I’ve always wanted to try Vitamin C capsules because I have heard they do amazing things for your skin! NeoStrata was giving away lots of their skincare essentials at Fashion Week in Toronto last month, and as soon as I saw the capsules I was excited and pretty much pounced on the NeoStrata representative.

Previously I used an amazing NeoStrata cream as part of my skincare regimin even, so I wasn’t hesitant about using one of their products.

The NeoStrata Vitamin C Concentrate capsules are to be used twice a day, and they are easy to twist open. Once the top is twisted off, the Vitamin C serum rushes out immediately so you have to be careful!

There is no smell to the serum at all, but the way it feels on your face is crazy! It almost feels like applying a primer, but it’s smoother than that. Once you smooth it over your face and neck it feels like you have covered your face in a mask. It feels exactly as soft as I would want my face to feel. It would take about 20 minutes before it felt like the Vitamin C sunk in. Each capsule contains 10% Vitamin C, so it’s a good place to start with since capsules can contain up to 20%. It’s very easy to irritate your skin with Vitamin C as well so you have to be careful!

It’s also important to use the capsule immediately after opening it because Vitamin C can degrade quickly when it is exposed to light or air.

The capsules are for all skin types, and recommended for ages 30+ to repair loss of raidience, and to promote skin clarity and elasticity.

After using them for a week I didn’t see any major results, but I am definitely buying more capsules. I just loved the way it felt on my skin, and I didn’t feel like I needed to add a night or morning cream with it because my skin felt moisturized. The only issue I found was that I needed time to let it soak into my skin, and that is hard if you are pressed for time in the morning.

Overall it felt like a bit of luxury for my face, and that’s not a bad thing!

For more information on NeoStrata’s Vitamin C Concentrate, click here.

I truly didn’t think I would like this product. I am obsessed with smelling good. To the point that I wear layers upon layers of scents. I have different scented lotions for my feet, hands and body. Next I layer a body spray on top, and then a perfume. The kicker is deodorant. I obsessively re-apply deodorant every day. I carry around a stick with me so I can put more on throughout the day because I have some strange fear that I am not going to smell good.

Now that you think I am totally insane, you get an idea of how important smelling good is to me. When it comes to deodorant I have tried EVERY kind and have only found one that really seems to work for me.

At Fashion Week in Toronto a couple weeks ago, Dove was lovely enough to give away free samples of their new Dry Spray Antiperspirant. I took one look at it and started to think about who I could give it to. I was so sure it wouldn’t work for me that I would give it to someone else who could give it a try.

I somehow ended up with three bottles (ok I know how I ended up with three, I acted like I didn’t have a sample three times!), and I decided to give one a whirl.

The can said to shake well, and then spray 15 cm away from the armpit. The first thing that hit me was the smell! It smelled really good! After spraying it on my armpits were instantly dry so I could put my clothes on witout worrying about drying time, or white marks on my clothing. When it was time to go out I packed the dry spray and my regular deodorant in my purse and went on with my day.

Two hours later I did the smell test. Casually I checked my armpits and I still smelled the spray, and I still smelled good! A fluke? I was sure it was because I tend to sweat, so I checked again soon after. I still didn’t smell bad. How was this possible? I always needed to re-apply deodorant after a few hours – I had been doing this since I was 16, so this was hard for me to accept. I know, I seem dramatic at this point of the post, but as I mentioned I take smelling good very seriously!

I made it to the end of the day without another application of the dry spray, or deodorant. The whole thing seemed like a minor beauty product miracle.

The spray went on dry, smelled really good, lasted all day, and didn’t leave any white spots on my clothes under my underarms. I couldn’t believe how well it worked.

Now I am left hoarding three awesome bottles of Dove’s Dry Spray Antiperspirant all to myself, and a nagging habit of thinking I need to apply more deodorant every couple of hours which I keep trying to shake off because those days are over.

Amazing product – I can’t say enough about it!

For more information on Dove’s Dry Spray Antiperspirant, visit their website here.

I wrote a few weeks ago about my visit to the Miracle 10 boutique, and that I would be trying out their skincare line to see what sort of results I would see.

Please note there will be some “interesting” photos of myself – without makeup! I don’t usually like posting photo’s without makeup, but I thought it would be important to show you before and after shots of my skin after using these products.

After leaving the Miracle 10 boutique, I was excited to try this skincare line out. I had never used so many products as part of my daily routine before, but I was determined to give the line a chance by following all of the “rules” of usage.

Luckily everything came with a personalized two-page cheat sheet with details as to how and when I would apply each product. Having details written down tailored towards my new skincare regimen was so important! I had an easy reference sheet to look back to so I knew what I should be doing in case I forgot.

I would start each evening by cleansing my face with the Miracle 10 Cleanser. I learned that a fresh towel should be used to pat the face dry – using the same towel every day could transfer bacteria to my skin, and rubbing my face could cause damage. Already I was learning new things!

The cleanser was very calming, and it didn’t dry out my skin at all. It contained Aloe and Vitamins C and E as well.

After the cleanser I would use the Miracle 10 Toner. I had never used a toner before in my life. This was to be dabbed on my face with a cotton ball each night.

It left my skin feeling very clean and hydrated. I had never used toner before so this step was very new to me. The toner contained Aloe and Witch Hazel extract.

Next up I was to apply the AHA Cream. This acted as an exfoliator as well. It made my skin tingle a little when applied.

Finally I would lather on the Miracle 10 Night Cream before bed. It seemed like a lot of steps for a girl who was lucky to wash her face before bed, but I followed the instructions religiously.

Mornings had a few different steps. I would cleanse my face again with the Miracle 10 Cleanser – you wouldn’t believe how much dirt I would still find on my face! I would use the Miracle 10 Toner again, and then the Miracle 10 Moisturizing Cream. It was a very light cream that easily went under my makeup.

The Miracle 10 system found it’s name from the pattern of results found with using the system. Results are often found after 10 hours, 10 days, and 10 months.

I couldn’t believe my skin after only one day. I vividly remember looking in the mirror before going out, thinking “Wow I look really awake today”. It was like I had some great color in my face, and I didn’t look as tired as usual. Then I remembered – I was using a new skincare line! I was off to a great start.

Here is my first before photo. It’s not pretty but it’s real!

Once I got into the regimen, every day it seemed easier to follow the steps. I knew what I had to do, and I was excited about all of the results I was seeing.

About a week in I had a slip up. I went on an overnight trip, and I brought my skincare system with me (thank goodness I had the Travel Kit!), but I forgot to bring it in from the car. In my extreme laziness, I just washed my face, put my old cream on and went to bed.

It felt like the cream just sat on top of my face and didn’t absorb. I just didn’t feel right. It was the last time I skipped my skincare plan.

So my new issue? I am slightly addicted to this stuff. My skin was previously very dull (I had no idea until I started using this skincare line what it could look like), and my issues with an oily T-Zone have basically disappeared. I have been wearing less makeup, and have even left the house makeup free which is something I would have never done before.

Here is me, makeup free after 10 days of using Miracle 10.

The thing I have noticed the most is how my face looks at the end of the day. Normally my makeup either seemed to slide off my face by the end of the day. I have found now that I am starting with a really clean palette so my makeup lasts longer, and it looks much better with bright and clear skin underneath it all!

In the end I have found I am slightly addicted to this skincare line, and I love the results I have found at only 10 hours, and 10 days later. I can only imagine how happy I will be at 10 weeks!

I truly recommend giving this line a try – it’s been working great for me!

For more details on Miracle 10, visit their website here.

sparkleshinylove readers can take advantage of an amazing promotion where you can save 20% off your first Miracle 10 order using the code “SSLOVE”. How awesome is that! Now you really have to try it! The code expires August 31st, 2015.