milk

In Natural Beauty, Recently Reviewed on August 15, 2014 at 9:05 am

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As you navigate the sea of mainstream cosmetics out there, with so many chemical-based products vying for your attention and dollars, it’s nice to land upon a product that not only lives up to its claims but also surpasses your expectations. Fresh out of facial cleanser, I waded through the aisles of my local health food store and struck gold with this cleansing milk.

Avalon Organics CoQ10 Repair Facial Cleansing Milk. Lured by the promises of wrinkle smoothing hydration and cell renewal, I was pleasantly pleased to find a quality, performance product that is certified organic, paraben and sulfate free. PRODUCT NOTES Attracted by the handy pump dispenser, which I think is a great feature, I thought it would be similar to the many watered-down, liquidy cleansing milks I’ve used before. Surprisingly, a little goes a long way. So go easy with the pump as it dispenses more of a thick cream — almost like a cold cream in terms of texture and consistency. And while it says it “contains White Tea and Sunflower,” it’s hard to miss the punch of pure lavender it exudes. BOTTOM LINE. It’s hard not to love this rich cleanser. My skin really does feel smoother and look firmer after using, so I’m excited to explore other offerings in this new-found product line. Well done Avalon.

Disclosure Notice: We participate in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, which earns fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Our participation does not influence our content decisions but helps to offset the costs involved in maintaining this website.

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Here’s a Real Eye Opener

In Natural Beauty, Recently Reviewed on June 11, 2014 at 2:50 pm

eyelinerThere’s eyeliner and then there’s liquid eyeliner. Yes, this old standard certainly has staying power – real staying power – that’s the one of the reasons for its enduring popularity: It stays on! After all, who wants their eyeliner to melt away before the day is over?           

Zuzu Luxe Liquid Eyeliner If you’ve never used liquid before, you need a steady hand to master the technique, which can vary from the thinnest of fine lines to the most dramatic cat’s eye look. Raven is Zuzu’s blackest of blacks, which is what I’m looking for when I buy black eyeliner. PRODUCT NOTES This eyeliner is mineral based, vegan, paraben and gluten-free – although who would have thought eyeliner would contain gluten? The brush can be a bit globby despite a fine tip that allows for both minimalist and maximum impact styles. Give it a shake and wipe down the tip quite a bit before applying or you may get more liner than you bargained for. Also, it’s not the fastest drying so if you’re rushing you might get a few unexpected smudges. BOTTOM LINE It’s not cheap, at about $18, but well within the price of similar products. Compared to other liquid eyeliners, it’s easy to remove with water-based makeup removers and it doesn’t leave those black under-eye circles – certainly a bonus. You could use oil-based makeup removers, as they are more efficient in dissolving makeup, but I tend to avoid them as they irritate my eyes.

Disclosure Notice: We participate in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, which earns fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Our participation does not influence our content decisions but helps to offset the costs involved in maintaining this website.

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Save Face this Winter

In Natural Beauty, Recently Reviewed on December 4, 2013 at 11:28 am

With the first major snowfall this year already fallen and melted away (at least here in Toronto), we’re reminded of the breathtaking wonder and beauty of the season – not to mention how much more of it lies ahead! Breathtaking to be sure, as while we enjoy walking in a winter wonderland as much as anyone else, it’s the whipping winds we could do without! If you have sensitive skin like I do, then you know how our puffy, reddened faces suffer following these outdoor adventures.

Cliniderm Gentle Protective Lotion.cliniderm Believe me, you still need sunscreen in winter and here’s a family of products I can hardily recommend.  The Gentle Protective Lotion with SPF 45 is one of my year-round staples but I have also used the protective hand cream and my daughter loves the soothing lotion – especially after a walk on a cold winter day. PRODUCT NOTES First and foremost, these products are free of parabens, dyes, perfumes, lanolin, formaldehyde and proteins. So there’s no scent to any of the lotions. The sunscreen is a bit thicker than most you’ve probably tried so it’s not to be used as a moisturizer. BOTTOM LINE Well priced and worth every penny. Now if only they were organic…

Disclosure Notice: We participate in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, which earns fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Our participation does not influence our content decisions but helps to offset the costs involved in maintaining this website.

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Bees Lotion Stings

In Natural Beauty on June 19, 2013 at 10:27 am

Now that the warmer weather is finally here, it’s time to get ready for summer. Mind you, in Toronto it’s been hot and humid one week then cold and rainy the next, but that’s the Canadian climate for you. So not a day goes by when I don’t wear sunscreen on my face – it’s not really an optional choice as I burn really easily.            

Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Lotion 

burtsThe combination of a day lotion with sunscreen always appeals to me, as who wants to put yet another product on? PRODUCT NOTES This light lotion has almost no scent and absorbs quickly without any greasy feeling. It also comes in a pump bottle, which is really convenient. But I find it stings my skin a little going on even though there’s no alcohol in it. Luckily it quickly passes and leaves no redness. BOTTOM LINE An SPF15 is considered low by my standards, as I like to have maximum sun protection on my face. With that in mind, I’ll keep looking for something with more SPF and less irritation.

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Get Glowing with Oatmeal Scrub

In Natural Beauty, Recently Reviewed on June 6, 2013 at 10:50 am

With all the pollutants and extreme weather we face everyday, even healthy skin can easily look dull and lackluster. There’s never a time when my skin doesn’t benefit from a good facial scrub. Luckily, I’m pleased that my neighbourhood drug store now has an entire section devoted to natural and organic products – and the selection seems to be continually expanding! Seems I’m not alone in my desire to purchase organic skincare products that don’t test on animals or contain a variety of toxic chemicals.

scrubCreation’s Garden Oatmeal Facial Exfoliator What’s not to love about this certified organic scrub? Thankfully it’s getting easier to find products that are both organic and free of parabens. And often I found other scrubs to be too grainy or rough on the skin. PRODUCT NOTES From the lovely oatmeal smell to the gentle cleansing action, I highly recommend this quality product. It left my sensitive skin feeling refreshed and invigorated. BOTTOM LINE If you’re in the market for a new scrub, this is definitely one to try. And for those of you who’ve never tried using a facial scrub before, it’s time to get rid of those dead skin cells and go for the glow.