Beauty - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy November 14, 2014

Moms and Tots Event with Miracle 10 Boutique – Glam Pampering and Cookie Decorating!

What are you doing Tuesday December 2nd? Well, reschedule because I have awesome plans for you!

Miracle 10 Boutique in Yorkville is hosting a fun event from 1-5pm that day for moms and tots, or just ladies who have some free time that day.

While there you can indulge in:

Sparkling beverages & cupcakes
Swag bag worth $200 (retail value)*
A complimentary skincare consultation
Miracle 10 express facials
A makeover from professional Dior artists
20% off skincare and skin rejuvenation treatments
*RSVP before November 26th to receive the amazing gift bag ($200 value)

Yes that’s right, you can have a makeover by a professional Dior makeup artist!

There will also be a Kids Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop to keep the little ones busy!

The decorating activities are recommended for children who are 18 months to 7 years old, and there is limited space available so you must RSVP.

RSVP for yourself, your little one(s) and 2 more moms or moms-to-be and the three of you will receive SPF 30 Face ($38 value).

You can visit the event on Facebook here, and

Call 416-928-9494 to RSVP for yourself, to let them know how many children you are bringing, or if you are bringing a friend. You can also RSVP via email by contacting Asia@miracle10.com.

Miracle 10 Boutique is located at 67 Scollard St, Yorkville
(across from the new Four Seasons Hotel)

Roxymandy October 13, 2014

Easy Braided Hair Tutorials

Usually around this time of year I tone my hair colour down to something warmer, I start to use more product because I’m noticing it’s getting full of static, and I’m feeling a little bored with my style in general. I usually keep my hair long, so something drastic like cutting it is out of the question, but if feel like I need to do so something more for my everyday style. I think because summer hair is so simple for me is why in the fall I start to feel this boredom – in the summer my everyday hair is either straight, in beachy waves, or tied up tight on top of my head when it’s hot outside.

I love to experiment with braids, and I’ve included some of my favourites below!

Although it would be lovely to have as much gorgeous hair as this girl has, this side braid would also look great for anyone with a medium length hair and longer! Wonder Forest includes photos and instructions on how to achieve this braid at the link below.

Bohemian Side Braid

I love a good top knot when I just don’t feel like dealing doing my hair. For some reason I feel like the higher my knot is, the dressier it is! My new go-to has been this messy knotted bun with a braided band. It just looks a bit more romantic for fall with a cozy sweater!

Messy Knotted Bun with Braided Band

The crown braid is the hardest for me for some reason. The steps don’t look very complicated, but if feel like it all ends up looking like a mess in the end. Event when messy, it still looks pretty cool. Hopefully you have better luck!

Blushing Basics Crown Braid

Twist Me Pretty has an awesome step-by-step guide to doing a celtic knot. This one took me lots of tries, and I had to look at the photos over and over. Once I was done I was pretty impressed with myself.

Celtic Knot

Every week I use a headband braid just because it’s such an easy way to wear your hair down but look like you tried to put some effort into it. Missy Sue explains four different ways to master a different version of the headband braid at the link below.

Headband Braids

Roxymandy October 8, 2014

Review of Olay’s Total Effects Tone Correcting Moisturizer CC Cream

I am totally lost when it comes to understanding the difference between CC creams, BB creams, and the latest release – DD creams. What does it all mean?!

Here is what I found out:

BB creams (beauty balms) provide facial coverage with added skin care benefits such as SPF or anti-oxidants, depending on what brand you choose. They are usually heavier and focus on moisturizing.

CC Creams are more for colour correcting so the products are meant to address issues like redness and evening out skin tones. They are normally tinted, light weight, and fast absorbing.

DD creams are for daily defence, and they are like a CC and BB cream hybrid.

I’ve started to try a few out to see what all the rage is. For the last couple months I have been using Olay’s CC Cream – Total Effects Tone Correcting Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF.

What a name, right? I have been using the light to medium shade.

It combines a daily anti-aging moisturizer, SPF 15 sunscreen and sheer tint for younger-looking skin.

Like other Olay Total Effects products, it advertises that it fights the seven signs of aging which are :

Line minimization: Reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles
Nourishing moisturization: For a radiant, healthy-looking glow
Subtle lifting: Hydrates for firmer skin appearance
Brightening: Improves skin surface dullness
Improved texture: Smoothes and evens skin texture
Pore refinement: Minimizes the appearance of pores
Tone enhancement: Balances color and reduces the appearance of age spots

I first started using this cream under my makeup. This did not work for me! I liked the cream a lot because it was lightweight, but I thought it was too heavy to use with foundation. I felt my makeup slide off later in the day – my face was getting a little oily.

Finally I found the perfect use for it – make up free days. At the beach was the best – I would put on my SPF, then add the CC cream for added SPF and to even out my skin tone. It worked great!

At this time of year I’m using it on the weekend when running errands and I don’t need a full face of makeup. It’s a great moisturizer too.

I think it was too much when layering under makeup, but on it’s own it’s awesome. Under my SPF was great as well, but that sunscreen is my favourite because it absorbs so quickly.

I’m not sure if I’m fighting those seven signs of aging with it, but out of the seven it has been brightening my skin when I wear it, moisturizing, and minimizing my facial lines (at least hiding them) when I’m wearing it. I don’t think it’s fixing those seven signs of aging since I’m not wearing it every day to see results and have it work it’s magic, but it’s certainly working to cover them up!

Roxymandy October 2, 2014

YVES SAINT LAURENT Creme De Blush Review

This week I tried out YSL’s Creme De Blush. This will be the most expensive blush you ever buy I’m pretty sure. Well, that’s if my review entices you to buy it! I received it free in a swag bag, but it retails for $52.00 CDN. So it’s a little pricey, but I did really like it.

I’d never tried a cream blush before this one. They sound messy, right? Well it didn’t end up being as bad as I thought.

When I saw the colour (Rouge Passion) I thought it was way too red! I don’t usually wear anything red so I was sure I would just give it away. Even on when I first applied it I though it looked way too red. I tried blending it in and it smoothed into this perfect flush colour. I was actually pretty shocked – it looked awesome. I looked so healthy all of a sudden!

The texture is very silky but sets matte. It didn’t upset the makeup I had already put on at all which was great as well.

I was totally in love with the colour, but I noticed around lunch time it had disappeared. It’s definitely something you need to re-apply throughout the day as I found it had a shelf life of a few hours. I don’t usually carry blush around with me, so that would be something to adjust to.

The blush didn’t leave my skin oily at all (which I am prone too), and it was hard to believe how great it blended into a natural look. It didn’t settle into my pores, and it just sort of floated on top of my makeup.

There is a bit of mess since you need to apply it with your fingers, so on-the-go could be a bit tough unless you can make it to a bathroom to wash your hands. They suggest you use your fingertips for the application, but I suppose you could use a small brush. But on-the-go with a brush? That would be dedication!

The good news is that this stuff would probably last a lifetime. You need so little that I can’t imagine this thing emptying for at least a year!

The blush container itself is pretty luxe. It’s so pretty it doesn’t feel like it should be hidden in a makeup bag.

Would I buy this product? Maybe! I really do like it, but the cost of it would really hurt my wallet. Blush isn’t exactly an essential for me so I’m not sure I would splurge. But if I had some unaccounted for funds, I would go for it!

Roxymandy September 23, 2014

My Beach Vacation Essentials

When I’m packing for a trip, the most important thing is to have room for my shoes. Packing space is tight, so I’d much rather leave behind a moisturizer than cute sandals. Priorities, right? Anytime I get a great travel size product I throw it into a special basket, and I shop my stash before I leave on vacation.

There are a few things I make sure I have purchased before I go away, and the rest I use for the first time on my trip.

I didn’t bring a lot with me this time around in the cosmetics department since I needed even more room for trucks, diapers, beach pails and buckets than usual since our son was coming with us. What I did bring really ended up being all I needed. Here is my roundup of what my essentials included!

If you read the blog, you know I was just raving about Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day. I HAD to bring this on vacation, because I was heading to Turks and Caicos where the humidity was out if this world. Usually I can judge how humid things really are by the amount my hair is curling. Although some days I couldn’t help but have a little wave, overall I was pretty happy with my island hair in those soaring temperatures thanks to my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day.

Not only is my favourite Essie nail polish colour Ballet Slippers, but it was the perfect shade to use while I was away since I was bound to be chipping and cracking my nail polish throughout the week. It’s the worst to have a bright blue or orange polish on, and then have a chip that stands out (think Britney Spears photos – TMZ always seems to be pointing out her inability to have perfectly polished nails!). This polish got me through 7 days of minimal embarrassment before I made a spa appointment to have things fixed up! Plus it’s a colour that goes with everything, so you can’t lose.

I totally steal my kids sunscreen. This stuff is awesome! I use his Aveeno Baby Sunscreen (SPF 55) on my face, and anywhere else I can reach. Using it on my face doesn’t make me break out which is great, plus I didn’t get a sunburn all week. It’s got a great scent too!

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream was great for my vacation. It’s tinted so it evened out my skin tone slightly when I arrived with very pale and uneven skin, and it didn’t come off on my clothing at all because it dried quickly. I thought it had a great scent (sort of beachy) and had a bit of shimmer which was nice for my vacation. It definitely did it’s job when it came to moisturizing, but I don’t think it actually firmed or corrected my skin in any way as it claims to do. It really did bring moisture back to my skin after days in the ocean and on the beach, but I don’t think I would use it to solve any of my skin issues.

I don’t go anywhere without my Green Beaver Boreal Lip Balm. I usually carry two with me because I would literally wither away and die without my lip gloss. I have a lot of allergies so I can only use certain products on my lips, and this one is gluten free and has no scary ingredients. Unfortunately I have a reaction to any lip glosses or balms with SPF, so this may not be the best lip balm for you on the beach. SPF is obviously the way to go, but for me it’s not an option on my lips. This stuff is hard to find so I usually purchase it on Well.ca or at GreenBeaver.com. I didn’t get a burn on my lips all week, but I have to admit it may have had something to do the the copious amount I was applying to my lips!

I thought about writing a totally separate post about trying Makeup Forever’s Smoky Extravagant Mascara. I really loved this one, and I am still using it! The brush is hard to get used to because it starts skinny and ends very plump, but once you get the hang of it it lengthens your lashes like crazy! It doesn’t plump them too much, but it really defines them and the mascara doesn’t flake off at all. It’s very easy to remove, and I didn’t even need to use my lash curler because the wand did the work for me. Big fan! Right now it’s taking over for my favourite Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara, which if you know me means this stuff is pretty awesome.