A life & style blog for all things affordable
With spring on it’s way and many of us working from home, there is no better time to really start taking care of ourselves than right now. Lypsyl Original & Cherry Lip are the “Balm” dot com for me right now.
After a harsh, cold winter one of the first things I start noticing was how dry and chapped my lips were. It’s something so mundane to think about applying lip balm, but I find if its nearby I am likely to use it more often.
Continue reading “Lypsyl Original & Cherry Lip Balm Dot Com”
Two months ago I was given a PR package of Thursday Plantation 100% pure tea-tree oil skincare products to test out and review. I wanted to give my honest opinion and see how my skin did with this product before standing behind it. After a few months of continual use, I can now say how much I enjoy Thursday Plantation’s natural products and I will definitely be continuing to use them in my everyday skincare routine.
It is so important to look for products that contain 100% natural tea-tree oil, and Thursday Plantation products are backed by that guarantee. For starters, it should be known that I have very sensitive skin, minor dark spots from acne and the sun and frequently some pretty pesky pimples! I’ve struggled back and forth with my skin for as long as I can remember, and now that I’m in my mid-twenties I’m really searching for any remedies or solutions for my acne. On a scale of 1-10 I would say my skin is between a 4-5 on the severity level, but with casual flareups of some pretty bad pimples that leave even worse scars behind. Luckily the scars that I have are not raised and have not left pin-holes or craters but I’ve really not been happy with the dark marks and dry patches.
I have tried pretty much every prescribed acne medication on the market, except for Accutane as I was a little scared away from that and didn’t think my acne required that strong of a treatment. So off the to drugstore I would go, picking up all of my prescriptions, and then every other type of acne solution (priced low and high) that you could think of.
My biggest problem really I think is my dry skin which I have had my whole life. I seem to find that when I get that under control the acne is a little less prevalent. But, then I sometimes run the risk of it becoming too oily and then I’ve started a home for acne once again.
Thursday Plantation uses the fighting antibacterial powers of 100% natural Tea Tree Oil in this specific line of products to combat acne. Tea tree oil has long been known for treating minor cuts and scrapes, sooth dry flaky scalps, psoriasis and eczema, toe fungus,, and even as house-hold cleaner. The list of its uses really can go on and on.
The natural 3-step skincare regime is easy to follow and helps in maintaining your healthy skin and new clear complexion. You can smell the natural ingredients and they’re so refreshing (unlike a lot of medicated treatments). The products are so fragrant and familiar to what you would smell in a spa!
Step 1: Cleanse
The first range of products in the program is the tea-tree oil soap-free foam cleanser. It is strong enough to remove dirt and makeup but didn’t make my face feel clogged or dried out. Without the use of harsh chemicals, this natural cleanser left my skin feeling soft and thoroughly cleaned. The added Chamomile ingredient helps with redness of the skin, something I am personally very prone to. I do however recommend still removing your eye-makeup with a gentle cleanser first.
Ingredients: Water, Coco-Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil*, Limonene.- Thursday Plantation
Tone
Step 2 is Thursday Plantation’s Toner with Tea Tree & Witch Hazel. The tea tree oil acts as an antibacterial agent, while the witch hazel tones and purifies the skin by tightening pores without drying out your skin. I have a heard a lot of good things about witch hazel for helping with redness and inflammation. I use this toner after I’ve gotten my eyebrows threaded, and it helps to decrease the inevitable redness and also little bumps that could surface afterwords. I have found out the hard way in the past that not using a toner, I will get almost little pimple-like dots around the area of my eyebrows that have been threaded. There is also calming lavender and aloe vera that helps sooth the skin. I love using toner after my cleanser and it helps removes any excess dirt or oil it may have missed! I have just recently added toner into my daily routine and can’t believe I hadn’t been using it until now.
Ingredients: Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Polysorbate 20, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) leaf oil, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Limonene, Linalool.- Thursday Plantation
Moisturize
The 3rd step in this skin treatment program is the tea tree face cream with rose hip. The cream itself feels very light weight, however, it does take a little bit for your skin to absorb. I use a daily tinted moisturizer and find it hard to apply if I don’t give the Thursday Plantation cream some time to soak in. Moisturizing your skin is extremely important and is particularly crucial after washing it! While cleansers can help remove dirt and oil, they can also cause your skin to dry out, and for some, dryness causes acne. Maintaining your skins natural moisture balance is the key to maintaining looking skin!
Ingredients: Water, Caprylic Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Soribtan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium, Dulcis (Orange) Peel oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Limonene, Linalool.- Thursday Plantation
Treat
The medicated acne gel is in addition to the 3-step process. I don’t use it everyday, just when I spot a pimple that I can hopefully treat by drying it out before it gets worse, or leaves a dark spot. The gel comes out clear which is great if you want to apply during the day over your makeup! For best results, use a small amount in the morning and at night.The gel works for treating whiteheads blackheads and other pimples. Unlike a lot of other medicated acne treatments I have tried, this one doesn’t have harsh chemicals that burn or irritate my skin causing it to really dry out and starting the vicious cycle of acne brought on by dry skin.
Ingredients: Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) 20% w/w, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) 0.5% w/w, Water, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Isopropyl Myristate, Triethanolamine.
Face Mask
I was also given a reusable mask, and a bottle of 100% tea tree oil. For my mask, I followed the easy instructions provided in the kit, but feel free to get creative! I added a few drops of tea tree oil, and a little bit of raw honey (antibacterial agent) to distilled water and soaked the reusable mask in the treatment. I added a little bit of fresh lemon juice (helps brighten skin). You can look up other face mask solutions that include tea tree oil in them! The smell is so refreshing and relaxing, it’s very calming. Apply to your skin and leave on for approximately 15 minutes. Upon applying the mask, I noticed a little bit of a burning sensation around my eyes, so I simply shifted the mask away from my eyes and it was fine. After removing the mask my skin felt so soft, and not dried out or stiff at all! I did a quick rinse (with water only) and then patted it dry with a clean towel.
Ingredients: Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Leaf Oil) 100% v/v.- Thursday Plantation
So far I am really happy with the results of this product. The product is easy to find in local stores like Walmart, Loblaws, Rexall, well.ca, natural food stores, etc. The best part is, buying these won’t break the bank. Each of the products range in price, and are all under $20.00!
On September 8th I was lucky enough to be selected to attend Dave Lackie’s Fall Catwalk Beauty Trends 2016 Event at Hudson’s Bay Toronto.
Dave started the night off with some great stories of how he started in the industry and shared some funny experiences he had in his first jobs and celebrities he met along the way. Dave said how he followed his passion and that if you really love something and enjoy it,the money will come. Since starting my blog just two years ago, it’s opened me up to an entire world out there that I didn’t really know existed before. Once meeting Dave and all the other lucky guests that attend his events it ignited a spark in me to write more, take lots of pictures and share this passion with others.
Dave then talked about some of the hottest trends hitting the biggest catwalks this fall. I was pleasantly surprised to see dark reds and even black shades for the “it” lipstick shade. I already went out and purchased one, can’t wait to test it out! Reds are still a hot colour for the season, which I especially love to rock around the holidays! Keeping the rest of your makeup more neutral and simple allows you to go for a bolder lip without overdoing it. We saw another trend of ombre lips which I think once I figured it out could be amazing!
Jumping forward, we got a sneak peek at some of the beauty trends coming our way in 2017. Orange is the colour in beauty for Spring 2017!
I had a really great time at this event, and learned so much about Global trends and all the intricate little details that designers put into their beauty products for us to enjoy. Let’s just say, I have really started to grow an appreciation for beauty products and I’m loving following the stories being told through the designers.
Thanks for another inspiring night Dave. I can’t thank you enough for the generous gift bag that you sent all of us home with. I’ll be travelling to Vegas at the end of the month and these minis are the perfect size to pack.
Can’t wait to see you, and everyone else’s beautiful faces and personalties again soon!
xoxo
Sara
On June 14 I was so fortunate to be able to attend the Givenchy Art of Perfumery dinner hosted by the one and only, Dave Lackie (Beauty Editor and CityLine Expert). Dave is so inspiring and his passion radiates throughout the entire room down to every last detail. The dinner took place at the Arcadian Studio located in downtown Toronto (such a beautiful venue for these events!)
I think the themes of fun and happiness were evident through everyone throughout the whole night!
Read on to follow along with my truly amazing night, which Dave told me is just what beauty editors experience (how cool is that?!)
Get a behind-the-scenes look of my beauty editor experience here!
I loved the Gentleman Only scent so much. I later found out that a lot of women actually buy this scent for themselves, I quickly smelled why!
So much romance in the details from table to table!
Candy, perfume, and flowers, oh my!
I had previously been to one other dinner hosted by Dave at this location but this one really hit it out of the park. The second we walked in we were greeted with beautiful cocktails and you were instantly hit with the aromas of hundreds of blooms and Givenchy signature scents. I knew right away that it was going to be an amazing night.
There were perfume bottles both small and large (and I mean large!) surrounding the room, and every table had a beautiful bouquet of roses.
My favourite of them all had to be the dinner table, talk about tablescape goals! I wish my dinner table could look like this every night!
Each place setting had a chic black and white Givenchy gift bag on the chair, with a beautiful single pink rose sticking out of the bag, such a special feeling getting to experience this!
After chatting away with fellow bloggers, artists and indulging in some wonderful hors d’oeuvres and cocktails we were seated for dinner.
We started off dinner with an incredible salad (didn’t think those words would ever come out of my mouth), but this was definitely a salad I could get on board with. It was so fresh with a delightful balsamic dressing and I loved the addition of chorizo and lots and lots of buffalo mozzarella cheese! For the main course we had a lemon/rosemary chicken that was so mouthwatering I enjoyed every last bite! It was placed on top of blistered navy beans, with a haricot and carrot salad with pickled cabbage and lemon. Now while I’m not big on dessert, I had to experience for myself what the most talked about artisan pecan pie was all about. For someone that doesn’t have a big sweet tooth even I enjoyed this and particularly enjoyed the cinnamon gelato.
Enough about the food already let’s get in to why we really wanted to attend this event!
Following our exquisite dinner we had the special guest for the night, David Titheridge -the General Manager of Givenchy share some lovely stories of the history of Givenchy and the Art of Perfumery. I really enjoyed the stories David told us about Hubert de Givenchy and his best friend Audrey Hepburn (AMAZING!!!!) and how he had created a fragrance that was exclusively hers for 2 years! Click on the link to Dave Lackie’s website if you’d like to learn more about the History of Givenchy.
As always, Dave was an amazing host to yet another amazing event. I am so very thankful for having been given the opportunity to attend this one and to catch up with some old friends Dave has connected me with and even meeting some fantastic new ones!
Katie of Boldly Beautiful and Jen of What the Damn TO. Two hilarious, and beautiful girls!
Our gift bag, or as I like to call them, our adult loot bag had inside it a bottle of Live Irresistible and Dahlia Divine. Live Irresistible is both floral and fruity and had a very fun scent. Dahlia Divine takes it a step further and introduces us to a luxury couture scent that is within reach of most budgets. I love the undertones of the jasmine, white flowers and sandalwood, this just may be one of my new faves! We also received a great makeup bag that I will be certainly be putting to use on my travels coming up. Our gift bags each had a single pink rose (can you say romantic?!)
Dave, you truly spoiled us and sure know how to make a girl feel like a million bucks!
I couldn’t resist taking this picture!
Thank you once again for such an incredible night from start to finish.
Continue reading below for outfit details!
Outfit Details:
Blazer: Laundry- By Shelli Segal (Winners)
Statement Necklace- J-Crew
Yellow Michael Kors Skirt- Winners
Tassel/Lace-up Heels- Zara
Bracelets- Kate Spade Charm Bracelet (Winners)
Assorted Gold Bracelets- Obsessions Fashion
Sara
This DIY nail art was so simple to do!
All you need are the two colour choices you’d like to go with for the marble effect, a clear top-coat and a toothpick, or another small tool.
I went with white as the base and a dark grey on top.
Seal the look with a clear top-coat and voila!
When I was organizing my closet I came across this shirt that my nails matched perfectly, so of course I couldn’t resist taking a picture!
XOXO Staffordable
A few months back I was fortunate enough to have a seat at Clarins Beauty VIP dinner hosted by Dave Lackie at the Arcadian Court in Toronto. I entered a contest that Dave Lackie posted on his Twitter, and I would have never thought I’d be lucky enough to win!
I was especially excited about the special guest (Eric Antoniotti- Beauty Editor & Expert for Clarins!) I was even lucky enough to sit right across from him at our beautiful dinner from Oliver & Bonacini (pictured below.)
Not only was the dinner delicious it was also presented beautifully, just like everything else set up around the room!
Of course the first thing that came to mind after I found out I was a lucky winner to attend as a guest was what on earth am I going to wear?!
With Clarins Beauty being internationally acclaimed as a French luxury cosmetics company I knew I had to step it up a notch! I opted for a full skirt with mesh details, ankle-strap stilettos, a striped (Parisian-feel) shirt and of course, my favourite (accessories!), and not just any accessories, one with LOADS of bling!
See below for some of the pictures of the event along with my outfit details!
I couldn’t not use my Revlon lipstick print nail-stickers for the event, they couldn’t be more perfect!
I had SO much fun and I cannot thank Dave Lackie enough for choosing me to attend this absolutely beautiful event! I learned so much and met some other bloggers and beauty-lovers alike! I hope to be able to attend another one of his events sometime again soon! 🙂
xoxo Staffordable-Blog