Beauty Vixen: August 2018

BeautyLash Tinting Kit for Brows and Lashes

By Jill Oliver-Fox Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at home, beautylash, brow tint, brows, eyes, farley co, farleyco, lash tint, reviews

Lately, I have been neglecting to fill in my brows and sometimes even putting on mascara. I am just too tired and frankly lazy to do it. I also work a physical job and end up sweating so much of it off in the summer heat. Oh and there is also the fact I work with pet hair as a groomer, ever try to groom out a Persian Cat and not get a thousand hairs stuck to your lashes? It isn't really possible. Oh, and did I mention I now have grey hairs in my brows? Grey hairs!

I thought it would be a great time to try out tinting my lashes. Since I colour my hair a medium red I thought I would try a medium brown shade. Ideally, I would like my lashes to be black, but I figured since I was trying out the Medium Brown for my brows it would be not a bad idea to at least try them on my lashes.

This set is actually really easy to use. Wash and clean your face, make sure it is all dry. Put some lotion around the outside of your brows as to not colour them. Apply the pads under your eyes to protect them. Put a pea size amount of Part 1 (Colour Gel) into well #1, use the mascara wand to apply to brow and lashes. Let sit 4 minutes or until dry. wipe away. Put Part 2 (Developer Gel) into well #2 and apply with the little wand on brows and lashes. Let sit for 1 minute. Wipe off with a damp cloth.

So how did it all go for me? I could not get the darn pads to stay put, at all! So, I ditched them and just put some heavy lotion on the area instead.

Part 1 went all well, Part 2 did not. I do not like that tiny wand. I would suggest you get another mascara wand to get a more accurate application
.

My eyes watered a bit when Part 2 went on my lashes, but nothing intense, just a bit spontaneous.

You need a lot of cotton swabs, and I mean a lot! I used some to accurately apply lotion around my brows and eyes, I used one to wipe off Part 1, I used one to clean up messes, basically, I used a lot of them and you should have a pile ready, not just a few.

How do I like it? I love it! My brows are perfect I am just using a clear gel when I want some shape or a fine pencil to fill in gaps when I do a more intense eye look. As for the lashes, I love how my bottom lashes look. They are darker and still fine. I think I am going to try the black on my top lashes because the look isn't too different than my natural lash colour.

Overall this kit was really easy to use and I feel the next time will be easier now that the learning curve is over. As I said, bring another mascara wand and a pile of cotton swabs and you will be just fine.

I really liked it has 16 applications in the kit, I probably used too much my first time, but that is ok. I picked up another brands kit that said 12 applications, but only had 12 eye pads, which meant it only did 6 set of lashes or brows, not 12. This one actually is meant to do the number of applications it says on the box, so that is a big bonus.

Have you ever tinted your lashes and/or brows at home? What did you think of it?

You can get BeautyLash at FarleyCo.ca.

*product was sent to me for review purposes; all views and opinions are my own.

Favourite Sunscreens 2018

By Jill Oliver-Fox Monday, August 20, 2018 aveeno, body care, coppertone, favourites, live clean, mineral sunscreen, neutrogena, spf, sport sunscreen, spray sunscreen, sun care, sunscreen

Summer is here and sunscreen has taken centre stage in my life. I have two family members who have battled (and won) the war with skin cancer, as a result, I take sun protection very seriously. If that was not enough of a reason to use sunscreen, I am a pale gal, and Mr. Fox is a ginger. In other words, we burn, and we burn bad.

Today I am going to look at my favourite sunscreens of 2018. What have I been using? What have I been loving? Why do I love them so? Here we go...

Coppertone Clearly Sheer Spray Sunscreen - SPF 50

I love a good spray sunscreen! This I can't state enough. As much as I love them, Mr. Fox loves them more. As a man with hairy arms and legs, he finds lotions and gels a bit cumbersome and heavy no matter what, so he likes sprays. He also is pretty prone to breakouts on his body and face, so a spray that feels light and isn't greasy is a must. Throw in a higher SPF for his ginger paleness (it also comes in SPF 30) this spray is where it is at.

Lightweight, breathable and won't cause breakouts, it really is a win-win product.

Aveeno Protect Hydrate Sunscreen - SPF 60

Aveeno is known for being pretty darn gentle on your skin. This sunscreen is also a great moisturizer, hence the hydrate in its name. With a higher SPF of 60 (it also comes in SPF 30 and SPF 45), I really like that it is packed with Colloidal Oatmeal, which is great for sensitive or itchy skin, but also hydrating.

I love that this is a lotion and a sunscreen with a nice high SPF to it.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost - Water Gel Sunscreen - SPF 50

This sunscreen isn't like all the other sunscreens. Now that I sound like a cheesy pickup line, I think I might need to explain why this one is so different.

It is a gel! It is a gel loaded with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and still has a higher SPF of 50. As a result, it is super hydrating, fast absorbing and leaves no white cast. This also makes it great for the face (which they really should advertise more, because darn it, this is a great face sunscreen).

If you want a sunscreen that feels light, hydrating and like a gel, this one is for you. At the end of a day out and about in the sun, my skin usually is a bit dehydrated and needs some serious moisture, but not when I use this. My face loves it, it can breathe and doesn't break out at all, and makeup looks great on top of it.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer - Dry Touch Sunscreen - SPF 110

Sometimes I want a stronger SPF! When I know the sun is out in full force, when I am going somewhere tropical, when I know I am going to be out all day long at a festival or a party, those are the times I reach for a sunscreen with an SPF of 100 or more. I used to get mocked for this, but I really burn bad, and it really is my best defence against that happening.

I have always trusted Neutrogena when it comes to the high SPF factor, in fact, they are the only brand for the longest time that made an SPF 100 product, so it is the only one I buy.

Neutrogena's UltraSheer line is pretty lightweight, so I don't end up feeling like it is heavy or takes too long to absorb. My skin never feels greasy or sticky after using it. It also hasn't caused any breakouts at all on me.

This high SPF sunscreen has saved my skin (literally) dozen of times and for that I love it.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer - Face And Body Stick - SPF 50+

I have been using this sunscreen for a few years now, I love the concept of a stick sunscreen. You can travel with it and it won't count as a liquid when you fly, you can pop it in a purse and never worry about it leaking. With SPF 50 it is a great high SPF, which is what I always look for (an ongoing trend in this post, I know). It is about the size of a men's deodorant stick, so it has plenty of product in it and you won't fly through it quickly.

While I do sometimes use this as my all over sunscreen, it is usually when I am pretty covered up and just applying on small parts like my shoulders, neck and ankles. The main way I do like to use it is as a travel touch up stick. I can touch up my sun protection as needed and it is so easy. I also love to use it on my face, it is great and doesn't actually feel heavy on the skin, it feels hydrating.

Mr. Fox loves to use this on his face, shoulders, back of neck, ears and all the kind of strange place that are sometimes hard to get at with a spray.

Since it also part of the UltraSheer line, it is lightweight and isn't greasy.

Live Clean Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray - SPF 30

Sport sunscreen are great because they feel dry on the skin, they don't sweat off (or drip into your eyes) and they last in the hot icky long days of summer. Sport sprays are even better because they are really easy to apply and reapply. This one happens to be both, plus a mineral sunscreen!

This is my go-to lake and cottage sunscreen. It is fully biodegradable, making it a great option if you run on a septic tank or swim at a lake, ocean or river.

I really was skeptical of it at first, it sprays out a bit thick and white but smoothed into my skin nicely. I also wasn't sure if an SPF of 30 would cut it for me, but it was great. My skin loves it and it does a great job of protecting my skin from the UVA/UVB rays.

Extra bonuses for this one is Live Clean is a Canadian brand, Canadian made, free from parabens and phthalates, vegan, Reef Safe, non-nano, petrolatum free, silicone free, non-greasy, non-whitening and the aerosol is air-powered with no chemical propellants. Oh, and water resistant for up to 40 minutes.

There you go, my top go-to sunscreens for this summer.

Do you have a favourite sunscreen? What about it makes you love it so much?

*This post features sunscreens that I was either given for review from PR, ChickAdvisor, or paid for with my own money. All reviews and opinions are my own.