Quick way to mend cracked nails

If you work in an environment where you're always using your hands (like me!) , a good nail strengthener is a godsend! I've already gone through 2 bottles of OPI Nail Envy, so I decided to test drive Essie - all in one base total nail treatment.

Here are my beat up nails naturally:

 dry, cracked and peeling...

....and after 2 coats of Essie's nail treatment:

The consistency is much thinner than OPI's . It's more similar to a base coat. But definitely an improvement.

xx

FOTD- Funtabulous Lips!

I just bought this MAC Dazzleglass in Funtabulous, and I'm in love! I tried to get a good photo of just my lips, but that was the best I could do :( Definitely doesn't do this lipgloss justice. In real life the color is more of a vibrant sparkly purple.

Also... I just realised how much of a white cast MUFE HD powder causes to my face in certain lighting.  Maybe not such a good idea for darker skin!

FOTD-soft n peachy

Face:

+ Chanel Vitalumiere foundation 

+ BareMinerals Mineral Veil setting powder

+ MAC blush in Peaches 

+ NARS bronzer in Laguna

+ MAC cream color base in Pearl

Eyes:

+ MAC Mineralize eye shadow in Making it Easy

+ MUFE black eyeliner

+Clinique Dramatically Different mascara

Lips:

+MAC Kissable Lip Colour in So Vain from the Peacocky Collection

...in natural light:

I HEART Tea Tree Oil

I definitely have more than a couple unsung heros in my beauty regime, but one noteworthy product that I feel doesn't get much hype is tea tree oil! 

I originally found out about tea tree oil in high school, when I was dealing with eczema. 

It is an antibacterial essential oil that works wonders for most skin ailments! I would use it to sooth my eczema breakouts, but also as an amazing alternative for treating/ disinfecting your pimples and blackheads. In addition to all that, I often massage a couple drops into my scalp when I feel like I'm suffering from dandruff, irritation, or even for those greasy days where I'm feeling lazy to wash my hair. 

Basically think of tea tree oil as:

+  all natural essential oil

+  antifungal

+  antibacterial

+  antiviral

+  redness reducing and healing

Obviously no single product can be a perfect cure for our body issues but tea tree oil is definitely a major all star player to combat problematic skin. One draw back that I must say that this stuff is quite potent! If you are applying oil directly to sensitive skin beware that it might sting! What I do to relieve this is mix a couple drops with aloe vera gel or a vitamin e cream to dilute the stuff to my liking.

Also try to use the oil at night unless you want to walk around all day smelling like a freak. It's not exactly a sexy, girly scent ;) 

xx

HAIR DIARIES: 03/09/11

My hair has been a huge obsession since...well...forever! I'd explain my hair type as dry,  course, wavy, and very high maintenance. In Vancouver, where it rains every other day, I have virtually stopped styling my hair straight because it will just frizz up the instant I step outside. When my hair wants to cooperate with me I really like my natural look, but it's so moody that it becomes more of a love- hate relationship!

Anyways, my one great issue is that I have chronically dry hair, it just looks damaged most of the time, so I can't ever wear it straight. I've decided to go on a mission to improve the overall texture of my locks. To some degree I know what I need to do, I've just been a lazy girl for the last bit.

This weekend I bought some great products that I'll give a test run, and see how things go. My goal is to have long, beautiful and lustrous locks a la Kim Kardashian. Gorgeous.

xx

Everyday Essentials : winter edition!

These last few months have been super busy! I've always been on the go, and since I like to travel light I try to reduce my makeup bag to things I absolutely can't live without. So this is what I've been using lately:

+ Korres Ginger & Vitamins foundation- a little hard to blend unless I mist my face with fix+ first.
+ bareMinerals tinted mineral veil
+ Lush tea tree water face mists
+ MAC Superslick Liquid eyeliner from the Fabulous Felines collection
+ The Body Shop Vitamin E moisture cream and hand lotion.

I don't know why, but lately I have been obsessed with facial sprays. I feel like they pep me up half way through the day, as if I took the smallest shower ever ha!

March Update!

With spring around the corner I've been thinking a lot about my goals for the next bit  and also where I see myself going for the rest of 2011. First and foremost I'm really excited and motivated to get back in shape, especially since my hot yoga obsession died pretty much right after it started! I want to buy a new bike, or fix my current bike, get back into tennis, go for more runs, and do pilates in the morning. I want to get away from exercising at the gym (I haven't been going anyway) and into more sporty things which are more engaging and fun .

Other goals I have that I want to implement starting now are :
*  take way better care of my hair
*  find more natural/organic products to use for my skin and hair
*  consume less alcohol and more water
*  eat healthier foods with antioxidants and all the good stuff
*  find ways to be more organized
*  get that hot body for summer!!

Lets start workin it out for spring!