If there is one skin care product that the beauty world has been abuzzing about, it’s Glam Glow.

This mud mask, available in a few different formulations, leaves skin noticably radiant and glowing.

I’ve known about Glam Glow for a while now, but the super hefty price tag has always turned me off from buying it.  Available from Sephora, a 0.5 oz jar of the Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment retails for C$21, and the 1.7 oz of the same formula is C$69 (yes, you read that correctly).

I received the Glam Glow holiday set, which contains the 0.5 oz size of the Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment and the 1.2 oz size of the Supermud Clearing Treatment.  The set retails for C$75, which is expensive (but less expensive than if you were to buy them separately), but would make a really nice gift for those who absolutely love Glam Glow.

So what’s the difference between the two?  According to Sephora, the Supermud Clearing Treatment is a scientifically advanced treatment to target, prevent, and heal problem skin.

Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment

This formula was clinically developed by GLAMGLOW® dermatological chemists to help fight all common skin concerns including breakouts, discoloration, black and white heads, razor bumps, and in-grown hair. Powerful, skin-clearing mud visibly draws out dirt and congestion while a proprietary six-acid blend dramatically brightens and softens skin. It works to magnetically draw out dirt and pores with Activated-X Charcoal, leaving skin smooth and healthy-looking.

Based on consumer trials, after one day of use:
– 94 per cent felt their skin looked renewed
– 91 per cent saw an improvement in skin clarity
– 94 per cent felt it gently cleared their skin

On day seven after using it three times in a week:
– 98 per cent felt their skin looked renewed
– 97 per cent saw an improvement in skin clarity
– 97 per cent felt it gently cleared their skin

Glam Glow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

The Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment is a 10-minute professional-quality mud mask for men and women.

This mud mask leaves skin noticeably radiant and glowing. It works with the body’s natural moisturizing collagen to provide gentle resurfacing exfoliation and helps to leave skin smoother, brighter, and softer. While providing tighter skin texture and tighter pores, it provides a more youthful appearance and absorbs impurities without removing natural oils.

Based on consumer trials:
– 97 per cent agreed it left their skin smoother, brighter, and softer after one day of use
– 91 per cent agreed it brightened their dull skin after one day of use
– 100 per cent agreed it brightened their dull skin after using it three times during a seven-day period
– 94 per cent agreed it provided gentle surface exfoliation after one day of use
– 97 per cent agreed it provided gentle surface exfoliation after using it three times during a seven-day period.

So to sum it up, basically, the Supermud Clearing Treatment (the white bottle) is for problem skin, whereas the Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment (the black bottle) is for aging and “camera-ready” skin.

Since face masks and girl’s night go together like peanut butter and jelly, I naturally called up my bestie Jessica to try out the masks, bake cookies, paint our nails, cuddle with dogs, watch TLC… you know, the usual.  She tried out the Supermud Clearing Treatment and I the Youthmud.

Rocco wanted to try a mask too but he’s not a girl..

Okay, cute things aside… because the Youthmud is exfoliating, it contains little twigs and leaves and even tingles as you apply it.  It’s a 10-minute mask which goes on dark but soon hardens and changes colour to a lighter shade.  Once 10 minutes are up, you will notice that there will be some darker spots on your face, this is gunk that is in your pores and has risen to the surface.

After washing off the mask I did notice that my skin looked more radiant and bright.  It also felt smoother than normal.

As for the Supermud Clearing Treatment, Jessica gave that one a try because she has problem skin.  This formula goes on much darker than the other one and you can leave it on anywhere from five to 20 minutes.  Like the Youthmud, it starts off dark and then lightens up and tightens, like cement.

We both found that you can definitely see your pores more with the Supermud.  Jess said her skin did feel smoother after the mask.  I also gave this one a try on Monday and found my skin was super smooth after removing it.

Me using the Supermud – notice the pores.

Overall, I really liked these masks.  They definitely live up to the claims.  I haven’t tried these over a long period of time, and I don’t have problem skin, so I don’t know if they heal acne or anything, but if you are looking for a luxurious mask, this is definitely it.

If I had to choose one mask between the two, I would go with the Youthmud (the black bottle) because I like how exfoliating it is.  With that being said, I felt that I used a lot more of this product compared to the Supermud, so it probably wouldn’t last as long as the latter.

I still think this product is very expensive considering how much you get.  I would definitely just reserve this for special occasions and use it maybe once every two weeks (I’m not a huge mask person to begin with).  If you do masks on a weekly basis, I would try this out at least once, and maybe invest in the smaller jar to see if you like it.

Have you tried Glam Glow?  Did you like it?

Please note, I received these products from PR.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• How to wear pastel-coloured makeup + exciting news!
• Polished & perfect: Interview-ready beauty tips
• It Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 mascara
• Falling leaves: a fall look featuring It Cosmetics

For all you Sound of Music fans, Too Faced cosmetics have a released a super cute set that I’m sure even the von Trapps would have loved.

Fresh for holidays 2013, Too Faced’s A Few of My Favorite Things set is a showstopper this season.  The set, which retails for C$64 contains a portfolio of 20 eyeshadows, two blushes, two bronzers, their Lip Injection Color Bomb! in Bee Sting, a mini Better Than Sex mascara, and a glamour guide all housed in the cutest chevron-printed clutch.

This set is exclusive to Sephora and honestly I think it’s probably one of the best sets I have seen for this holiday season.  I do have Too Faced’s Sweet Indulgences set from last year’s holiday season, and although that one contained more stuff (it had a full-size Shadow Insurance, makeup brush, highlighter), I much prefer this one. Maybe because the other one was housed in a tin so it’s a bit bulky to have laying around, or maybe because I think the eyeshadow colours are so much better this year, I highly recommend this set!  There’s also the fact that I’m obsessed with the (huge) chevron print pouch, which was designed by Mary McDonald, celebrity interior designer and star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Decorators”.

A lot of colours in the set are inspired from the Sound of Music and there are fan faves, like their matte Chocolate Soleil bronzer (which smells like chocolate) and the Sun Bunny bronzer (which was also included in last year’s set).  There is also a pink and peach-coloured bronzer, also similar to last year, except these ones have special themed names.

Top: A Few of My Favorite Things eyeshadows (holidays 2013). Bottom: Sweet Indulgences eyeshadows (holidays 2012).

Compared to last year’s set, I definitely prefer the eyeshadow colours this year.  I feel like there are more wearable ones in this collection and as a result, I feel like you can get more wear out of this.  I’m not a huge fan of Too Faced’s eyeshadows as I find them to be a bit chalky, but that’s just personal preference.  The colour I was most excited to try was Party Time, a glimmering navy colour, but when I tried it it was a lot more sheer when applied as opposed to how it looks in the palette.

As for the mascara and lip plumper, I really like them!  I haven’t tried any mascara from Too Faced before so I was excited to try Better Than Sex.  It left me with long, voluminous lashes and the brush really reminded me of Covergirl’s Flamed Out mascara.  The Lip Injection Color Bomb! in Bee Sting, which is a colour exclusive to this set (it wasn’t a shade listed on Sephora’s website), is also really great.  This full-size product (which normally retails for C$25) is a nude colour, and to be honest, is a bit painful when first applied, but since it’s a plumping product, that is to be expected.  The pain only lasts for like 10 minutes (remember, beauty is pain!).

Overall, I think this is probably one of the best sets I have seen thus far for the holiday season.  I feel like the amount of product you get with this is a lot compared to how much it costs. I also feel like everything is super wearable and if you don’t know how to wear it all, you can follow the steps in the guide (perfect for newbies!).

Eyeshadows used: Party Time, Chocolate Milk, Cream Colored Ponies. Mascara: Better Than Sex. Lips: Lip Injection Color Bomb! in Bee Sting. Cheeks: Raindrops on Roses. Bronzer for contouring: Chocolate Soleil.

Eyeshadows used: Moon on Their Wings, Crisp Apple Strudel, Buche de Noel, Cream Colored Ponies, Whiskers on Kittens. On brows: Woolen Mittens. Bronzer: Sun Bunny Bronzer. Blush: Melt into Spring. Also used Better Than Sex mascara and Lip Injection Color Bomb! in Bee Sting.

Is Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things holiday set on your wishlist this year?

Please note, this set was sent by PR.  All opinions are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• Vegas haul 2012
• Montreal beauty haul
• Las Vegas 2011: The haul/August favourites!
• What’s in my purse

Another day, another pink post.  I’m on a roll!

One of the biggest trends in nails for the past year has been nail stickers, an easy way to do nail art with no hassle.  I’ve tried a bunch of them from different brands and have definitely loved some more than others.

A brand that is new to me is Australian-brand Fing’rs, whose products are all about nail art.  From artificial nails to stickers to even a nail art kit, they have everything you need to recreate Pinterest-worthy nails.

L to R: Starlet, Transit, Hollywood.

I received three of their nail stickers, which are decals you apply on your nails, similar to the Sally Hansen, Essie, and L’Oreal versions (all of which I’ve tried).  Each pack comes with 24 stickers and are billed to last up to seven days.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada, there are eight different designs available (according to their website).  I received Hollywood, Transit, and Starlet.  Being obsessed with pink and glitter, I chose to try out Hollywood first to see how well they held up.

The application is similar to the Sally Hansen ones.  Basically, you peel off the size closest to your nails, apply it, then fill off the excess.  These are sealed in a plastic wrapper and have a plastically smell when you open it, but they are more along the lines of the Essie and L’Oreal versions, rather than the Sally Hansen ones, where after you open the pack, you can’t reuse the extras.

I applied these last Saturday and they have actually held up really good six days later.  A couple of them look a bit worn at the tips, but it’s nothing you would notice unless you look really closely.  None of them have peeled either, which is really nice.

Overall, I really liked these!  The design looks way better on then it does in the package, and they are really eye-catching (I find myself looking at my nails a lot).  I would totally recommend these over the Essie and L’Oreal ones simply based on the fact that these are easier to apply and they stay on perfectly. The only downside I can think of would be the availability of this product.  Like I mentioned, they are available at Shoppers as I’m told by PR; however, I haven’t seen them at my local store.  I’ll check out some other ones and let me know if you have seen these in stores.

Have you tried Fing’rs Nail Makeup?  If so, let me know your thoughts!

Please note, I was sent this product for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• Nail art made easy: L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Nail Lingerie
• Pastel Paradise: My top spring nail polish picks!
• Nailed it! L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Press-On nails
• Lift without the Botox: It Cosmetics Brow Power Lift