February Favourites: a first

Evening all!
So I am not really one to do "favourites" as you probably have noticed, this is my first of this series. I don't even know if anyone would be interested in what I am favouring for the month... but here goes.

First up is Schwarzkopf got2b smooth operator smoothing hairspray - This has to be the CHEAPEST(as in price) hairsprays that I have bought ever, yet it is one of the only ones that I like! I love it because it does smooth my hair, while leaving it super manageable. Another thing I like about it is the smell. I know. You are not suppose to inhale hairspray but while trapped in a cloud of it while styling, at least this one smells nice. $6.99CAD(ON SALE: $3.99CAD)

Over the past maybe 10 years I have had to deal with acne, and I can finally say that I found something that helps! When I first started this blog I think I did my second post(I don't think anyone read it) about Tanda. What is Tanda? A blue light therapy for acne; basically it kills that p.acne bacteria on the skin which causes acne. 
So why am I featuring it for my February Favourites? Well this month I have had many pimples appear out of "no where" and this little baby has saved me once again. (I wasn't using it for about a month, guess that taught me!) $250CAD/6000 treatments


Here is another favourite for my hair. Nexxus HEAT PROTEXX- Heat protection styling spray; this lovely spray has literally saved my hair from death! 
I tend to curl and straighten my hair quite regularly(every other day) and all this has caused damage to my hair. Thankfully I have noticed a difference when using this baby. It does not smell bad when heated, it does not feel sticky and you can literally not feel it in the hair at all. On top of that, it hydrates the hair, leaving it shiny and smooth. $11.99CAD.


Revlon Custom eyes mascara - I am VERY picky with my choice in mascaras. I actually tend to use false lashes every day. 
The reason I am featuring this mascara is because it has been the best mascara I have found to work with false lashes. It does not clump or flake. The brush is super flexible and is plainly awesome! $8.99-$10.99CAD


Lise Watier Metamorfix liquid transformer - This has to be one of my favourite products. It is awesome to help shadows with little pigment become more pigmented. It makes any powder into liquid, any eyeshadow into a liner or liquid eyeshadow. And on top of that, it makes the product last longer. 

EOS lip balm 'summer fruit' - I love this lip balm(as does everyone who tries it). I love the shape, smell, taste, size, EVERYTHING about it! Just try it... believe me. 





Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you thought of them! Are you going to try any of these?

and don't forget to enter my contest! :)

ProduCt.ReViEw. -La.Roche.Posay.EffAcLar.Duo.

The product: La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Double Action Acne Treatment

Claim to fame: "EFFACLAR DUO is a complete skincare solution that combines 4 active ingredients to act on the 2 major signs of skin with imperfections : 

Severe local imperfections : Niacinamide and Piroctone Olamine helps to purify the skin and protect against breakouts developing. 

Sebum-blocked pores : The LHA/Linoleic Acid combination to help unclog pores by eliminating dead cells, responsible for their obstruction. 

These active ingredients are combined with soothing and anti-irritating La Roche-Posay thermal spring water.

Mattifying and moisturizing cream-gel. Refreshing and non-greasy." La Roche Posay

Ingredients: AQUA / WATER ≤0%,GLYCERIN ≤0% ,CYCLOHEXASILOXANE ≤0%, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE ≤0%, NIACINAMIDE ≤8%, ISOPROPYL LAUROYL SARCOSINATE ≤0%, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE / AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE ≤0%, SILICA ≤0%, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER ≤3%, SODIUM HYDROXIDE ≤0.3%, SALICYLIC ACID ≤0.6%, NYLON-12 ≤0%, ZINC PCA ≤0.1%, LINOLEIC ACID ≤0%, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE ≤0%, CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE ≤0%, CAPRYLOYL SALICYLIC ACID ≤2%, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL ≤1%, PIROCTONE OLAMINE ≤0.6%, MYRISTYL MYRISTATE ≤0%, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE ≤0%, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE ≤0%, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE 

Pros: Contains a 0.5% of salicylic acid to help shed dead skin cells and help unclog pores and clearing breakouts, 

Vitamin B3 which helps decrease hyper pigmentation that causes scarring, inflammation from the pimples and anti aging as well, Piroctone olamine which helps by being antibacterial to cleanse pores, soothes irritated skin, and is a great anti oxidant, and also contains Linoleic acid which is a gentle exfoliator to help cell regeneration. It's a light weight gel texture. Not drying on the skin.

Cons: Wish it came in a larger size. A pump would be great for fool proofing the amount needed while dispensing.  

The bottom line: I've tried many acne lotions and creams and I find this one to be one of my favourites. It's like a face cream and spot treatment in one.

Price and size: $25 CAD/40ml

Rating: 4/5

I.Hate.It.WheN.I.WakE.uP.WitH.A.PimpLE! - breAkoUT.SoLutioNS.

It can seem like a nightmare, waking up to a BIG RED PIMPLE! Especially when we have special event that very day. 
Acne breakouts are never welcomed by anyone. Most times it seems that these annoying pimples appear overnight, however the development of an acne breakout is quite an extensive process that starts days before the pimple appears on the surface. Acne is a skin disorder that affects the sebaceous(oil) glands. Pimples begin as a blocked hair follicle or pore. To clearly figure out why or how the pimple appears, we need to understand how this blockage happens. 

Within the skin we have the top layer (epidermis) which is composed of five layers. In the deepest layer of the epidermis(stratum germinativum), new cells begin their journey to the skin's surface. As the cells reach the top layer(stratum corneum), they are dead and the surface has a granular appearance. The dead cells are constantly falling off and being replaced by other dead skin cells(desquamation), which takes about 28 days. 

Next you have the dermis which contains blood vessels, nerves, arrector pili muscles, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles. And it is here within the hair follicle and the oil glands that acne starts.

The hair follicle is a tube like opening on the skin where hair and oil can reach the surface. In a normal working follicle, oil secreted by the sebaceous glands goes into the pore. Usually oil and dead cells shed off the surface. In an acne prone skin however things are a little different. Oil and dead skin cells get trapped in the follicle. This builds up and creates a hard plug that blocks the pore opening. This is called a comedo. It then becomes a non-inflamed bump or a blackhead. 

For a breakout to fully form, there needs to be a Propionibacterium acnes(P.acnes). P.acnes bacteria are on everyones skin, but on an acne prone skin, the population grows out of control. With the comedo blocking the pore opening, this stops the flow of oxygen to the follicle. With this anaerobic environment, plus the over production of oil, makes the perfect environment for P.acnes to grow. With the follicle filled with oil, dead cells and bacteria, it swells and the walls of the follicle break and spills into the dermis. The skin then sends white blood cells to fight the bacteria and redness and swelling form and puss is made. Equalling a pimple! 
But now that we know how it got there....HOW DO WE GET RID OF THE PIMPLE(S)!?
Here are some tips on how to get rid of a breakout/pimple quickly and safely, because we don't want a scar!
1. NEVER ever pick, squeeze or pinch your pimple. This will yes make it look smaller, however it can make the pimple more red and inflamed. Another thing is that it can cause more pimples, as bacteria can spread. This can also cause scarring.
2. Have a facial regularly, as an aesthetician can remove blackheads safely without causing scarring.
3. If you have a special event and a pimple decided to ruin the day, try applying ice to the pimple for 2 minutes, every half hour. This will help to minimize swelling and redness.

4. Cleansing the skin with the appropriate cleanser for your skin twice daily will help reduce bacteria growth and excess oil build up. Remember to remove everything, including makeup before going to bed.
5. Using an exfoliator/scrub twice weekly will help the natural exfoliation process, therefore reducing dead skin buildup. 
6. For an instant fix: Try a concealer! While in a hurry, using a little bit of concealer on the spot will conceal the pimple.
7. Try a spot treatment for pimples. Find one containing benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These ingredients will help cleanse the pore and reduce inflammation.
8. Try wearing an oil free foundation, as this can help to reduce pore buildup. 
9. My favourite solution to a break out is the Tanda Clear light therapy treatment. I always do this when I have a breakout.
10. Check out my posts about Acne scarring, review on a good face cream for acne prone skin, Enlarged pores, Ways to reduce oily skin , or  Tanda Clear light therapy treatments!

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CraTeR.FacE..PiZzA.FaCe..oR.thE.LuNaR.SuRfaCe..

It can be embarrassing walking around with acne, as it affects up to 80% of us. Many sufferers of acne walk away with no permanent effect, but for those unlucky ones, like myself, are left with disfiguring acne scars. Usually topical skin care and medications can help with mild scarring, but serious cases need to be addressed with surgical procedures and skin resurfacing.
Scarring can be traumatizing to have, but do you know what it is and how it got there?
After the pimple has healed you may notice a red or darkened spot. Many mistake this as scarring but it however is not; it is a mark from inflammation caused by the pimple. After the pimple is healed, the skin must go through a healing process, which unfortunately can take between six to twelve months. If the area stays acne free, it can then heal properly. If after about a year you still notice a mark, colour change or skin defect, it is then considered a permanent defect or scar.
Honestly the best way to not get scars is to prevent them in the first place. To do this you must first understand what causes acne and use the right treatments according to which type of acne you have. See this article to learn what causes acne.

Once you unfortunately get a scar after acne you need to treat it if you want it to go away or fade at least. One thing to remember though is that scarring is damage to the skin, so it will be a lengthy process and there is no promise that the scarring will or can go away completely. During the healing process you can however help aid the lesion from getting worse. An important thing to remember is to wear a good broad spectrum sunscreen on the mark as any exposure to the sun will make more damage as well as delay healing. You can get tretinoin to help speed up the skin's remodelling process. Also using Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can also help exfoliate the area, removing pigmentation and smoothing the texture of the skin. One thing you should never do, in any stage, be it pimple, healing process or scarring, is to NEVER pick at the area as this can cause further damage and scarring.
There are many types of acne scarring; in July of 2001, the classification system was developed. This classification system is based on how the scar looks and can help determine an effective scar treatment procedure.

"Icepick" - This scar gets its name because it appears that the skin has been punctured with an icepick. It is usually narrower than 2mm and can go as deep as the dermis or subcutaneous layer. These scars unfortunately are too deep to fix with resurfacing treatments(dermabrasion/laser resurfacing). They are usually caused by an infection from a cyst or a deep inflamed blemish. The skin tissue is destroyed, leaving a long column like scar.

"Boxcar" - This scar is a round or oval depression that has sharp vertical edges. Shallow boxcar scars are 0.1-0.5mm in depth and can be treated with skin resurfacing techniques. Deeper boxcar scars are more than 0.5mm deep and require more serious treatments. These are caused when an inflammation breakout destroys collagen, therefore tissue is lost. The skin is left without support therefore a depression is made. 

"Rolling" - These scars look like a wavy texture on the skin, usually caused by severe acne. It is due to bumps and depressions in the skin that is a type of scarring left from the outbreaks and infection of acne. These cannot be helped with conventional skin resurfacing techniques and must be fixed by breaking up the subcutaneous fibrous bands.

"Hypertrophic or Keloid" - These scars are firm and raised. They are larger than the original wound. They are unlike icepick or boxcar scars, instead they are caused by an overproduction of collagen. To treat them you usually have to use steroid(cortisone) creams, tapes, injections.  (This is the kind I have on my right cheek caused by bismuth oxychloride in BareMinerals :( )


Removal of acne scars can be very difficult. I recommend going to see a dermatologist if you are concerned about your skin. They can recommend the best solution for your specific case. As I am not a dermatologist I will not recommend what to do but I can tell you what I did and am doing to treat my specific case.
I have suffered with acne for 10 years and counting. Recently I have been blessed to find a great skin care regime. However I do have pitted scarring and pigmented scarring on my face. I do regular peels and microdermabrasion treatments on myself at home. I use the Neostrata products. I also use my Tanda Clear light therapy treatment pretty much every day. My skin care regime includes the Vichy Normaderm gel cleanser, Clarins toner for oily/combination skin and the Biotherm Biopur SOS normalizer moisturizer.

Thanks for reading! Please FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT!

EeewW, DiD.yOu.SeE.HoW.OiLy.hEr.sKiN.iS?.IT's.LiKE.ShE.rUbS.VaSoLiNe.oN.iT.oR.sOmEtHiNg....i.cAn.sEe.mY.ReFLeCtiOn.iN.HeR.BuTtErFaCe.

Everyone and anyone can experience a little oil on their skin at some point or time, but what if it gets to be a nuisance? What can we do to control it or get rid of it? Read on...

If you are like 85% of the population who has combination to oily skin or oily skin you may feel like you are always fighting a battle that you cannot win. We can blame our genes for a huge part of this. Also hormone levels that are changing such as puberty and changes during our 20's can often cause oily skin and even trigger those nasty outbreaks of acne. But women and men of all ages can suffer from oily skin, especially woman around our "time of the month", pregnancy or even at menopause. And did you know? that certain kinds of birth control pills can increase oil production on the skin.

So what are we to do? Well we have to understand what is going on first:

This is a healthy normal skin.

This is an oily skin with over productive sebaceous glands.You can notice that the sebaceous gland(where the oil on your skin comes from) is larger. You can also notice on the skin there is oil and sweat, which creates the hydro-lipidic film(the skins natural moisturizer).

Covered In What?

Did you know that the outermost layer of your skin is composed entirely of dead skin cells and oil? It's called the stratum corneum, and it protects the living skin cells underneath it by lubricating the skin and trapping in moisture [source: University of Iowa].

I recommend a lot of products on a daily basis to customers for their oily skin and for their acne. Here are some solutions that I've found that have been effective.

1. First things first, make sure that you are cleansing, toning and moisturizing every morning and night. Having a regular skin care routine is a must for clear skin. And please don't cleanse your face more than twice a day, cleansing repetitively will actually trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Equalling oilier skin. Ew!
2. Using a balancing oil on you skin will actually control oil. (YES, I said oil!) Your skin needs oil on it. Good oil! If your face has a balancing oil on it, it will actually know not to produce more oil.

3. Using blotting papers, primers and oil controlling products do help. Just don't OVER do it.
4. Using makeup that is oil controlling or that has a matte finish. Generally powders are best for an oily skin.


I have an oily/combination skin and this is my daily routine. 
Morning - Cleanse with Clarins gentle foaming cleanser for oily combination skin, Tone my skin with Clarins toning lotion for oily/combination skin, mosturize my skin with Biotherm Biopur SOS normalizer. I then like to start my makeup with a primer from Smashbox (photo finish light) and an eye lid primer from Smashbox (photo finish lid primer) and continue with my regular makeup routine.

Night - Cleanse with Clarins gentle foaming cleanser for oily combination skin, use my Tanda Clear, Tone my skin with Clarins toning lotion for oily/combination skin, use Clarins Lotus treatment oil for oily skin, mosturize my skin with Biotherm Biopur SOS normalizer. 

I also highly recommend using the Smashbox Anti shine, it works wonders and truly controls oil. It's great under makeup or over(comes in a travel compact). 










The truth is you can't get rid of oily skin, you just have to live with it and control it. Try not to disturb it and take care of it. I've heard it's also best to have an oilier skin as it does not show signs of aging as fast.



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Neostrata - Skin Resurfacing Duo/Skin Renewal Peel Solution

HEAVEN SENT FOR SCARRING! So these two products have helped so much with my scarring(from acne on my face and motorcycle burn on my left ankle) This stuff definitely works wonders! So gentle you can sleep with it on and you won't burn!(I've done it) I have been using these for the last year and a half and have notice most of my acne scarring is gone. Redness from scars are gone.. Texture is flush with rest of the skin and smooth. I am 22 and have suffered with acne since I was 12.. ten years and counting! I also find these inexpensive because you get so many uses out of them for only $73CDN/each(if you are lucky like me you'll find them together in a bonus pack!)...meanwhile you can go to the spa and or dermatologist and pay $100+ per session! And end up with sensitivity after.
A definite must by for every age and skin type!

Skin Resurfacing duo (Like microdermabrasion or an intensive scrub)                                                                              

HOW TO USE - 1 - 7 times per week. Can be used on face and body.

1. On a clean damp face massage a nickel sized amount of crystals on the face(avoid the eye area) for 1 minute.

2. Now massage the activator over top of the crystals for 2 minutes. This should foam slightly and you will feel the crystals melting. 

3. Rinse throughly and continue with your regular skin care regime. (I suggest not using anything else with exfoliating benefits to it after using this)

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Mix both crystals and activator together in palm and massage on skin for 2 minutes. Then rinse.

Skin Renewal Peel Solution (Don't worry! You are not peeling this or your skin off!)

HOW TO USE - 1- 7 times per week. Can be used on face and body.

1. Shake solution and apply some on a cotton pad (provided in box)

2. On a clean dry face massage cotton pad on face for 5-15 seconds(avoid the eye area).

3. Leave solution on face like a mask for 5-15 minutes. (you may experience some tingling, this is normal...any burning. TAKE OFF IMMEDIATELY)

4. Rinse throughly and continue with your regular skin care regime.

I saw results after the first 3 months. Because scarring is damage to the skin you have to understand that it will take a while for the scars to fade or go away. 

!!TIP #1!! I suggest using these in conjunction with a sunscreen(spf 30 minimum) and a spot lightening treatment.

!!TIP #2!! Use these for radiance, scarring, wrinkles, dry patches and much more!

Tända Clear™ Acne Light Therapy Treatment - .Natural.Healthy.Beautiful.

Do you suffer from acne? and nothing works?

Then I really suggest that you try this amazing treatment from Tanda. It is not your ordinary skincare and can actually be added to you daily routine. It is a blue light therapy that does not burn the skin or make it sensitive in anyway. I love it because it is easy to use! Basically the science behind it is that it 414 nanometre blue light kills all the p.acne bacteria, therefore shortening the lifespan of an already existing pimple or prevents further breakouts.

As someone who suffers from acne myself I have tried "it all" and even went to the dermatologist who recommended me to do blue light therapies in his office for $100+/treatment for about 5-10 treatments.... equalling ALOT of $$$. So I decided that buying the Tanda for $250 for 6,000/3 minute sessions wasn't expensive at all. It's actually saving me TONS of money!....

How to use:

They sell a starter kit that includes a free cleanser and blemish gel.

1. Cleanse face with cleanser and water, this cleanser will remove everything. including sparkles or glitter that can be in some makeup and skincare and actually acts like little mirrors for the Tanda.

2.Apply Anti -Blemish Gel only on concerned areas. Basically this gel levels off the skin to create a 90 degree angle for the Tanda to work properly.

3.Treat with the Tanda Clear. Don't worry about losing time on the Tanda because it has contact sensor, meaning that it only works when it is touching your skin. Apply the Tanda on concerned area for the full 3 minute session. You will hear one beep every 30 seconds and 2 beeps when the 3 minutes are finished. When I am done I use one 3 minute session by moving it all over the face to kill all bacteria and ensuring no breakouts.

Here's a video showing how the Tanda Clear works!

!!TIP #1!!: The Tanda battery dies when not plugged in. To store it either plug it in the charger or keep the little plug that come with it! Don't throw it away!

!!TIP #2!!: Do not clean Tanda with anything containing alcohol as it will cloud the lens! Instead I recommend using Bioderma Sebium H20 Cleanser