Lush Goodies

Hey hey hey!

I went to Lush recently.  Big mistake there.  I know some people swear by it and others are very turned off by the copious amount of fragrances that hit you when you walk in.  Personally, I like it, it smells clean and fresh to me.  Probably because the whole store is filled with soap.

I'm not a regular Lush junkie but I popped in there because I wanted to give a few of their bath products a go.  Specifically, I wanted to try their relaxing, calming and sleep-inducing ones.  Whenever things get a little too much, a nice bath always does the trick to ease muscles and take life's problems away.  (Temporarily at least)

So, from the top left of the picture above …

Pop In The Bath Bubble Bar (White, Blue and Pink Flower) - I think this is the most heavenly smelling one.  It smells so fresh and has the perfect balance of floral and citrus scents to it.  It's also a colourful one in the bath.

Dorothy Bubble Bar (Blue Base, Yellow and Orange Rainbow) - This one smells a bit like an orange and a bit floral.  It's supposed to help you unwind and calm down after a long day.

Dreamtime Luxury Bath Melt (Cream block with the word 'Dream Time' on it, how apt) - This is one that I wanted to try really bad because it has lavender and chamomile in it, perfect for a night where you might find it hard to sleep.  Definitely saving it for down the line!

Green Bubbleroon Bubble Bar (Green round sandwich thingy) - This is a bit more berry and lime smelling.  I bought it primarily because when you touch it, its so moisturising.  It has Fair Trade (yay) shea butter and coconut oil in it.  Great for when your skin needs an extra kick of hydration.

All the ones listed above can be sliced or crumbled up into halves.  You don't have to use the whole product at once.  That's the great thing about those, you get a few uses out of each product.  On the other hand, the bath bombs are very fun to use but only a one time thing.  Damn those bath bombs, what a tease.  You just pop the whole thing into the tub and watch it fizz away and do it's magic in the bath.

Golden Slumbers Bath Bomb (Huge Orb with Golden Shimmers) - This is one that isn't available on its own, it comes as part of the 'Relax, Take a Bath' Set.  I like these sets because they make for great presents and they are also a good way to introduce yourself to the brand.  This one has lavender and shimmers in it so it's relaxing and glamorous at the same time.  At the same time!

Rose Queen Bath Bomb (Small Pink Orb at the far right) - Rose scented products are usually very pungent and strong, I really dislike that.  This one though smells like roses and essential oils.  The mixture of the fragrances is quite nice of an escape.  I think with this one, as the bath bomb fizzes into the water, it releases rose petals.  What a treat!

Are you a bath or shower person?

What do you think of Lush products?  Leave a comment below!

Foodie Travels | The Crooked Cue

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Something about summer time and the casual-ness it brings really made me crave good ole pub food.  If you know me, you'd know that I am an avid wine drinker.  It's quite embarrassing how much time I spend researching it and planning for it but thats a different matter.  On this one occasion, I was in the mood for beer and burgers and sandwiches.  Yummyyyy.  

I think a big part of being a 'foodie' is to not only appreciate fine dining, creative cuisine and the like.  It also includes not being averse to the classics - like sandwiches and beers.  

I went to a pub/resto/pool hall in Port Credit, Mississauga called 'The Crooked Cue.'  It's quite well known amongst this neighbourhood.  We sat outside in the patio area.  Might as well take advantage of the beautiful summer weather while it lasts!  

The service we had there was quite friendly and open.  They have a large and eclectic drinks menu - mostly beer.  What I loved about it was that they gave a good description of the beer, where it was from, and what it pairs well with.  It made choosing a drink very easy.  I went with a british one, Boddington's.  If you watch the TV Show 'Friends' you'll know that they make a big deal out of how amazing this beer was and that was the main reason why I wanted to try it.  The verdict - it was amazing.  The food that we ordered was also very delicious.  Special shout out goes out to their fries, they must put butter in it, they tasted so much better than normal fries.  The only downside to going to this restaurant is that they have an age restriction.  It's alright that they do, that they only want to attract a crowd over a certain age but it's not clearly stated on their website.  After 9 PM, they only allow people who are 21 and over.  

JD Smokehouse Prime Burger - Eight ounce ground prime beef, onion straws, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, Jack Daniels Sauce, tomato, lettuce, dill pickle, sesame or multigrain bun

Veggie Jump Sandwich with Added Bacon Strips - Zucchini, fire roasted red pepper, red onion, tomato, guacamole, Ciabata bun

Overall, it was a great experience.  Would I come back? Yes for their drinks menu.  

Are there any good pubs in Toronto that serve great food?  Let me know! I'd be interested to visit.

Review | Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Everybody and their grandmother has reviewed or raved about this product, but you think that would stop me from talking about it, wouldn't you?  Nope.  BOUNCE.  (That was my jump on to the bandwagon)

I bought this spray a few months ago because I heard so many good things about it and I just have so much gosh darn hair.  I was in actual disbelief that I ended up finding it in store, at my hair salon would you believe!  What are the odds.  I thought I would have to order it online.   It doesn't seem to be readily available everywhere.  If you have lots of hair, hard to manage hair or if you find that hair styles don't stay put on your hair, then a texturising spray may be what you need.  I'm aware I sound like an advertisement, but it honestly is helpful.  I have lots of hair, it usually listens to me, but I definitely need more texture in it.  At first, I didn't know such a thing existed in the market but boy am I glad there is.   

Price - $22.00 (For the small/travel bottle)  About $40 for the 'normal' size.

What it claims it does
Bigger, better, full-on glamorous hair. This invisible dry hair spray builds in incredible volume and sexy texture. Patented polymers absorb oil at the roots, leaving you with just-styled hair for days (and nights).

What I think it does
This spray pretty much does everything it claims to do.  It is an invisible spray, thank the heavens that there isn't any white residue left on the hair.  I don't think it builds as much volume as teasing would, it doesn't take you from 0 to 100.  Would you really want a product with chemicals to do that anyway? That being said, if you use it in conjunction with styling, work it in with your hands and let it set, boy is the volume apparent.  What it definitely 100% does is that it gives a sexy tousled and undone look to one's hair.  An added bonus, there is heaps and heaps of texture.  Texture is good for hair that is hard to work with, or that is too smooth (doesn't help with styling) and if your hair is too long.  I have long hair and lots of it.  It weighs down and this spray just lifts the concentration to the tops and sides.  Another thing I love about it is that it leaves you hair smelling AMAZING.  The last thing it says it does, and does do, is absorb oil.  It's not just a texturising spray like any other salt spray or what not, it is also supposed to be an alternative to a dry shampoo.  It definitely absorbs oil and dries the roots.  Conversely, I don't think it dries the roots enough to get away with being a dry shampoo.  It's light and works great but I wouldn't use it as an alternative to a dry shampoo, i'd use it as an addition (a great welcomed addition) to styling your hair.  Is it worth the price tag? Yes, for my hair.  It does hurt nonetheless though.  Try the travel size, if it doesn't work with your hair's natural texture then you'll know.  In my experience, it's worth a repurchase.  If not this, i'm curious to try more from the brand.

Are there any texturising sprays that you think I should try? Let me know!

Trip to Casa Loma

Well hello there!

I recently went to Casa Loma here in Toronto.  It was such a wonderful, albeit touristy, experience.  It was really nice to see some Canadian culture, not to mention the actual castle is GORGEOUS.  I had a camera malfunction so I apologise that the pictures are not high quality.  (Praise the iPhone for coming to my rescue)  Enjoy!

Also, we saw a bunny in the gardens.  Thats all that matters from this blog post really.  

Current Sunscreen Favourites

Sunscreen is important year round, not just during the summer months.  I have personally suffered with pigmentation and more severe skin sensitivities, especially to the sun, so I am very particular with how much exposure I have to it.  The sensitivities that I have had to the sun (my skin gets dry and white patches, disgusting I know) is what caused my obsession with skincare.  I actually feel so blessed because I have learned a lot about it now and want to share some of the information that I know.

Not wearing sunscreen does not just affect your beauty but it affects your health as well.  The more traditional opinion is that its the exposure to UVB rays that causes damage, but now, it's known that exposure to UVA is also just as damaging if not more severe.  UVB rays makes your skin immediately red and you see an instant change, but its UVA that is the main culprit behind causing more long term skin defects. Some of the consequences of not wearing sunscreen include: making skin red, DNA damage, breakdown of collagen and elastin, skin cancer, lines and wrinkles, photo-aging etc. etc.  Because of the degree of harm it can do to you, its very important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis.  I can make another post in the future talking about skincare and sunscreen in more depth but for now, here are a few of my favourites.

Garnier Ombrelle Sport Clear Continuous Spray SPF 60 - I picked this up because I didn't have a Spray-and-Go sunscreen and needed it for a long weekend.  Apart from its convenience, it's high Sun Protection Factor, and the fact that is does go on clear, I picked it because it had an ingredient that I was specifically looking for: Mexoryl.  Mexoryl is a patented (by L'Oreal) formula that is considered amongst many dermatologists to be one of the best agents in preventing ageing caused by the sun as well as allowing for a large UV protection range.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream SPF 60 - This is my holy grail sunscreen product, and in my Top 5 of all time favourites. The thing I adore about the company La Roche-Posay is that they view sun protection the same way they view skincare. They cater their sunscreen products to different skin types - acne/oily, dry, sensitive etc. etc. They are also a French company meaning that their products are reviewed under much more severe health restrictions than American companies. They are also affordable, if you are comparing them to some other brands on the market. This particular one is targeted for Sensitive Skin. I think it'll work well on all skin because in my opinion, everyones skin should be treated like sensitive skin. I will be repurchasing this until the day I die, or until they stop making it. The actual consistency is a bit thicker and white, but it blends beautifully into the skin. Perfect for skin around the face. Highly Recommended. I'll stop rambling about that now.

FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 - People often forget how important it is to protect their lips from sun damage. It's one of the most sensitive parts of the body and any discolouration around that area is probably due to exposure to the sun. I get being neglectful about this, seems like a chore, but maybe buying a lip balm that already has SPF in it might help?

Neutrogena Healthy Skin CC Cream SPF 30 - Neutrogena is a great company because they do skincare and sun care much like La Roche-Posay. I'm surprised I haven't tried anything from their range before this. I don't particularly buy into the hype of BB Creams and CC Creams but I was looking for a skin base lighter in consistency than a foundation but with SPF in it. It claims to even out and brighten skin tone and for once, it does exactly that! It does not give as much coverage as a tinted moisturiser and definitely not as much as a foundation. The only downside is that there isn't a big enough colour range and although the one I bought is light-medium, its still a bit too dark for me. Oh well, can't win every battle right? A great product nonetheless.

I know I may have made the sun out to be like the big bad wolf in this post but I wanted to emphasise the importance of protection from the sun. Do you know of any good products that I should try? Let me know by leaving a comment below!