Breaking Bad (Habits)

I have a confession to make: I take absolutely terrible care of my skin. 

Or, at least, I have been taking terrible care of my skin. I'm trying really hard to better myself, but there are some habits that are just so hard to break. With summer now far behind me (according to the temperatures, anyway), the days of lounging in the sun and sweating in the humid air have been replaced with dark mornings and cold, dry winds. My skin started to feel the difference before I had really clued in, and with my new, heavy moisturizer comes the turning of a new leaf. It's time to take better care of my skin. In just over two weeks since completely overhauling the way I treat my skin, I see a huge difference.

First up on my list of things to do was quit tanning. Quit. Gone. Bye-bye. After years of chasing a golden glow, I've decided that the only glow I'm getting has to come from a bottle. My pale, freckle-covered skin was beginning to show my bad habit a little too much, with clusters of freckles that looked like dark spots and a few more laugh lines than I wanted cropping up. Defense is the best offence here, people, and I don't want the skin of a 40-year-old before I hit 30. I quit tanning 3 weeks ago. I'm now looking pale and loving it.

Yes, I consider this "tanned".

Next, I had to stop going to sleep with makeup on. This was going to be harder. Although my initial thought was to rush out and grab some make-up removing wipes, I had not one, not two but three full-sized bottles of Neutragena face cleansers that needed some attention, so I've been using those instead. In practice, my new night-time regime takes all of 5 minutes. Twice a week I use a gentle scrub to remove all the dead skin. Stay tuned for a review on my Neutragena Pore-Minimizing products - they're ahhh-mazing.

Pale is the new tan.

Then after reading oodles of reviews and speaking directly to a dermatologist, I decided to start using a Retinol cream, beginning with twice a week, in conjunction with a heavy nighttime moisturizer and eye cream. I'm not quite ready to move on to a third time per week, but I've noticed my skin has become much brighter and smoother already. I'll be reviewing my Neostrata Anti-Wrinkle Night Complex soon!

One of my worst skin-care habits is picking at blemishes. I can't. stop. touching. them. AHH! As soon as a pimple begins, I'm on it with tweezers or fingers. One of the bonuses of tanning was that my acne completely disappeared, but I picked up a Tanda Zap and I'm having really great results so far. I'm sorry to say you'll have to wait for that review, too!

Between now and December, I'll be reviewing a beauty product a week! I'll also take some additional photos to show you the progress in my skin, from the blemishes to the fading of my tan and "dark spots". I don't know what kind of damage my skin has already suffered, but I know that I'm going to be more aware and more conscientious in the future... and will look 30 forever. 

... Or something like that.

Bathina by Benefit Review

I haven't been doing well keeping up with my weekly series the last couple of weeks, which I will shamelessly attribute to being under more stress than I can even explain. Thankfully, my stress level is dropping and I'll be sharing the news behind that soon.
 
Back in July, I was wandering around Shoppers Drug Mart waiting for a prescription to be finished and I decided to do a little shopping. It was actually the same night I picked up my Clinique Chubby Stick, and that other product I didn't need: Bathina by Benefit. What the hell is that? you may be wondering, so lemme fill y'all in. Batthina is a luminous, silky body balm that smells amazing and gives your skin a dewy, golden-pink sheen. It comes with a velvet puff to apply it with (how cute!) in a precious tin and because it's a balm you never have to worry about leakage.
 
The woman at the cosmetics counter filled me in on why I needed it by throwing around information about how it gives your skin a rather flawless look, makes you look slimmer and that the Sex and the City reportedly used it on set to give their legs the perfect look you'd get from a good pair of flesh-toned 'hose. When I rubbed a bit on my skin, I pretty much fell head over heels so I joyfully cashed in my optimum points and went home with my fantastic chubby stick and balm feeling rather like a princess.


I'm going to keep the tin!


The tagline - "Take a picture it lasts longer..." - is cute and cheeky, and I happen to think the tin is absolutely adorable, too.

At $36 for the tin, I don't use it regularly but rather save it for special occasions like dates or work events - times that I want to look really good, especially if my legs are going to be bare. I like putting a bit on my collarbone too, and I have used it on my arms once or twice. The puff is exquisite and I love, love, love the way Bathina makes my skin feel. Benefit wasn't kidding when they described it as "pure body luxury".


When you apply the balm, be sure to really highlight the front of your legs all the way down to your toes to elongate and slim them, and gently "buff" your skin in circular motions with the velvet applicator. Freshly shaved legs will be as smooth as butter, I promise. I'm a huge fan of Benefit, and Bathina is no exception. I've used a fair bit of the balm already, and I'll definitely get another tin when it's all gone - though I'd wager to say I likely won't be too concerned about having glow-y legs this winter (they glow in the dark without a tan, anyway!).



Look at that sheen - gorgeous!

My other favourite Benefit products?

SunBeam liquid bronzer, They're Real mascara and Erase Paste corrector.

OPI GelShine Review

I'm hard on my nails.

On my hands, nail polish might last a day or two before it's too chipped for me to stand it any longer. Because I really like having my nails painted at least most of the time, this meant I was painting my nails two or three times a week. That's just too many times, especially with a toddler. Way back in January, I started researching gel polishes, and finally settled on the OPI GelShine kit from Sephora.

My first instinct was to run quickly in the other direction. The Gel Nails at-home kit retails for 189.00 plus taxes. After thinking about it, I realized that I could pay $200 and change to do manis at home whenever I want, or I could use that money to have four - maybe five - shellac manis at the salon. It's a big investment right off the hop, though. The cost includes your base and top coats, gloves, removal pads, acetone, a cuticle oil, cuticle pusher, "finishing spray" (aka alcohol), the UV light and your choice a colour.

I chose I'm Wired - a pinky coral shade.

Curing between coats.

My first manicure took about an hour to complete. Now it takes about half that time. The key is to use thin layers of the polish, curing between coats. While it's not *quite* as hardy as a professional gel colour set, I can usually get at least a week to ten days out of my colour. Not bad, considering the time investment and the abuse my poor hands undergo daily.

Unlike regular polish, if I do get a single rogue chip I can't simply patch it up with a drop of colour. This is a bit of a drag, but not a deal breaker. Chips do still happen, just not as easily or as regularly. For this reason, I actually prefer not to use a gel mani when I'm going away for a few days and need my nails to look nice, unless bringing the full kit with me is an option. It's pretty awkward to travel with though.



4 days of wear - no chips. Colour, I'm Wired!

If you don't cure your nails, the colour will never dry and you will regret ever having heard of GelShine. Seriously. Make sure you don't forget to cure well and finish with a spritz and a rub of the finishing spray for shine and to remove the tacky feeling.

I used the GelShine kit religiously for about 2-3 months after initially purchasing it before I slowly moved back to using regular polish. The gel is hard on your nails, and the removal is less than fun. I don't have time to sit with acetone on my nails for 15-20 minutes every week. It's just not feasible. Looking back, I might not have purchased it, but I do still pop it out occasionally for a mani (I did one this week!) when the mood is right. It's great for pedicures, because the colour stays on FOREVER.

I'm largely disappointed by the selection (or lack thereof) of GelShine colours. They don't even have black! UGH. I purchased four additional colours: It's All About Me (a punchy pink), Already Famous (a shimmery, champagney taupe), Bare to Be Different (a sheer, warm ecru) and Caffeine Fix (a dark plum). At $21 a pop, the price is pretty steep so it's been a while since I purchased any and I likely won't again for a long time to come. I've found that, if you use a good polish (OPI, China Glaze or even Essie) you can get away with regular polish covered with a gel top coat but the removal is messy!

I imagine you could use other brands of Gel polishes but I haven't tried... yet.


I wouldn't be quick to recommend the OPI GelShine kit. It's my understanding that Sally Hansen has a much more affordable option, and unless you absolutely need to be wearing the same colour polish for 7-10 days the whole gel polish thing is a bit overrated. That said, I do love my kit. It gives a great manicure that lasts and once you get the hang of it, it's no more difficult than painting your nails AND you don't have an hour of drying time.

Next week, I'm reviewing a product I don't like. Stay tuned!

Get Groovy: Goat Soap Review

By now, it's no secret that I have an obsession with beauty products. I could spend hours sniffing shampoos and I would die and go to heaven if I got to test 'em all out for a living. I love to sample body lotions and spritz perfume as I walk through Sephora, Lush and The Body Shop.

My interest in body products generally tends to fade when it comes to soap, surprisingly. When you think about it, it's really the beginning of the process. I usually use soaps that were given to me as a gift. When they run out, I grab on-sale bar soaps and chuck 'em in the shower as needed. My needs in a soap were pretty simple and basic: makes me clean, smells OK. I can exfoliate with a coconut oil-sugar scrub to get smoother skin, and there's body wash and lotions for a great smell.

When my friend Rachael began work with Groovy Goat Farm and Soap Company, she immediately began gushing about how awesome the soaps were and how cute the goats are (she's not kidding on either point here, guys). So I asked her if she'd pick some up for me so I could give it a whirl.

First, let me say that my outlook on what I want in a soap has totally changed. Not only did my almond-scented goat's milk soap smell good enough to eat, it made my skin silky and clean, without the dryness I often get from my usual bar soaps. I still use moisturizer, but I can get away with less and less as I use the soap more often. Who doesn't love saving money because you don't need as much of a product?!

The lather with the goat's milk soap is totally different than my regular bar soaps. It's thicker, and it doesn't bubble up - almost like a lotion-y feeling. I've actually been skipping my shaving cream and using my almond goat's soap bar when I shave my legs and underarms. It's thick enough to protect my skin, and it cuts down on product use again. BONUS!

Last, but definitely not least, the almond-scented soap is flipping amazing! The scent is light and clean and a little bit sweet. It mixes well with my body lotions and perfume without overpowering them, but I don't need to add any scent at all. It's great. It's fantastic, actually.

My favourite thing about the soap is that it's made locally on Cape Breton Island, and the owners are great people who love and care for their animals. The soaps are all hand-crafted, made with quality and care.

From the Groovy Goat Farm & Soap Company Facebook Page:

At Groovy Goat, we take pride in handcrafting natural and luxurious soaps and lotions. Our secret ingredient? Fresh goat milk from the well-loved goats on our family farm!
Goat milk contains natural moisturizing, cleansing and soothing properties - making it ideal for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. Visit our shop and sample some of our soaps and lotions to experience "the goodness of goat" firsthand!
Also, our friendly goats love visitors, so be sure to stop by for a farm experience the whole family will enjoy!

If you're still not convinced, maybe you'd like to give some of the amazing goat's milk soap and body lotions a try. Shannon, of Groovy Goat Farm & Soap Company, has graciously partnered with me for this giveaway and you have until the end of August to get your ballots in! There's plenty of ways to win, so make sure you get in on the action! Make sure to check out the farm next time you're in Ingonish!

Next on my list of things to try? My Groovy Goat Peppermint Body Lotion! It smells delish!


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Undressed Tresses? BB Texture hair (un)dressing creme Review

Like most – if not all – women, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with my hair at the best of times. I often lament that it needs to be longer or shorter, occasionally asking the universe why it couldn’t be a slightly different variation of blonde or curly or straight or just something other than you know, what it is. For this reason (and because I am a beauty product junkie and possibly a shopaholic) I own a shit ton of hair stuff – though admittedly less than I once did, as I have learned through trial and error what works with the mop on my top.

2-oz size. (photo: Sephora.com)

Because my hair has a natural wave and I have a natural tendency to want to sleep (read: I am lazy), I decided to stop fighting the wave in my hair a while ago and invested in a few products to make it work. While I will probably never give up my coconut oil post=shower routine to de-tangle and protect it, I’ve gotta say I’ve found a new favourite product by Bumble and Bumble: BB Texture hair (un)dressing crème.

Seriously, friends, I am obsessed.

I bought a sample-sized bottle because I end up getting bored by even my favourite products and jumping ship, and there is nothing that drives anyone crazier than sifting through 200 half-empty bottles of hair product under the sink to find a box of tampons. It’s a fact. I got it home and placed it next to my makeup bag on the sink last week in anticipation of using it when I washed my hair the next morning.

From Sephora.com - screen shot description of BB Texture hair (un)dressing creme. 

What I learned very quickly is this is a product where a little truly goes a long way. 

Learn from my mistake, and use sparingly. If you think you need more, you’re wrong. Trust me. Because I have a lot of hair, I used a generous amount of the crème and suddenly I couldn’t get my fingers through my hair and I had a bird's nest that could house a family of ospreys. Not cute.

Too much of the product leaves your hair heavy, sticky and unmanageable and nobody needs to start from scratch. My tip? Start small and add more if you feel it's necessary – you’ll be surprised to learn how little you do need.

To use the BB Texture hair (un)dressing creme, wash and condition your hair as you would and towel dry. Use a small amount (less than the size of a dime) and add more if you need it. Fine straight hair may require a little more than my naturally wavy-ish hair – you’ll know what you need. 

Work through your hair, beginning at the length (not the ends) and work up to the roots for volume at the crown. I keep it out of my ends as much as possible to keep them frizz-free and reduce tangles. 

Scrunch hair and dry with a diffuser for undone waves and curls, let dry naturally if you have time, or blow dry on low-heat, medium blast to avoid tangles and give your hair some extra oomph without adding curls/waves.

Once your hair is dry, brush it out and add shine serum or coconut oil if you want. Your hair will feel a bit thicker and hold texture well all day. Since it actually makes your hair grittier, you might find you can skip a wash (or two if you’re me!) before your hair begins to turn a bit oily. Yay!

My only issue with this particular product is that it dulls the shine of your hair – making it look, well, gritty or dirty – so I tend to spritz a shine serum or scrunch a teensy bit of coconut oil into the ends of my hair. The best part of using that little bit of coconut oil on the ends (and occasionally on the length) of my hair is that it keeps it manageable and I can easy switch styles from wavy to braided and keep it looking a little sleeker for my Monday-Friday hairdos. I also dislike the stickiness on my hands, but a little soap and water takes care of this. These issues are totally erased by the fact that I effing love this product but I know it might not work for everyone!

The scent isn’t offensive, but rather a bit forgettable. I used the product this morning, and followed with a bit of coconut oil and after taking a quick break to sniff my hair I can confirm that I smell coconut oil and a hint of my shampoo.

Because I don’t wash my hair daily, I usually have to restyle my hair the next day if I use the crème or wear it up because it doesn’t *quite* stay pretty after sleeping on it. There have been mornings I couldn’t get my brush through my hair at all, and I had to condition, shampoo, condition to loosen the tangles. Not pretty. If you want to sleep on your hair after using the crème, it’s not a bad idea to braid it before bed. This was especially an issue when I used waaaaay too much.

A full-size bottle (5 oz) retails at Sephora for $28, which is a little steep for my budget. A 2 oz bottle rings in for half that at $14, and used sparingly I’d say the sample-size will keep you going for months of beautiful, texturized hair.  

I'd recommend this product if you have soft or fine hair that is super straight or has a bit of a wave, just to give it some extra oomph. If you have really thick, coarse hair this product is absolutely not for you. 

Now, get out and enjoy your long weekend!

Beach-y Waves Tutorial

OK, so it's not Friday.. but every day should be beautiful!

I've been growing my hair out for quite some time and it's FINALLY past that super-annoying, in-between stage of being mid-length and long. A few months ago, I stopped cutting my layers and bangs so that my hair is now, according to several of my colleagues and pals, the quintessential summer hair. It's also glaringly blonde.

In spite of having a boatload of blonde highlights put in my hair, my hair has stayed pretty soft and healthy. My not-so-secret weapon for maintaining healthy hair: coconut oil and a shampooing schedule.

Yes, you read that correctly. Shampooing schedule. But that's a post for another day.

When I had "day three" hair on Monday, I needed to do something about it. So I did this:

After getting a ton of compliments on it, I was feeling pretty pleased with my dirty, beach-y hair. So I'm sharing the how-to with you all, my lovely peeps!

You need slept-on hair (second day is best - natural grit is best) with a little bit of texture, a trusty hairspray like L'Oreal Elnett, a comb, a flat iron or hair dryer, and about five minutes.

I like this method because you can modify it for great volume or more wave depending on your mood! Share your photos with me on my Facebook Page!

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And be sleepy.

 
1. Start with tangle-free hair. This is usually the most time-consuming thing for me, personally. Once your hair is brushed through, it's time to separate it.

 
 You can see here that my hair has some natural wave. I washed it before bed and blow-dried on medium heat about 3/4 of the way to dry. There's no product in there! (Don't mind the leftover mascara under my eyes!)

Twists

Depending on the length, thickness and desired curl you're looking for, you may want to make more or fewer twists. I usually separate my hair into 4 or 6 pieces and twist away from my face.

Today, I made 4 twists - two on each side. I left my hair totally dry, and twisted the hair for the full length semi tightly. Secure with an elastic while you're doing the other side.

Yay, mornings!

 Once your hair is twisted, you have two choices: Blast it with the hair dryer on high heat, or run your flat iron down the length of the twist a few times. Sometimes, I dampen my hair a bit and use the hair dryer. Do this with EVERY TWIST.
 

The beautiful buns

Roll your twists together while the hair is still warm into two-four buns and secure with an elastic. Let cool - this is SO important.

 If you don't let your hair cool before unraveling the twists, you've totally shot yourself in the foot. Heat-styling works because your hair is more pliable when subject to the high temperatures. By allowing your hair to cool completely, you set your style whether it be straight or curly. You can also blast with cool air from your hair dryer, but I like waiting it out a few minutes!

It really is GOLDEN.

Remove elastic and spray twists with hairspray, then go about your routine and let the twists undo themselves - or, if you're in a hurry, flip your head upside down and shake it out.

I like Elnett because it brushes out, giving you fantastic hold with a natural look. The smell reminds me of my Nanny's hairspray - it doesn't have a fruity or sweet smell like some of the trendy new sprays - but I love it all the same. Go easy on it though - you want natural looking waves and great volume, not spikes.

Today, I wanted my hair to be just a *little* less curly, so I didn't twist tightly and only ran the flat iron down twice per twist.

The end result - beachy!

If you want to skip the heat altogether and start with waves post-shower, simply work some texturizing cream (I love Bumble & Bumble (un)dressing creme) through towel-dried hair and let air dry about half way. Separate hair into desired number of sections and twist. Let your hair continue to dry.

Easy peasy!

--- Necklace, Le Chateau
--- Blouse, Old Navy

Lippier than Usual - Clinique Chubby Stick Review

First of all, I want to high-five Clinique for putting "chubby" and "beauty" in the same sentence. Thanks for that. 

ANYWAY.

It's Friday (yay!) and it's also the day Red comes home after 26 days of being all heroic and sexy in his military uniform (double yay!). I've pretty much been planning my outfit for when I go to pick him up all week, right down to the nail polish on my toes, which brought me to a critical crossroads: lip colour. 

The Chubby stick.

Being all make-up obsessed and vain - and because I'm beginning to bore of light pink or nude lips all the time - I decided that this week would be lipstick shopping week. I also had to wait 40 minutes at the pharmacy which just so happens to have a cosmetics boutique and I was tired and it was so pretty that I kind of couldn't help myself. And that, my friends, is how I came to be the proud owner of my secondClinique Chubby Stick  Intense moisturizing lip colour balm. 

Even it's name is lippy (and you may find you need to stop for a break part way through!).


I've been using my original Clinique chubby stick in curviest caramel for about six months, and it's barely even worn down. It's a great nude because it's not too nude, and it's dark enough that I can wear it when I'm tanned while being light enough to wear it in all my pasty glory. I chose the shade because I like to wear lipstick daily, and I went with the Chubby Stick because it moisturizes the hell out of your lips and it's also massive. It's practically impossible for me to lose it (though I may have forgotten where I put it a few times).


My new Chubby Stick caught my eye the exact friggin' second I glanced at the Clinique wall, after staring at other brands such as Smashbox and Benefit (my faves! ye gods!) for about 15 minutes. My first thought? It's a punchy colour - bright pink, almost raspberry but a little bit watermelon-y. I wasn't surprised to see that it was called plushest punch and I decided it was love at first sight. So, I carried it around for another 10 or 15 minutes before sauntering over to the counter with another product I don't need and joyfully used my Shoppers Optimum points to cover the full cost of it all! Yay, free stuff!!!!

My two fave lip products - look how big the chubby stick is!

I've been rocking the fun, gorgeous colour all week and I love it as much as I loved my previous Chubby Stick. I even wore it leaving the hospital yesterday - colour that bright makes anyone look more alive! The colour is not too opaque, but opaque enough that it gives the look of rich colour, and its shine factor is fantastic - I hate glosses. One of my biggest woes (as if it could really be a woe...) is that lipstick always dries out my lips, but since Clinique's Chubby Stick is loaded with mango and shea butters, it hydrates my lips while giving them a pop of colour. Who doesn't love that?

While the price tag might make you cringe a little ($19 a pop), keep in mind that it's a lot of colour. My last one is still going strong, after six months of almost everyday use. Plus, it's scent-free and allergy tested. 

I'm not a regular Clinique shopper, but my new love for the Chubby Sticks may sway me otherwise...

Thumbs Up for Thursdays (July 25)

Today was a long day.

Like, a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong day. In fact, I've only slept about 4 hours since  I got up for work at 5 am on Wednesday morning. Why? you ask? Well, being the medical anomaly that I am, I landed myself in the hospital just before midnight and stayed in the ER until after 8 am.

In spite of feeling awful, I decided to recap all of the things that deserve a thumbs up again this week. Being cranky certainly won't make me feel any better, so I figure it's high time I break out the positivity again.

So, without further ado, here are the things that deserve a Thumbs-Up this week!

1. I finally got the mailbox at my apartment fixed! As lovely as it is to pretend that I don't have bills, the reality is that I do and now that I can actually physically hold them, I feel a lot better about paying them. Extra bonus: I had a credit balance on one of them! Woohoo!

2. I had the opportunity to paint my nails in peace and quiet this week. Any Mom will tell you how hard it is to do that with a kid around. My kidcation hasn't been the glamorous, R&R adventure I was anticipating but I can totally get behind pretty nails!

3. I got a free lipstick at Sephora (as part of a reward for being a loyal customer). I was also the second customer in Atlantic Canada to receive the VIB Rouge status with Sephora. It's both exciting and embarrassing. Don't ask how much I spent to get to that in the last year.

4. Even though I spent more than eight hours in pain, sitting under a thin blanket in the emergency room, the ER staff deserve a real thumbs-up for how hard working they were. Plus, I recognize how fortunate I am to be able to go and spend eight hours in the Emergency Department of the hospital and receive treatment - even if I unfortunately left with more questions than answers and a head full of worry.

5. OK, I know this hasn't happened yet BUT... RED COMES HOME TOMORROW! And if that's not reason to celebrate, nothing is!

Be Envious: OPI Nail Envy Review

Hello, my name is Ashley and I am addicted to nail polish.

Yes, it's a thing. I can't pinpoint when my addiction to having colourful nails first began, probably when I was in my first year of university. Today, my nail polish collection is actually pretty impressive. I have a shoe box filled - actually, it's overflowing - with a variety of colours, as well as a handful (read: 5-10) thrown into the bedside table in my room. There are times when walking from bed to the bathroom to get a nail polish colour is too much work.

My pretty nails obsession has taken a real toll on the state of my natural nails. Last summer, I went on a "UV Gel Nail" bender, having three sets put on over the course of 4 months. My nails grow so fast, they were grown out to the point that they didn't look good by the third week. When there wasn't French tips on, I got Shellac manicures. The end result: thin, peel-y nails that wouldn't grow.

After a few months of keeping them super short and brightly coloured, they began to slowly come back to life. There's probably only been about 8 weeks since this time last year that my nails have not been covered in one form of pretty or another. In January I bought the OPI Gelshine Kit (a review on this is coming!), but in June I made the fatal mistake to have another set of UV gels on. Then, after peeling those suckers off and damaging my nails, I decided to put a professional Shellac mani on my digits. My nails are once again thin, peel-y and breaking when I breathe on them. Not cute, you guys.

So, after hearing rave reviews on the product, I caved and bought myself a bottle of Nail Envy by OPI. I got it on sale at Chatters Hair Salon in Bayers Lake, Halifax - in a package with an OPI quick-drying top coat. I've been using Nail Envy for about a month, and I LOVE IT. I followed the instructions to a T the first couple of times I used it. Now I follow my own set, either using it alone (it stays nice and shiny, like a top coat) or as a base coat for colour.


First, let me just say this stuff dries crazy fast. Your first hand is dry by the time that you finish painting your second hand, which is especially handy if you're doing a second coat or covering it with a coloured polish. Ain't nobody got time for slow-drying polishes, you guys. NOBODY.

Second, you can see a difference in the state of your nails almost immediately. They're less bendy, and you can see their strength as they get a nice curve to them instead of the flatness you see in a thin nail. 

Finally, as already mentioned, I love that Nail Envy keeps a shiny finish without putting a top coat on. It's great for a week or two of natural nails, and if you're diligent about using Nail Envy you will see a monumental difference within a week or two, depending on the state of your nails.

I haven't experienced a change in the speed of nail growth, but that's a good thing for me. My nails grow stupidly fast, but they are chipping and peeling significantly less. Since I put my hands through absolute Hell from day-to-day (cleaning, typing, baths, washing dishes), I can honestly say that this nail fortifier is the one you want if you're hard on your nails.

How to Use Nail Envy:

File nails to desired shape, buffing to remove any ridges. Wash hands and dry thoroughly. Apply two coats of Nail Envy to clean, dry nails. 

Every other day, apply a single coat of Nail Envy to nails for a week. At the end of the week, remove all lacquer and start the process over. 

If you'd prefer to use Nail Envy as a base coat, apply one coat before painting on your desired polish.

Pain is Beauty: Tria Beauty Review

Pain is beauty, right?

I've always been a believer in the "no pain, no gain" attitude, so I don't hesitate to push myself when I'm running to go just a little faster or a little further, and I'm not afraid to spend some time in front of the mirror torturing myself plucking my eyebrows from time to time. I wear high heels that occasionally result in blistered feet, soak my nails in acetone that eats away at my cuticles when my gel nail polish needs a change, and I've been known to wiggle into movement-restricting Spanx for the sake of a smoother silhouette.

I'm not alone.

I've spent stupid amounts of money on makeup and hair products, body lotions and everything in between. But I'm lazy. I like to sleep in a few extra minutes, so I forsake my perfect hair or nice eye makeup pretty regularly. Sometimes, even on a hot day, I'll wear long dresses to avoid shaving my legs.

I'm not a particularly tall person, but I've got long legs and shaving them can be time consuming so I decided to wax them. That was a bust - spreading hot wax across my hairy legs and then tearing it off was messy and hurt more than I seem to recall labour and childbirth, so I gave that up. Did I mention that there was a lot of hair still hanging around? Then I contemplated a No-No, but the idea of burning my hair off didn't sound very pleasant at all.

So I bought an at-home laser remover by Tria Beauty.

Let me say, the results are fantastic. But holy-effing-Christmas-trees-and-honey it hurts.

It too is a bit time consuming, and I've realized that I made a fatal (not actually) mistake in my using it in the spring/summer. I'm a little too tanned to continue. I also need to cut out a section of time every two weeks to use it, and no way do I have time for that nonsense during the summer! There's sun to soak up and BBQ's to attend, so I've packed it away for a couple of months... knowingly sacrificing all the progress I've made.

If you're thinking about using the Tria, I strongly recommend it. An Advil or two about 30 minutes before your treatment helps with the pain, and the results truly are fantastic. The price tag is worth it too, and the newer models treat a larger area with each time. I'll definitely resume my treatments in the Fall when I have a bit more time.

What's the craziest beauty product you've ever tried? What about a favourite? I'd love to know!