Treating Mosquito Bites

I'm not a fan of mosquitos, mostly because I'm their chosen victim...

100% of the time. Even though, I've had horrible experiences in the past with them,

I apparently still did not learn my lesson. My worst experience with a mosquito bite

was when I was in Vietnam, when I was around 12 years old? I don't really remember.

It was over a decade ago and it swelled up pretty badly... I had a fever and my ankle

was swollen to the point where it was literally purple. I had to get injections and well...

it was pretty bad, haha. I've always had very bad swelling with mosquito bites.

This past weekend (Saturday), I went up to the cottage with my partner and I got bit the

night we arrived. Yep, the first night, but apparently it was not just one bite. No.

Apparently I had to get 3 mosquito bites on my left foot. Just my left foot.

It looked fine the night of, looked kind of weird the second day, but I thought it

would go away, but then it started to swell up really badly... to the point where it

was getting difficult for me to walk properly.

My mom was pretty pissed at me when I got home, for not coming back earlier.

She put freshly cut aloe vera all over my foot. It was pretty painful.

The aloe vera definitely helped, but I had to go to the doctor to get it checked.

Apparently it was infected and I needed antibiotics. I wanted to avoid taking

antibiotics, but this is what happens when I don't learn.

So... I am doing a post about treating mosquito bites. For my own sake and yours.

If you react badly to mosquito bites, like me... you may want to take note(s) :p

Be sure to use organic, pure ingredients, if you want the best results.

♡ IMMEDIATELY ♡

1. Disinfect the area immediately with rubbing alcohol

2. Soak the area in epsom salt with water, or baking soda and water

(for areas like the feet, leg) for 10 minutes

♡ TOPICAL OPTIONS ♡

You have to be pretty consistent with these, apply it at least 3x/day

1. Apply aloe vera generously on the area and let it dry

2. Apply calendula/marigold tincture or a calendula healing cream

3. Apply an apis/ledum cream (homeopathic remedy)
ex. Dapis Gel from Boiron

Cold compresses may also help after doing all the above steps.

But before even going outside, you should be spraying yourself with something,
to prevent the mosquito bites. I am currently using the Saje b-gone spray.
It works pretty well because I haven't gotten bitten after using it. I was just being
completely stupid for not spraying it before I arrived to the cottage...

I would recommend any spray containing: witch hazel, lavender, citronella, catnip, eucalyptus

A scientifically proven mosquito/bug repellent spray is Yemaya's Outdoor Spray, which I can't
seem to find online, but you can purchase it at Peaches & Green, if you're in Toronto.
It was studied at the University of Guelph and has proven to be just as effective as DEET.

and you might not want to wear a lot of perfume/nice smelling scents...
but scents like lavender, lemongrass, should be fine.

They're also attracted to sweat.
Basically when you're feeling quite hot and emitting some kind of body odour.
Either through your skin or your breath.

Take care! ♡

Surviving Menstrual Cramps ♡

I know many of us suffer from these painful cramps :(

I was one of them, but I have learned how to make them subside quickly.

I have also learned how to prevent them from happening, as severely as they used to.

All of this information is based on what I have learned and know from

studying holistic nutrition. It may not work for everyone, but it could work for you!

Please do your research and consult a professional for any of my supplement recommendations.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Eliminating sugar, refined foods, and dairy is important, as these will aggravate

the symptoms further. It is best to avoid these foods at least 1 week before

and during your period. But if you can avoid them altogether, forever, then that

would be even better :D Drink lots of filtered water! It's true that water is good for you.

If you don't have a very "healthy" diet, meaning an abundance of dark leafy greens,

whole grains, nuts (good fats), etc., then you may want to consider taking a magnesium

supplement. Make sure the supplement has some source of natural/organic calcium with it,

or the magnesium will not be properly utilized in your body = wasting money :)

I only take the magnesium when I feel cramping or know that I will get cramps.
Only you will know your body, more than anyone else!

I would recommend MegaFood's Magnesium, since they have organic spinach as

the synergistic source for the magnesium.

What is magnesium good for?

Well, it's an essential mineral to your body and without it, I'm not quite sure how

you would really function. It helps to maintain nerve, muscle function, supports the

immune system, supports heart function, maintain bone density, regulates blood glucose levels,

and helps the production of energy and protein. Magnesium is also known to be a calming

mineral, so some people like to take it before bedtime. It helps to relax the muscles.

Foods high in magnesium include:

*To get the full benefits of these foods, eating them organic is preferred*

♡ raw spinach or cooked swiss chard

♡ squash or pumpkin seeds

♡ mackerel

♡ soy beans

♡ brown rice

♡ avocados

♡ bananas, figs

♡ 70%+ dark chocolate

I honestly don't get cramps anymore and in a way it's amazing, but at the same time,
it's what I depended on for knowing when I'll be getting my period. The first day or two
will always be a little uncomfortable, but at least I don't feel pain anymore.

About 70% of what I eat is organic, and I make sure there are no refined sugars in my meals.
I have noticed a huge difference, ever since I changed my food choices.

♡ REAL Essential Oils!! ♡
Yes, I find that applying the right essential oils help with my cramps!
They're truly amazing and work in less than a few minutes.
A blend of clary sage, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, bergamot, ylang ylang,
patchouli, and cinnamon has helped me personally. Your blend may slightly differ
or even be the same! I personally do not use diluted oils because I know my skin and
body is perfectly fine with the concentration of these oils. Please be careful when applying
the pure form of essential oils to your skin, as some people may be sensitive. Do a small test patch!

But of course, you know yourself better than me :)

How I use them?
My essential oil blend is made by a lovely classmate of mine, custom made for me :p
If I feel a little uncomfortable in the abdominal area, I roll on the essential oil blend
directly onto the area between my pelvis and abdomen area. Then I use my hand to rub it in.

You will definitely feel a cooling sensation and then a warming sensation.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Acne??
For those who get acne before/during your period, I found drinking dandelion tea really
helps with clearing up the skin! I am currently drinking Traditional Medicinals Everyday Detox
in the Dandelion formula, not the Lemon. Make sure you get the Dandelion :) I only drink this
maybe a few times a month? I usually get deep pimples before my period, but now I notice
only small ones, which can easily be healed.

Why Dandelion??
Dandelion is a great herb/flower that is great for detoxing the liver and kidneys.
Your liver helps to eliminate toxins from the body, so you want a healthy liver!
The liver has many functions, not just that. If you want me to write a post regarding
the liver, feel free to let me know :)

I will make another post regarding how I treat my acne, naturally :p

I hope some of this information was helpful!
Have a lovely weekend! ♡

Resolutions Ambassador for Well.ca ♡

Guess what!?

I've been selected to be one of the New Year's Challenge participants for Well.ca!

I received $100 to spend on the website, so here are the items that I picked out!

Thank you Well.ca! I shop on the website frequently!

#wellnewyear #wellnesshaul #wellnessdelivered

♡

So what were my resolutions for this year?

I want to support companies who care about the environment, on a social or ecological level.

To start off, I will always look for organic products, but that's just a starting point.

There is so much more involved in the products that we buy and how they are made.

Looking for labels that are also non-GMO is also important to me.

I like supporting Canadian companies as well. Products being fair trade

and biodegradable/easily recyclable is also important! Check the number in

that rotating triangular symbol. It should be a #1 or #2, for it to be easily recyclable.

I know plastic packaging is an issue and I will work on reducing!
Unfortunately 3 of the items I chose cannot be recycled :(

I've chosen very practical items! There will be some items that I didn't

really need, but have been wanting to try out *ahem, skincare*.

🍁 Canadian Product

♡ Skincare ♡

1. Andalou Naturals Soothing Face Mask
I've been wanting to try something from their '1000 roses' skincare line.
But this will be a gift for someone instead :) I don't like the packaging though.

2. Divine Essence Organic Sweet Almond Oil 🍁
I thought this would come in a spray bottle, but it came with a pipette.
I wanted to try using this as a body moisturizer, only on specific areas... specifically my legs.
They have been very dry, due to my lack of moisturizing. It's been so dry that tiny spots
have been cracking and bleeding... :( Nothing major, but you can definitely see it.

3. LaVigne Organics Mayan Magic Balm 🍁
Apparently this balm is great for people with eczema, so it must be a fairly
good healing/moisturizing balm. It also has a nice natural scent, even though
they say it's unscented... I mean, any natural product will have a scent :p

♡ Personal Hygiene ♡

4. Green Beaver Frosty Mint Toothpaste 🍁
A more affordable natural toothpaste on the market, while also being biodegradable.
It has a light texture, which others may not like, but I'm happy with this toothpaste :)

5. Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste
I love this toothpaste! It's expensive, so I normally would not buy this.
It has a mousse-like texture and the flavour reminds me of spearmint gum.
The consistency is not too thin or thick. It feels great in the mouth :p

6. Organ(y)c Sanitary Pads
This is a brand from Italy! They make biodegradable and organic cotton pads :)
Why organic cotton!? We come in contact with cotton everyday and it's one of the
most chemically treated plant in the world. Some of the chemicals are extremely toxic,
therefore not only affecting the water, environment, but also the people who work on a cotton farm.

7. Organ(y)c Organic Cotton Pads
For the same reasons above :) and I have a habit of using cotton pads for my face,
when applying facial toner. This is not a necessity.

♡ Food ♡

8. Bob's Red Mill Organic Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats
I need to eat too! This will be my breakfast for the next month :p
I like my oatmeal with 1 tbsp of any nut butter, little bit of honey, banana slices
and a dash of cocoa/coconut hemp seeds! yum.

9. Central Roast Organic Raw Cashews 🍁
I love raw cashews! It's one of my favourite nuts.
I also like almonds and pistachios :)
Unfortunately, I do not like the plastic packaging :(

10. Yellow Superfood Organic Nutritional Yeast 🍁
If you've never tried nutritional yeast, then you are missing out!
It honestly reminds me of fish food flakes though.
If you are a vegan, this is a great source of vitamin B12 :)
It has a super mild nutty taste, but becomes creamy and subtly cheesy when cooked.
I love adding this to my pasta and on top of my omelette.

♡
Thank you for reading! and Thank you Well.ca for choosing me!

ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner ♡ Crimson & Clover

I have been wanting to try the ILIA tinted lip conditioners for over a year now.

When Sephora had their annual end of year sale, I knew I had to pick up a couple!

I couldn't really justify the original retail pricing, because I don't wear lip products

often, other than lip balm, so this was a great alternative! It's super moisturizing and pigmented!

I also picked up the colour in Shell Shock, but I'll focus my review on the Crimson & Clover.

It's my favourite of the two and I'm in love with it!

The retail price can range from $26-32. I purchased mine on Sephora when they had a $20 off sale.

I ended up getting the lip conditioners for $21 each. That's a pretty good deal :p

What I love:

♡ The case is made with recycled aluminum

♡ Their products are made with certified organic ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax,
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf*,
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil*.
May contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide CI77891, Black Oxide CI77499, Yellow Oxide CI77492, Red Oxide CI77491, Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410,
Yellow 5 CI19140. *Certified Organic Ingredients.

♡ From Vancouver, BC :) A Canadian product

♡ There's jasmine oil in this lip conditioner. I love jasmine!

♡ It leaves a lovely stain and doesn't dry out my lips

♡ I don't have to reapply. It leaves a stain and gradually
fades into a lovely pink shade on my lips :)

Here is a swatch of the colour. You can easily build up the colour from something

more sheer, to bold. I love wearing it both ways. It also leaves a lovely stain and is not

easily rubbed off when eating. I just had an apple and the colour is pretty much intact.

 My photos don't do it justice! It looks so much better in person on my lips :p

It's more red in real life and has this bright "punch" to the colour, my camera can't capture.

The colour of the lipstick on their website is actually quite close.

Not the swatch, but the photo of the whole lipstick with the colour in the tube :)

♡

The colour 'Jump' is on my wishlist :p

Have a great weekend!

My Favourite Biodegradable Products ♡

As you may all know by now, I like to be more eco-friendly and have been

trying to reduce the amount of waste I produce. I have compiled a list of

some of my favourite biodegradable products!

To be even more eco-friendly, I have decided to take the natural fibre clothing challenge!

I just made it up, but if it's actually a thing, then yay! :p

Meaning... I will try to buy only clothing made from

100% Cotton, Linen, Silk, Wool, Cashmere, and Hemp :)
If you know of any other natural fibres, please let me know!

__________________________________________________________________________

♡ Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Breads/Bags

I love their bread. I have only tried the Ancient Grains Big Red's and The Queen's Khorasan.

Their plastic bags are also biodegradable. Yay! Their breads are also super nutritious,

organic and non-GMO.

♡ Pela iPhone Cases

These beautiful iPhone cases are made with flax straw! Unfortunately, they only

have cases for the iPhone, but I'm hoping they'll expand to other phones as well.
The cases have a smooth texture and the right amount of thickness.
This is also a Canadian company :)

and here is a photo to prove that I actually buy these things :p

♡ The Green Beaver Company Shampoos & Conditioner

I am trying out the whole shampoo line and I'm really enjoying the lavender :)

Fine Lavender is used in the ingredients list and many of you may not know this, but

there are many types of lavender! They all have different uses :)

Fine Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia) is commonly used in aromatherapy, which helps to

promote relaxation! It has a complex sweet, refreshing and woody scent cultivated in the

south of France. I also have Fine Lavender essential oil for my diffuser and I love

using it in the evenings before going to bed :) Kashmir Lavender is also good for that.

I also love Matter Company's Biodegradable Soaps, especially the Rose!

I can't seem to find it on their website :( I bought mine at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto.

I hope you found this post helpful and interesting!

Happy Holidays! Stay safe and eat healthy! :p

Don't be tempted to intoxicate yourself with sugar and processed foods :)

New Skincare Picks ♡

I went to the One of a Kind Show in Toronto recently and picked up a couple

of new items for my skincare routine! It's pretty cold where I live and it's been

snowing all week. I was at work yesterday and there was one point where I just

turned to look out the window, and it was literally all white with some tree branches.

It was beautiful! :)

Watershed Naturals | Lavender & Aloe Seaweed Moisture Mask

I haven't tried this out yet, but it was very moisturizing on the back of my hand.

I intend to use this as an intensely hydrating overnight mask. My room gets very

dry during the winter and this will be very helpful. I'm currently using an oil-based

serum at night, but even that isn't strong enough :p

Thayer's | Rose Petal Witch Hazel

I normally use the Lavender Witch Hazel, but they were sold out in the store and I couldn't

be bothered to order it online, since I was running very low. I've tried this before and I

personally prefer the lavender, but I'll give this another chance... and the bottle is adorable.

Watershed Naturals | Herbal Facial Peel

This is actually the first time I've seen a liquid peel! It's common to find them in Asian

beauty products, in the form of a gel. I love the light consistency of this peel! and it

really works, to get rid of the dead skin off the surface of your face/hands. This one also

contains much less and natural ingredients, compared to most Asian peeling gels.

Sukin | Super Greens Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturizer

I love the original Sukin Facial Moisturizer and have been using it for many years.

They recently came out with a new version, containing spirulina and kale! I was intrigued.

My friend picked this up for me, as a Christmas/Holiday gift :) Thank you Brenda! :)

I'll let you guys know if it's just as great or even better than the original! I'm still trying to

finish up my current daytime moisturizer :)

Stay warm and I hope to blog more during the holidays!!! ♡

Pacifica Solid Perfumes ♡

I've been looking for more natural alternatives to fragrances, so I decided

to try out the Pacifica solid perfumes! I love how compact and small it is.

They are about $9 each and Whole Foods seem to have them at the best price.

I've seen them sold online for about $13.

What I like about them:

♡ They're easy to travel with

♡ Inexpensive

♡ Made with essential oils, instead of artificial fragrances

♡ They don't last as long compared to the conventional fragrances,

but that's actually a good thing. You don't want chemicals stuck onto

your skin. Fragrances should naturally dissipate through time.

Spanish Amber

Rosy Geranium and woody Sandalwood in the middle and citrusy Bergamot and Elemi on top

It smells very warm, with a touch of spice. It's definitely a fall scent :)

 ORGANIC COCOS NUCIFERA WAX (COCONUT WAX), ORGANIC GLYCINE SOJA WAX (SOY WAX),

PARFUM (PACIFICA’S OWN PERFUME BLEND WITH NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL OILS),

PRUNUS ARMENIACA WAX (APRICOT WAX), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE (COCONUT SOURCE)

Persian Rose

Bulgarian rose, subtle violet, myrrh, oakmoss and cardamom

I'm usually not a huge fan of rose scents because the quality and combination

really matters. This one smells refreshing and uplifting. It's not your typical

pungent rose scent. It's more light and I find that it lasts longer on me,

compared to the Spanish Amber solid perfume.

ORGANIC COCOS NUCIFERA WAX (COCONUT WAX),  ORGANIC GLYCINE SOJA WAX (SOY WAX),

PARFUM (PACIFICA’S OWN PERFUME BLEND WITH NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL OILS),

PRUNUS ARMENIACA WAX (APRICOT WAX), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE (COCONUT SOURCE)

I also like the Hawaiian Ruby Guava scent :)

It would be lovely for the spring/summer.

Do you have a favourite natural perfume? Let me know! :)

I Love Lip Balm! ♡

Lip Balm is definitely one of my favourite skincare products!

and I will splurge.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner ~$14

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm ~$35

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (Limited Edition Maple Syrup) ~$30

I use the Caudalie Lip Conditioner on a daily basis. I bought a mini set for Christmas

and the balm came with it, so that's why I am using it :) I do like it though! It feels

very light on the lips. It's the perfect balm for the spring and summer season.

When I want something a bit more luxurious and conditioning, I go for my Rodin lip balm.

This is one expensive lip balm, but it's my all time favourite. I love the tiny subtle shimmers

in this! It's beautiful and conditions very well throughout the night. I love using this during the

fall season, near my birthday :)

The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask is thick! It's perfect for the winter season, in Canada.

It really does nourish the lips throughout the night. I think it's the best one I've tried for

my dry, cracked, peeling lips during the harsh Canadian winters. Really. I would not

wear this during the day though, because it is quite thick... or you could try to thin it out.

But it does leave a cast-like feeling on the lips, because it is quite nourishing. It's a mask after all.

Warning: My lip mask kind of hardened/froze during the winter, making it difficult to

squeeze out of the tube. The top of the tube actually split open, haha. So try to store this

at room temperature and not in my freezing cold bedroom.

_____________________________________________________________________

I'm always looking out for a new lip balm to try.

Check out this article from Reviews.com. They did a test and came up with the

Top 3 Lip Balms! I am definitely going to try the best overall lip balm.

♡

routine. Deodorant♡

I think I have a new favourite natural deodorant :)

Introducing routine. deodorant cream!

Honestly, I bought this because of the name :p

The unscented version (which I prefer), is called "bonnie n' clyde"♡

How cute is that!? If you haven't seen the movie from the 60's, I recommend it!

♡Ingredients♡

cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), zea mays (corn, non-gmo) starch,
cera alba (canadian ethical beeswax), theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, butyrospermum (shea) butter,
tocopherol (vitamin e), calendula officinalis (marigold) infused olea europaea (olive) oil

This retails for about $28-30 (eek)

But do not freak just yet, because I found this on sale for $25 at Well.ca

Okay, not a huge price difference but I still love this deodorant.

This tub will last me all year, really.

Why I love it.

♡ It's an actual cream formula!

Most natural deodorants you find are more solid, meaning it would only

melt in contact with your skin. But this deodorant is emollient at first touch!

It's a true cream formula, which I love (a mini swatch above, in the circle)

♡ It's made in beautiful Calgary, Alberta! (in Canada)

♡ The girls behind this brand named, Neige and Pippa (what freaking awesome names!?)

♡ It works for me and I tend to sweat quite a bit in the summer = some odour.

I mean, I don't have bad odour... but you know, this keeps everything from going crazy under there.

It lasts a good 6-8 hours for me :) which is beyond what I expected.

I'm on a roll with blogging! There will be another post coming up next week.

But, no promises, because we all know that I'm a liar when it comes to blogging on time :(

My Eyebrow Routine♡

My Eyebrow Routine!

---------------------------------------------

In collaboration with Into The Gloss♡,

I wanted to share my own take on brow trends with people across the globe!

How To Maintain The Shape

I personally like thick, bold brows, straight but slightly arched.

Examples include brows like Audrey Hepburn or Lily Collins :)

Many South Korean celebrities also have the shape of brows I prefer on myself.

♡ Firstly, if I notice my brow hairs getting too long, I will use a spoolie to brush

them up. Then I will trim off the extra parts peeking out of my brow shape.

I would tweeze out any excess hair in the surrounding area of my brow shape.

♡ Second. I like to fill in my brows by basically shading/drawing them in.

I find this very therapeutic, like drawing :)

♡ Finally. I will brush it out slightly with a spoolie to even out the colour.

What I Use

I like using pencils or tinted markers. I have yet to try pomades (really would like to try).

I usually pick up items that seem convenient and easy to use. I like to be the one to control

the shape of my brows, but the product should make it easy to do so.

(products in photo below are in order)

☆ Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil (dark brown/black brown)

☆ Sante Brow Pencil (No.2 Brown)

☆ Innisfree Tinted Dual Brow Marker (Espresso Brown)

☆ spoolie, brow scissors, tweezers (for those extra hairs)

I'm looking for better organic alternatives, but these are the ones I have been using.

Purpose

I do my brows to look more polished. There are days where I will be very light handed,

while other days, I would make a statement with my brows. It depends on the occasion

and most importantly, my mood :) I used the Etude House pencil in the photo below.

I used to have very thick, bushy eyebrows, which I didn't like at all.

I like how my natural brows are now, even without makeup.

It's natural looking, but definitely not over-tweezed.

Tips
For beginners, I would recommend a pencil or even a powder.
It will be easier to control and fix mistakes.

Tinted markers are still quite new to a lot of people and it requires
patience and perfection! It's hard to fix mistakes, because it adheres
quite quickly/dries quickly.

♡ Check out my Instagram to see more of my brows! haha :) ♡

------------------------------------------------

Check out this article from Into The Gloss♡

on how to fill in eyebrows, if you're interested!

All the makeup I brought with me to the Netherlands

I decided to do YouTube videos! It's actually very fun and I hope to see some of you on there!

In this video, I show all the makeup products I brought with me.
I couldn't bring everything, so these are all my essentials!

Review ~ Smile Brilliant ♡

Professional Teeth Whitening

I was contacted by Smile Brilliant to try out this fairly new teeth whitening system!

I was always self conscious with the yellow spots on my teeth, so I searched

them up a bit in Google and decided to try it out!

I don't do collaborations if I don't find it useful, so please be sure

that my reviews are honest and of my own opinions :)

I was sent a boxed set of the teeth whitening materials needed.

It retails for $180, but they are currently selling it for $120.

They are also doing a GIVEAWAY! Please check the end of this post! :)

 It comes with two types of moulding paste, for you to create your teeth mould.

I like how it's customized to your own teeth!

 It comes with an instruction guide and everything is quite straight forward.

First you mix the white and blue paste, fairly quickly, because you don't want it to harden.

 Then you press it into the blue container and make an impression of your teeth!

It comes with two trays, one for the bottom row and one for the top :)

Sorry, if you find this photo disturbing :p haha I find it quite fascinating!

So this is my BEFORE photo... as you can see, I have yellow spots :(

After making your teeth impressions, you mail it back to them.

Then they will make an actual mould for you and mail it back to you!

this process takes about 1-2 weeks, but well worth the wait!

 So you need to do the actual whitening process twice.

First, there is the actual whitening gel, then you need to put in a desensitizing gel,

which helps to retain the nutrients in your teeth and resolve any sensitivity you may have.

I have pretty sensitive teeth and gums, so I don't leave the whitening gel in my teeth

for too long, usually 15-30 minutes maximum, because I know my teeth will not like it :)

 The syringes look kind of scary at first, but it's super easy to use!

 Just add a thin strip of the gel in the middle to the mould, so that when you press it

against your teeth, it helps to spread it to the bottom and top portions of the teeth evenly.

The whole whitening process takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours for me. It depends on how

long you want the gel to absorb. You can do longer sessions, if you are not as sensitive.

 This is my AFTER photo, after going through 4-5 sessions.

The yellowness has significantly reduced. I can't wait until my teeth are completely white!

I can definitely see a difference and the syringes last A LONG time for me.

I have a small mouth, so I guess that helps :p I can use 1 syringe for 3-4 sessions.

♡ GIVEAWAY! ♡

Prize: $139.95 store credit

The winner will be given a code to use at checkout!

The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

(if the winner is outside of the USA, they will have to pay the

shipping cost for sending their impressions back to them)

Enter the Giveaway HERE!

Good Luck! I hope the winner will love it as much as I do.

Teeth whitening or any kind of dental procedure is expensive :(

You can also check out this great YouTube video by Dani Mansutti :)

Chosungah Brow Maker ~ Black Brown

I have been looking for something new, for my brows :)

The Chosungah Brow Maker had some good reviews on the Sephora

website, so I decided to try it out for myself. I do like Korean beauty

products, especially for the eyes. I find that their colours/shades work

well with my skin tone. I picked the Black Brown shade.

I love this stuff. This is not a natural/organic beauty product, but the

packaging and the design of the product has won me over!

First of all, it's a 4-in-1 product. I can comb, set, colour, and fill in my brows!

This product doesn't work the best if you have very sparse brows though.

My brows are naturally pretty thick, so this just makes them more polished.

I thought there would be too much product coming off of the brush when

I first pulled it out of the tube, but it gave me the perfect amount.

I did have to get rid of the excess product from the wedge tip.

It doesn't soak too much of the product, making it very easy to apply.
It is also waterproof. I went into the shower and it didn't smudge or come off
until I cleansed my face. It was very easy to remove!

:)

2 posts in 1 day! Sorry for abandoning the blog for a short while :p

Product Fail ~ Gel Polish Soak-Off Clips

I do my nails with gel polish every 2 weeks or so and I usually remove them

by soaking my nails with cotton, wrapped in aluminum foil. I saw these

soak-off clips for removing gel polish and it looked like a great idea... maybe

I could be eco-friendly and buy something reusable... but nope.

I do not recommend these clips.

WHY?

Because they are not suited for everyone.

If you have slim fingers and smaller nails, like me, then these will

definitely not work for you. The clip wasn't able to close all the way

on some of my nails because my nail/finger was too small.

I also feel that the clip isn't completely enclosed onto the finger tip,

so it is exposed to oxygen, making it less effective to soak off the gel.

I bought these clips here.

I love Cosmetic Love though. They have great prices and some of the

latest Korean beauty products/tools. They also offer free shipping, which

is great :) definitely check out the other products from their website!

♡ Primal Pit Paste! ♡

Okay, so I've wanted to make a blog post/review of the Primal Pit Paste

deodorant since last year... literally. I even took photos of the product

last Autumn, but I never got around to it.

So enjoy my review! :)

I finally have the day off this week! :p

 I got the Light, Unscented version because I don't like fragrances in deodorant.

I've read other reviews regarding their Regular deodorant being a bit too strong,

as in itching and so forth, so I opted for the Light version, knowing how sensitive

my skin can get with skincare products. They also have other scents, such as

Lavender, Orange Creamsicle, Lemonade and more :)

I love this because:

☆ Fragrance free, no scent

☆ Leaves my pits smelling odour-free

☆ Keeps my pits dry for a good 3-5 hours

(it really depends on the weather and how much I am running around/stressing)

☆ In a jar, where I can get every last bit of the product
☆ It's a solid and melts when in contact with your skin
☆ It's in a glass jar, making it reusable/recyclable

I wish it:

☆ Controlled perspiration... I mean it helps a bit but definitely not for

someone who perspires a lot during the hot summer days

*This is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant so I can't really say much :\

Important Note!

☆ Make sure you exfoliant, wash your armpits at the end of the day.

The baking soda/acids may darken your pits over time if you don't take care of the area!!!
☆ Don't overdo it, it might leave a white cast if you put too much.
I recommend about 1-2 pea sized amounts for each side :)

Ingredients (Organic*)
Organic Shea Butter, Arrowroot Powder*, Coconut Oil*, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda

The jars are $8.95 each, which is quite affordable, but since I'm Canadian,

I had to pay a bit more for shipping which was about $10. I would still purchase it again.

You can get a trial sized jar for about $3.95 on their website.

and I redid my nails last night! Aren't they cute? :p

I can't believe I changed the shape of my nails, in order to do these heart tips ♡

I'm wearing Bio Seaweed Gel's Sweet Pea! It's like a light purple/blue/periwinkle :p

Hope you're all having a nice weekend :)

♡ Recent Nail Designs ♡

I have clearly abandoned my blog for a good 4/5 months now :(

I have been very busy with work, but I hope to blog a lot more

near the end of May, when I travel abroad for a couple of months.

I love doing my nails for special occasions,
so here is one I did for Valentine's Day :p

and my most recent nail design, using all Bio Seaweed Gel polishes :)

Hope you are all well!
There are so many things I want to share on my blog :(
I'm just eagerly waiting for Spring to come.
This cold, dreary weather is quite depressing!

♡ Current Winter Favourites ♡

Long time no see! :p Sorry, I've been busy with work and

haven't had much time or patience to blog. I'm supposed

to be working at this very moment, but I felt like blogging ><

It's legit winter here >< -5 degrees celcius, which feels like -15!

I've been into headbands recently... not sure why but they

keep my hair in place when it's windy outside. I can't wear

them for long periods of time though, because my head starts hurting.

I bought these lovely headbands from Claire's :p

 and some beauty favourites :)

The Weleda Almond facial lotion is great for this time of the year.

I also love my Etude House Jelly lipstick :) It's actually quite moisturizing.

I love the warm nutty vanilla scent during the cold months and the

Vanille Noire is currently my favourite from Yves Rocher :p

and this is my current nail design! :)

with Shellac's 'Indigo Frock' on the tip, layered with

'Zillionaire' (glitter). Then I stamped on some Konad designs :)

Hope you're all enjoying your week :)

Casper ♡ Own Your Bed Head

I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to my hair.

I brush it twice a day... try to wash it every two days.

My roots get oily quickly, I'm usually good for one day.

When I wake up on my second day hair, it becomes extremely flat.

I have been trying out a ton of different dry shampoos within' the

past couple/few years. My current favourite is the Acure Dry Shampoo.

You can find it at Whole Foods or on iHerb.com :)

My hair is usually slightly tangled up when I wake up.

I use all natural haircare products. My hairdresser has noticed a

difference in the texture of my hair, ever since I made the change

over 5 years ago. I take my skincare/beauty products pretty seriously :p

I am currently using/switching between Jason's Tea Tree Scalp

Normalizing Shampoo, Live Clean's Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo,

Jason's Smoothing Sea Kelp Conditioner, and Live Clean's Invigorating Conditioner.

In the Winter, my hair gets extremely frizzy, but I haven't found anything
to solve that issue. The conditioner I use, does help to smooth things out.

☆ Drying your hair tips ☆

(Tips from my hairdresser)

➣ Never wring out the water from your hair

➣ Twisting your hair, while it's still wet will damage your strands

INSTEAD

➣ Pat your hair dry with a towel

When my hair is still damp before I go to bed, I just lift up my hair

onto my pillow, so that I'm not sleeping on it. This helps it air dry

evenly when you wake up, creating less tangles.

I like to flip my hair and brush it upside down to get a bit of volume :p

I wish I had beautiful hair like Wonder Woman lol

I've been contacted by Casper to blog about tips on combating messy morning hair! :)

Casper is a new sleep startup that sells comfortable mattresses.