Monday 3 October 2016

Swipe Deodorant Wipes

If you're anything like me, you hate carrying around unnecessary items in your purse but also can't stand the idea of being unprepared. Usually what happens with me is that I end up lugging around a heavy purse full of "just in case" items like an umbrella, feminine hygiene products, a sweater and deodorant. Most of the time I won't need the items but having them makes me feel reassured in case any emergencies pops up. What can help lighten up the load is carrying travel sized items instead, this is where Swipe deodorant wipes (try saying that 10 times quickly) come into play.

"Swipe® was specifically designed for the convenience to go throughout the day without a bulky stick of deodorant that melts in purses or gym bags. Swipe® not only applies a new layer of deodorant protection, it also eliminates body odor in the process. Each pocket sized deodorant wipe is individually wrapped, making them perfect for anyone to carry multiple wipes at a time to throw in purses, book bags, gym bags, and briefcases even right in pants or jacket pockets!!!"

The newly formulated Swipe wipes are infused with natural tea tree extract and Saccharomyces Ferment, a natural bacterial enzyme that help eliminate odor. The biodegradable clothes are individually foil wrapped and are meant for one time use. They are an excellent size to pack while traveling as you can easily throw them into your makeup bag and come in packages ranging from 3-50 wipes per box.


http://images.urbanoutfitters.com/is/image/UrbanOutfitters/38253878_000_d?$xlarge$&defaultImage=
Source: UO
Swipe can be purchased online through eBay, Amazon and their site, they offer quantities of 3, 10, 25 and 50 wipes per box and range in from $2.99 to $29.99USD in price. They can also be exclusively purchased on the American and Canadian Urban Outfitters website in the 10 pack ($8 USD/$10CDN).


http://images.urbanoutfitters.com/is/image/UrbanOutfitters/38253878_000_e?$medium$&defaultImage=
Source: UO

While Swipe is very convenient for use while traveling and post-workout emergencies. I don't see myself using it on a regular basis as a regular stick deodorant is more cost efficient and accessible in-stores if you are in need of deodorant immediately or last minute for a trip. I appreciate that the cloths are 100% biodegradable and is manufactured in the USA by a company that uses solar energy. However, I wish that the foil packaging was also biodegradable or recyclable


Until next time,

Annie



***Press Sample, all opinions are my own***

Saturday 6 August 2016

BVspa by Bon Vital' Salt and Sugar Scrubs - a microbead alternative

Bon Vital' , the makers of BVspa started out in 1988, focusing on producing quality, all natural and organic treatments. They became the first branded manufacturer in the wellness industry to become completely paraben free and is the #1 preferred brand of professional massage therapists. So, with a track record like that, you can see why I was interested in trying out some of their products.


What was sent to me to review were the BVspa Sugar Scrub in the rejuvenating scent Pomegranate & Acai Berry and BVspa Salt Scrub in the soothing and relaxing scent of Lavender & Rosemary.


BVspa Sugar Scrubs
"Gently polish and buff away dry, dull skin for a smooth and radiant glow with Natural Sugar Crystals, Safflower Seed Oil and Jojoba Oil. Perfect for everyday use, or for those with more sensitive skin."

I felt the sugar scrub had a good balance of sugar granules and mixture of oils that left my skin feeling hydrated and smooth. The sugar granules were fine enough that they didn't feel like they were scratching, more like buffing away the top layer of dead skin. I can see myself reaching for this scrub to rid of all my dry skin all over before applying any sort of self tanner. The scent was nice and strong while I was using the product and left behind a faint aroma of pomegeante and acai berry on my skin. 


BVspa Salt Scrub
"Comfortably remove dry, calloused, dead skin from difficult areas with a moderate level of exfoliation for a soft and smooth feel using Dead Sea Salt, Olive Oil, and Jojoba Oil."

The salts scrub felt more coarse compared to the sugar scrub, it is definitely the more heavy duty scrub between the two. This scrub works best on areas of your body needing a bit more TLC and exfoliation such as the heels of the feet or elbows. I can see myself using the salt scrub before giving myself a pedi or on my legs during the wintertime where I find my skin to be the most dry and flaky. It also left behind a faint scent of the Lavender and Rosemary.


The downside, I found that due to the thick consistency of the scrubs, it made it hard to dispense from the tube. Not sure if I'm just a weakling or if the scrubs had to be warmed up a little bit before use. Don't get me wrong though, I do prefer the more hygienic tube format over a jar.

What I admire most from this company is their use of natural ingredients like salt and sugar opposed to plastic microbeads in their scrubs. Not only do the salt and sugar do an excellent job of exfoliating, they dissolve and ultimately are not detrimental to our ecosystem the way microbeads are. Also, they did not leave a oily slippery (and downright hazardous) residue on the tub surface like most scrubs do.

You can currently find BVspa products at Shopper's Drug Mart for $11.99

After a quick search online, it is suggested that if you want to discard any products containing plastic mircobeads it is recommended you send the product back to the manufacturer or separate the microbeads yourself with the help of a coffee filter or fine cheesecloth or some even suggest tossing them in the trash, as the microbeads would be better off sitting in a landfill than in our ecosystem. But the one thing to avoid doing is flushing them down the drain or toilet.


Until next time,


Annie



*press sample*


Tuesday 26 July 2016

Lady Queen Water Decals

I finally had some time to play around with some water decals Lady Queen sent me. If you are unfamiliar with Lady Queen, it is an online shop that sells nail, beauty and fashion related products. They were kind enough to offer our readers 15% off regular priced items using code "AWLC15" at checkout.


I opted to keep things simple with a layer of sheer polish and a matte top coat to keep the spotlight on these gorgeous water decals (item# BLE 2284) of classy looking ladies. Like with most of their decals, these were easy to apply and I was able to shift them around on the nail until I was satisfied with their position. 


These decals are priced at $1.99USD and come with 19 decals in 5 different designs.


Until next time,

Annie



*press sample*

Kiko Milano Water Eyeshadow in 200 and 208

Last year has been the year of the highlights for me. It was when I bought my first highlighter and became hooked. Since then I've accumulated an good variety of highlighter, from powder to liquid to stick format.

A product I heard worked great as a highlighter but was not sold in Canada were the Kiko Cosmetics Water Eyeshadows. Now, back in high school or even college I'd call myself crazy for even thinking of using an eye shadow as face product, but since then I've broadened my horizons and realized just because the packaging says its for the eyes or lips doesn't necessarily mean you need to follow suit. Plus you'll get more use out of a product if it serves a multiple purpose.


The water eyeshadows come in over 20 shades and can be used wet or dry. Mir managed to hook me up with shades Champagne 200 and Light Gold 208. I found them to be highly pigmented, even when used dry. Sometimes I wish cosmetic companies wouldn't make their products so pretty, I had to force myself to start to use them and disturb the beautiful design.

The product felt soft and silky and left my eyes and cheeks glowing. I was however, disappointed with the amount of microglitter there was in the formula. I would've preferred a matte or sheen finish.


Light gold 208 is the gold shimmer (top 2 swatches), dry and then wet. Champange 200 is a taupe shimmer (bottom 2 swatches), seen dry and then wet. When applied wet the shadows are much more pigmented but whether dry or wet the colour payoff is pretty good and I feel is flattering on all skin tones.

I'm not sure when Kiko will come to Canada (currently their website does not ships to Canada). But when I will be traveling to Vegas next year you can bet that I will make a stop at their physical shop.


Until next time,

Annie



*products were purchased*

Tuesday 5 July 2016

CND Nail Rescue Kit

Recently I was in Colorado on holidays and the dry weather there really wrecked havoc on my nails. I found that with every ding to my nail, a corner would snap right off. By the end of the trip I was left with some abstract shaped nails. Luckily for me this package from RevlonPro came just in time, inside this package was CND's nail rescue kit. #CNDRescueKit contained all the nail care products to restore my nails.


Included in the kit:
  • RescueRXx
  • Cuticle Eraser
  • Solar Oil
  • Scrub Fresh
  • 4 Vinylux Polishes in the shades:
    • Be Demure
    • Desert Poppy
    • Date Night
    • Lavender Lace
  • Vinylux Weekly Topcoat
  • Nail file
  •  

Sunday 12 June 2016

Born Pretty Store 3D Nail Charm Wheel Review

Hi all, hope you all had a great weekend. I'm back at it again with another item from Born Pretty Store to share.

This time I have an assorted 3D nail charm wheel (item #23911) to review. The charms come in a 12 section nail wheel which swivels open to the compartment you want access to. There are 12 charms in the wheel (pictures below show the variety), some of my favourites include the rocking horse, turtle and Cleopatra bust. I do have to note that a couple of the charms looked a little funny. For one, the elephant was quite misshapen and the sitting fairy took me a couple minutes to see what I was looking at. Otherwise I felt that the other charms were quite unique and detailed. The charms are currently marked down to $1.99USD from $4.00USD.



Here are some looks I created with some of the charms....


Saturday 21 May 2016

Born Pretty Store Pearl High Heel Nail Charms Review

Greetings! Awhile back Born Pretty Store sent me a package of some nail charms to review. Today I have the Pearl High Heel Nails Charms in gold (item #24084). The two things I like most about Born Pretty Store is the variety of items they have on their site and their modest prices. These charms are no different, measuring in approximately 1.1cm wide these little high heel charms have clusters of pearl that add to their character and looks absolutely adorable.

However, I thought that the size of the charms were too big for my nail and weren't nearly as curved as I would've liked them to be. They were too bulky on my nails, almost ridiculously so. They were too wide and hung off my nail and because they stuck up so much it caught onto things easily so I had to take them off fairly quickly as I knew it probably wouldn't take much to tear them off my nails. I think these charms would work best in conjunction with acrylics or with someone with a flatter nail bed and longer nails.


If you plan on checking out Born Pretty Store and can't resist the urge to purchase some nail art goodies use our code "AMPK31" to receive 10% off regular priced items!






Until Next Time,

Annie





*** These products were provided in exchange for my honest review.***

Sunday 1 May 2016

Born Pretty Store Triangle Nail Studs Review

Salutations! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Things are were super busy at work but now that things are slowing down slightly I am trying to use my spare time after work for something more productive like blogging.

Today I have another nail product from Born Pretty Store to share with you all. This time around they are the Triangle Nail Studs (item #24096). They come in a package of 2 with a choice of gold and silver, they measure approximately 4 by 5 mm in size. They are regularly priced at $3.07USD but are currently marked down to 0.99USD.


The charms were very easy to use, I could easily pick them up with tweezers and place with them with control exactly where I wanted them to go. They aren't curved but because they are relatively small in size I was able to push them into the wet polish and found that it helped prevent any edge of the stud to stick up.


If you plan on checking out Born Pretty Store and can't resist the urge to purchase some nail art goodies use our code "AMPK31" to receive 10% off regular priced items!






Until Next Time,

Annie





*** These products were provided in exchange for my honest review.***

Saturday 12 March 2016

CND Spa Collection


"INTRODUCING NEW CND SPA - INSPIRED BY NATURE, ROOTED IN SCIENCE. Escape on a journey of relaxation and tranquility. CND unlocks the beauty of botanicals that effectively prep, purify, perfect and restore for a new level of spa benefits. Treat yourself to a sensorial experience infused with the nurturing essences of fruits and flowers. Delight in indulgent care and personalized results."

The new CND Spa Collection features the scents Gardenia Woods, Bright Citron and Cucumber. The Gardenia and Bright Citron scents both offer a soak, scrub, masque and lotion. The Cucumber scent offers 2 treatments targeted for dry calloused heels.



"Escape on a journey of relaxation. Our botanical spa collection delivers a new level of treatment benefits for beautiful results. 4-step system lets you customize services with a choice of fragrance moods and add-ons for deeper care. Let the indulgence begin. Inspired by nature. Rooted in science. New CND Spa Collection."




GARDENIA WOODS – Leaves skin luxuriously soft with every touch.
With white floral fragrance notes, gardenia and jasmine, this system will hydrate, moisturize and soften skin with its
replenishing and purifying botanical blend of chamomile and sandalwood.

GARDENIA WOODS Soak
Softening sea salt bath delicately cleanses without drying skin.
GARDENIA WOODS Scrub
Creamy skin polisher with moisture beads gently removes dull surface cells for a smoother texture.
GARDENIA WOODS Masque
Clarifying treatment softens skin and gives it a luminous glow.
GARDENIA WOODS Lotion
All-day hydrating veil nourishes skin to leave it touchably soft.



BRIGHT CITRON – Brightens up every mood.
With notes of pink grapefruit and warm amber, this system will restore radiance and brighten skin’s appearance with its
botanical blend of hydrating honey and purifying kaffir lime.

BRIGHT CITRON Soak
Refreshing sea salt bath gently cleanses impurities while softening skin.
BRIGHT CITRON Scrub
Gentle citrus scrub polishes and perfects skin for a glowing radiance.
BRIGHT CITRON Masque
Luminizing mask lifts impurities and enhances clarity to leave skin glowing.
BRIGHT CITRON Lotion
All-day hydrating lotion replenishes moisture for skin so silky and smooth.



CUCUMBER HEEL THERAPY – Get smoother with every step.Smooth away rough edges with exfoliating Alpha-Hydroxy Acids. Immerse in an intense moisturizing treatment and
refresh, relieve and hydrate heels with natural cucumber for the perfect finish to a pampering spa pedicure.

CUCUMBER HEEL THERAPY Callus Smoother
Professional-strength serum with concentrated Alpha-Hydroxy Acids softens tough skin in minutes
to reduce calluses.
CUCUMBER HEEL THERAPY Intensive Treatment
Therapeutic cream soothes dry, rough heels with a deeply-moisturizing botanical complex of
cucumber, aloe and chamomile.


Overall thoughts: I had the opportunity to try the gardenia woods lotion at the preview event last month and I brought home a bright citron lotion in my press kit. I loved the gardenia woods scent, it had just the right amount of floral in it and it reminded me a bit of Marc Jacob's Dot perfume. If I see this lotion in store I will definitely pick it up. The bright citron scent was a little misleading, on the tube the scent was described as kaffir lime and honey but smelled exactly like grapefruit. Aside from that I thought the scent was nice and refreshing. I think I will use this lotion the most in the summertime since it feels like and absorbs quickly into the skin. There's nothing more I dislike than greasy skin from creams/lotions that just sit on the surface of the skin.


Retail Pricing:
Gardenia Woods / Bright Citron Lotion $21.90 / 8.4 oz
Gardenia Woods / Bright Citron Lotion Scrub $31.90 / 8.4 oz
Gardenia Woods / Bright Citron Lotion Soak $25.90 / 8.4 oz
Gardenia Woods / Bright Citron Lotion Masque: $29.90 / 8.4 oz
Cucumber Heel Therapy Intensive Treatment $59.90 / 425 g

The new CND Spa Collection is available worldwide March 2016. Visit cnd.com for more information.





Until next time,


Annie


Saturday 5 March 2016

Tree Hut Extra-Rich Moisturizing Body Lotion and Renewing Hand Cream

Originating from Farmers Branch, Texas Tree Hut is an award winning skin care line that focuses on creating products to help bring out the natural beauty of your skin.

"...Tree Hut has a deep-rooted belief system. We believe in the power of natural ingredients. We believe in the comfort of an amazing fragrance. We believe there's always time for a little pampering. We believe in loving your skin - and loving it even more after using Tree Hut. And we believe it's not about creating your beauty - but revealing it."

Their products which include their award winning sugar scrub, body butters/lotions, sun protection, soaking salts and body washes/soaps are available in 18 different scents. Some scents that interested me were Almond & Honey, Italian Mocha and Pear & Chia Seed. You can view their entire fragrance list as well as the beneficial properties of the scents/ingredients here.

Today I'm spotlighting Tree Hut Renewing Hand Cream in the scent Moroccan Rose and the Tree Hut Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion in the scent Coconut and Lime.




Tuesday 1 March 2016

CND Vinylux 2016 Summer Flirtation Collection

Last month I was invited to preview CND 2016 Summer Flirtation Collection and their new Spa line. At the event I was introduced to 8 new shades from the CND Vinylux line and 6 (out of the 8) shades from the CND Shellac line. Mostly made up of gorgeous pastel shades, this summer collection will be a nice change from all the bright colours we usually see with summer releases.

"There’s an electricity of unspoken attraction in the air. Evoke a subtle, sensual femininity with the new Flirtation Collection from CND. A palette of soft yet bright shades teases at the imagination and makes this collection equal parts coy, confident, and playful."

There was also a preview of CND Spa products which I will be sharing with you in another post.
 
“This season, sweet, creamy pastels are inspired by modern lace and embroidery for a delicate and refined glamour,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “Nails will be slim oval glazed with tender shades of coral and lilac, blushed with the spark of deepening allure. Flirtation’s code allows you to be irresistible.”



Inspiration behind the collection


Sunday 21 February 2016

Weleda Pomegranate Cuticle Softener Pen & Nail Care Pen

Weleda, makers of natural skin and body care products since 1921, is turning its expertise to nail care with the newest addition to the Weleda family, Pomegranate Nail Care.

To be used alone or as a 2-part system, the Pomegranate Nail Care Softener Pen and Nail Care Pen work to soften, protect and intensively care for the nails. Use with Weleda Pomegranate Firming Hand Cream for the healthiest hands, as well as nails.

Weleda Cuticle Softener Pen $17/0.1floz

"Rough and dry cuticles are softened with with a rich blend of nurturing plant oils featuring 98% organic ingredients that work together to condition and help gently remove cuticles."
Source: well.ca

This cuticle softener pen comes with one pre-saturatd tip and three replacement tips at the other end of the pen. These tips are about the same size as an orange stick. At first I thought you had to pump the tip to release the product but the tip does not move, instead the product is absorbed by the tip and you apply the product as needed. Not a lot of product comes out and I almost wished that the tip could release more product.

The instructions advise you to use the cap as the cuticle pusher but I preferred using the tip instead because it was just as rigid as the cut but it was thinner in width and I felt I had more control. Although the cap did have a nice curve to it that would fit to the contours of the nail.


Overall I liked the scent of the product, which smelled like citrusy pomegranate to me. I liked that Weleda included replacement tips conveniently placed at the other end of the pen and that it did help soften up my cuticles. It made pushing them back easier. It did not however, remove cuticles as it claims on the label. But what with the product being 98% organic I didn't expect it to contain anything harsh enough to remove cuticles anyways. It was most useful to me as a touch up pen to gently keep the cuticles back, I would not recommend this product if you had a thick cuticle overgrowth. You would need a stronger product in that situation. 


Weleda Nail Care Pen ($17 0.07fl oz)

"Featuring a convenient, easy-to-use brush applicator, this 91% organic nail pen provides intense nourishment and promotes healthy nails and cuticles with vitamin-rich plant oils and moisturizing Shea butter. Chamomile extract and beeswax round out the list of beneficial ingredients."

Source: well.ca

Ingredient Spotlights
Pomegranate Seed Oil
  • High in antioxidants A, C and E to strengthen nails
  • Deeply moisturizes
  • Sourced from organic pomegranates grown in Turkey
Sweet Almond Oil
  • Rich in vitamin E to help strengthen and nourish nails
  • Easily absorbed into nails and nail bed
  • Sourced from organic almonds grown in Spain
Shea Butter
  • Nurturing and smoothing properties
  • Highly moisturizing
  • Ideal for helping restore dry, sensitive cuticles
  • Organically sourced
Jojoba Seed Oil
  • Organic wax that is similar in composition to human skin
  • Highly stable
  • Moisturizing and suitable for all nail type
    This cuticle pen had a thicker consistency than any other product in pen format I've used before. I suppose I've grown used to cuticle oil pens so I pleasantly surprised that instead of oil the product was more like a thin balm that melted and absorbed quickly when I applied on the skin.



    These nail care products are a little bit on the pricier side compared to what else if on the market but they contain almost 100% organic ingredients which reflects the pricing. They work nicely hand in hand and have kept my cuticles looking hydrated and healthy these past couple weeks. They were especially helpful a couple weekends ago when Toronto experienced a cold snap with the temperatures feeling as low as -39 degrees celsius!

    The Weleda Cuticle Softener Pen and Nail Care Pen can be purchased through the Weleda website, Amazon or well.ca to list a few vendors.





    Until Next Time,


    Annie



    This products was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. Opinions reflected are my own with no influence from company

    Friday 12 February 2016

    wet n wild 1 Step Wonder Gel Polish Swatches - Part 2

    If you missed my first post where I swatched 7 out of the 18 shades from this collection, you can read my post here. The 1 step wonder gel collection is the newest line from wet n wild, here is a little info from the company:

    THE FORMULA
    • New 1 Step WonderGel™ was developed using the same technology that’s used in dental veneers for durability and shine.
    • This formula delivers the color and shine of a true UV cured gel polish, without the need for a special UV light.
    • It cures with the regular ambient light from overhead lighting or sunlight.
    • Because it is a true gel formula, the formula is light sensitive and requires an opaque bottle.
    THE RESULTS
    • Color and shine last for up to 2 weeks! 
    • Results are achieved in just one easy step. 
    • No top coat or base coat required! No harsh removal! Removes with regular nail polish.



    Click to see individual swatches.

    Sunday 7 February 2016

    Orofluido Asia Kit Press Release

    Happy Chinese New Year fellow readers! It's the year of the Monkey. For those of you who don't know, I am of Chinese descent and in the Chinese culture the new year is a big deal to us. We Chinese can get pretty superstitious during Chinese New Years, for example no cleaning/sweeping because you will be sweeping away your fortune, new clothes are to be worn on new years day because wearing old/damaged clothing can cause bad luck for the year and you are not to cut or wash your hair. The word hair in Chinese has the same pronunciation of the word wealth so it is seen has severing or washing away your wealth.

    I thought this would be a great time to share a new product line from Orofluido.


    "The brand Orofluido rediscovers ancient beauty secrets based on traditions and natural ingredients from the farthest parts of the world, transforming them into rituals and bringing richness back to hair. Orofluido is starting a new journey in Asia, providing their beauty secrets in our product. The zen way of beauty is the perfect balance of harmony, tame and control."

    Their newest like is the Zen Beauty Ritual, specialized for all types of frizz-prone hair, it helps with frizz control and promotes elasticity and smoothness.

    "An enticing blend based on treasured Asian ingredients with a soft texture and an exquisite fragrance specially mixed to stimulate the senses. Orofluido Asia has been formulated for women with dry, coarse, brittle hair who suffer from frizz, particularly in humid conditions."

    The Zen Beauty Ritual line contains the zen control shampoo, conditioner, mask, and elixir. These products are ideal for achieving exceptional frizz control, elasticity and smoothness.




    I'm most excited about the hair mask which helps repair damaged hair in need of TLC and conditioning. The ends of my hair tend to feel more dry and requires a little more attention. I think this mask will help hydrate and add a healthy shine to my mane. 

    We received a press sample package of these products and will cover a more in depth review once we've had a chance to try out this products.

    In the meantime, from my family to yours I like to wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year filled with happiness, health, luck and prosperity!


    Until next time,

    Annie

    Red Carpet Manicure Hydrating Cuticle Balm

    Launched in September 2011, Red Carpet Manicure has become a well known brand in the gel polish world. In fact, they were first in the world to release an at-home professional salon LED light activated gel polish system. Which was something new I learned. Back in 2011 I wasn't quite as heavily in tuned with the nail world as I am now. Regardless, becoming the world's first anything is an amazing accomplishment.

    Since then, Red Carpet Manicure has expanded its product lines to include nail lacquers, nail art kits and hand and nail treatments. Today's post will focus on a product from their hand and nail treatment line. More specifically, their Hydrating Cuticle Balm.


    Source: Red Carpet Manicure


    "A professional salon strength cuticle balm that instantly nourishes and conditions rough, ragged cuticles - guaranteed. This exclusive micronized combination of essential nutrients, micronized botanicals and vitamins allow for natural smooth and healthy cuticles."


    The box suggested using this cuticle balm either alone or in conjunction with Red Carpet Manicure's Youth Creme (a revitalizing hand, cuticle and nail cream) or Cuticle Elixir (a cuticle serum that deeply hydrates and conditions rough, ragged, sore cuticles and nails) which are both from Red Carpet Manicure nail treatment line.

    I really liked the fact that the balm came in a small glass jar, it gave the product a high quality feel to it. The balm, which had a slightly citrusy scent to it, was quite soft and melted quickly when applied to the skin and left a very slight dewy feel. It didn't at all feel overly greasy or oily.



    One thing I didn't like about the balm was that I had it back in its packaging on its side and when I went to use it the next day there was oil on the lid and around the threads of the jar. Due to the low melting temperature of the balm and having the heat on at home it caused the oil to melt and seep out. This is not a cuticle balm I'd carry around in my purse, especially during the summertime. That being said, the balm would be more suited to be used at home or at the office to ensure it stays upright at all times.

    Overall I enjoyed using this cuticle balm as an overnight treatment, since the first ingredient (sunflower oil) has such a low melting temperature it didn't take much for the balm to melt into the skin. It didn't leave my fingers feeling overly greasy. It is more pricier (suggested retail price of $15) compared to other brands out there on the market but a little bit goes a long way. There is 15ml of product in the jar so this will definitely last a long time.Here is a picture of my cuticles after a full week use of the balm on a nightly basis:



    Ingredient as listed on the box: Sunflower Oil, Palm Oil, Beeswax, Mineral Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Mango Seed Butter, Vitamin C Palmitate, Fragrance, Shea Butter, Antioxidant, Vitamin E Acetate, Orange Peel Wax, Vitamin F, Yellow 5, Water, Blue, Citrol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde, d-Limonene and Linalool 

    Red Carpet Manicure is available at Ulta, Ulta.com or Redcarpetmanicure.com in the U.S.
    For us Canadians Red Carpet Manicure products are available at: Rexall, Pharmaplus, London Drug, Lawtons, Pharmasave, Nailpolishcanada.com, Well.ca and Theshoppingchannel.com

    You can join in on the ongoing Red Carpet Manicure conversation on facebooktwitter, and Instagram. Don't forget to tag #rcmnailit in your posts!


    Until next time,

    Annie







    This products was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. Opinions reflected are my own with no influence from company

    Tuesday 2 February 2016

    wet n wild 1 Step Wonder Gel Polish Swatches - Part 1

    Last week Mir and I had the amazing opportunity to attend wet n wild 2016 preview event. We got to test some new products coming out this spring and learn more about this cruelty free company. We had a load of fun and left with a bunch of products we are looking forward to reviewing.

    I must admit I don't have too much experience with wet n wild beauty products, however I do own quite a few of their nail polishes. They're very modestly priced with a vast colour selection, my favourite line is their Mega Last polishes which offers creme polishes and more muted neutral tones. wet n wild's latest release is their 1 Step Wonder Gel Polish with 18 colourful shades to choose from. Here is some info on their site about this new line:

    THE FORMULA
    • New 1 Step WonderGel™ was developed using the same technology that’s used in dental veneers for durability and shine.
    • This formula delivers the color and shine of a true UV cured gel polish, without the need for a special UV light.
    • It cures with the regular ambient light from overhead lighting or sunlight.
    • Because it is a true gel formula, the formula is light sensitive and requires an opaque bottle.
    THE RESULTS
    • Color and shine last for up to 2 weeks! 
    • Results are achieved in just one easy step. 
    • No top coat or base coat required! No harsh removal! Removes with regular nail polish.

    I have 7 shades out of the 18 to share with you all today. No top coat was used in any of the swatches






    More detailed descriptions and pictures ahead




    Condensed Milk
    An off white creamy beige polish, it was slightly streaky so I had to use 3 coats for full opacity. I tend to gravitate towards these milky whites in the summer when I have a slight tan.





    Pale in Comparison

    The pink sister of condensed milk, off white with a hint of pink. This was streaky as well so I needed 3 careful coats for opacity. Again, I feel that this shade would look lovely against a summertime tan.




    Stay Classy
    A soft mauve creme. This shade had an awesome formula, only 1 thick coat was needed. One of my favs from the collection. Reminded me of Essie Ladylike or Demure Vixen




    All That Jazzy
    A silvery gold metallic polish, a little more care is needed with the application of this polish as the brush stroke can be seen when dried. 2 coats were needed for full opacity but you can get away with 1 coat for a softer gold. I liked this colour more than I thought I would!




    Pretty Peas
    A mint green that I feel leans more to a light turquoise depending on the lighting. Like most pastels, I needed 2-3 coats to fully cover the patchiness. The extra work is worth it because this colour is beautiful and perfect for spring/summer.




    Peri-Wink-Le of An Eye
    Another one coater! 1 thick coat of this periwinkle beauty was all I needed, very impressed with this one as well. A good dupe for this shade is China Glaze Secret Periwinkle.





    Cyantific Method
    2 coats were needed for this vibrant blue. A good dupe is OPI No Room For The Blues.




    The standouts of mine from these 7 shades were Condensed Milk and All That Jazzy for their colour and Peri-Wink-Le of An Eye for the formula. None of the shades were totally unique from any other collections I've seen but there are good basics shades in this collection plus I found that the polishes dried very shiny and no top coat was needed.

    I can't speak for the 2 week wearability claim these polishes have because I change my polish every couple of days, but I can however note that I was about to easily remove the polish with both acetone and acetone free and I am happy to add that none of the polishes stained my nails.

    wet n wild’s 1-Step Wonder Gel is chip resistant and 3-
    Free with no Formaldehyde, Toluene and Phthalates, they are available at major food, drug and mass retailers beginning January 2016.

    I usually don't like to post any pictures of myself but this selfie Mir and I snapped at the event was too cute not to share plus in case any of you were curious about what we look like, now you know ;)




    Stay tuned for next time when I have 7 more swatches from Wonder Gel collection to share.


    Annie





    *Press Sample*