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Beauty Vixen

This winter hasn't been easy on me, so coming up with 5 things has been especially difficult. The day after Christmas I was once again out of work and was off for 6 weeks. I blogged a bit during that time but once I got back to work I found myself exhausted every single night and lacking the energy to stay awake non the less form the words to create a blog post.

My favourite 5 items of Winter 2021

All the following products featured were purchased with my own money, no pr samples here today. 

Caprina Bubble Bath - Orchid Flower Extract

Caprina Bubble Bath

To summarize my winder, I took baths. When I was off I spent my mornings in the bath. When I went back to work I spent my evenings in the bath. 2 hours a day minimum. So that really explains why I this is one of my favourite items. I adore Caprina bubble bath and I picked this one up on a whim. I really love how rich and thick the bubbles are and the light scent. I also enjoy how the creamy formula leaves my skin soft and never dried out.

L'oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation

My makeup is essentially just a tad bit or foundation or concealer these days. Either way this is the foundation I have actually been enjoying. No matter how terrible my skin looks it works magic on it, evening it out and never looking cakey. I have probably bought 6 of these over the years and right now I am using N2 is the shade I am using.

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails

This one is definitely a bit odd. Last year I lost about 50% of my hair.  I started to take these gummies in an attempt to regrow my hair. With Biotin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E they are supposed to help hair, skin and nails. Biotin can cause a bit of issue with blood work regarding thyroid levels so I waited until I got results from my blood work before I started taking them. They taste like berries and I really don't mind them one bit. It really is too soon to see if they  have been working, but I feel my hair is not falling out anymore, so that is a big step.

Vichy Mineral 89 Serum

My friend Naomi told me to get this for the hubs and well I kind of went and got a jumbo size after trying his out for a few weeks.  It is a hydrating serum that also helps fortify the skin. Whatever it is, my skin adores it. It feels softer and smoother with every use. Also more hydrated. I can't stop using it and, well that is why it is on this list.

Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment 

Aquaphor seems to have quite a reputation for healing the driest skin. Here in Canada it is sold under the Eucerin umbrella. It is incredibly thick and almost Vaseline like, but it is also very different. While Vaseline is 100% petroleum jelly, Aquaphor is 41% petroleum jelly and 59% other healing ingredients. A little is all I need, I usually apply it to my cracked skin and lips. Since going back to work my skin has been nothing but cracked and bleeding. I usually top it up with some strong thick hand cream. Any time I apply it my skin feels better overnight, with is incredibly impressive.

So there you go, 5 things I really enjoyed this past winter. It was a hard one for me to come up with, but once I started thinking about it, I really do love these items and they were the stars for the last quarter for me.

*This post contains affiliate links, I may make a small commission of purchases.

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 A long time has passed since I last did a Project Pan 2020 update so I thought I would just go ahead and do it now.

The long and short is I quit. I was doing ok when I did my last update, then I went back to work and barely had time to do anything and everything was taking so much energy. I rarely wore make and when I did try to use my Pan products felt forced and horrible. I want to be creative and have fun when I wear makeup and it felt so restrictive. Plus so many products were lip based, and no one is seeing my lips with my mask on.

There are some product I am still using daily, like the Joe Fresh Loose Powder, I use that all the time. I have almost used up my Schwarzkopf BC Conacure pH 4.5m Color Freeze Spray Conditioner, so that is some progress. The Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum, I used that up! So that felt good.
So yeah, I stopped doing my project pan and I feel a bit of guilt but also relife. For now, I am winging what I wear. A win for 2020 and a loss for me? Maybe, but I am ok with it.

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Way back in January I decided to embark in a Project Pan, now it is time to take a peek at my progress.

I honestly haven't been the best, I did well throughout January and February but then kind of just stopped. I am still trying, but I am not doing my best. Regardless, let us take a peek at my progress and see where I am going next.
Acure Moroccan Argan Oil:
I used this one up! 🎉 I am so happy to use this one up. Acure has new packaging and I really want to try out the Rose Argan version, but first I must use some other oils up so I will be holding off on that for a bit.

Smashbox Primer Oil:
I managed to do some serious damage to this primer this winter, but not as much as I would like. It is currently sitting at a bit more than half finished. I feel the major problem was that I stopped wearing foundation for a while because my skin was just too dry this winter. I am going to continue to try to use it up because I have NYX's primer oil too and really only want one bottle to hang around my collection.
The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Late Night Eraser Brightening Eye Balm with Pink Peony:I just couldn't use this up. I really just didn't like this eye cream, I thought I would, but nope. So I tossed it. That is the point of this right? Use it or toss it.

Cover FX Illuminating Primer:
I tossed this, there just wasn't a whole lot left and I just never used it. It was not enough for my winter skin and I clearly don't want to use it.
Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (Industrial Strenght Full Coverage):
Even though it might not show, I did manage to use quite a bit more of this concealer up. I plan on using it a lot more the next few weeks to hopefully use it up once and for all

Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer:
I used this one up. 🎉 Truth be told I tried to scoop the rest of this product out of the tube like one would with lipstick, but it just was a mess due to the two layers. With that, I will say it is done and been trashed.

Jouviance Radiance Booster:I used it up. 🎉 I used it for a month and then it was gone. I must say these little toothpaste squeezers really help make sure you get what you need out and not let air into the tubes.

Vichy ProEven BB:I am still working on this one, but it should be done soon or I will toss it.

There you go, I finished 3 items and tossed 2, which means I have 3 I still need to work on. So I went from 8 to 3 items. Woot, I call that a success. I probably won't be doing another update on this, but I may do a next stage where I add a few more items and follow those items progress. Overall I am pretty happy with myself.
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Vichy is one of my favourite skincare brands, they are always improving formulas and highly scientific in their approach. Luck for me one my go-to lines, Aqualia Thermal has gotten a makeover.
Aqualia Thermal skincare serum recharges dry & dehydrated skin with intense hydration, using 97% naturally-derived ingredients, including Hyaluronic Acid, fortifying Vichy mineralizing water, and plant sugar mannose. Skin is instantly dewy-fresh, feels comfortable, stays hydrated for up to 48 hours and are as reinforced even under climate variations, stress, or pollution. -vichy.ca

The revamped items in the line now contain 97% naturally-derived ingredients, Hyaluronic Acid,
Vichy's Mineralized Water, and Plant Sugar Mannose all to help keep your skin hydrated for 48 hours. There really isn't anything not to love. There are no parabens, no silicones and no mineral oils in the line as well. Finally, they have been tested for even the most sensitive skins, which is great because I can be pretty reactive.
AQUALIA THERMAL REHYDRATING SERum

This serum has been my go-to for years, and I have loved how it has always helped hydrate my skin so darn well. Now it is better than before with all the improvements to the line.

Basically, this is a light serum that helps hydrate your skin. I find it absorbs extremely quickly, which is great for moving onto the next step in my skin care routine. I find it helps plump up my skin over repeated uses.

I find by using this serum every day, twice a day has a real effect on my skin hydration levels. My skin feels less tight, is plumper, doesn't get dry as fast and I need to use fewer layers to hydrate my skin enough to get through the day.

A

QUALIA THERMAL REHYDRATING WATER GEL



This is a new one for me, I previously used the light cream, heavy cream, hydrating serum and thermal night spa. This is totally different though, it is a gel-lotion, somewhere between a lotion and a gel.

The light texture is very quick absorbing. I found it particularly amazing in the warmer months, when I want something lighter and quick absorbing but also still highly hydrating. I often find with regular lotions I end up sweating off a bit in the summer, so it is all great. Now that it is cooler out my dry-dehydrated skin needs the added addition of a skin oil in my routine, but I still find it does an amazing job of getting much-needed hydration into my skin, and quickly.

Overall I love these new more natural and more effective products. They work well with my dry-dehydrated skin type while not being oily, heavy or greasy. They absorb quickly and keep me hydrated for the entire day. I love that the brand has improved the products in so many ways. The serum still hydrates and absorbs quickly while plumping my skin. The new water gel is light and a nice change from heavy creams which seem to often sweat off me in warmer weather.
* Products were sent to me for review purposes, all views and opinions are my own.
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Sometimes I get all caught up in trying to create blog posts on certain products or topics that I forget that blogging is sometimes about the daily things. Thus I am starting a new series, Five Things I am Loving Right Now. Hopefully I will do this seasonally, but maybe more often then that if the mood strikes. The whole point is to share with your the stuff I am using daily and getting some good use out of. Sometimes I might be in the process of writing a full post on the products, sometimes I will be revisiting past products that I am still loving (or rediscovered) and sometimes just products I want to give a good shout out to.

I big shout out to Madeline from Classically Contemporary. We recently had a little chit-chat and she inspired me to start this series (because that is what friends do, inspire us to be better).
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Skin Oil
I reviewed this way back in 2015 and loved it and its accompanying face oil and oil cleanser. While I may of got these three items from PR back then, I actually used them up and re-bought them more then once (which frankly I never end up using anything up anymore, so I am impressed).

First off it is like Bio Oil, yes. But it also cost about $10, has a pump and contains no mineral oil. Plus my skin really loves it. Since it is safe for the face I have been using it a lot more then I would have thought on my face this winter. I just have been so dry this past season and this has been the answer to my skin problems.
Wet N Wild Photo Focus Pressed Powder
I have been meaning to blog about Wet N Wild's new foundation collection for what feels like forever, but alas I have not. So while I can tell you I really love the foundation, the powder is maybe the item I love the most. I have been having one heck of the time with my face skin being dry and flaky when I apply any foundation, heck even BB or tinted moisturizer, so when I say this powder leaves my skin looking nice and cake free I am pretty impressed. In fact I did something I haven't done in years, I hit pan! I fully plan on repurchasing this powder (and the foundation for that matter)
Pixi by Petra Matteluster Lipstick in Rose*
Last year Pixi by Petra returned to Canada, I for one was pretty excited. I was happy to have access to their makeup again but also their new skin care products. I fell in love with their Mattluster lipstick in Rose. It is a moisturizing formula that is still semi-matte, which I think looks great for day to day wear. It also happens to be this great rose-nude shade that looks great on my skin and I can wear just about all the time.
Vichy Idealia Day Care Moisturizing Cream*
As mentioned above, my skin hasn't been behaving well. I am going to be blaming bad weather, lack of sleep, and some crazy hormones. Vichy's Idealia line is meant for skin that is subjected to pollution, lack of sleep, poor diets and hormone issues, pretty much me. That being said whenever my skin starts acting all messed up, I go back to Idealia and remember why I love it so much and wonder why I ever tried anything else.
L'oreal Micellar Water Complete Cleanser - All Skin Types*
I love a good Micellar water, but often find I have a hard time removing my waterproof makeup. Since I wear waterproof mascara and liner almost every single day, it kind of gets pointless, I end up tugging more then removing and am never satisfied. I discovered this duo-phase version from L'oreal and was amazed at how well it removed everything from my face without any film left on my skin. It also happens to be Oil, Fragrance, Alcohol and Soap Free, meaning my dry and sensitive skin stays calm and doesn't get reactive or angry.
There are 5 beauty items I am really loving right now. Not only am I using them almost daily, but I am using them up, which is impressive for me.

What are some items you are loving right now?

*items marked with an asterisk were give to me from PR. All views and opinions are my own.
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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.

Idealia is aimed for those who experiencing the first signs of aging and who's regular skin care isn't doing the same job anymore. If your lifestyle isn't ideal (me, oh that is me) and you live with pollution, lack of sleep or are eating a little poorly, this line helps correct those issues effects on your skin. I being in my mid-30's (how the heck did that happen? ) think this line is perfect for me and my skin agrees. 
Fine lines, visible pores and dull complexion – chances are you didn’t realize that these were your first signs of aging.The Idealia range improves skin radiance and minimizes the look of fine lines as well as pores when your regular skincare just isn’t cutting it anymore. -vichy.ca
Smoothness & Glow Energizing Cream ($44.99)
This day cream comes in both normal to combination skin and dry skin formulas. I love the normal to dry skin version. I use it everyday after the serum and find my skin has responded greatly to it. The formula has been updated to feature more natural ingredients that are super charged. Blueberry, fermented black tea extract, help deal with stressed skin throughout the day while the silky texture gel-cream texture keeps it hydrated until the evening.

Radiance Activating Night Peeling Care ($39.95)
One of the new products in the line up, this is a nightly peel to help gently remove dead skin reveal more radiant skin when used nightly. Using 4% glycolic acid and 5% HEPES this peel is incredibly gentle that even sensitive skin can use it daily without irritation. Anti-oxidants Black tea and Blueberry Polyphenols as well as Vichy's thermal water are also in the peel helping it become a truly fantastic product for you skin. In addition to help remove your old skin and prevent new flaky skin from forming, over time it helps dark spots and acne marks fade and smooth out wrinkles.

I find it incredibly easy to use. After I've washed my face I apply it with a cotton pad and then follow up with my regular night time moisturizing routine.

Since I am prone to hormonal acne in the same darn spots every single month, I have developed a bit of spots and scars. As if that wasn't fun enough I have dry skin that flakes like mad if I am not religious about exfoliating my skin. That being said this product helps so much with both those problems when used nightly, my acne marks fade faster and my nose and brow area aren't flaky at all. 

Radiance Booster Serum ($49.95)
This serum is a favourite of mine, and now it is even better. It now is packed with antioxidant citrus 
flavonoids, energizing adenosine and an illuminating liquorice root extract. It also has a new texture (it is clear now) that is super light weight and absorbs very quickly (just how I like my serums) and adds extra hydration and anti-aging complexes without feeling heavy. Vichy claims that they  hydration lasts up to 24 hours and works great on oily skin and for layering on dry skin. Since my skin is dry I can fully support how it works wonders when I layer it and I truly feel the hydration lasts.

Energizing Smoothing & Radiance Gel-Cream ($39.95)
This product also got a texture update, while I never tried the original  I have become addicted to this product pretty quickly. This light weight gel-cream is meant for combination to oily skin but my dry skin loving it too. Its gel-cream texture features fermented black tea as well as microbeads to absorb excess oil throughout the day. I like to use it before using a BB cream, giving my skin a bigger boost of hydration.

The line also has a BB cream, Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream and Sleep Mask all in new and packaging. 
Overall I am loving the revamped and new additions to this line. My pores look better, my skin more radiant, and lines less visible. I am always glad to return to this line when I am done testing others out, it just works with my skins needs.

Idealia is truly a great line for those in their 30's dealing with environmental aging. I love the new natural and potent ingredients added to the line, they only make it better. The Vichy waters and the fact all their products are tested for sensitive skin, hypoallergenic and paraben free.

Have you tried anything from the Vichy Idealia line? What do you think of it?
*Products were sent to me for review purposes, all views and opinions are my own.
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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.

Have you tried any of the Vichy Ideal Body line of products yet?


* Products were sent from PR for review purposes, all views and opinions are my own.
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Vichy recently launched a new line of face masks that are truly fantastic. Each of the three masks is formulated to help skin in different ways, each contains minerals and Vichy's Mineralizing Thermal Water. 
With the multi mask trend well on its way, the idea of picking up more then one really appeals to me. My t-zone, chin and cheeks are nothing alike in skin care needs or condition. My dry patches and oily zones are not the same at all, so why would I even consider treating them the same way?

Pore Purifying Clay Mask
Are you in the market for a new clay mask? One that purifies and refines your pores? Well if you are this one may be your new best friend. With Kaolin an Bentonite Clays to help purify your skin this mask sure is fantastic. It also is really thick, so you don't end up using a whole lot of it when applying it, it just smooths out and covers your skin really nicely. 

I have dry skin so using this all over is not a real option, but I do get spots and I have a slightly oily T-Zone. I usually apply it to my T-Zone (forehead and nose) but also will do spot treatments with it. I like to leave the spot treatment on all night and wash it off in the morning. Nothing stops me from trying to pop a painful spot like having a mask on it, plus it always feels so much better in the morning (and looks smaller too).  Any areas I use this on always have better looking pore the next day.
Like other mineral masks out there (Glamglow, I am talking about Glamglow), you'll see the imperfections and oil popping out as it dries, but unlike some other brands (still Glamglow)  this one doesn't irritate or burn my sensitive skin (I usually have an issue with muds being just too strong for me). Which is always great thing about Vichy, their products are tested under dematological conrtol to be hypoallergenic

Quenching Mineral Mask
Do you have dry, tired, or even tight skin? If so this may be what you've been looking for. This clear gel does all kinds of wonderful things when my skin is feeling dry or tight. It contains Green tea, Jasmine and Vitamin B3. 
Right now with the colder weather I can say it has been fantastic for me. While I do sometimes use this as an all over the face mask, I tend to just place it on my cheeks, the place my skin gets the most dehydrated or dry. It feels so cool and soothing when applied to my skin that no matter the condition it is I always feel better after using it.

Double Glow Peel Mask
This isn't what you might think of when you think of a peel, you actually wash it off, you don't peel it. Applied in a circular motion, the Volcanic stone which is super fine helps buff away your dead skin cells.  Then the AHA and Vitamin C exfoliate your skin while it sits on your face The end result is skin with far less dead skin cells, smoother skin and fading to imperfections. 
I love this mask because my skin can be very sensitive or reactive to ingredients in peels, but not this, like all Vichy products its been tested for sensitive skin and it shows. This mask I usually use all over, but if I am doing a mix of things I would use it around my chin and mouth area since that is where I have some post acne marks I wish to diminish some more. The physical mineral exfoliator is so fine I can't see it, but I can feel it when buffing it on, but as I said it is so fine so my skin isn't irritated at all.

So there you go, three new mineral masks from Vichy all targeting different skin care concerns that I am in love with

Have you tried any of these new masks? What are your skins top concerns?

*Products were sent to me for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own.
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Vichy just relaunched their foundation products, I was lucky enough to get my hands on their new Teint Ideal Cream Foundation and Teint Ideal Highlighter and am going to share what I think them with you today.

TEINT IDÉAL CREAM FOUNDATION:
Vichy's Teint Ideal Cream Foundation is available in 5 shades, this foundation has a light to medium coverage to it. Formulated for dry skin, it contains hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C & E and Vichy's Thermal Water to help hydrate the skin for up to 14 hours. Its finish is velvety, which is also perfect for dryer skin types.
Since my skin is dry / dehydrated this seemed like the best foundation for me in the new Vichy line. It gives my skin the extra hydration it needs while making it feel fantastic. My skin feels soft and dewy after applying it, plus the feeling lasts quite a while after, unlike other cream foundations.
When it comes to coverage, Teint Ideal Cream is light to medium, which to be honest is what you should expect from a more hydrating and skin care focused foundation. That being said I find it quite buildable. I just use my Real Techniques Sponge to apply a layer of foundation and blend it out, let it settle for a few seconds and reapply just where I need some more coverage and I consider myself done in the coverage department. I have been also known to apply it just with my fingers, either way I am always really happy with both how it feels and looks on my skin. No dry patches here, just nice even skin.

TEINT IDÉAL HIGHLIGHTER:
This little roll-on highlighter is absolutely stunning. I am in awe of how pretty it is to be honest.

You can roll this on bare skin or over your foundation when you want to illuminate you skin. I like to roll it over my skin and then just lightly blend it out by tapping my finger across it. If I wanted to make it less bold I tend to take a sponge to it when blending. Either way I love it.
I find the illuminators in it are so fine that you never see shimmer, just a wonderful glowy finish. I find it easy to blend and simply stunning.

Have you tried any items from the new Vichy Teint Ideal line yet? What do you think of them?

*Products were sent to me for review purposes, all views and opnions are honest and my own.
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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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