Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser Review

Purchase: $28 @ London Drugs 20% off right now!
Cleaning Capacity: 9 out of 10

What the package says:

Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel cleanses gently, without attacking or stripping skin.


It eliminates sebum excess and purifies the epidermis while respecting its physiological pH.
Soap-free
Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic product
Properties:
Cleansing
Thanks to its gentle cleansing base.
Sebo-regulating
Cucurbita pepo, a plant-origin extract, contributes to reducing sebum secretion.
Soothing and anti-irritating
Naturally soothing, Avène Thermal Spring Water enables an anti-irritating effect associated to zinc gluconate.


My thoughts:

There are many benefits to soapfree facial cleansers, including: protection from over-drying your skin and stripping it of essential oils for proper moisture, and it is milder then other facial cleansers so won't irritate sensitive skin types. After cleansing my face felt super clean and when I used a facial toner there was little-to-no makeup or dirt left on the cleansing pad. After using it for a month without taking my medication for two weeks or using my acne creme I only had one blemish caused by hormones the entire time! My skin is very acne prone so that is pretty amazing! I would definitely suggest this cleanser for all skin types and right now it is on sale for 20% off at LD so it's the perfect time to try it out!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mat

Purchase: $25 @ London Drugs  Take an Extra 20% off until March 2nd!

Mattifying Effect: 8 out of 10

Moisturizing: 8 out of 10

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mat Fortifying and soothing 24Hr hydrating anti-shine effect (what a mouth full) is a great anti-matifying moisturizer. This product comes in a 50mL bottle (as apposed to Vichy's Normaderm Mat Hydrant 30mL for $30) so you get a little more bang for your buck. I wore this without any makeup on for a day and even went to hula hooping class (that's right, I teach hula hooping classes!) and only had slickness around my nose area. Usually my skin gets pretty oily pretty fast, mind you, it is winter so it is a bit dryer. This product does not have any SPF in it though and so I would suggest this for winter use and the Normaderm mat for summer use. It also gives your skin that little extra moisturizer for the cold winter months so my suggestion is to buy BOTH of these great moisturizers to keep oil-free all year long. This moisturizer is very versatile so I would definitely say that it would benefit all skin types. As always, I would suggest getting a sample from your nearest LD before purchasing to make sure your skin likes it as much as mine.
This is also a Gel moisturizer which works wonders for Oily skin. It can effectively hydrate skin without using any thick cream or oil. Moreover, Gel can also provide the most effective matte effect for those who want smoother skin tone without dullness or dryness. Gel also absorbs in to your skin faster than a creme.

'Arab' inspired makeup contest entry...

So I wanted to try out an Arabian enspired eye makeup look to enter a contest at http://www.makeupgeek.com and I actually ended up liking it so had to take pictures of it! Unfortunately, it was just a test run so I hadn't put on any foundation/coverup so my skin looks terrible :( But here are some pictures anyway! Tell me what you think... I know I need to work on my blending a lot more though, any brush suggestions or videos I should watch?

A special gift for you Victoria folks...

Couvon is offering an express eco-friendly Manicure and Pedicure for $25 bux (Regular $60) at Queen Bee Nail Gallery.
To get the groupon click here.
If you are unfamiliar with a groupon, this is how it works:
You purchase the coupon for the above price and usually have a year until it expires so you can use it when you want or give it is a present!

Also, Nails by Alicia is having a special deal, $25 for Gel toenails until May 1st starting this Friday the 25th! Get ready for spring and FLIP FLOPS (which I know, is hard to imagine with all this snow).
To find a review of her work, click here. 

To book your appointment call 250-508-3121 or contact her through her Facebook Group: Nails By Alicia.

Sephora OPI nail polish in Read my Palm

Purchase: $12 @ Sephora

I liked this colour in the bottle but it doesn't really work with my fair skin tone as much as I thought it was. However, this would work as a great accent colour for  a yellow nail polish look. I do feel this is nail polish is way too expensive though as OPI nail polish usually goes for around $8-10 bux.

What do you think?
And don't forget to sign up for our February Contest!

Elizabeth Arden Smokey Eye Black Eyeliner

I did not love this eyeliner. I found that it smudge all under my eye within an hour or so of application. This could work as a smokey eye pencil but you would have to put eyeshadow on top of it in order to keep it from smudging on its own. It also did not last for a very long time on my waterline. I received this in a blockbuster package so I am unsure of the actual cost of it or where you can purchase it. If I had the choice, I would definitely not purchase it again.

Be sure to enter our February Contest before you leave!

Check out this great give away!

Here's what you could win:
MAC permanent collection lipstick and eyeshadow in your choice of shade
Travalo perfume atomizer in red
Mystery gift - this will be a palette or collection offered at the time of the random draw - value will be $30 - $60 CAD

So check out Sensible Shooz to enter!