Goldfinger: Sally Hansen 18K Gold collection

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They say that all that glitters is gold.. well that’s the case with Sally Hansen’s new 18K Gold line.

Comprised of a hardener and a cuticle eraser, these two products are at your helm to get your nails ready for spring.  I don’t know about you, but my nails and cuticles are absolutely awful this time of the year.  My cuticles are so dry and bitter and my nails are super thin and peeling.  So this new line from Sally Hansen comes at the perfect time.

The 18K Gold Hardener combines real 18-karat gold with peptides and amino acids, ingredients known to promote healthy growth. The breakthrough complex envelopes the gold, creating a shatter-proof shield that protects nails so they grow stronger and longer. Wear it under or over nail colour.   The gold-infused strengthener treats and beautifies nails in one step, and it instantly hardens and fortifies nails to prevent breaking, chipping and splitting.  Why the gold?  Well, the gold shield forms a protective barrier to lock in moisture, so nails grow longer and stronger.

hardener

I’ve been using this for a couple days now and when I first got it I actually thought it was a top coat.  Luckily I read the box and realized that it acts as a base coat or a treatment.  I don’t really see the point of the gold, but it’s pretty on your nails if you are just wearing the product alone.  It’s not a full glitter, in fact the gold is quite sparse, but it does feel pretty cool to just wear gold on my nails. Do my nails feel stronger?  Somewhat, yes.  I haven’t had the chance to test it over the long haul, but I did notice they felt a tad stronger once I applied the product.

Their other new product is the 18K Gold Cuticle Eraser, something much needed on my dry, cracking cuticles. This guy is a pen that holds a gel texture which you squeeze onto your nail bed. The real gold traps moisture and nourishes cuticles.  The applicator has a built-in cuticle-pusher cap that helps you apply the product properly.

Cuticle eraser

So how does the gold come in? Personally, I don’t see any real benefit with the gold, but it does help exfoliate the cuticle area as it has a gritty texture. You are supposed to wash off the product after you massage it, so you are literally throwing gold down the drain, but it’s not like its a considerable amount of the stuff. Did my cuticles feel softer after I used it?  Yes, but like any cuticle treatment (I find), it’s mostly a temporary fix to an annoying problem.

Although I do find the gold aspect of these products to be kinda gimmicky, they are a pretty cool selling point.  I’m always in the need for a cuticle treatment and hardener, so they are quite handy to have on hand.  Plus the fact that there’s gold in them doesn’t hurt either.

Will you be trying Sally Hansen’s new 18K gold treatment line?

Please note, I was sent this product from PR.  All opinions are my own.

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Safe sun: Thermalabs Organic self tanner

TANNER I’ll be the first one to admit it.  If I ever look tan, it’s probably fake.

I like to think of myself as a self-tanning affectionado.  Years of self tanning means trying different brands, mastering the art of application, and getting the technique downpat.

Although I usually reserve my self tanning for the summertime season or if I’m going on a vacation, I recently went more blonder with my ombre, so I’ve found that darker skin and blonde hair go hand in hand (I’m seriously so pale). As a result, whatever winter, I’m so over you, I’m breaking out the tanner. I just need it in my life.

When it comes to tanner, I’m at a point in my life where I know what I like and what works best for me. My favourite formula is a mousse one, where you apply it with a mitt.  This way you see the colour, it dries almost immediately and I find it’s a faster process than a cream. With that being said, a part of me is still hesitant about the safety of self tanning.  I know it’s the “safest” way to tan, but anything that changes the colour of your skin… I’m not so sure.  I do have this theory that I have yet to actually prove, but I find that often when I apply the tanner at night (so it develops overnight) I have found that I get a cold a few days later.  Not sure if its a coincidence or what, but I’m somewhat hesitant to apply my beloved tanner nowadays (getting a cold is just not worth it).  Please let me know if this ever happens to you, I’m sure I’m the only one out there that this happens to.

Anyways, all this rambling brings me to a new tanner that I’ve tried recently that is organic. The Thermalabs Organic Self Tanner is a lotion formula that has certified organic ingredients in it, including avocado oil, olive oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter and aloe leaf juice. This one works like all the others, apply it at night and when you wake up, you’ll have a nice tan.

Before After

It doesn’t have the nicest packaging, but it certainly does the trick. I find a lot of tanners are quite gradual, but that isn’t the case with this one. I applied this stuff at night and when I woke up I was nicely tan.  The colour was dark enough that I felt a second application wasn’t needed, but if it was summertime, I probably would apply it at least another time to get a touch darker.

This product is available off Amazon.com, but keep in mind it’s quite “no frills”.  It’s a white lotion that develops colour over time.  Therefore, you have to really make sure you blend it well because you won’t see where you put the product.  If it’s uneven you will wake up streaky. Also, it does have a scent; not as bad as other tanners out there (although I have found that self tanners have gotten better with their fragrances over time). Overall though, for $19.99 USD, this stuff is great.  An organic tanner that leaves you nice and bronze (not too orangey) for 20 bucks?  It’s worth it.

As for longevity, I applied it on Sunday night and the colour was still visible by Friday, so definitely longer wearing than others I have tried. Also, keep in mind that I’m a fitness instructor (AKA sweating and showering every day, sometimes multiple times a day), so for this stuff to last this long is pretty impressive.  One more thing, typically when you apply tanner you are supposed to shower after the colour has developed to get rid of the colour guard, which will make you look lighter than you looked after it developed.  This product kept the colour pretty spot on, so huge kudos for that.

Thermalabs does have a satisfaction guarantee policy, so if you don’t like the results you get you can ship it back and get a full refund.  If you apply it properly though, I don’t see anyone not liking this product.

What’s your favourite self tanner?

Please note, I was sent this product for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Ready for spring: Loose Button Luxebox Spring 2015 box

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Stop what you doing right now and head over to Loose Button’s website to order the spring 2015 box. Seriously guys, this season’s Loose Button Luxe Box is worth every penny.

I previewed what they had in store about a month back, and I finally received my box a couple days ago.  I got the winter 2014 box and was disappointed by the offerings, but this one? They hit it out of the park for spring. For those of you new to Loose Button, they are a beauty subscription service where they mail out boxes every quarter.  The Spring Luxe Box is tailored to each member’s beauty profile and they always make sure to not include a duplicate product that they may have received in a previous season’s box.  You can check out how it works here, but in the meantime, let’s get to what I got this season.

My box was valued at over $72 and included products I would actually use. Usually in these boxes, there’s always something that doesn’t interest me, but every item in this box is something that I would get good use of.  There was only one full-size product, but everything else was generously sized and to be honest, makes great travel sizes (I have a few trips coming up, so these will come in handy).  Here is what I received:

  • Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract (50 ml)
  • Crabtree & Evelyn Petal Pink Nail Lacquer (full size)
  • Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer (4g)
  • BUXOM Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation (four-shade sample)
  • Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse with Mini Mitt (25 ml)
  • Suzi Skincare Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser (30 ml)
  • Eyeko Brow Gel (4 ml)
  • Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (50 ml)

Open box

The bronzer! The brow gel! The tanner! Heck, even the nail polish! You know when you sign up for these services and they show logos of prestige brands, but then you end up with stuff from brands you’ve never heard of?  This is not the case. Most of these brands are prestige brands, and to receive such generous-sized samples is rare for a beauty box, trust me.  A full-size of that tanner is over $60. The Too Faced bronzer retails for $38 full size, and to get 4g of product, that is amazing.  I find bronzer lasts forever, so a mini size of this is more appealing to me than the full size to be honest.  Plus it smells like chocolate. Just saying. I was even happy with the nail polish, which is always a given with these beauty boxes, because of the pale pink colour (my favourite).

foundation

There is still time to sign up for the spring box and believe me, you will want to get this season’s box, just for the brands they are offering alone.  Every box is different, so you may receive different products than me, but even the other products that were previewed and weren’t in my box are amazing.  Seriously guys, if you are into beauty subscription services, get on this one. You will not be disappointed.

Will you be signing up for the spring 2015 Luxe Box?

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