*Products were received as a PR for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own. Links are affiliate and I may receive a small commission if used. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Colloidal Oatmeal is extremely popular in the soothing, treatment, and prevention of dry, rough, and itchy skin. As with all Glaxal Base creams, GLAXAL BASE’S Colloidal Oatmeal + Aloe Cream effectively relieves and protects against the dryness, cracking and chapping associated with certain extreme skin conditions, such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. -amazon.ca

*This post features pr samples, all views and opinions are my own.

I have talked a few times before about my Keratosis Pilaris, it is bumps on my skin that feel awful and are very unsightly (but don't hurt or anything). Pretty much my skin lacks the ability to naturally shed dead skin (woo, fun 😕). Since I am always on the hunt for something new to treat it and help me have smooth skin without any real fuss I bring you my review of Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Body Treatment with 2% BHA and 10% AHA.

I little while back I caved and ordered a Zoya Mystery Box. I pretty much saw an ad on Facebook and bought one on a whim. It seems Zoya offers these boxes a few times a year and they come with an incredible value.  All I had to do is order 3 polishes from the site worth $10 and apply a code. I got $100 worth of mystery goodies from Zoya and free shipping. So let us see what I got and what I thought of everything.
First off I ordered 3 polishes, Jill, Sage, and Ana. Sage and Ana are satin shades, which I guess I quite prepared for. They seem to run more matte then satin, and are sort of streaky and hard to work with. Jill on the other hand is a beautiful shade that looks amazing on my skin and is really easy to apply. I clearly ordered it just for the name, but fell in love anyway.
Now, onto the box. Technically the box is free since I only paid for the polishes, so I have zero complaints about it. I will say that after the $3.90 international fee and conversion rate this order of just 3 polishes came to a whopping $51.00 CAD on my credit card. So yeah the box is a great thing, but I would never pay that for just three polishes
The box is cute and like everything in my order, safely packed. I got three coupons for future orders as well a booklet describing what is in the box.
First up, Naked Manicure Hydrate and Heal Serum ($12). This is a serum meant for hands and body that has hyaluronic acid in it to help hydrate seriously dry skin. It comes in a little sprayer that is actually pretty easy to use, not much mess comes from it.  It has no real scent to it and just feels like you applied water to your hands, so it absorbs right away. I don't find any real hydration comes from it on its own, but it is meant to be used with the next product.

Accompanying the serum is Naked Manicure Hydrate and Heal Cream ($12). This cream comes in a stiff bottle that makes getting it out a bit of a pain. Meant to go with the serum to help lock in moisture, it is a relatively light cream, not greasy and absorbs relatively quickly but still lingers on the hand, which is really nice because nothing sucks more to me then a cream that vanishes and leaves my skin wanting more. I overall like it, the feel, the results, the scent, but think I will use it up much faster then the serum.
Now on to the big items, the Naked Manicure system. This seems to be Zoya's big deal right now, so I got a NM Base Coat ($12), NM Lavender ($10) and NM Glossy Seal ($12). This is their system that provides you with a manicure that (*gasps*) looks natural. The system provides nourishment to the nails as well as treats damage, improves flexibility and strength. In between the base and the top coat is a lavender tinted clear coat, it is meant to colour correct yellow or other stains left on nails from using other polishes. There is also a few other shades, including  pink, which I would actually really like to try. The end result with this manicure is natural looking nails that are healthier and really pretty. I have tried it a few times and really do like how my nails look, much better then when I just wear a clear polish or a strengthener on them. Sadly my job is probably going to rip my nails apart and I won't get too much of a chance to try it on some more grown out nails.
I also got a Zoya lipstick in the box, mine is in the shade Addie ($12). Addie is a mauve pink that I really like to stair at. I am going to give this to my cousin though since her father (my uncle) is named Addie, and I really think she would enjoy it more then me.

Solid Gold Cuticle Oil ($12) is a gel cuticle oil that has tea tree oil in it to stop fungal growth. I really like how this is in a tube and gel, something I thought I would hate. It really is more of gel then an oil and is completely mess free. It also doesn't smell like tea tree, which is very nice.

Fast Drops ($8), are a tiny little bottle (5ml) of fast drying drops. I actually like the tiny dropper because usually I cannot control applying drops to well and end up waisting a lot of it.
Also in the box is a brand new shade that is just being launched of their Nail Polish ($10) in the shade Brighton. This is a champagne fine halo shade. I really like how it applied on my nails, it is more shimmer then shade but after two coats it looks really pretty without being too shimmery on your nails due to the fact the halos are so tiny

Finally I got a trail sized bottle of Remove+ ($4.60). It is their 3 in 1 remover, which is a mild action nail polish remover which also preps and cleans the nails.
Overall I am happy with this box. They promised me $100 USA worth of product and I got it! I also paid nothing for the box, just my three polishes and an international fee that was pretty small. I am excited to get to try out the Naked Manicure system because I have only heard good things about it as well as the other fun goodies in the box.


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Soap & Glory is a pretty popular brand, but one I have had little experience with, until now.

I have been lucky enough to get the chance to try out six items that launched this past fall and can now be found at Shoppers Drug Marts across Canada.

Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub:
Loaded a bunch of yummy stuff you might find in your morning smoothie, this scrub smells so good I really was tempted to try and eat it (I resisted). Oats, bananas, almond and honey extra work with shea butter, sugar, real maple and organic cupuacu bio scrubs. So overall, just plain yummy.
It is quite a thick scrub, so a little goes a long way, I just scoop a little and scrub away. It has a maple and banana scent that reminds me of my mother in laws banana bread. I can be extremely picky when it comes to anything maple (like a good Canadian), and I will say that this scrub smells exactly like real maple, because it is real maple.

I really think this is a great scrub that is thick enough to do a good job of scuffing off skin and leaves the skin soft and smooth as well as hydrated.

Sugar Crush Body Lotion
A body lotion that smells like key lime pie, sign me up! Ok there is more to love about this lotion then just is't yummy scent (but it is a good reason to love it). It has AHA fruit complex in it as well as Kiwi Waterjuice.

Sugar Crush Body Lotion claims to be a 3 in 1 product, Hydrates, Conditions and Smoothes the skin. Since it has the AHA in it I actually does a great job of being a daily light exfoliator for my Keratosis Pilaris prone skin. It also is really light on the skin, absorbing quickly and with out any heavy or greasy feeling.

I really like this lotion! It smells amazing, has a pump making it easy to use, feels light on the skin and absorbs quickly while fighting off my bumpy Keratosis Pilaris and winter flaky bits away.

Fragrant Body Spray
Nothing like a great scent to set the mood for your day, or evening.

Soap and Glory's Body Sprays come in three scents, Smoothie Star, Sugar Crush and Original Pink. I happen to have gotten the Smoothie Star one. The scents all match up with their body care lines scents so you can layer them up and make them last longer. Smoothie Star is a warm sweet scent with vanilla and almond with sandalwood and musk in it. Sugar Crush is a sweet lime and vanilla scent that similar to a key lime pie scent. Original Pink is their classic scent with fruity and floral tones to it, bergamot, rose, strawberry, jasmine and even patchouli in it.

The sprays feature a technology that helps it last 24 hours. I find one spritz is more then enough for me, it is a pretty potent product for a body spray, but I really like that, I hate a body fragrance that is weak and you have to put close to a dozen sprays on you, just to have it fade away almost immediately. This stuff smells sweet and complex and lasts with only just a bit of it.

Fab Pore T-Zone Cloths
Wipes that help exfoliate and keep your pores clean, sign me up! With Yuzu (that is a type of lemon by the way) to brighten the skin and  Soap and Glory's PoreShrink-4 complex which slowly release salicylic acid to prevent spots. It also is a cleaning wipe so it removes oils, dirt and makeup all in one go.

I like the idea of a wipe that helps exfoliate and clean in one swipe, it makes the process of fighting acne and keeping pores clear a lot simpler. Sadly, due to the exfoliating properties it isn't a wipe you can use around your eyes.

I tend to use it on lazy nights where I don't feel like doing my full routine and just use some eye makeup remove wipes on my eyes. But when I really love to use them in the morning, when I am not wearing makeup and don't require a double cleanse, but I do want to clean my face before my morning skin care routine.  They do a great job of just making the morning go a lot smoother.

Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss - Nude Star
Who doesn't want a nice nudey toned lip gloss? I know I always do. They work well with almost any look and easy to apply and pull off in a quick timing situation.

I happen to have Nudestar, which is a nude beige with a lot of shimmer in it, but fine shimmer that it looks really good and makes your lips look plumper. This gloss is meant to help make your lips look plump, so in addition to the shimmer, it has plumping spheres which burst as you werar it for more volume. At first I never notice it, but about 5 minutes in I start notice a very mild numbing effect. I should note that when most people say a lip product tingles or burns, I get a numb effect, almost like extremely mild Novocaine, so clearly I should not be one to judge how extreme a product like this is. But it is pretty darn mild from what I understand.  The gloss is mildly sticky and lasts quite a while on my lips.

Scrub Your Nose In It
Maybe you're like my hubby and sometimes you break out all over your nose and T-zone? Maybe this scrub might be fore you. I personally like it to help clear up my clogged nose pores.

This scrub has a pile of ingredients to help de-gunk up your T-Zone and prevent new buildup in your pores. Soap and Glory has their exclusive D-Clog MicroMud in it to clean the pores deep, while Diatomaceous Earth Mix helps exfoliate and purify the skin while soaking up excess oils. It also has AHAs in it to help clear out the pores and exfoliate. It also is kind of minty in scent, so those of you who still swear by the toothpaste trick for your zits (don't do it, its awful for your skin) this might be a great scent for you. I personally just love mint.

You don't need too much of the scrub, just put some on your damp clean face's T-Zone, scrub it around for a little bit and then let it sit for 2 minutes (always a great time to brush your teeth) and then rinse off well. My skin always feels a lot smoother after using it, I have some reoccurring problem areas in my T-zone so my skin really reacts well to it. The tub is also pretty darn large, so you wont find yourself running out quickly, this baby is going to last you a while.

I discovered Nip + Fab last year and feel head over heals in love with quite a few products of theirs. I recently received some products from their new Nip + Fab Fixes No Needles Fix line and have been using them for the last month and a half.

Vichy's Idealia line has been a favourite of mine for quite a while, so I was super stoked to be given some of the lines new and revamped products that are packed full of potent and natural ingredients a try.

With winter comes dry skin. It just seems to be fact that this time of year, skin gets dry. Since I already have dry skin to start with, I feel it is even more of a battle.  Lucky for me Vichy has their Ideal line to help hydrate my skin.

It is no secret I love Ideal Body products, I already did a review on the Serum-Milk and Body Balm. I love them both so darn much. I have learned through these products to treat my body the same way I do my face, which is to use layers. On my face I'll use a serum and then a cream, same with my body now. By doing this I get skin that is more hydrated and feels incredibly soft. They both smell amazing (it is a clean smell I can't quite place) and feel great going on the skin (the serum-milk absorbs quickly and the balm is incredibly thick and rich). As if all of that wasn't enough, the formulas are packed full of amazing stuff you don't normally see in body care, such as Hyloronic-Acid and LHA.

New to me is Ideal Body Replumping Lip Balm. My lips get dry in the winter, cracked and capt dry. This thick formula that comes in a tube and glides on the skin smooth. It lingers for quite a while and because it in a tube you can apply a thicker amount and create a mask for night time or when you have cracks. With Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil and Bees Wax in it has a bunch of lip loving ingredients in it. It is never greasy and seems to last a long time on my lips.

Vichy's Ideal Body Hand & Nail Cream provides moisture and nourishment like the other Ideal products, but with anti-dark spot  and nail enriching ingredients too. A little goes a long way to help your hands feel hydrated. My only gruff is I wish the tube was bigger, but that is just me wanting more product.

This winter I have successfully fought off dry skin an lips thanks to these products from Vichy Ideal Body. I really can't complain one bit about any of them, they smell great and work so well for my dry skin. I find you don't need much of any of the products to see great results. My Body Balm has been with me over a year and is hardly dented, I just need a small swipe of it to get a great coating on even my most dry parts.

I was recently sent some new items from Paula's Choice to review. Since I am a huge fan of Paula Begoun, the author of Don't Go To The Cosmetic Counter Without Me, and her fantastic reviews of skin care products, I thought this would be a great fit for me. Today I take a look at two new products in her skin care line.

RESIST Brightening Essence

This lightweight fluid works quickly to refine an uneven skin tone and revitalize a dull complexion for visibly brighter, radiant-looking skin.

This is an overnight mask, you put it on after your regular nighttime skin care routine and left on over night.

I noticed since I started using it that my skin feels a lot more radiant and glowing. I also noticed that when I woke up in the morning my skin was softer and more plump and overall less dry and flaky.
Radiance Renewal Mask comes in a short and wide bottle with a large pump, making it easy to hold after applying your regular night time skin care routine. One pump provides the perfect amount every time. I do find that my skin being as dry as it is, can sometimes require an additional half a pump a few minutes later due to the fact my face can suck it up pretty quick, but this does depend on the skin products I used before hand too.

One concern I often have with sleep type masks is greasy or heavy feeling on my skin. This is 100% non greasy, 100% non heavy. It is actually a miracle. I often put a sleep mask on and start sweating on the face, I get hot in the middle of the night, I fear smearing it into my pillow. This doesn't do any of that, it kind of just goes on like a nice gel-cream and absorbs into your skin after a few minutes without any of that grease or heavy feeling, while still moisturizing your skin like mad.

The one thing I will say is that this mask should be rinsed off in the morning. I am not one to usually wash my face in the morning, usually just a wipe will do for me. but if I don't rinse this off I can feel its residue on me skin and effect your makeup application. I once popped into the shower and as water ran down my face I could feel it reactivate, it felt just like I had just put it on my skin, which was odd to say the least.

Overall Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask makes me pretty darn happy. My dry skin is less dry, far more hydrated, I am not sweating at night when I wear it and my skins texture and overall appearance is a lot better. It is fragrance free so it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all, which is always a concern for me. It feels really nice when applied to the skin and because of the pump I never over or under-apply the product.
Paula's scientific approach to skincare has really won me over, these products are both filler free for maximum potency, fragrance-free and tested for allergens. Also they are not tested on animals. This is really a brand I wish I tried sooner.