As I was packing for a few nights away in Strafford  I did not pack any deodorant or antiperspirant. I honestly didn't think twice about it. Why? Well, because I am using Perspirex Comfort and it lasts me 5 days (even with showering)! 

When it comes to beauty, skin care, hair care or body care, I often am trying out something new and different. I rarely am finishing up products or repurchasing. That being said there are some products I just repurchase and don't even think about because they are just such a part of my daily life. Today I thought I would talk about those products since I am always rebuying them.

ULTRA REPAIR CREAM INTENSE HYDRATION 

I love this cream, so much so that I pick up a few each and every Black Friday at Sephora.  Usually an 8 oz. tube costs $60, but on Black Friday it is $19. 

Other than the fantastic price, I pick this up because it is amazing. It is great for the face but also my extremely sensitive hands and arms. Working as a groomer my arms get inflamed, dry and cracked, almost every product can cause a flare-up, but not this.

I also got my sister in-law hooked on it (and both her parents) when she had a skin infection during the 2020 lockdown. It is just that good.

L'OREAL 8 SECOND WONDER WATER

This stuff is amazing!! I will never shut up about it. I first tried the original version in February 2020 and stopped when I was stuck at home for 8 weeks, but quickly went back to it.

I love how no matter how damaged my hair it, it soothes it out and makes it feel amazing. Both the original and the Dream Lengths versions are identical but with different scents. I recommend picking one up next time it is on sale.

DEGREE WOMEN ULTRACLEAR ANTIPERSPIRANT DRY SPRAY

I prefer spray anti-perspirants and this one has been my go to for a few years now. I have one at work that me and other employees use (a great bonus of a spray is how hygienic it is in a share setting) and one at home. I don't generally have a preference when buying on scent or type with this one. There is a black and white one as well as some other general scents. I picked my last one up at the clearance section of my Shoppers because it had a dented in it, so that made me happy.

Dr. Teal's Foam Bath and Bath Soaks

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I love baths, that is no secret, so I love a great scented bath product. Dr. Teal's makes a lot of great products and I have talked about many on this blog. I always go back for more. Which one I buy really depends on what I am feeling like at the time so I cannot say I always go for one scent or another. The Shea butter ones are great for hydrating the skin in the dry weather, the Melatonin one is great for relaxing. Any way I work it I am happy buying Dr. Teals salts or bath foam.

Pure Standard Epsom Salts

While I love a nice scented bath, I go though Epsom salts super fast, like real fast, so I tend to supplement my salts with plain type to save a bit of money. The hubs is always noting when I am low and will grab me a new 5.5KG tub of salts from Costco.

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

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This is my go to hair product I will not live without going forward. In mid and late 2020 I lost over half my hair. Stress did that. With stress management and loving care my hair has grown back (woot woot). I really credit this stuff for doing that . It is loaded with anti-oxidants that help fight free radicals and that helps have a healthy scalp and hair. I think it is maybe best explained in this video from Kayley Melissa. Anyways, I started to use it back in the fall of 2020 and really couldn't find much about it at the time, but now it is a hugely popular product. It is like water when applied and just takes a few drops to get the job done (I use a full dropper every night).

AUSSIE 3 MINUTE MIRACLE HAIR REPAIR

PERSPIREX COMFORT EXTRA EFFECTIVE ANTIPERSPIRANT 

Well, 2020 is over. That is a thing. I don't really know what to say about the year and I am sure you have  all heard it before and don't need me to drag on about it. With that I will present my favourite 5 for 2002.

Keep in mind I spent 2 months off work, then worked insane hours, had several breakdowns and just have not cared much about my appearances but more on my mental health.

Perspirex Comfort

Perspirex is one of those things I don't think of often but when I do all I have is love for it. I have used it for years and now they have a comfort version for those that are a bit more sensitive. I love that I can apply it and not worry about bathing or showing it off for a few days. I also love that in past years when I swam it wouldn't wear off either. And in the summer, I cannot state how great it is because lordy lordy so I sweat a lot in the summer and this stops and subsequently stops the smells.

Dr Teal's Relax & Relief /Eucalyptus & Spearmint

I love Dr Teal's (read previous posts on them here)! I buy their stuff all the time. 2020 has been a year of baths and me trying to control my anxiety. I went through about 5 bags of their bath salts, but right now I am using this mini one from a holiday set I picked up at the store. 

I also love a good bubble bath so I also am always picking up that. I am using the Relax & Relief which happens to be Eucalyptus and Spearmint formulated one form the same set. 

L'oreal 8 Second Miracle Water

I picked this up at the start of March before the first lockdown. I had long very damaged hair and I loved how well it smoothed and helped my hair feel softer and silkier. I stopped using it for a while because we were locked up and no one could see it. After my hair started to fall out  due to stress it really felt terrible so I started to use it again. I have to say it really did help what remaining hair was there. It feel smoother and softer.  It also does a fantastic job of combating frizz in humid weather.

Catrice Camouflage High Coverage Concealer

I wrote about these twice before and I have to say I adore them. These are the best concealers I have tried in a very long time. I can use just them alone or with foundation or BB cream. I pretty much love how they cover, are creamy and blend out. The beige tone of Porcelain is specifically amazing for my undereye circles.

Too Faced Shake Your Palm Palms Palette

It has been a while since I gave a mini palette from Too Faced a try. Well actually not true, the year before I tried the Hot Butter Rum one and loved it. When I picked this one up in the summer on sale I wasn't too sure if it would be great or no. I am just super happy with it. I love the shades, the finishes and looks I can create with it.  I really feel going forward I will probably be purchasing small palettes like this so that as trends and styles change I wont feel so bad about getting rid of large palettes or spending so much on them.

Spring feels like it never happened, yet also took forever. Summer came and went super fast. Now we are in September. As I spend all of the spring in lockdown and all the summer working my butt off, I really was exhausted. So my blog obviously hasn't gotten the love it deserves. So with that, I bring you 5 Things I am Loving Right Now, Spring and Summer edition for 2020.

Head and Shoulders Supreme Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

In about April I started to notice my scalp was feeling a bit bumpy. I decided it was time to get a scalp scrub. With me being temporarily out of a job and all the stores shut down I needed a drug store product for the job. A quick internet search led me to this product. It was about $9 at my Walmart and only 100mL, it was tiny. 

It is a relatively loose cream that reminds me of conditioner. I started to use it on a wet scalp before shampooing. It lathers up nicely and rinses clean. I found my scalp immediately felt better and my hair fluffier with more body. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an inexpensive scalp scrub.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist Sunscreen SPF 50

I need a good high SPF sunscreen in the summer, especially for my face. I love a few but this one takes the cake. It is so lightweight but gives so much coverage. The trick is to no spray it onto your face, but your hands and pat it onto your face. I usually use 5-6 sprays to cover my face and 2 more for my neck.

This has been fantastic for staying put, not making my face feel greasy and just being fantastic. You can even reapply as the day goes on over makeup.

Dr Teal's Shea Butter & Almond Epson Salt and Foaming Bath*

Bath has been my rock these past two seasons. While I maybe didn't have as many in July and early August because of the heat, but leading up to it and the last few weeks I have been having a bath daily. To make a bath into my sanctuary the best thing I could do is add some salt or bubbles. 

These two have been great for keeping me relaxed and not letting my skin dry out, plus bubbles !!!.

I talk about them both in my post on Self-Care!

Perspirex Comfort*

I've talked about Perspirex a ton. I buy it whenever I run out and it lasts 5 days for me! During the hot summer month, I sweat non stop, so this is definitely the only way to go so that I don't fully sweat through my clothes but also stink up the place.

This formula is more hydrating so it is great for those that are prone to dry armpits. 

L'oreal Paris 8 Second Wonder Water

I was hearing a lot about this pre-lockdown and picked it up at the end of February. I really started using it in May when I realized my hair was a) fried b) falling out c) a mess from humidity.

So there you go, some products I have been loving lately. It has been a different 6 months and I am sure it is just going to get wilder from here on out, but at least I have some products that I have been enjoying.

* denotes product sent for review. All other products were purchased with my own money. All views and opinions are my own.

It is summertime, which means one thing, Five Things I am Loving Right Now - Summer Edition. Let's take a peek at 5 things I am loving for this hot summer that we are having.
Yardley English Rose Talc Powder

I reviewed Yardley London's English Rose line back around Mother's Day, and well I adore the stuff. I love how it smells just like real roses and it lingers on the skin in such a nice way. Well, now it is ridiculously hot where I live and I feel like a sweaty melty mess. I knew I liked their scented talc powder, but I wasn't aware how much I needed it in my life until the heat hit.

In the mornings when I wake up a little bit sweaty from the night (just that little dewiness that I hate) I apply some and feel so much better (and don't worry about smelling). When I get home from my long bus commute home I love to put some on to make me smell nice and absorb any wetness from the heat. Most of all my boobs love it. Any woman who has ever dealt with the heat knows, our chest can get a bit sweaty too. Now I am very lucky that I don't suffer from this too bad, but bras still cause sweat and chafing, and pretty much I hate it all in this weather. I pat some talc on and I not only do I  smell good, all extra moisture disappears and I seem to stop sweating for the next couple of hours anyway. I really am liking it for early mornings and at night after work for a quick refresh if I have to pop out again. I am also getting lots of compliments on how I smell when I wear it, which is positive since I have been so insecure about it.
Perspirex Plus

Sticking with the sweat topic, I love Perspirex! I tried it years ago to review and loved it, but now they have improved it (hence the Plus in the title) and I thought what better time to give it a go then in the hot summer.

I found that this summer I am a bit more sweaty than normal and being very self-conscious on my bus rides home. So persprix takes a bit of that worry away from me. You use it at night a couple times a week and then once you are happy with how it is working you just use it twice a week. TWICE A WEEK! For someone who is swimming a lot and works a physical job, I think this is great, I can shower and not worry about remembering to reapply deodorant.

I really find it works, I really never think about my deodorant anymore at all, I never worry about smelling, it is great. I really don't know why I didn't pick up a new one sooner.

There is one downside, it is about $22.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart or $17.99 at Walmart and only 25 ml. So there is that, and honestly, it is the reason I didn't buy it sooner. That being said I justified it by the fact it 1) actually works, and works well and 2) because I only need it twice a week and not several times a day, it is going to last me a long time. oh, and 3) I went with my mother in law for seniors day at Shoppers and saved 20%.
L'oreal Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge 

As I mentioned, I am swimming a lot in my pool this summer. Oh how I love to swim. It does take a toll on my hair though. I cannot wash it daily, or my colour will fade to crap. I also cannot just leave chlorine in it, so I am using a swim cap to keep most of the chlorine out and loading my hair up with this leave in.

L'oreal's Total Repair 5 line has always been a fantastic line for my damaged to heck hair, now that they have a leave in conditioner that is also a heat protectant, I have been using it like mad and loving the results.

I can apply a little after I shower to use as a leave in conditioner and a heat protectant. I can also add a dab every morning to the ends to condition them a bit more without weighing it down. It is really light and smells kind of sweet. My favourite thing to do though is to lightly wet my hair and add quite a bit to my hair, put on my swim cap and go for a swim. My hair takes in less chlorine water because it is already full of clean water and conditioner.
L'oreal Lumi Glotion

I love a nice glow on my skin, because let's face it luminous skin is pretty. I am not a fan of a whole lot of glitter or actual shimmer on my face. It is similar to Mac's Strobe Cream but I find it is smoother, more hydrating and less shimmery.

It goes on pretty sheer and can be worn alone or under foundation. I love to mix it in or wear alone with a bit of concealer. Overall it gives my sometimes dull skin a nice glow and a kick of pick me up. Who doesn't want to look more glowy on a Monday morning.

Glotion comes in four shades, Fair Glow, Light Glow, Medium Glow and Deep Glow. I have Fair Glow that I use as a highlighter and I use Medium Glow to give me a bit of an all over bronze look. Since there are four shades there should be something for everyone.
Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Spray

My hair is wavy, but waves can fall flat, or go frizzy and out of control. It is an odd spectrum of hair that can range from exactly what you want to to "what is going on here?".

I have been using this spray from Matrix's Biolage R.A.W. line for a few months now and I adore how it gives my hair actual curls. If I understand correctly it is kind of like a sea salt spray, but it gives  a bit of hold and a whole lot of curls to my hair. If you hair is wavy it might be what you need to get your hair more body, curl and shape. If you hair is straight it might just give it some more of that summer beachy hair you crave this time of year. I like it because humidity can make my hair look just silly, and it stops that from happening, and leaves me with really nice looking hair.

There you go, 5 goodies I am loving this summer.