Look of the Day: Coral Blues

Hi, everyone! As a new mama, most days for me lately have been makeup-free or have allowed for ultra-quick and easy makeup looks. I don't really mind, as I've still been able to take care of my skin and baby does not care if my brows are on point! ;) That said, it's still a super treat when I have a few extra minutes to have a proper play with makeup and get to sport a fancy, colourful look. 

I'm a total sucker for warm, summery hues of orange, coral, and blue, so when I saw this video from Lisa Eldridge, I knew I had to re-create it! The makeup was all about bold, warm eyes, blue-green liner, peachy cheeks, brozned, glowing skin, and rich orange lips. The video actually contains two versions: a day look with nude-peach lips and a statement look with deeper matte lips. I opted for the latter! 

Lisa used the new Urban Decay Beached Palette for her version of the look. It's wonderfully summery and, since I don't own it, I delved into my stash to find some similar shades. I wanted to match Lisa's technique and application as best as I could, so here's my effort! 

I started with the Wet n' Wild Not a Basic Peach Colour Icon Eyeshadow Palette, as it's filled with rich, beautiful warm shades. I applied the two peachy orange shadows all over my lids, blended up to the crease. I applied the shimmery gold shade from the palette on my crease, blended into the peach, and the ivory shade from the palette under my brows. For extra intensity, I layered on Violet Voss Hashtag eye shadow (from the Holy Grail Palette) over the lids and along the lower lash line as well. To re-create the gorgeous turquoise-blue liner, I reached for a variety of products to get the intensity and colour gradient (lighter on the inner corners and darker, more blue on the outer corners) that Lisa had ended with. I tried the turquoise shadow from the Not a Basic Peach palette first, but this wasn't saturated enough. I then went for MAC Steamy Eye Shadow, a killer bold, frosty turquoise, and this worked wonderfully on the inner third of my upper and lower lash lines. For liner, I reached for Inglot Eyeliner FM in shade #527, a rich shimmery teal, applying this to the outer two thirds of my upper and lower lash lines. To complete the gradient I applied Artdeco All-in-One Liquid Liner in #15 Seaport on the outer third of my upper and lower lash lines, winging the navy colour up and out. I finished with a bright pop of seafoam green (from the Marc Jacobs The Siren palette) on the inner corners of my eyes.

Lisa used a gel bronzer blended with concealer for a warm, glowing complexion. I instead opted for a thin layer of Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation (it dries down matte, but has a natural glow) and buffed in a powder bronzer (NYX Matte Powder Bronzer) over top to recreate the glow. For the peachy cheeks I used a mix of Hourglass Incandescent Electra for some luminosity and MAC Cantaloupe blush to make the shade richer and more of a true peach. To highlight, I used the exact product that Lisa did- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Prosecco Pop, a full-on gold shimmer. 

Lisa used a gorgeous new product on her lips for her bold look, a matte powdery formula from By Terry. Until I'm able to snag that stunning shade, I chose a similarly-toned drugstore product for my look: Milani Colour Statement Lipstick in Sweet Nectar. 

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in Beige 10
Concealer: Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer Shade 02 Meringue 
Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Natural
Bronzer: NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium
Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra layered with MAC Powder Blush in Cantaloupe 
Highlighter: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Prosescco Pop 

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe and Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel
Primer: Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eye Shadow Base
Eye Shadow: Violet Voss Hashtag eye shadow (from the Holy Grail Palette) all over lid and along lower lash line) and Wet n' Wild Not a Basic Peach Colour Icon Eyeshadow Palette (orange shades on lid, golden shade blended into crease, ivory shade on brow bone and inner corners, turquoise shade along upper and lower lash lines), MAC Eye Shadow in Steamy (on inner third of top and lower lash lines), Marc Jacobs The Siren palette- mint green shade on inner corners of the eyes
Eyeliner: Inglot Eyeliner FM #527 (on upper and lower lash lines) and ArtDeco All in One Liquid Liner #15 Sea Port (on outer corners of eyes, winged out)
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real 

Lipstick: Milani Colour Statement Lipstick in Sweet Nectar  

                                                    And a few more shots of the look:

I'm so glad I got the opportunity to recreate this look from Lisa Eldridge that I loved so much. It was ultra fun and I imagine wearing something similar in the dead of winter when I need to channel some warmth.

Do you like shades of orange, coral, and blue for summertime? What's your go-to Summer look? Any online makeup looks that have inspired you lately?

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

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Sephora Surprise Sale Wishlist

Hi, everyone! I'm here just casually dropping my first blog post in four months- it's great to be back! If you're my pal or follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I've been on a break because of a big change in my life. I'm a new mama! I gave birth to our first child, Rowan Joan, on May 23rd. My hubby and I couldn't be happier. We're so smitten with her and are pleased to be sleeping decently three months in ;)

I promise to write more about baby and motherhood soon, but today's post is a fun little quickie in response to Sephora's Surprise Beauty Insider Appreciation Sale that has just begun. Sephora sales always create a frenzy, especially when they come at new and unexpected times! The sale has started already for those with VIB Rouge status, but if you're Rouge and have yet to make a purchase, or if you're VIB (like me) or BI and have to wait for next week, here is some inspiration. My actual haul will be pretty small (as mat leave brings with it a new, smaller budget), but a girl can dream, right!?

Makeup

New releases from Urban Decay always catch my attention and the Lo-Fi Lip Mousse ($28 CAD, here) is no exception. I swatched these in-store recently and loved that the shades were ultra vibrant but applied in such an easy, sheer-but-buildable way. I've been eyeing the shade Amplify, which is a deep red but, when applied in the sheer fashion intended for the product, it creates a pretty flush on the lips. 

Yes, I have way too many eye shadow palettes and manage to pass over the majority of new releases, but the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eye Shadow Palette ($55 CAD, here) is calling my name in a serious way. The mix of neutrals, purples, and pinks is super unique (I love purples and wear them far too rarely) and ABH palettes have never led me astray. 

Another vibrant beauty that's caught my attention is the Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Duo ($44 CAD, here) in Mimosa Sunrise/Sangria Sunset. It's a bold pair of tangerine and fuchsia shimmer that can be used to add glow to cheeks or eyes. Both of the shades are so incredibly stunning, I want to bathe in them! 

Next is another brand new offering from one of my favourite brands, the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eye Shadow ($38 CAD, here). I also swatched these in-store shortly after their release and I loved the shade range and the fact that they were so glimmery without being chunky or tacky in appearance or texture. All the colours are 

beautiful, but I'm especially wanting Aura, a luminous light pink. 

I must be in a bold rainbow-colour mood lately, because I am so wanting the new Violet Voss Flamingo PRO Eye Shadow Palette ($60 CAD, here). It includes a mix of vivid blues, greens, pinks, and oranges with a few neutrals mixed in. I couldn't be happier with the other Violet Voss palettes in my collection, so I have no doubt this will impress too. 

We all know I have a serious passion for green beauty and I've been trying to add more natural products to my makeup stash lately. Atop my wishlist is the new Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation ($69 CAD, here). I sampled it recently and it is truly top-notch; it's full of skin-loving ingredients and gives the most beautiful dewy glow while wearing true all day. It's great stuff! 

Skin Care

I love taking a good skin care quiz and the quiz on Sephora's website recently recommended the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum ($57 CAD, here). It's designed for sensitive skin (mine's been finicky recently) and is packed with beautiful ingredients like centella asiatica (also known as tiger grass), niacinamide, and lavender. I've yet to try anything from Dr. Jart+ so this could be a great place to start- it sounds like a good fit for my skin at the moment and I'd be lying if I denied being attracted to the name of it!  

In addition to being more sensitive lately, my skin has also resumed breaking out after months of clarity (one of the upsides of pregnancy for me). When I look for acne treatments, I try to find products that include salicylic acid while being totally gentle and the new  Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Serum ($59 CAD, here) seems to fit the bill! I haven't used any Caudalie products in some time, but I like the brand and am definitely curious about this. 

MAC is now being sold at Sephora? Crazy talk! I'm not sure why that seems so weird to me, but if it means I can buy MAC on sale, I won't grumble too much. I spritzed on the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Shimmer in Goldlite ($30 CAD, here) several times after it was released and I love how luminous it make my complexion look. I may just have to bite the bullet and buy one for myself rather than draining all of those testers dry ;)

New motherhood brings with it some short nights- all the more reason to invest in a good eye cream. Top of my radar is the Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream ($78 CAD, here), as it's packed full of vitamins and peptides, has a lovely mid-weight texture, and has packaging that's both cute and ultra-functional. 

Hope I could provide a bit of enabling inspiration! What did you get (or are planning to get) during this sale? 

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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Look of the Day: Spring Glow (ft. lots of Green Beauty faves!)

Hi, everyone! Spring has finally (finally!) sprung here in Toronto and I couldn't be happier that the chill is lifting and the skies are brightening. I've been wearing Spring-inspired makeup colours for a while now (you have to fake it till you make it), but now the cheery colours and glowy finishes feel less ironic and more at-one with the season. 

I've been a true green beauty addict and advocate for years now when it comes to skin care, but over the past year or so I've gathered a decent selection of all natural makeup as well. Makeup coming from the green beauty world is getting better and better, with performance now rivalling that of the conventional beauty brands that have dominated the market for years. It's super exciting to discover and wear makeup products that are great for your skin and the environment, but also blend effortlessly and wear all day long. So satisfying! 

Here's a peek at the green beauty makeup goodies I used for this look: 

For the complexion, I started by applying the Nude by Nature Flawless Concealer in Porcelain Beige under my eyes and around my nose. It's super creamy and applies great in these drier areas and gives a nice medium coverage. I then applied my all-time favourite mineral makeup, the Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 2. It gives amazing buildable medium coverage but never looks chalky or cakey. It's beautiful stuff! 

I am currently lacking powder and bronzer from the green beauty realm (shopping goals for the next few months), so I grabbed faves from Rimmel and NYX. For highlighter, I reached for my most-used cream formula, the Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer in Anthelion. It's a gorgeous gold with pink shimmer that applies like a dream but wears well for hours. For blush, I chose the Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Blossoming. It likewise has a dreamy, creamy texture but is super long wearing. And Blossoming really is the perfect cheery warm pink for Springtime! 

For the eyes, I started by smudging Nudestix Magnetic Eye Colour in Spirit, a shimmery taupe purple, all over my lids, blending up to the crease. Nudestix isn't typically lumped in with the green beauty world, but all of their products are fully vegan and cruelty-free, which is fantastic in my books. I also layered a bit of Rituel de Fille Anthelion over top for some extra glow. I'm also lacking a clean beauty mascara in my lineup, so reached for BeneFit They're Real, an all-time top fave of mine. I also used some green beauty faves for the brows- EcoBrow (a creamy tinted brow pomade) in shades Marilyn (a true blonde) and Sharon (a light brown). They're super easy to work with and truly stay put! 

For the lips, I wanted to chose a bold, vibrant shade to add a pop of Spring floral colour. I chose the amazing 100% Pure Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick in Hyacinthus, a vivid mid-tone purple. I blotted it down slightly, which gives the prettiest (and ultra long-wearing) stain to the lips. 

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 2
Concealer: Nude by Nature Flawless Concealer in 02 Porcelain Beige 
Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Natural
Bronzer: NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium
Blush: Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Blossoming
Highlighter: Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer in Anthelion

Brows: EcoBrow in Marilyn and Sharon
Primer: Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eye Shadow Base
Eye Shadow: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Colour in Spirit layered with Rituel de Fille Anthelion
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real

Lipstick: 100% Pure Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick in Hyacinthus 

                                                    And a few more shots of the look:

It was fun putting this look together- it reminded me of just how fun and effective my green beauty makeup items are. Plus, who doesn't love some dewy skin and purple lips!?!

What kinds of makeup shades are you loving for Spring? Do you have any favourite green beauty makeup brands or products?

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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Lipstick Recycling Success: Back-To-MAC

Hi, everyone! In the spirit of Earth Month, I thought I'd refresh your memory about a makeup recycling initiative that's good for the environment and your makeup bag: the MAC's Back-To-MAC program. All you need to do is collect 6 empties from the brand (which is pretty easy if you use foundation, powder, or any products you use regularly) and then trade them in store for a brand new lipstick. Easy peasy! 

I recently did an epic purge and reorganization of my lipstick collection (details in another post to come), which uncovered a few nearly finished, ultra old lipsticks. I combined these with a few other empty compacts and did a Back-to-MAC trade myself last week. 

As exciting as it is to realize you've stored enough empties for a trade, the next step can be daunting. What shade to choose? MAC's lipstick selection is famously vast, which is a blessing and a curse when you want to select a new one. It's always helpful to narrow things down to a specific colour family and this time around I wanted to find an everyday, versatile lipstick in the pinky-plummy-tawny-nude family. After peeking at multiple swatches online, I narrowed things down to four options: Creme in Your Coffee, Del Rio, Retro, and Twig. Each is a beautiful mid-tone neutral with various levels of brown, pink, and plum. Here they are, swatched:

After all the swatching, I ultimately chose... *drum roll*... Twig! I found it to be the best balance between pink, plum, and brown in that it was a true neutral but with a super flattering rosy undertone. MAC describes Twig as a "soft muted brownish pink", which I think is apt. It comes in the brand's Satin formula, which means it has a creamy and slightly luminous finish but with a medium to full colour payoff. 

Twig is one of the brand's most popular, iconic shades, so it comes in this extra colourful packaging (colourful for MAC, at least) that matches the shade inside. The lipstick itself comes in MAC's classic black bullet tube. Here's a closeup of Twig:

And a swatch of the lipstick on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

Twig in natural sunlight

Twig under artificial light

And wearing it in the context of a full makeup look:

I really love how wearable this shade is, yet it's not at all boring! It is far from your bare-lipped nude but is also miles from vampy, so it really can be worn with any kind of makeup look. It leans warm, but not overly, so I think it would be ultra flattering on a variety of skin tones. I wanted to choose a shade from this colour family so that I'd have something easy to swipe on during my maternity leave and I think Twig will be perfect to leave me looking polished with minimal effort. Plus, the creamy Satin texture feels great on the lips.

There really are few makeup programs as satisfying as Back-to-MAC. There is truly no losing in helping the environment while scoring a free product! It's the most glamorous form of recycling I know ;)

And for a hit of nostalgia, here are a few older posts about previous Back-to-MAC trades, including one from 2011. I've been blogging for 7 years now- holy moly! (Posts here, here, and here). 

Have you ever used the Back-to-MAC program? Do you own Twig or any similar lippies? Favourite MAC lipsticks at the moment?

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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Look of the Day: Spring Fresh Grunge

Hi, everyone! If you saw my last post you'll know that I recently swapped my Shoppers Optimum points for a selection of new Chanel makeup. I of course immediately put them to good use and I'm so loving all of it! I noticed that two of the products, the Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Pourpre Profond (the prettiest plummy rust brown) and Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner in Eros (a stunning cranberry), are perfect for a warm, reddish smokey eye while the other two items, the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush No.24 (a sheer apricot cream blush) and the Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation (which gives a sheer, subtle glow to the face) were totally perfect for a glowing Springtime effect. 

I love combinations that contrast, so today's look is one part smokey grunge and one part sheer, glowy Spring freshness. 

For the eyes, I applied the Ombre Premiere cream shadow in Pourpre Profond all over the lid, blending up towards the crease. I used the small, dense brush that came with the product and it created such a strong, pigmented effect! The pictures here make the product look a bit patchier and plummier than in real life. It really is a bold reddish brown in person!

To add further warmth and smoke to the look, I applied the Stylo Yeux Waterproof liner in Eros along the upper lash line and the outer third of the lower lash line, also smudging a bit of Pourpre Profond along the bottom as well. 

For the skin, I wanted to keep things sheer and glowy. I applied minimal powder over top of the Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation, dabbing the Les Beiges Sheer Colour Face Stick Blush no.24 on the apples of my cheeks, sweeping up to the temples. It blends and builds like a dream and looks so natural. I added some extra luminosity by applying Chanel Plisse Lumiere de Chanel (a gorgeous, unfortunately limited edition highlighter) on the high points of my face. 

On the lips, I first dabbed the blush stick for a subtle coral flush and amped the colour up slightly with Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Catherine, a creamy warm peach. 

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in B10
Concealer: Nude by Nature Flawless Concealer in 02 Porcelain Beige 
Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Natural
Bronzer: NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium
Blush: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush No. 24
Highlighter: Chanel Plisse Lumiere de Chanel 

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe and Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel
Primer: Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eye Shadow Base
Eye Shadow: Chanel Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Pourpre Profond (all over lids, blended up to crease) and The Body Shop Colour Crush Eyeshadow in Oh, Honey (on brow bones and inner corners)
Eyeliner: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros
Mascara: Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara 

Lipstick: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush No. 24 layered with Chanel Rouge Coco in Catherine 

                                                    And a few more shots of the look:

I don't opt for a smokey eye often and I love how easily I can create on with this Chanel cream shadow. And the stick blush will be so very perfect for maternity leave. It creates a healthy flush so easily, even on bare skin. Gotta love easy when you'll be running on a few hours' sleep! 

What shades and textures are you loving for Spring?

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

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Shoppers Optimum Haul: Nothing Beats Free Chanel

Hi, everyone! Last weekend Shoppers Drug Mart had one of their Spend Your Points events where your Optimum points get to stretch a little further. The deal was that, if you had at least 50,000 points, you got an extra 25% value on your points, which I thought was a pretty great deal! I found myself with about 140,000 points (regularly worth $140, which is pretty sweet on its own), but with the promotion I now had around $175 to burn. 

As Shoppers has gotten quite good at sending along relevant coupons and deals, I do my very best to bulk up my Optimum points by buying the basics: shampoo, cat food, toilet paper and other boring necessities so that when events like last weekend's pop up, I can shamelessly spend my points on some luxury. I've always had a tendency to redeem my points on Chanel makeup, as there are few things more satisfying than scoring high-end makeup for free. I had not purchased any Chanel in ages, so I went full tilt. 

With my points balance and the promo, the entire haul below cost $5 plus taxes. No complaints here! 

I ended up choosing two products I'd loved and finished in the past and two new-to-me goodies that looked gorgeous. 

The first item I chose was Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation in 10 Beige ($52 CAD). I went through a bottle of this a couple years ago and was kind of unsure why I hadn't repurchased it before because it's amazing. The texture is light and fluid and blends into skin like a dream. The finish is matte, but not flat and the wear time is fantastic. The coverage is perfectly medium and the shade is an excellent match. Yes, it has alcohol and fragrance in the formula (which usually bother my skin), but for some reason this doesn't irritate my complexion one bit. Can't say anything bad about this one! 

Next up I chose Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush No24 ($53 CAD). I love the way the Les Beiges range offers shades and formulas that are ultra flattering and wearable and give an ultra-subtle glow. Reviews of this suggested that this product was no exception and, going into maternity leave, I'm all about makeup products that will help keep me looking alive, effortlessly. 

The Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks come in handy twist up packaging and are a similar size to NARS Multiples (slightly longer and sleeker). Shade No 24 is a gorgeous apricot peach with a sheer, but buildable formula and a glowing, luminous finish. There is visible shimmer in the stick but this is very subtle on the skin. 

I'd had been curious about the brand's newer Ombre Premiere eye shadow ranges and I ultimately chose Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Pourpre Profond ($40). I selected this in a similar spirit of quick and easy, but opted for a shade that was a bit smokey and sultry. Pourpre Profond is a warm reddened deep bronze with subtle plummy undertones that I thought would be perfect for summertime. The formula is quite dry but applies smoothly. I actually really like the small, dense brush that comes with the product- it's great for a full-on pigmented finish. I've worn this once so far and I can agree with the claim in the name- the wear time is great! 

My final pick was the Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Eros ($35). I love the formula of these liners. They are so creamy and apply effortlessly and then set and truly wear all day. I actually finished a liner in Eros in the past, as it's the most unique and flattering cranberry red that works really nicely with my brown eyes. When I first bought it it was part of a limited edition collection, so I was glad to see it's been made permanent! 

Here are swatches of the liner, blush, and shadow: 

(L-R): Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros, Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush in no.24, Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Pourpre Profond

I'm fully smitten with the items and I chose and the fact that they were (almost) free makes them extra sweet.

Did any of you take advantage of the Shoppers Optimum Points event last weekend? Any current faves from Chanel? 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend :)

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April Beauty Heroes Box: De Mamiel

Hi, everyone! It has been a very long time since I succumbed to the temptation of a beauty subscription box, but when I learned about Beauty Heroes early last year, my interest was totally piqued. You all know about my serious love for natural skin care and makeup and Beauty Heroes really is the cream of the crop when it comes to sharing the best and most effective products in green beauty. 

Beauty Heroes is a monthly subscription box that is all about careful curation of skin care from the clean beauty world. One of their tag lines is Use Less. Love More., meaning that there is no need to clutter your skin care shelves (or your face) with unnecessary or ineffective products; instead their monthly selections let you build a skin care routine of total staples that have been tried, tested, and deeply loved by other green beauty fanatics. One of the reasons I decided to subscribe this month is that I thought this regular curation would help me streamline my intake of skin care products during my maternity leave, where skin care will be an important aspect of my self care but my budget will be smaller. Beauty Heroes is available for an amazingly affordable $38.95 USD per month when you pre-pay for 3 months, with each box including a minimum of $90 USD. A steal! The membership also gives you a permanent 15% discount on the site's online store, so you can shop like a VIP if any products totally steal your heart. 

In addition to wanting to streamline my skincare intake and spending during maternity leave, I also chose to subscribe this particular month because the featured brand is one I've been dying to try for ages, de Mamiel. This brand has been so tempting because I've heard that their products are wonderfully beautiful to use, with super sensual scents and textures. At the same time, the brand is ultra dedicated to using cutting edge and effective ingredients based on science and research. More details about them below! 

Opening up the box, consisting fully of recyclable paper, the products were beautifully displayed with an ultra thorough, informative pamphlet about the goodies inside. 

The pamphlet included a full bio of de Mamiel, explaining that the brand's founder, Annee de Mamiel, created the line with the mantra of enhancing well-being with a serious background in a variety of scientific and healing traditions. Annee is trained in acupuncture, aromatherapy, Chinese medicine, and as an esthetician and is dedicated to creating products that reduce stress physically, emotionally, and chemically. 

All of her products feature organic, hand-grown ingredients that are carefully processed to retain the full vitality and effectiveness of the plants used. The line is fully cruelty-free, GMO-free, and vegan. 

Each Beauty Heroes box comes with two items: a Hero Product, a full-sized product that has been deemed a superstar and a Sidekick, a mini-sized product from the same brand that is well worth a sample. 

This month's Hero is the de Mamiel Intense Nurture Antioxidant Elixir ($135 USD for 30mL). It is part of the brand's Atmospheriques range, which is designed to protect the skin from environmental stressors. I'm tempted by anything called an elixir, really, and this potion is a potent serum designed to replenish, reduce inflammation, increase suppleness, and provide antioxidant protection. It features a variety of high-tech natural ingredients including malachite, Superoxide Dismutase, and a variety of essential oils to repair cellular damage and increase firmness and luminosity.

The Sidekick this month is the Exhale Daily Hydrating Nectar ($12 for 5mL (the size in the box) or $115 for 50mL, the full size), a lightly tinted daytime moisturizer that offers sun protection. It was formulated to be lightweight, moisturizing, and sun-protecting (offering mineral UVA and UVB screens) with a finish that leaves skin looking flawless and glowing. It contains natural oils of raspberry seed, prickly pear seed, and avocado to nourish skin while it protects and adds radiance. 

I have only been testing these products for just over a week, so I'm reserving a fuller review until I can provide more reliable feedback. In the meantime, I can say that the scents and textures of both of these goodies from de Mamiel are absolutely beautiful and that both items give my skin quite the heavenly glow. That's a solid start for any product! 

With a value of $147 USD, this month's Beauty Heroes box was an impeccable bargain and a perfect introduction to the service. The box arrived quite quickly and everything was packaged with care. The experience has been great so far and I can't wait for more boxes to arrive! I respect Beauty Heroes very much because they balance a genuine passion for green beauty (true product junkies just like me) with a serious respect for the environment. I really believe that quality and ethics go hand in hand and that's what this subscription is all about! 

Look out for monthly Beauty Heroes blog posts to come! 

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a great weekend :)

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