Dior Cool Wave Summer 2018 ~ Review + Swatches

It's been a long time since I fell in love with a makeup collection. The beauty community is saturated with new releases, and rarely are they overly awe inspiring. Obviously I buy into the hype, but I haven't felt any sort of way until Dior released their Glow Addict Collection for spring 2018 (review here). And then came the sneak peaks for their summer collection.

The heat of the sun and an indigo pool, the clash between hot and cold, sensuality fusing with the skin.

Dior's Cool Wave Collection encompasses the best of summer. Beautiful blues tease excitement of early summer dips in the pool, while the bronze hues are reminiscent of late summer drinks on a patio. This seasons 5 Couleurs Palettes features a pattern inspired by the ripple of a drop hitting the surface of the water.

Splashed with Cool Down, a harmonious combination of blues, the eyes show off a free, sun-drenched femininity. Turqoise, midnight-blue, pastel blue and denim tones blend easily together and offer a surprisingly natural contrast with the golden glow of summer skin.

5 Couleurs 367 Cool Down* ($73) is a real beauty! The top two shades are designed for day looks, while the bottom two are reserved for more intense, or evening, looks. Like all 5 Couleurs, the shadow formula is pigmented, long wearing and versatile. To amp up the pigment, I like to apply it wet, over primer. It's important to note that the top right shade is sheer and is more of a highlighter shade. This palette is surprisingly wearable and so different from what we've seen in eyeshadow palettes lately. If you like blue, then you will love this!

On the other side, the sun shines bright on Heat Up, the palette of luminous brown, coral and nude shades.

5 Couleurs 597 Heat Up is a warm toned, summer dream come true! This gorgeous palette is everything - and then some! The shades suit my fair skin now and they will look even better once I get my faux tan on. The shadows are super buttery and the looks I can get out of it are pure love 😍

Diorshow Cooling Stick* ($41) is a splash on the eyes. This waterproof eyeshadow is available in three shades (001 Bronze Wave, 002 Gold Splash and 003 Fresh Pink) and can be used as a liner or allover shadow.

It's hard to describe the feel of this shadow. It's creamy but not so creamy that you couldn't use it as a liner. When applied there is an instant feeling of freshness and coolness - perfect for my tired eyes! I reach for this when I'm low on time and want a simple but beautiful eye look. Freshness aside, the best feature of Diorshow Cooling Stick is how well and long it wears for - I can get a whole days wear without primer! And when it's time to remove, a simple swipe with eye makeup remover is all it takes.

A concentrate of Dior and a palette in summer shades. Standing out from the crowd thanks to its hydra-gel core, Dior Addict Lipstick embraces an epicurean season with essential colours: an effervescent orange, a bronze nude, a sensual coral a graceful pink, a dizzying fuchsia and a blue-toned shimmery shade.

Dior Addict Lipstick in 040 White Splash* ($44)   is such a fun lipstick! It offers the shine of a gloss with the comfort and feel of a lipstick. The blue undertones make my teeth appear whiter and it clashes delightfully with my faux tanned skin. Plus it's super pretty to look at!

Dior's Lip Maximizer* ($42) has been my go to lip plumper for years. It shines like a gloss and fills in my lip lines causing my lips to appear smoother. This is what gives off the appearance of a youthful pout. The Cool Wave collection sees the Lip Maximizer we know and love get an icy blue makeover! Don't worry though - it doesn't look blue on the lips. Sure, it has a slight blue tone when applied, just enough to make my teeth look whiter, but not enough to make my lips look blue. If you want a non-sticky, glossy lip that looks full (sans the burning feeling) then you need to try Dior's Lip Maximizer.

A tattoo finish lip ink with a no-transfer and an extreme 10 hour hold. Highlighting the lips natural colour, Dior Lip Tattoo brings out a luminous smile.

Dior Addict Lip Tattoo* ($37) has been a favourite of mine, so naturally I got excited when I learned that they were adding some summer exclusives. Just like the original, Dior's Lip Tattoo provides a beautiful tint that doesn't dry out my lips. 571 Cranberry is a stunning rosewood shade that looks and smells delightful. Lip Tattoo has a very watery feel to it that just feels good - especially on a hot summer day. I'm all about no-fuss, comfortable lippies these days and I love stains for their ease of use. I definitely don't get 10 hours wear out of these, closer to 5 or 6, but that's totally fine by me!

"For a summer synonymous with playfulness and freedom, I wanted to come out with a collection of bright nail colours that women can use to express their creativity and personality." - Peter Philips

Enriched with a pearly shimmer that catches the sunlight, sexy like a bikini and fun like a pop song. Dior Vernis ($34) rounds out the Cool Wave collection exquisitely. I was able to get my hands on 404 Splash from Beauty Boutique and I am so glad it did - this shade is stunning!

I am so smitten with Dior's Cool Wave Collection and I'm trying so hard not to buy the whole damn thing. If you like what you see, then you need to run (not walk) before it's gone for good.

You can find Dior's Cool Wave Collection in store and online at thebay.com , Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyboutique.com and at Dior counters nationwide.

*This post features a mix of pr samples and products purchased by me. PR samples are marked with an asterisk. As always, all opinions are my own.

Givenchy's Couture Edition 2018

If you're looking to feast your eyes on some limited edition luxury, you've come to the right place. Behold Givenchy's Couture Edition!

This gorgeous duo is available for a short time only, so if you like what you see, I highly recommend you grab it while you can.

Givenchy has taken two of its most popular items and adorned them with LE packaging. This year, we see a vibrant floral pattern on a beautiful black background. Le Rouge Lipstick is a favourite of mine and I'm obsessed with floral patterns, so this is a match made in heaven for me.

This year's couture edition sees Le Rouge in shade N315 Framboise ($48.50) as the LE lipstick. The case is wrapped in genuine, printed leather and it can be used with other Le Rouge Lipstick, should you want to switch it up (or if you finish the lipstick but want to reuse the cap). This beautiful berry shade would look great on a wide variety of skin tones and can be worn throughout the seasons. It truly is luxury at its finest!

I'm a huge fan of Le Rouge Lipstick for so many reasons. It's very pigmented, comfortable and long wearing. Honestly, I'm sort of over liquid lips and have been reaching for comfortable lippies like this instead.

The second Couture Edition item is Prisme Libre Loose Powder in the shade N01 Mouseline Pastel ($75). This colour-correcting setting powder provides a matte yet radiant finish, while helping to camouflage slight imperfections. The shades are housed separately but combine into one when shaken.

I'm a huge fan of Prisme Libre Loose Powder, but I'd be lying if I said that I'm slightly disappointed that they chose this shade as their Couture Edition. Only because Givenchy chose the same shade for their LE Lunar New Year collection. As they say variety is the spice of life, so it would have been nice to see a different shade offered. But it's not like I won't use it so I'm not mad about it 💁

This collection is so pretty, I highly recommend you check it out. You can find Givenchy's Couture Edition in store and online at sephora.com

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

New in Dior ~ Hydra Life

Skincare is sooooo important, especially when you have less than ideal skin. I've had my fair share of skin issues and unfortunately that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I didn't take care of my skin.

Thanks to a long winter, my skin is incredibly dehydrated. It got bad. Really bad. I started using Dior's Capture Youth Line (you can find my review here) and it started to improve but my skin needed just a bit more hydration. I was kindly gifted some new items from Dior's Hydra Life line and I thought I would share my first impressions.

"Even More NATURE

83% natural ingredients, new (at Dior) floral active ingredients

Formulas purified of parabens, containing even less silicone"

The Dior Hydra Life routine is a minimalist dream. With only 3 steps, it's simple and very effective. What I love the most about this range is how gentle it is on my skin. I've come to realize that I have sensitive skin, and I loathe the redness I get when my skin gets angry. I've learned that in order to properly care for my skin, I need gentle products with lots of hydrating properties.

The first step in the Hydra Life routine is prep using the Life 2-in-1 Sorbet Water (175ml, $52 CAD). I haven't personally used this, so I can't comment on its efficacy. I do know that it's used after cleansing to hydrate and balance the skin. AKA toner.

After prepping the skin, it's time to hydrate with Life Intense Sorbet Rich Crème (50ml, $82).  The two star ingredients of this crème are Mallow Butter and Chamomile. Mallow Butter nourishes and strengthens the skin barrier to keep water in cells while Chamomile helps to calm irritation. It can be applied daily or as a night mask during times of high sensitivity (changing seasons, stress, etc). This cream is great for dehydrated skin to soothe, soften and strengthen. It's like a tall drink of water for your skin!

Life Intense Sorbet Rich Crème is a delightful shade of baby blue that has a very fun texture. It feels exactly as you would expect it to; creamy yet light and reminiscent of sorbet. When initially applied it feels cooling and very refreshing. With the sorbet crème texture I was expecting it to sit on my face but it didn't, it sank right in. My skin feels instantly hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. The feeling of hydration is long lasting too. This is going to be my fall-winter cream.

The final step is to awaken the look with Life Sorbet Eye Gel (15ml, $70 CAD). This eye gel has 3 star ingredients - Cornflower Water to decongest puffiness, Micronized Mineral Powders to illuminate and correct dark circles and Abyssinica Oil to nourish, protect and strengthen lashes and eyebrows. The Sorbet Eye Gel also has a ceramic applicator to give an ice cube effect.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; eye care is important! I started using eye cream in my very early 20's and it shows. When it comes to eye cream I'm picky. It has to be hydrating but not so much that it causes an excess of milia and it has to be gentle. Life Sorbet Eye Gel fits the bill and then some.

Out of all the 'cooling' applicators I've tried (and I've tried many) this one takes the cake! The ceramic tip is so cold and refreshing setting the stage perfectly for the eye gel, which is equally as cool and refreshing. I've been into lymphatic massage lately and this applicator makes it easy plus it feels so good. 

No skincare routine is complete without makeup removal. There are two new cleansers; Life Micellar Milk No Rinse Cleanser (200ml, $49 CAD) and Life Triple Impact Makeup Remover (125ml, $42 CAD). I have been using the Triple Impact Makeup Remover, a bi-phase solution that removes heavier makeup on sensitive areas of the skin. The key ingredients in this makeup remover are Lily Extract to make the lashes appear more beautiful and a licorice-based ingredient to soothe the eye contour.

Life Triple Impact Makeup Remover is an effective eye makeup remover, but it's no different than any other. It removes regular eye makeup easily, but I still find myself having to wipe and wipe and wipe away waterproof mascara. I will say that it leaves my skin and lashes feeling super soft, but I can't justify the price tag. I like it, but I don't see myself purchasing it in the future.

You can find Dior's Hydra Life in store and online at sephora.ca, at Hudson's Bay and thebay.com and at Dior counters nationwide.

*press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quads ~ Review + Swatches

It's wet n wild Wednesday, so today I'm sharing a short and sweet post about the newly reformulated Color Icon Eyeshadow Quads.

Wet n wild (somewhat) recently improved their eyeshadow by upping the ante on the pigment. In all honesty, I never tried the old formula, so I can't personally compare it. From what I've heard and read, it's apparently an improvement. These quads feature a transition shade, brow shade, eyelid shade and a crease shade. Long story short, they're complementary shades meant to be worn together.

There are 6 wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quads available and I'm going to share my thoughts on the 4 that I was gifted. These quads are very similar in the fact that the mattes and the light shimmer shades need to be built up. They're all pretty blendable, and wear for most of the day when worn on top of primer. I always wear these with a base or primer because I find that they lack that wow factor without it.

Silent Treatment 337 is a neutral quad that is great for day looks, although you could certainly smoke it out for night looks. This is probably the most universally flattering of the 4 I have.

Walking On Eggshells 340B is by far my favourite of the four. This quad features warm nudes that would suit a variety of skintones. I'm particularly fond of the crease and eyelid shades, often wearing them solo on my lids. I love the romantic vibes this quad gives me, and I can totally see myself reaching for it year round.

Hooked On Vinyl 343B was the first quad that caught my eye and I was so excited to use it. Until I did. The warm orangy tones are gorgeous, but I just can't with the green crease shade. I like it, but not with the other shades in the palette. It's too deep, dark and intense to be worn with such soft shades. These are supposed to be complete quads, and this one isn't (for me). That's just my personal opinion.

Petalette 344B was another miss for me. This quad features some seriously pretty pink and mauve shades, but I just don't suit cool toned mauves. The transition shade shows up like a bruise on me and the brow bone shade lacks pigment. The eyelid shade is ok, and I can see myself wearing it with other shadows from my collection.


Quality wise, these quads are decent enough and the price is more than affordable. I'm not crazy about the colour combos on some of them, but that's just personal preference.  I prefer wet n wild's 10 pan palettes (review on those here) but these are still pretty good.

You can find these products in store at Rexall, online at well.ca and wetnwildbeauty.com

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment ~ Review

Disclaimer: I received this product free for review, but all opinions are my own!

Acne has been a hot topic on this blog since the beginning. What causes it, how to prevent it and what to treat it are often discussed here. If you've been following me for a while, you may recall my post on Neutrogena's Light Therapy Acne Mask last year (you can find that post here ). In short (and seriously over simplified), it's a chemical free mask to treat and prevent acne. I'm quite fond of it, but sometimes I only have a single pimple and don't want to pull out the whole mask. Sometimes I want to spot treat. And now I can, with Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment.

Neutrogena recently released the Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment and it combines what I liked about the original Light Therapy Acne Mask (chemical free, easy to use, etc.) with some new improvements. One of the things that I didn't like about the original was that you needed to replace the cartridges and the batteries after 30 sessions. With this, all you need to do is replace is the battery once it dies (FYI it only takes 1 AAA battery). Not only is it less of a hassle, it's less of a burden on the environment.

Neutrogena's Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment is really easy to use. Simply wash and dry your face as usual, place over the pimple you want to treat and turn it on. Once you hear the beep, the device is now on and will run for 2 minutes. You should treat the pimple 3x a day til it's gone. The red and blue light delivers a targeted dose of acne-killing light directly into the source of the breakout.

I personally prefer this over the original Light Therapy Acne Mask because it's portable, less wasteful and easier to store. Plus when my skin has broken out lately, it has been localized, so this is a much better fit.

If you suffer from light to moderate breakouts, this is for you. If you have wider spread breakouts, then you may want to check out the Light Therapy Acne Mask.

You can find Neutrogena's Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment at Shoppers Drug Mart.

*powered by brandbacker

Plume Nourish and Define Brow Pomade ~ Review + Swatches

Brows, you either have them or you don't. I fall into the latter category so I'm constantly filling them in. I've tried them all: pencil, powder, mascara and pomade. Each serve their own purpose and I reach for different products depending on what kind of look I'm going for.

I was recently sent some new (to me) brow pomades from Plume to test out, and after putting them to the test for the past few weeks, I'm ready to share my thoughts! Plume Nourish and Define Brow Pomade ($38) is available in 5 shades. I'll be sharing my thoughts on Ashy Daybreak (Taupe) and Chestnut Decadence (Medium Brown). Both shades performed the same in both application and wear time. Before I get into that, let's talk a little bit about the product. It's quite different!

Plume Nourish and Define Brow Pomade is infused with Plume's award winning Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum. It's 100% natural, paraben free, vegan and cruelty free. It's also gentle on sensitive skin. Nourish and Define Brow Pomade claims to help build brow density with continued use, while temporarily helping to fill in, sculpt and enhance brows.

Plume includes a dual ended brush with this pomade and I'm so thrilled that they did! You can never have too many brow brushes (especially when you use pomade) so it's always a welcome surprise when they're included. This brush is great quality and has a spoolie in one end and an angled brush in the other. I like to brush my brows before applying the pomade with the angled side, then I blend it in with the spoolie.

Texture wise this pomade is very soft and creamy - almost too soft. I find that it applies pretty thin and although the pigment is decent, it gets lost in bare spots. Where I have hairs, it looks great! Where my hair is sparse, it doesn't. I need to layer up to compensate or fill in with a pencil. It's not really a deal breaker for me though. I appreciate that it doesn't look crazy fake and drawn on, a look I'm not personally fond of.

The only real issue I have with this pomade is that Plume claims that it's smudge-proof and it certainly is not. It doesn't fully dry and set so if you touch it, it will smudge. I have tried setting it with powder and although it helps, it doesn't prevent it from happening altogether. When I wear this I cannot touch my brows. Not a huge deal, but still.

I haven't seen any new brow growth yet, but I'm not super consistent with my use of it. If I notice any drastic changes I will be sure to update my post 😉

You can find this and other Plume products at Murale and https://www.beautyboutique.ca

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.