Beauty Vixen

I haven't done an empties post forever, but I was tidying up and tossing a few things, so I may as well do a post.

Hubby stuff...

The hubs tend to use up his face washes the quickest.

Mary Kay Foaming Beard Wash

This foaming was in the shower for a while, but he liked both the scent and the fact it was foaming. He requested more, but it was a limited edition, so instead he is going to be using a few Jack Black beard wash samples I received.

L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Pure Power, Anti-Imperfection Scrub, Exfoliating Face Cleanser With Salicylic Acid

This wash has exfoliating beads and salicylic acid in it, which is great for his acne-prone skin. He liked it a lot, but we are moving back to PanOxyl for a while, it really is the best for his acne.

My Stuff...

Sol De Jannero 62 Body Fragrance Mist

I got a mini of Sol de Janeiro 62 and then a set with 4 that also included it. It was then I put a focus on using it up. I'm actually shocked I did, I like the scent and will keep on using the next bottle.

Bathorium Crush Bath Soak Northern Sage Recovery

I'm a big fan or Bathorium and this tiny pack didn't take too long to use up. I have a few more of their larger packs to use up, and I'm going to work on that the next few weeks.

Pantene Miracle Intense Rescue Shots Dry Hair Treatment

I buy 4 packs of these minis when they go on sale. They're pretty good shots of concentrated hair masks. I used two this round,

Pure Standard Products Epsom Salts

As much as I love other bath products, I always have a 5kg tub of this stuff from Costco around. I usually use one up every 3 weeks or so. I do mix it into other products, it lets me stretch other products out.

Teas..

Teas aren't something I use up quickly but do have a lot of. Last week I was shocked to learn when I decided to make an Excel sheet of all my teas and realized I used some up.

Tazo Passion (Herbal Tea)

Passion is the original tea used in Starbucks passion tea. I have a backup box, so I won't be buying another

Tazo Wild Sweet Orange (Herbal Tea)

Sweet orange I picked up in the US last fall and really fell in love with. It is naturally sweet and smells just like oranges. If you are a fan of mulled apple-type teas and like oranges, I think this one is worth trying. Lucky for me, it is now in Canada and I can get a box just about anywhere. I am going to wait until the new year to get another box in an attempt to use up some of my other ones.

Teavana Darjeeling.

I got this when Teavana was still around. I used to use my star rewards from Starbucks on ounces of tea. I have so many black Teas I forgot about it. When I was making a tea spreadsheet I found it and decided to use it up.

That's it for empties. Hopefully, I do another post at the end of the year.

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Yes, summer is over, but it was 24 degrees out the other day. It is so warm and sunny it feels like late Summer. With that, I thought it would be a great time to talk about the 5 things I have liked the most this past summer.

The products are going to be hanging out with my Feather Friends from the summer collection. I do not know how I became a person who fell in love with decorative birds, but here I am ordering ones for the holiday season.

Biore UV Aqua Rich 50 SPF

I got a four-pack of these at Costco in the spring. I really enjoyed it. It is one of the few sunscreens that does not burn my eyes, which is a big deal in the hot summer months.

I did a full review here if you want to read it. They did a very good job of adapting the Japanese formula for the Canadian market, considering we do not allow all the ingredients here (which I really hope they update soon).

Dr. Scholl’s® Ultra Exfoliating Foot Mask *

I used this in the early summer to prepare my feet for sandal season, and it worked great. I had thick and flaky skin on my feet and didn't want to get a pedicure. I used it again after my pool closed. I tend to kick off the rough walls of the pool and get cuts, so I had to wait until after they healed to use it again.

I did a full review here. I love the multi-pack, which means I don't have to worry about picking up more and how well it just works. I also like that there is a lotion version, so I can keep the smooth feeling going as long as possible. Their Ultra-Hydrating Food Mask is also fantastic.

Pixi On-The-Glow Blush/Bronzer

I picked these up when I did a Shoppers Drug Mart order and have loved using them. Everyone talked so much about how great they were, and I now see why. I really liked using them in the hotter months for a glowy blush look. Really nice formula.

Joico Air Dry Styling Cream

Since I swam from Canada Day to Labour Day pretty much daily, I did not want to damage my hair more by styling it with heat. I ended up using this no-heat styling cream instead and let my hair air dry. I do really enjoy how my wavy hair decides how straight or curly it wants to be every time I wash it, this product helps it do that without weighing it down while preventing frizz.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush / Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Butter Products

Ok, I know it is not a single product...but hear me out. I went to Trader Joe's in June after a concert at Fallsview. I picked up the three Brazilian Nut Butter items they sell, Body Butter, Body Scrub and Body Wash (they all cost $5.99 USD). They are apparently a dupe of the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush scent. Since I have two minis of the Sol de Janeiro body spray, I figured I would focus on trying to use one up.

Since they all go so well together (I do not think the TJ is a dupe of the scent; the TJ smells a bit different), I just started using all 4 products daily. As a result, I used up a mini body spray by the end of September. Mission accomplished for intentionally using up a product.

So there you go, those are some of the things I really enjoyed this past season. I am actually looking forward to some fall weather in the next few weeks. The trees are now a great shade and I always enjoy walks with Bradley when we aren't going to pass out from the heat.

What have you been loving lately?

* denotes products sent for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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I placed an order with The Inkey List online quite a while back. I was worried about whether there would be any customs or duties, but they ship the orders from Canada and the sale was done in Canadian funds, so it was a super easy process.

Now I am a huge fan of The Inkey List, I was at their Canadian launch 4 years ago and have been using their skincare ever since.

Now they don't offer shampoo and conditioners, but they do have hair and scalp treatments. I picked up the Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Hair Treatment, Peptide Volumizing Hair Treatment, Shea Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment, Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, and the Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub. A few items I wanted to try were sold out.

First off, I really do love that The Inkey List makes the whole figuring out where the product fits in your routine easy with their packaging. In this case, I am a little confused because a few of the items give the option to "Boost your Shampoo/Conditioner", but do not give any instructions for it and don't list it for those products on their website.

Secondly, I really like that their hair products are easily distinguished from their skincare products by being a different colour, but hate that it is black plastic. While there are claims that it is recyclable and non-carbon, my city, and many others do not take black plastic.

Finally, I love that the brand gives all the info you need on the box and inside it. Nothing is hidden and I really enjoy that.

So with that, here is a review of all the products I got.

GLYCOLIC ACID EXFOLIATING SCALP SCRUB / $20.00

This is a scrub in a bottle with a nice tip to help apply it right to the scalp without any mess. It has both chemical and physical exfoliators. Apply it wet or dry before washing your hair and let it sit for 10 minutes. The result is an exfoliated scalp and a protected microbiome. All this is supposed to help with hair growth, scalp health and hair volume.

I fully reviewed this in my Scalp Scrub Showdown Part 3, and let's just say it isn't the best Scrub. I do enjoy using it, but know it's not really lifting much.

When I first bought it, it retailed for CAD 16.99, it went up $3 in two years.

SALICYLIC ACID EXFOLIATING SCALP TREATMENT / $22.00

This is very similar to the Glycolic Acid Scrub but without the physical exfoliators. It uses just chemical ones to help remove buildup and help with itchiness of the scalp. This one is particularly good for those with excessive oil production. There are other ingredients to help hydrate the scalp and reduce redness.

I also reviewed this in Scalp Scrub Showdown Part 3, it also failed to remove buildup.

When I first bought it was sold for CAD 18.99, it went up $3 in two years.

SHEA OIL NOURISHING HAIR TREATMENT / $9.99

This is a basic hair oil made up of Shea Oil. Shea is so well-loved for hair care so having a liquid version seemed pretty amazing to me. Shake the bottle and apply a little to your hands and then to your hair, wet or dry.

The formula is quite thin, which I was not expecting when I first applied it. I used far too much because it just poured out into my hands. My hair as a result was a little too oily. Since then I have been very careful not to apply too much and have seen great results. I really love how easy it is to add to my routine to make my hair softer and healthier.

After over a year of reaching for this, I will say I wasted about half the bottle because of the huge whole and liquid texture. This is its biggest failure. I still don't love the scent, but I like to use it post shower lightly or pre-shower heavily as an oil treatment. You can't go wrong with Shea for your hair so I would buy it again but maybe put another lid on it.

This product is no longer sold by The Inkeylist, which makes me feel a whole lot better about my feelings on it. The bottle's opening was too big, it was too runny and it smelt strange. That being said, it worked well, it was shea oil.

HYALURONIC ACID HYDRATING HAIR TREATMENT / $15.00

Just like with our skin care, Hyaluronic acid for the hair attracts moisture to the hair and helps hydrate it. It is meant to be added to hair post-washing but can be used any time to wet or dry hair to help with hydration and frizz.

I still can't really get this to work for me. I don't know what it is about it, but it's just another step that doesn't result in anything great for my hair.

It says you can use it to boost your wash, I tweeted the brand and was told to use it while conditioning. It didn't really do much.

When I first got this it was CAD 11.99, it went up $3 in 2 years.

PEPTIDE VOLUMIZING HAIR TREATMENT / $19.00

A lightweight serum for your hair that helps with thickness and volume. Like many of the other hair treatments, it is meant to be used wet or dry but recommended post-washing.

I once again didn't really end up with great results from this one. I don't know if I'm using it right or if my hair is just too long. It's ok at best for me.

When I bought it, it was CAD 14.99, so it went up by $4 in two years.

PCA BOND REPAIR HAIR TREATMENT / $19.00
I picked this one up a bit later. It is a spray that you add to damp hair to help strengthen it. It uses Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid to help bond repair your hair and other conditioners to make it a leave-in to help keep your hair strong.

This is definitely my favourite in the lineup. I like using it daily and find my hair is responding well to it. It has almost no scent to it. My only complaint is the pump, it is strange for some reason and you need a lot of finger strength to use it.

My Thoughts:

Pros:

High-quality products
Reasonably priced
Packaging lets you know quickly it is not their skincare line

Cons:

Had to order online (is now in Sephora stores in Canada though)
Black plastic (no recyclable)
Products didn't work great for my hair type (wavy, dry-damaged)

Overall, I really enjoyed adding these products to my hair routine. It was nice to try a new brand without spending an arm and a leg (although the prices did go up since I ordered them so long ago). The Salicylic and Glycolic acids were so easy to apply to my hair, which is refreshing when most scrubs are messy to use. I just wish they were more effective at lifting my degree off my scalp.

When it comes to repurchasing, I don't know. I don't think I would get any right now. I still have the PCA repair, and would probably repurchase it when I run out. I am currently trying The Ordinary's glycolic peel for a scalp scrub. I do think they are comparable.

I think, if you like The Inkey List, try it out, but don't expect the world. There is a good reason on Sephora the line has mixed reviews.

In the end, I like the brand, but most of these weren't for me.

*I purchased everything with my own money. There are some affiliate links in this post. I appreciate your support of the blog.

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*This post features PR Samples.

While it’s not something I often discuss, I struggle with dry skin and calluses on my feet. The buildup can get so bad that little bits of skin pull away, forming hangnail-like strips. It’s not fun. Despite using pumice stones and files, I can never achieve the same results as a pedicure. However, pedicures often involve using a razor on my feet, which I can’t do at home.

This year, I decided to try something different: Dr. Scholl’s Ultra-Exfoliating Foot Mask. Unlike other exfoliating foot masks, it comes in a 3-pack, which I find to be a better value. The mask uses a proprietary blend of alpha hydroxy acids, essential oils, natural extracts, and urea to exfoliate dead skin and moisturize.

Each pack includes a pair of booties that should be worn for 60 to 90 minutes. You need to pull the booties open at the top, ripping the opening that keeps everything sealed inside. Once on, there’s a little tab that holds each boot shut. I always struggle with this part, as I do with other masks.

Once the booties were on, I watched a movie for 90 minutes. I laid a towel down and put a pair of knit socks over the boots so I could walk without slipping.

Here’s a quick overview:

Key Benefits:

Exfoliation: The alpha hydroxy acids help to gently peel away rough, dry, and flaky skin.
Hydration: Urea and essential oils deeply moisturize and soften the skin.
Ease of Use: Simply slip on the booties, leave them on for 60-90 minutes, and then wash your feet. Peeling typically begins within 2-7 days and can continue for up to two weeks.

How to Use:

Wash and dry your feet thoroughly.
Slip on the booties and secure them at the ankle.
Leave them on for 60-90 minutes.
Remove and discard the booties, then wash your feet with warm water.

I chose to leave them on for the full 90 minutes because previous brands didn’t work for me, even after two weeks. I just was waiting for some peeling to happen and it never did.

My Experience

I felt a tingling sensation, but nothing too intense, which the packaging says is normal. I enjoyed the minty smell, reminiscent of foot cream. Previous masks I’ve tried smelled of citrus, so I preferred the mint.

before feet

Washing everything off was easy, and my feet felt nice that night. The next day, my feet felt dry, similar to being out in the sun and slightly dehydrated. I read that you shouldn’t moisturize during the shedding period, so I didn’t.

By the end of the week, I noticed peeling. The packaging says peeling can start in 2-7 days and take up to two weeks to complete.

peeling, revealing soft skin.

The peeling started on the softer areas of my feet, which I didn’t expect. A few days later, my heels and toes, where I had the thickest skin, began to peel.

feet peeling process.

You shouldn’t pick at the skin but use a washcloth while bathing to loosen and remove excess skin. I found that soaking in a bath helped accelerate the process quite a bit. Swimming even more so.

My feet after

Dr. Scholl’s Ultra-Exfoliating Foot Mask 3-pack

Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Water, Lactic Acid, Urea, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Lepidum Meyenii Root Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Surgarcane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcelluose, Sodium Citrate, Salicylic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogentated Castor Oil, Menthol, Disodium EDTA

Pros:

3-pack makes buying more affordable and easy
Available at drug stores and mass retailers
Smells like mint
Easy to use
Worked well even on really dry and cracked skin
Mess-free

Cons:

Can't think of any

Overall:

I really liked these masks. They let me skip a pedicure this summer. I got almost all my dead skin off, it wasn't perfect, but I had a lot of dead skin, calluses and cracks going on. What was left was easy to remove later with a pumice or by using Dr. Scholl's Ultra-Exfoliating Foot Lotion (it is basically a lotion version of the masks that you can use to remove dead skin and hydrate at the same time).

My biggest tips would be, to wear socks over the boots so when you go to walk and even rinse your feet off, you don't rip them or slip. Also, soak your feet over the next few weeks a bit to speed up the peeling process and let you scuff off that skin.

I would definitely use these again and buy them again. They have been the best peeling foot masks I have ever used.

*This post features PR samples. All views and opinions are my own.

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June is done, and so is half of 2024. This has flown by. This whole year is so crazy since I am for the first time in my life not working, but also doing school at home. It is all wild.

June was exciting, we had a little road trip, I spent two nights away from home, which I never do and I got to see lots of family.

Puppy time

I love puppy time, I get to spend my days with my darling Bradley, but for over two weeks we had his little wife stay with us, Sophie. Sophie is fun, cute, sassy and most importantly a good cuddler. She is a great study buddy for me.

We also celebrated Bradley's Gotcha Day. It is hard to believe this cutie has been our life for 8 years now. Here is a cute photo of him the day we got him, and now 8 years later with the same toys.

Niagara Falls

For Christmas we got Rich's dad and stepmom tickets to see Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at Fallsview in Niagara Falls. The concert was in June, so we booked an hotel for the night.

We got an early start to the day by dropping off the pups really early with a friend, so we ended missing all the traffic, so we went to the Niagara on the Lake outlet mall. I got a great hat at Colombia that has a spf of 50 and some Satsuma body wash at The Body Shop. I also got a few goodies at the Estee Lauder outlet (The Cosmetic Company Store), where I got 4 mac pan shadows for just $14. I also got some more Bumble and Bumble hot oil.

We then walked around Niagara Falls downtown area. It is super touristy, but we got fudge and that is all that matters. We also got soaked walking along the falls. I will never not be impressed by the beauty of the falls.

It then rained a lot, that we had a quick dinner with his dad and saw the concert.

Frankie Valli turned 90 in May and well, it shows. The concert was about 75 minutes long and while he was impressive, I do not know how much he was actually singing. Sorry to say it.

We definitely enjoyed the hotel pool and hot tub, both that night and in the morning.

Cross Border Shopping

The next morning, after having breakfast with Rich's family, we drove to the US side to check out Target, Trader Joe's and Walmart.

I am extremely neurotic and have lists made up before we go, but still got stuck for 2 hours in the line to get into the US.

Walmart was a hit, got lots of food and goodies. Target was a bit overwhelming and I honestly did not have enough time to look around as I would like. I feel such pressure not to be there too long and the store is a mess to find things. I am actually really glad I have Shippsy now to get things shipped here from Target.

Finally Trader Joe's was a huge success. I got so many yummy things as well as beauty items.

I was a great weekend away.

Family Time

My sister had a girls pool party the next weekend. I got to have another sleepover. I had a blast and got some puppy love from my nephew, Stevie.

We also went and visited Rich's dad for Father's Day and the next day visited my brother and his family for diner. All very good family time. We also spent the Canada Day weekend Sunday at his father's with our nieces and nephews. So a lot of family time this month.

Neighbourhood fun

every year in June, my neighbourhood has a little street party. I went, paid my yearly dues for the community organization and got a bunch of tickets. I ended up with some cotton candy, popcorn, pizza and entered in some draws. I ended up giving most of my tickets to a neighbour who has 4 kids. I also got some goodies at some food trucks that came.

I also went to the Willowdale garage sale. Willowdale is where I grew up, and I am really close to it. They put together a listing of 50 garage sales but also had a parking lot set up with many vendors. I got a little cooler the hubs had said he wished he bought last year, so a good win for me. It is nice seeing communities all come out and gather like that.

That is about it this month. I had a good time and my weekends were pretty full. I am trying my hardest to keep up with my classes, but find it a little more challenging than I would like.

I hope June was good to you.

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Puppy time

Niagara Falls

Cross Border Shopping

Family Time

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