I absolutely love being Canadian.
From our lush landscape to our fresh air and free country, there are definitely a lot of perks to being a “canuck”. When it comes to shopping though, although we do have a lot of American retailers here in our home and native land, sometimes I want items that just aren’t able to ship up north, or charge an extravagant shipping fee (Target, anyone? #RIPTargetCanada).
I’ve never tried out a mail-forwarding service before, but when Qwintry got in touch with me to see how well their services are, I couldn’t say no. Since the Jaclyn Hill Morphe palette is so coveted and one of the most hyped-over items from last year, I quickly placed it in my cart and instead of paying the $15.95 USD shipping, I shipped it to Qwintry’s warehouse in Delaware (which is a tax-free state, might I add. Total score).
When I was in LA last April I made sure to stop by the Morphe store since their products are so affordable and great quality. Same goes for a lot of other “Youtuber-hyped” makeup brands, such as Kylie Cosmetics, ColourPop, Dose of Color, etc. The Jaclyn Hill Morphe palette features 35 eyeshadows in matte and shimmer formulas that run the gamut on colour selection. Thinking neutrals? Pinks? Bold colours? They’re all in there.
Thee has been so much hype over this palette when it was first released, and after playing around with it, I can definitely see what the fuss was all about. Although I haven’t tried all the shades yet, the ones I have tried offer up amazing pigmentation that is soft to the touch and incredibly blendable. I know Jaclyn was going on and on about this palette when it first launched and how it took two years to do since she wanted the formula to be perfect, and I have to say, it’s damn good. This palette retails for $35 USD and is unfortunately only sold through Morphe or Ulta, so finding it here in Canada isn’t going to be an option (Showcase sells some Morphe products, but not this particular palette).
We’ve all been there. We find some cute items that are such a deal and then go check out and find out the shipping to Canada is ridiculously expensive (sometimes more than the actual item itself). If you’ve never used a mail-forwarding service before, with Qwintry, you ship your packages to their warehouse in Delaware (again, which is a tax-free state, so you’re paying less than you would anyways if you shipped to Canada), then they receive it, repackage it, and send it to your address. Once they receive the box, you just pay the shipping on the parcel from their warehouse to your destination.
The only downside with using their services is that you are waiting a little longer for your package to arrive (depending on the company that is. I’ve waited weeks before for packages from the U.S.). They receive it first then reship it. Of course though, you’re saving on the shipping charges in most cases, so it’s totally worth it to me to ship it through them (again, tax-free state though, which comes in handy if you are buying an expensive item, like a designer bag or something).
All in all, the Morphe palette came in about two weeks and I was very happy with how seamless the process was. Since this particular product featured eyeshadows, which sometimes tend to break in transport, thankful it came all in one piece since they repackaged it so well. Qwintry was very reliable in terms of giving me updates on the status of my order and if I’m ordering multiple things from different retailers in the U.S. I would definitely use their services to consolidate the packages together and save on the shipping.
Check them out online at qwintry.com.
Have you used a mail-forwarding service before?
Please note, Qwintry offered their services to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. They are also offering 7% off your first delivery, click here to check them out.
Over the past few months my false lash collection has gotten a major upgrade.
Not sure what’s in the water, but it seems like a ton of brands are coming out with new false lashes. From synthetic to mink to magnetic, there are so many wonderful options right now if you are looking to beef up your false lash collection.
When I was in Toronto a month ago I ended up going to Kiss’ Oscar party where we got to play around with the new Blowout lash collection. These lashes, which came out recently, utilize an advanced technology to deliver a naturally wispy-looking lash with full volume and curl.
Since the wispy style is so popular right now, and very wearable, I was very excited to try these out. They come in four different styles, Beehive (long with depth and definition), Pixie (long, more natural), Pageboy (fanned-out, flirty), and Pompadour (length, volume, and dense lashes). Each set retails for an SRP of C$6.97 and are available at drugstores.
So what makes a lash wispy? Well, these in particular feature a volumizing back-teasing technology where the hair goes through a salon-like treatment of being washed, treated, and dried, and the cuticles are expanded from the inside out. As a result, a unique crisscross wispy pattern is left.
Each lash features volume and curl and they blend seamlessly with your natural lashes. The really nice thing about these are that they have flared out ends, so your eyes have a nice lift to them.The lashes are very lightweight and comfortable, and paired with the Kiss Lash Adhesive, they stay on quite well.
I’ve worn the style Beehive a couple times and although you can definitely tell you’re wearing lashes, they aren’t as dramatic as others in my collection. I like this particular style since I do find them to be a good traditional wispy lash. This style has clusters of lashes on the strips so they blend in beautifully with your natural lashes. Out of the four, I definitely like Beehive the most since they are very subtle, but still work nicely with your real eyelashes.
So do I like them better than the Ever EZ style? The thing I love about the Ever EZ is that it’s a very subtle lash, so it’s not too dramatic. The styles in the Blowout line are a little more fuller than the Ever EZ ones, so if you are looking for something mid-range, then this collection is for you.
Will you be picking up a pair of the Kiss Blowout lashes? What style interests you?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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So last Saturday I was invited to stop by my closest Body Shop location and experience the new spring 2018 items. The Body Shop has a ton of items out for the season, some of which are new lines, and others are additions to their regular lines.
If you watched my Instagram Stories you would have seen that I was gifted this giant gift basket, which included every item from the Spa of the World collection, as well as other goodies. Since there was so much stuff to go through (#beautybloggerproblems), I decided to compile a list of my top-five items you need this season from the cruelty-free beauty and skincare brand. Some of these are tried-and-true favourites and others are new, but here is what you definitely need to try out for spring.
Roots of Strength collection
Okay, so technically I cheated here, since this is a whole collection consisting of three products, but if you have mature skin, then you’re going to want to look into their brand-new Roots of Strength collection.
Consisting of a Firming Shaping Essence Lotion (C$22), Firming Shaping Serum (C$42), and Firming Shaping Cream (C$34), this line is for individuals who want more firming and shaping in their skincare routine. The line includes products that are infused with three powerful plant roots to help restore your skin’s strength and shape: ginger, ginseng, and ruscus root. After four weeks of use, The Body Shop says that wrinkles will look reduced in number, surface area, and length. Skin will also feel more plump, firmer, and denser.
Start first with the Firming Shaping Essence Lotion, which you use after your cleanser to help prepare and activate your skin for the benefits of the routine. After, use the Firming Shaping Serum (the star product from the line), which is made with 99 per cent ingredients of natural origin. The serum glides smoothly onto skin and you will feel moisturized. After regular wear, your skin will look smoother, plumper, and firmer. Finally, use the Firming Shaping Cream, which helps skin to appear firmer and more plump.
Now I was told that this line is for more mature skin, meaning that it wouldn’t be a fit for me at the moment since I’m just shy of 30, however, my mom, who just turned 65 can definitely benefit from this line. In fact, with Mother’s Day coming up, this would be a perfect gift for mom.
Lip Juicers
Who doesn’t need a new lip balm? I keep lip balm in every room of my condo, and I always have to carry some with me since I always get dry lips.
These new Lip Juicer moisture balms are available in five flavours (Strawberry, Pomegranate & Aloe; Raspberry, Beetroot & Ginger; Kiwi, Kale & Watermelon (no tint); Acai, Blueberry & Ginger; and Coconut, Passionfruit & Carrot. They also deliver a pop of colour to the lips (no pun intended). Get kissable lips thanks to the Community Trade Organic Shea Butter from Ghana that it’s enriched with. Best of all, they are $10 each and 100 per cent vegan.
Spa of the World Thai Lemongrass Massage Oil
Okay, I would never usually use massage oil or buy it, but since they hooked me up with all of them, I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with its different uses.
I’ve been using the Thai Lemongrass Massage Oil (C$20) nonstop since I got it since I like putting it on my pressure points before bed time to calm my body and fall asleep faster. Since lemongrass has been used in traditional Thai massage for centuries, it’s the perfect scent for relaxation. I personally won’t be using this for massaging, but seriously, I highly recommend picking this up if you have trouble sleeping. I like applying it on my chest and chin, put on a meditation app, and I’m out like a light in 10-minutes flat.
Spa of the World Ethiopian Green Coffee Firming Body Cream
I’ve used this lotion before and I was quite happy to see it in the basket they gave me. This firming body cream is enriched with organic Ethiopian green coffee, which will help skin feel firmer and smoother. Usually when you get firming creams they include coffee, since it helps invigorate skin. This moisturizer, which isn’t as thick as their other body creams, stimulates your skin, and best of all, it doesn’t leave you feeling tacky as it absorbs into the skin quite fast.
I highly recommend this one!
Speaking of Spa of the World. their newest launch in the collection includes a four-range line of body washes, which I will be devoting a separate post to, so stay tuned!
Drops of Youth Youth Gentle Foaming Wash
I’m always on the hunt for a great cleanser, and since I love the Drops of Youth line already, I was so pumped to receive this foam cleanser ($20).
As part of their Drops of Youth collection, the product is liquid that turns into a foam when you pump it out. Skin will feel refreshed after use, and over time, help your complexion look younger. Since the Roots of Strength line doesn’t have a cleanser as part of the collection, you could pick this one up and incorporate it into your routine.
I’ve been a huge fan of The Body Shop for years now and always get so excited when they release new products. Like I said, some of the ones I received I already have in my collection, but I was pumped to receive them again meaning that I can gift them to friends and family so they can experience the magic of their products. As always, they don’t do animal testing and they also give back tenfolds to communities in Africa as well.
Since there’s a lot to go through, I’m still working my way through the basket, but keep a look out for the body wash post!
What are your favourite items from The Body Shop?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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