Take it Back!!

I take back everything I said about that L'Oreal True Match Foundation I was trying!

It's terrible, terrible stuff that made me break out like a 15-year-old again. Which hasn't happened to me in nearly 15 years!!

It looked good on, but I think due to the oil-base, it made me break out like you wouldn't believe (unless you have oily, sensitive skin like I do, in which case you probably know what I'm talking about).

If you've had a better/worse experience with L'Oreal True Match Foundation, I'd like to hear about it!

Best Facewash EVAH!!

I decided in the summer that since I'm nearly 30, I want to finally banish my acne, no matter what the cost (almost!).

I've tried Proactiv in the past, I didn't find it particularly worked for me, and it bleached out all my towels and most of my pyjama tops.

I've tried a vast array of other products from drugstores, but decided once and for all that I would google until I found something I thought would work.

So I ordered two things from the good ol' USA! Thank you, interweb!

The first is the No Zit Sherlock kit by Bliss that I ordered from Sephora. This kit was fine, but it had three steps, and I'm far too lazy for that. I liked the creams, but the facewash was insufficient for me.

The second thing I bought saved my life. It's the DermaDr Wrinkle Revenge I with glycolic acid, and it's so amazing!

This is a cream wash that you just massage into dry skin and then rinse, which is a type of facewash I've always hated in the past. They never feel like they're really getting your face clean, and I always still feel dirty/oily afterwards. But this is different. My Wrinkle Revenge makes me feel lovely and clean, make-up free, but not dry or overwashed. As well, for the first time in my life, my acne is pretty much under control! I still get candy-induced breakouts (anytime I have a large dose of refined sugar...) and period breakouts, but most of my acne is gone and my face looks great!

DermaDr Wrinkle Revenge I star rating?
5 stars outta 5! Nice work!

Beach-Ready Skin

Want to get your skin nice and clean and ready for the beach? Or maybe you already went to the beach and now you want to wash off all that makeup, sand and sunscreen? I've got the product for you!
Alba Naturals (www.albabotanica.com) makes a fantastic pineapple enzyme facial cleanser. I was skeptical at first, thinking that pineapple enzymes wouldn't be enough to wash off my makeup and clean my oily skin. But it works! This amazing cleanser foams right up and leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed.
As a bonus, it smells like pineapple, which will remind you of pina coladas, the beach, and summer evenings all year long. Even in the snow.

I bought mine at London Drugs for around $10, but I'm sure you can get it at most local drugstores (Shoppers Drug Mart, etc).

Shiny Hair for Me!

I have a terrible time finding shampoos that I like. It's just so hard to find good ones, and I have sensitive skin so it's even more difficult.
So when I find some I like, I'm thrilled, which is why I thought I would share this shampoo and conditioner with you.
It's super-affordable (maybe $10 a bottle-ish), and the smell makes you feel like you're showering in a waterfall in the middle of a tropical jungle (not that I've ever done that).
Alba Botanicals shampoo and conditioner is just great! I have tried the plumeria replenishing hair wash and the gardenia hydrating hair conditioner, and I've been so happy with them. My hair is shiny and healthy, and I only have to wash it every day. www.albabotanica.com

Getting Rid of the Winter Blahs

Sometimes I wish I could just scrub off my old face and find a new one underneath!
Sadly, no matter how hard I scrub, I'll still have the same bone structure and freckles. But I can give myself a bit of a brighten by getting rid of my old, dry winter skin.
The weather is warming up and in Vancouver, March means get ready for the rain! So if you're like me and have combination/oily skin, that means it's time to get rid of the last of the dry bits and expose the fresh, sunny skin underneath. My favourite way to do that is with St. Ives apricot face scrub.
I find that some scrubs are too subtle and just don't feel, well, scrubby enough. This apricot scrub is nice and gritty and leaves you feeling like you've left the past behind.
As well, they make a few varieties. I have tough, oily skin, so I use the original, but they also make one for sensitive skin, and a new "renew and firm" variety.