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Beauty Vixen

The holiday season is here, and with that comes the gift-buying season. I think we all have many people we need to buy gifts for this year, and it can be a bit daunting. So I have decided to showcase a few items that I really am enjoying as gifts this year.
Tea Runners Christmas Gift Subscription*
If you know me, you know I love tea. Tea Runners offers a fantastic subscription service that delivers four unique teas monthly. It's perfect as a self-love gift, but they also have Christmas Gift Subscriptions where the recipient can choose their preferred teas.

On Christmas morning, the recipient receives a notification along with a note from the sender and the option to select their preferred box: Original Teabox, Black Teabox (a selection of 4 different teas), Herbal Teabox (all herbal, rooibos, peppermints, honeybush, chamomile teas), or Pure Teabox (this is just straight teas no flavours or blends in it).

Each box includes four different types of tea tailored to the theme, that they get to fully customize, with 20-30 grams of tea per pouch,  providing enough tea for 30-40 cups. The box also comes with a pack of 10 filters. The receiver can customize their delivery schedule, pause or skip shipments, and even change their address. Making it great for anyone who may not drink tea as fast as me.
The sender can choose to send 1 box ($29), 3 boxes($79), 4 boxes ($104), 6 boxes ($149), or even 12 ($288) boxes subscription. I just ordered a box of their Pure Teabox for my mother-in-law for Christmas morning since she lives in the Yukon and we can't see her on Christmas morning.

I think this is such a great gift! I really love Tea Runners' quality and their unique seasonal varieties. You can check out a review I did in 2022 here.
Quo Holiday Gifts
Quo always has great beauty gift ideas. I love how they always seem to have the best trendy ideas. From their Crackers that have lip gloss in them, to brush sets at a great price, they always have great gifts.
This year I could not resist their Reusable Forehead and Under-Eye Pad Set ($28). It comes with a reusable forehead mask and a set of reusable eye masks. As well as a mini rose quartz roller and a mini eye massager. All in a tin to store it.
I also grabbed their Hand Cream Collection ($15), which has 5 different scented versions of their hand cream. It has Shea Butter, Vanilla, Dragon Fruit, Avocado and Blueberry. I think these make great gifts as a set, but also broken up into little stocking stuffers or add-ons is really nice, and at $3 a cream, a great price.
Dr Teal's Holiday Collection Tin Set ($19.99)
Every year I pick myself up a Dr. Teal's gift set. This year I got this cute trio set. It has three of its best-selling scents in a mini Epsom Salt Soak and Mini Foaming Bath. It is a great break-apart gift, but also a great way to try out 3 different scents for just $19.99. 
This year features Relax & Relief (eucalyptus and spearmint), Melatonin (lavender and melatonin) and Soothe 7 Sleep (lavender), all wrapped up in a reusable tin. 
There are also since-scented sets for $9.99 out there, but I think this is a much better value.
Charlotte Tilbury Mini Iconic Hollywood Lipstick Trio Set ($44)
I love good lipstick, and this might be my favourite little set in a while. It features 3 of Charlotte Tilbury's lipsticks, in a mini size. Now I find most sets with minis from her brand have Pillow Talk or some variation of it, so it was really nice to find this set that did not have Pillow Talk in it, mainly because I have more than one already. 
The set has 3 1.5 g Mini lipsticks, Matte Revolution Hydrating Lipstick in Hollywood Vixen (classic, bright blue-red), K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick in 90s Pink (warm rosewood pink), and K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick in Icon Baby (warm nude baby pink).
All three shades look great, I love the retro Hollywood glam look they are going for. Hollywood Vixen is just stunning and the main reason I got the set.
Clarins Iconic Lip Oils Collection ($84) 
I love Clarins' lip oil, they are great for dry cold winter months. This set is the perfect gift to give to someone who also loves the brand, lip oils or just likes to treat themselves. 
The set has two full-size and two mini of Clarins iconic lip oils.  Honey and Pitaya in full size (7 ml) and Raspberry and Strawberry in mini size (1.4 ml).

It is a great value set because $40.
Byoma Barrier Boosting Heroes Set  ($30)
BYOMA is a great brand that really focuses on boosting the skin barrier. I have tried a few products and have had great success so far. 

They have a holiday set which features five of their products and a bag. For the price, this is a great way to introduce someone to the brand at a bargain price. 
The Kit Includes 15ml Hydrating Serum, 15ml Gel Cream, 15ml Rich Cream, 5ml Eye Gel, 20ml Jelly Cleanser, and a bag. I picked mine up at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Masque Bar Pretty Animalz Merry Masking Set ($10)
Masque Bar makes great masks, and their Pretty Animalz line is quite popular. 
This set has four winter-themed animal masks, Moose, Polar Bear, Reindeer, and Penguin. 
This set is great for any sheet mask lover in your life. I am personally going to break the setup in so that I can give some to each of my nieces, I know they are going to love them.
Wet n Wild Hello Kitty Collection
Wet n Wild has a bunch of adorable Hello Kitty items out right now to celebrate her 50th anniversary. 
There are so many great items out there, Hello Kitty-shaped mirrors, a mascara and lash curler set, but I picked up the Hello Kitty Brush Set ($25) and a Hello Kitty Ombre Blush ($12).
I know my nieces love Hello Kitty and so do many adults. Wet n Wild consistently had fantastic brushes at a great value. I figured they would make a great gift for anyone who is looking for brushes in their lives. Also, the blush was just too cute to pass up.
Dove Pepper Mint Bark Products
I saw a display for Dove's new limited edition holiday scents and fell in love with the Pepper Mint Bark. Available in Body wash, hand wash and body scrub, I picked up all three.
It smells like what the holiday peppermint bark ice cream would smell like if you turned it into a body product.
There is also a sugar cookie sprinkle version, but as a mint and chocolate lover, I picked the peppermint up. Think they would make great stocking stuffers. My only wish is that they made a body lotion or body butter because I am in love.

There is my gift guide for 2024. I personally think I picked out some good things, many of which I am honestly keeping for myself, which is how much I like the items. I do think they will make great gifts. Happy Holidays!
* denotes a product was sent for review. All the other products were bought with my own money. Some links are affiliate links, where I could earn a small commission from a sale. I appreciate your support.
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Summer officially started last week, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what I have really enjoyed using this past season. It has been a long time since I did one of these, but they always inspire me to write a little and to me that is a good thing.

1. Kiehl's Since 1851 Beyond Screen UV Serum SPF 50 

I got this for free from Topbox in exchange for a review, and I loved it. It is a combo of serum and sunscreen that works incredibly well on my skin.

It is light in texture, absorbs quickly and is loaded with collagen peptides. It is basically skincare I really enjoy using that happens to have spf 50 in it.

I am also very much loving Belif Aqua Bomb Broad Spectrum SPF 50, which I did a full review on here. I am pretty much loving the skincare with lots of SPF trend.

2. Dove Glow Recharge Body Wash 

This is Dove's latest body wash, it has a brightening serum with vitamin C and exfoliating minerals in it, as well as a light tropical berry scent.

I have been using it since March and really enjoy how it lightly exfoliates my skin everytime I wash without being harsh or drying. It makes my skin look more even in both texture and colour while getting me nice and clean (pool season just started so I am really going to be using it a lot now).


3. YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick 

I got two of these from Butterly to try out, oh my gosh these are the best. Imagine a lipstick and a lip oil had a baby in stick format. They feel slick and slippery, smell like watermelon and give a kick of colour to your lips. So in love.
I love how they feel, I love the look, I want them all. I have been carrying one around in my purse all spring and I just can't get enough. Tip, Shopper Drug Mart, The Bay and Holt Renfrew all sell it for $5 less than Sephora. They also may still be listing it as YSL Loveshine Hydrating Lipstick on their sites, it is the same product.

4. Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream

I have been using this one for a long time now, and this past spring it has gotten lots of rotation at night. I really like how light it feels but also how heavily hydrating without actually being heavy.

If you like Belif's creams, you are going to like this one.

5. The Face Shop JEJU Aloe Fresh Soothing Gel 

My skin has always reacted well to aloe, and I have always had aloe growing in my homes. I remember being a 4 year old and getting my face bit by a dog and having my parents treat it with a fresh chunk of aloe from a plant. I just repotted mine and have 44 new plants growing in my home.

This time of year I find myself reaching for aloe vera a bit more often as I get more exposure to the sun and I find my skin gets drier from swimming. I struggle sometimes to find a good pure aloe vera gel, lucky I found this one from The Face Shop. 

It is 95% aloe vera, it absorbs almost instantly without any stickiness or residue. I can even use it with my microcurrent devices, which I love. Best of all, it is massive at 300 ml.

Ok so that is it, what I am loving right now. I am sure it will change a bit now that summer has started, but these were the things I love the most the last few months.
* some products were sent for review purposes with no obligation to post about here. The views and opinions are my own and honest. Some links may be affiliate links and I may or may not end up getting a small commision from them. Thank you for supporting my blog, I appreciate it.
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A little while ago I got sent some new Dove Deodorant items courtesy of ChickAdvisor / Butterly. Dove announced last year that they were going to launch a refillable deodorant option and it just so happens it is now in Canada. These are officially called Dove 0% Aluminum Refillable Deodorants, but I am not going to call them that because all deodorants have no aluminum in them, by law. I find it a redundant marketing ploy that I refuse to encourage. 
I was sent the Coconut & Pink Jasmine Scent Starter kit and the Men+Care Ultimate Clean Touch Starter kit. Both come with a refillable stainless steel case that can apparently withstand a car driving over it and one refill that is 32 g. When you usually buy a stick of Dove deodorant you get either 45g or 74 g of product.
Inside each starter box you get the stainless steel case and one refill. The refill comes in a plastic pod that you twist onto the base. You then toss the lid into the trash (there is no recycling symbol on it). The deodorant doesn't go up or down and just stays inside the pod which takes some adjusting to.
The case it self feels super sturdy and is pretty compact so it is easy to take with you places. The formula seems to be the same as the regular ones sold by Dove. The men's one smells absolutely amazing to me and I would easily use start to use that on a regular bases. The Women's Coconut and Pink Jasmine also smells nice, but the men's is the scent I prefer. 
Each time you refill the package you save 54% of the plastic that would go into a normal stick of deodorant. The plastic is 98% recycled but it also end of life plastic as it has to be tossed. The sticks are 29% smaller if comparing them to the 45 g size. I am not the best at math, but it really sounds as though the plastic reduction is minimal at this point. 

Furthermore Dove (and most deodorant companies for that matter) have been really pushing a 0% Aluminum factor on their deodorants, and I have no clue why.  All Deodorants are aluminum free!!!! All, by law. So that being said I actually have grown aggravated with the marketing that has been going on.
On to the actual quality of the product, it is a good deodorant, if you like deodorants. I personally smelt by the end of the day. This is how my body usually is with deodorants, and is why I usually use antiperspirants (I get sweaty working a physical job).

Overall: It is a neat package that provides you with 29% less product and gives you 54% less plastic then the old school packaging (32g vs 45g) making it seem like green washing to me. It costs $19.99 for the starter pack making it an investment that would pay off if you planned on us it long term. Refills cost $11.99 for two 32g refills (64 g total). 

The product itself is pretty good and while I like it, deodorants just aren't the best for me unless I am already wearing an antiperspirant.

Would I buy it again? I would buy antiperspirant refills if they become available in an instant. I actually like the compact packaging, the look, weight and feel of it all. But it seems Dove is pushing the 0% Aluminum point and isn't going to be doing that at all.

What do you think of this new concept? Innovating? Greenwashing?
*Products were sent to me to review from ChickAdvisor / Butterly in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own. There are affiliate links on this page, if you make a purchase /i may receive a small commission at no cost to you, thank you for supporting me.

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Two Sundays ago, I took part in ChickAdvisor Showcase at Fairmount 's Royal York hotel in down town Toronto. We got to experience some high tea while trying out and review new products. It was quite fun.

First off, they royal York is renowned for its high tea. For the event we had a buffet style version of it complete with all the mini sandwiches and patisseries you could handle.  While we enjoyed these goodies we got a nice introduction from one of the founders, Ali De Bold.
Chickadvisor was founded in 2006 and is celebrating 10 years of reviews and a community of beauty. I was surprised by them because I was celled up to the front with another lady only to be thanked for being with them from the start.  I was shocked, I always loved ChickAdvisor and its  but never thought that I had been with them that long.  I got an extra treat when they have me a Sephora gift card (woot woot). 

After this we started testing and reviewing products on the spot.
It's was all around a fun time. I was lucky enough to be sitting with Meredith from EtTuandYou and Eithne from Tea and Nail Polish. 

The highlights were, making us take all our makeup off with simple wipes.  The hilarity of asking 100+ won't to remove makeup.  And some colourful wine tasting tips from ---- from Hardy's wines.  Oh and getting us to do your nails with cnd in such a crowded place.  So many laughs and just a good time. 

Below are the items we got to try and take home with us.  
Simple face wipes, Mary Kay Semi-Matte Lipsticks, The Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick by Estee Lauder, L'oreal Paris Voluminous Feline Mascara, Hardy's Wimes, Dove Advance Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil and CND Creative Play Nial Lacquer colour, base and top coat. As well as a very nice ChickAdvisor mug and compact mirror. It was well worth the $45 plus tax I paid to attend.

If you aren't already a member of ChickAdvisor I highly recommended you sign up right now. It's free and once you review 10 things you can join the product review club where you can get free things to review !  Free stuff people. Sign up.  
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November Favourites


Sephora Favorites Glitz & Glam ($113 Value) $40 -I found this set to be handy because I've gotten to try out a wide selection of products that I normally would have passed over. I am particularly loving Buxom's Pug cream eyeshadow. It is so pretty and I love the texture.
The Body Shop Spa Wisdom™ Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter $22 - This is my go to winter hand cream. My hands get chapped and bleed in the winter, but this is a thick but non-greasy butter that solves that, and it doesn't burn, which is an issue for me.
Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Conditioner $6.17 - Better than any dry shampoo. You can't use too much, wont make you hair dull, leaves it soft, you can use wet or dry. No complaints from me.
Dove, Repair Therapy, Intense Repair Conditioner - This conditioner has fixed much of the self inflicted damage I caused by over dying my hair over the last few months. My hair is feeling soft and healthier than ever.
Beauty Blender Sponge - A friend picked this up for me at IMATS. I have wanted it for over a year and cannot say how happy I am to finally get it. It is a shame that Sephora no longer sells it in Canada. This thing is amazing, everything everyone has ever said about it is true.
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About Me

Jill Oliver-Fox is a Toronto based beauty blogger with a love for beauty, food, and pets. She began the blog in 2009 and hasn't stopped since. To read more about Jill and the Blog, click here.

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