I love doing a mask at least once a week.
When it comes to choosing the formula, I’m not really that picky. Sometime I feel like a sheet mask, other times a clay mask, and then if I’m feeling really crazy, undereye and lip patches. Since I’m all over the map when it comes to picking a mask I’m in the mood for, I was super excited to receive this giant box of masks from Pixi Beauty about a month ago.
I knew that Pixi Beauty had tons of skincare options but I wasn’t aware of their vast network of masks. They really do have a mask for just about any skin concern. Shiny t-zone? Big pores? Puffy undereyes? There is a mask for them all.
Glow Mud Mask
If you are looking for something purify and cleanse the skin (maybe Sunday night for a fresh week ahead?), then look no further than the Glow Mud Mask (C$30). This deep purifying mask is a mineral-rich treatment that absorbs oil and draws out impurities. It also fights breakouts and gives an energetic boost to your complexion thanks to ingredients like kaolin, sea salt, ginseng and aloe vera.
Pixi calls this their “15-minute facial” and recommends using it two to three times a week. Although it should be left on for at least 15 minutes, I usually like wearing masks for at least 20 to 30 minutes (I am usually watching TV or reading a book while wearing them anyways). After rinsing, don’t forget to use a toner and then the rest of your skincare products.
Peel & Polish
If you are looking for something that will give you softer, smoother skin, then take a look at their Peel & Polish (C$34). This enzyme peel includes natural fruit enzymes to loosen dead skin cells, while the lactic acid gently exfoliates and the cellulose peels. It also contains sugar extracts that polish skin while lifting away dullness, leaving you with brighter-looking skin.
Pixi also recommends using this two to three times a week and since it’s a polish, leave it on skin for two minutes to let those enzymes activate. Rinse off and pat dry for a natural, glowy look.
T-Zone Peel-Off Mask
If your pores are bugging you then you must try out the T-Zone Peel-Off Mask (C$30), which is a mask that is designed for your T-zone and draws out impurities and lifts away oil to reveal fabulous skin.
This mask contains a blend of green super foods including avocado, cucumber, aloe, green tea, and bamboo extract which help to firm and refine skin. If you have dull, tired skin, then I would highly recommend giving this one a shot.
Glow Glycolic Boost Sheet Masks
If sheet masks are more your jam then you must try out the Glow Glycolic Boost, which is a pack of three sheet masks designed to brighten and improve skin.
This mask contains a serum concentrate of glycolic acid and herbal extracts which promotes a more luminous complexion.
DetoxifEYE
Lastly, if you suffer from puffy undereyes, then you must give their DetoxifEYE a shot. This container holds 30 pairs of hydrogel patches which infuse the eye area with hydration.
The patches contain hyaluronic acid and caffeine to smooth and depuff the eye area. If you suffer from dark circles or are planning on taking a long-haul flight, then I would definitely pack these/try them out. Apply them to your undereye area for at least 10 minutes then pat the remaining serum into the skin for a refreshed look.
I love how Pixi Beauty has so many different mask options out there meaning that is truly is a mask for everyone. Whether it’s detoxifying your skin, reducing dark circles, or managing big pores, there is a mask that will target just about any skin concern.
So the real question is, which mask is the right one for you?
Please note, products provided by PR, all opinions are my own.
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I’ve worked really hard for the body I have.
I was overweight throughout my childhood and teen years. In fact, I didn’t really start caring about getting fit until I reached university. Over the years, I have lost a ton of weight and am finally happy with my body (most days), but we all have the areas of our bodies that we wish we could change.
Ever since I started taking Instagram more seriously, it’s been a bit of a struggle taking photos since all I would ever notice would be my double chin. Okay, so technically it wasn’t a real double chin, but I had no definition. My chin connected straight down to my neck, it didn’t go in and down to display a defined jawline. Although I work out pretty much every day and eat relatively healthy, there were no changes happening to that area of my body and it was really starting to bother me.
Every time I would see myself on camera all I would notice was that pesky jawline. I knew there were options out there, such as Belkyra, a filler that dissolves fat, but I heard it was a relatively painful procedure and you needed multiple treatments (at over $1,000 a pop) to see results. Then I found out that CoolSculpting offered an option for this.
I’ve always been intrigued by CoolSculpting and how effective it actually worked. CoolSculpting is this machine that attaches to the problem area you want to treat and essentially freezes the fat away. It’s an FDA-cleared non-surgical fat-reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you have fat that just won’t go away regardless of how much diet and exercise you do, then it may be an option for you.
So how the science actually works is an attachment is put on the CoolSculpting machine which is then applied to your body. It’s actually like a giant vacuum cleaner that sucks the fat into it, freezes it, and then you sit there for 45 minutes as it kills the fat cells. Those fat cells are then flushed from your body over the next 90 days (to be blunt, you pee them out). The results are permanent since those fat cells are killed and once you hit puberty your body actually stops producing fat cells. Once they are gone, they’re gone, and unless you gain a ton of weight, the area won’t expand again (the remaining fat cells you do have expand as you gain weight).
Sounds too good to be true, right? This magical machine that freezes the fat from your body. Well friends, as skeptical as I was, it totally worked for me.
I got my CoolSculpting treatment done at Dr. Earl Minuk’s Cosmetic Skin Clinic and Laser Centre here in Winnipeg. He did mention Belkyra to me, but thought that CoolSculpting would do the trick. Since my jawline is quite small and it wasn’t that big of an area to treat, he thought that just the one treatment of CoolSculpting would cut it. If I had a very noticeable double chin then it usually takes multiple treatments to fix, but thankfully the one gave me pretty noticeable results.
I went in first for a consult and after saying that I would be a good candidate for this, we booked the appointment. I came in wearing comfy clothes (since I would be sitting there for 45 minutes) and did some before shots before they prepped me for the procedure. Like I said, there are a variety of different attachments for the machine depending on the area you want done (the most common is the lower belly area), but for the chin they use the CoolMini head. The nurse applied a bunch of stuff to the attachment prior to the procedure (there’s all these filmy things they put on) and also put a gel on the area I was getting treated so I didn’t get frostbite. Initially they were going to just put the machine on directly under my chin, but it kept popping off, so they ended up doing one side then the other, meaning that I had to sit there for 45 minutes each.
Since my chin area is quite small, the machine did pop off a number of times. Eventually they told that if it keeps happening then we would have to explore other options. I was determined to give this a try so I eventually just held the machine there and didn’t move (and limited my swallowing), and that seemed to do the trick. Although it does suction on, I would recommend holding it if you are treating your chin area.
After 45 minutes she removed the machine and then came the worst part of the whole thing. They have to massage the area to break up the crystals. Apparently doing this will make the chances of it working even greater. Since the area was numb, it was painful, ticklish, and awkward all the same time. And she had to do this twice since I got a double treatment. Afterwards, I left the clinic and since it’s non-invasive, there was no downtime at all after. I will note though that my chin area did feel a little sore, numb, and swollen for a few days after and then numb for up to a month afterwards (which is completely normal!). As for the actual procedure itself, it didn’t hurt at all since your face numbs up quickly. You feel the area getting cold but after about five minutes that disappears.
Since I was very curious to see how well it actually worked, I did take photos every month up until the 90-day period (I was told it would take the full 90 days for me to see any effect). I did feel like the area was getting tighter and I was so happy to see that even after one month I could see results, which is quite incredible. I would say that month two and month three were quite similar, but looking at the before photo and the after pictures, there is a noticeable difference.
I am so happy with how this turned out and I’m definitely a believer in this technology (I mean, the pictures speak for themselves!). CoolSculpting is quite a pricey procedure to get done (you can check out Dr. Minuk’s pricing list here for an idea) and also keep in mind that you may have to get multiple treatments to see the results you want. Although it’s not a perfectly defined jawline, I am so happy with my results and the feeling is incredible when I see a photo of myself and I have some chin definition; it doesn’t just go from chin down straight to my neck.
I did chronicle the whole journey on my Instagram saved stories (check out the CoolSculpting tab), so if you wanted to watch videos of me getting it done and then more in-depth info about every month’s update shots, please take a look here.
So is CoolSculpting for you? Tough to say, but it’s definitely not for everyone. If you are overweight and are looking for a quick fix, then CoolSculpting probably won’t help you. Like I said, it’s designed for fat that won’t go away no matter how much exercise and dieting you do. Also, keep in mind that everyone’s bodies are different and it’s not guaranteed to work; just because I got great results doesn’t mean that yours will be as good as mine (heck, they could even be better or they could be worse). The great part about it is that it’s non-invasive so there is no downtime or scarring; you can simply go about your day afterwards.
I really couldn’t have asked for a better experience doing this and I’m so thankful to Dr. Minuk’s clinic for letting me try this out. If you are interested in getting it done, I highly recommend doing your research and booking a consult. It may be expensive, but keep in mind that once those fat cells are dead, they aren’t coming back.
Now excuse me while I go take some profile photos.. since you know, I totally can now 😉
Please note, I partnered with Dr. Minuk on this post. All opinions are my own.
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This past Monday I did a whole post on retinol; what it is, why you should use it, and different products to try. Although retinol is just one product that can be incorporated in your skincare routine, I wanted to chat about all the other ones that are also important to include this spring.
I absolutely love receiving skincare products since this is the base for your makeup. You can have the best, most expensive makeup in the world, but it really all starts with amazing skin. As a result, whenever I get new products in, I love trying them out, reading about why they are good for the skin, and writing about why you should use them.
From cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, masks and more, here are the products you should try this spring.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Skin-Transforming Hydrating Cleansing Serum and Hydrating Moisturizer
One of the most important products in your routine? A cleanser of course!
I’ve been a huge fan of IT Cosmetics for YEARS now, so when they came out with skincare products I already knew they would be amazing. The Confidence in a Cleanser (C$36) is a cleanser and serum in one. This product gently cleanses and moisturizes your skin, leaving it feeling soft, refreshed, and balanced.
Perfect for all skin types, this cleanser contains IT Cosmetics’ Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate, which helps skin appear rejuvenated and moisturized. It also has collagen, hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, and a super ceramide complex. Use it alone or with your cleansing brush for an amazing cleanse, which will remove all traces of makeup, leaving it prepped for the rest of your routine.
If you want to keep it all in the family, then follow up with IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturizer (C$62), which helps to rejuvenate, repair, and restore skin for a softer, smoother, and younger-looking appearance.
This moisturizer quickly absorbs into skin and boosts its natural regenerative cycle for a more healthier and younger-looking complexion. It also has their Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate and helps to reduce the look of pores, discolouration, and signs of aging. The formula contains collagen and hyaluronic acid to plump fine lines and wrinkles as well. To complete the collection, pair it with their Miracle Water 3-in-1 Micellar Cleanser (C$49) as a toner, and the Confidence in a Cream Eye Cream (C$49) for the ultimate skincare routine.
Dior Beauty Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment, Intense Rescue Age Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum, and Age-Delay Resurfacing Water
Once your makeup is off and your face is cleansed, I highly recommend using a toner to balance out the pH levels in your skin. For the ultimate in luxury skincare, Dior has recently released some new products to their skincare line for younger-looking skin
The Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Resurfacing Water (C$83) is a facial water for the face to help get rid of dead skin cells and clear away any facial imperfections. It also helps to prep the next step in your routine, a serum. In addition to just using this on a cotton pad and rubbing it on your face, Dior says you can also use it as a mask by applying it on your face and then leaving on for 10 minutes before the rest of your routine.
Speaking of which, typically after a toner I go in with an eye cream, and Dior has also come out with a brand-new eye treatment in their Capture Youth Line. The Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment (C$95) is an eye serum that helps to combat fatigue, dark circles, and signs of ageing.
This eye serum contains Crithmum, a natural alternative to retinol and helps to densify and smooth the skin for the maximum diffusion of light. As a result, the area around your eyes look less puffy, and dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, are diminished over time.
Finish up the routine with the Capture Youth Intense Rescue Age Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum (C$120), which is Dior’s hero product. this serum helps to restore lipids and helps to reset dry skin. I’ve chatted about products that help to combat environmental aggressors, and this one is targeted for that as well. Heat, air conditioning, pollution, etc. can all result in dryness, dullness, and lack of radiance and this serum helps to restore skin by repairing the skin’s surface. It increases lipid production and stimulates the internal regeneration process. It also contains argan oil, tamanu to strengthen skin, and iris florentina, which boosts the skin’s internal resistance process to help delay visible signs of aging.
Aveeno Peel-Off Masks
I love doing a mask once or twice a week (usually on Sundays), so I’m always on the hunt for new ones to try out. The best thing about masks are the fact that they come in so many shapes and sizes and all have amazing benefits to them.
Brand new from Aveeno for spring, they have released a line of peel-off masks aimed at anti-aging, magnifying skin, and making it more radiant.
The Aveeno Clear Complexion Purely Matte peel-off mask is a mask infused with alpha hydroxy acids, soy and pomegranate, which lifts away impurities that block pores to reveal clearer-looking skin. This mask helps to tone down shine for a matte finish.
The Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Pre-Tox peel-off mask is infused with antioxidant-rich blackberry complex and vitamin E which helps exfoliate and get rid of impurities for healthier-looking skin.
Finally, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Max Glow peel-off mask is infused with alpha hydroxy acids, soy and kiwi to exfoliate dull, tired skin, leaving you with a smoother, more even skin tone and texture.
All three masks retail for around C$12.97 (Walmart Canada pricing) and work the same way. You apply the mask to your face, let dry and then gently peel it off once its fully dry. I usually leave these on for 20-30 minutes and then start peeling them. All three gently exfoliate skin and are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and paragon and phthalate free.
I do have a love-hate relationship with peel-off masks since I find most of them to hurt while you’re peeling it (especially if you have little hairs or peach fuzz on your face). The pain wasn’t too bad on these, but I also want to note that these have a slight sheen to them but are relatively clear, so it’s a little tough to see where you actually applied these.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Peel-Off Mask
Speaking of peel-off masks, Neutrogena also has one up their sleeve.
The Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Peel-Off Mask (C$4.79 at Shoppers Drug Mart) is a one-time use facial sheet mask that unclogs posts, removes dean skin cells, excess surface oil, dirt and makeup to leave your skin feeling soft, clear, and clean. This one is super cool since the oil-free facial cleansing mask actually starts to transform from a liquid to a dry solid that you end up peeling off. You can tell when it’s dry since the mask becomes clear. In all, Neutrogena recommends 20 minutes for this mask.
I actually really loved this mask since it was something super cool to try out. I’ve never seen a sheet mask before that transforms into a peel-off. It was definitely the best of both worlds.
Neostrata Firming Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum
If anti-aging is a major skincare benefit for you, then you need to look into Neostrata’s Firming Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum.
This serum helps to bring back volume to slack skin through the use of Aminofil amino acid derivative concentrated to target the skin’s hydrating matriculates for a more lifted appearance. Skin appears for full and also more hydrated. It also exfoliates to reduce the look of dark spots. Skin will look and feel more elastic and wrinkles and enlarged pores should look diminished. Apply this before your moisturizer twice a day for the best results.
Indeed Labs Hydraluron+ Volumising Lip Treatment
If I was stuck on a desert island and I only had to have one lip product with me, it would totally be lip balm.
Lip balm is one of those items that you typically have a million of but always have to carry with you. You’ll never know when dry lips will strike!
The brand-new Hydraluron+ Volumising Lip Treatment (C$14.99) from Indeed Labs takes a hydrating lip balm and infuses it with hydrating actives and ingredients that are designed to hydrate, soothe, nourish, volumize, plump, and treat lips. It contains a blend of pomegranate sterols, coffee, teal, and tropical fruit extracts to work to increase moisture levels and enhance barrier function while brightening skin and promoting skin elasticity. It’s also formulated with their Volulip and ultra-filling spheres, which improve the internal and superficial lip texture to visibly plump up lips.
After one application, lips feel moisturized, look and feel full, and best of all, beautifully radiant. I mean, what else could you possibly want from a lip balm?
From masks to moisturizers to lip balms, there are so many amazing products to try out this season. Best of all, you don’t need to spend a small fortune on your skincare since too many brands have released awesome products at all price points.
What are you most excited to try out when it comes to skincare?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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