Category Archives: Aveda

Get a Good Night’s Beauty Sleep with My Bedtime Skincare Regimen.

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Goodnight Beauty Sleep 1

I believe that a great night’s beauty sleep is essential to good health. So, I have adjusted my bedtime ritual, getting to bed at 10:45 PM to be asleep by 11:00. My bedtime beauty regimen can get pretty lengthy, but these days I’ve narrowed it down to these essential products so that Mr. Geeks can stop complaining that my bedtime routine is too long. ;)

Goodnight Beauty Sleep 3
Biotherm Blue Therapy Eye Cream / SkinCeuticals Emollience

Rich and hydrating skincare is important, of course. I like my nighttime skincare deeply hydrating and soothing, and these two products fit the bill.

SkinCeuticals Emollience* ($68 for 60 ml, availability listed at www.skinceuticals.com/canada) is a luxurious, gentle and effective night cream formula. My skin has become a bit sensitive from winter dryness, and this soothes my skin wonderfully. What’s in it, you ask? Brazilian sea algae nourishes, while natural oils — grape seed, rose hip and macadamia — lock in moisture. You know I love my oils (especially rose hip), and my skin just loves this cream. Sadness will be the day that I run out.

Biotherm has extracted ingredients from the sea and brought them to Biotherm Blue Therapy Eye Cream* ($55 for 15 ml, available in April 2013). The main ingredients — AFA, Laminaria ochroleuca and pure thermal plankton extracts — promise to restructure, strengthen and soothe the eye zone. Biotherm extends the very definition of the eye zone; it targets:

  • Wrinkles: the crow’s feet, vertical lion’s wrinkle between the eyebrows, fine lines around the eye contour,
  • Darkness: areas of pigmentation under the eyes and the upper cheeks,
  • Lack of Firmness: the upper and lower eyelids area with under eye bags.

Biotherm Eye Cream Application
Instructions for application of Biotherm Blue Therapy Eye Cream

Now, that’s a lot of promises. I’ll tell you my skin concern: I have developed itchy eczema patches on my eyelids over the winter months. I need my eye cream to be gentle and effective at eliminating this problem area. I found that a tiny amount of Biotherm Blue Therapy Eye Cream melted into my skin immediately and smoothed out the surface. I tried this during the day before makeup, but found it too creamy for that purpose; my eye makeup was creasing more than normal. For night time however, it is perfect. I notice that my fine lines have been smoothed out; flaking and irritation have disappeared. That to me, makes this a winner.

Goodnight Beauty Sleep 2
NUXE Rêve de Miel Lip Balm / Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate

I didn’t love NUXE Rêve de Miel® Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm ($17 for 15 ml, at Murale, Shoppers Drugmart, The Bay) on my first try. I found it thick and gritty. But this is my lip saver this winter. When I have dry chapped lips, I put this thick yellow lip balm on before bed and wake up with smooth supple lips. This is an overnight miracle worker. Love.

Lastly, a little bit of aromatherapy with Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate ($22 for 7 ml at Aveda). I bought this one on a whim on an especially stressful week at work. The aroma of French lavender, lavandin and clary sage instantly calms me down. I roll it on my pulse points and right under my nose and take a niiiice, deeeeep, breath. Ahhhhhh, heaven.

What about you: what is your bedtime regimen?

Your Ultimate Guide To Beachy Waves, When All You Have Is Limp, Straight Hair

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It kinda sucks to be that girl with limp, straight hair in the middle of summer, when the rest of them are rocking gorgeous breezy waves.  Yeah, I was that girl.  But I finally found some products that work for my hair texture, and today, I will share them with you! :) I tweeted my amazing big hair yesterday, and it’s finally time for me to spill what I’ve been using.

Here we go!

If You Absolutely Must Wash Your Hair, Do It Right.

Let’s start in the shower, shall we?  Up until recently I have been buying whatever shampoo and conditioner is on sale in the drugstore.  I figured they’re all the same, you know?  How about SLS-free shampoos?  I tried one years ago and it made my hair look so dull.  Yuck!

For a few months now, I have been exclusively using Live Clean Professional Healthy Balance Shampoo and Healthy Balance Conditioner ($8.99 each, at Wal-Mart) and these are the bomb, kids.  The shampoo gently cleans my hair without nasty SLS, phthalates and parabens, while still keeping my hair and scalp in a healthy balanced state.  The conditioner is amazing; I already finished the bottle.  This makes my hair super duper incredibly soft without that heavy silicone-y feeling, because it restores hair’s natural moisture with vitamin complex B5, E and C.  It really works. :)

Outside the Shower, Prepping Your Hair with the Right Product is Key.

Apply a volumizing mousse or foam all over your towel dried hair.  Roughly blow dry your hair, pulling up and away from the roots to get the most lift.  My old standby is Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam.  Seriously, I’m on my second bottle of this stuff.  It gives my hair body and texture without crunchiness or stickiness.

The other option — which I read from BEAUTY EDITOR, and is totally groundbreaking — is to use dry shampoo on (dry) clean hair.  I just got the Dove Refresh+Care™ Invigorating Dry Shampoo ($4.99 to $7.99, at drug, grocery, and mass merchandise stores across Canada), and that works nicely, too.  I just spray it all over my hair, and it does the trick.  And my oh my it smells divine!

If Your Hair Is In Between Washes, Freshen Up that Hair.

I’m new to dry shampoos, but man, do I love it now!  I have been using a small can of Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo on dirty hair days.  Spray it on, leave for about 2 minutes (I usually put on mascara), then brush out.  Pick up your jaw from the floor.  Your hair is big, yes? :)  Ahhh-mayyy-zing (Oprah voice).


My new favourite thing: Big hair!!!

You Absolutely Need a Great Beach Spray.

I bought the infamous Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray ($29) recently, but promptly returned it.  It does nothing for my straight hair.  Instead I am using a very affordable and effective alternative: Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray ($11.99).  I spray this on when my hair is about halfway dry, when my hair has that wet wave running through it.  Then I just let it air dry completely!  It has that coconut-y beachy scent that is intoxicating.

I think this works because it’s not as heavy as the Bumble & Bumble, so it doesn’t weigh down the finest, straightest hair.  So great!

I also use it as a setting spray after I use a heat tool.  Speaking of which…

If You Want/Need To Use A Styling Tool, Invest in a Good Flat Iron.

Let’s face it: sometimes the only way for straight hair to really hold a wave or curl is to use a heat tool.  I find flat irons work best for my hair as they get much hotter than curling irons.  I am still madly in love with my GS Professional Dual Pro Iron (review, available at Trade Secrets).  For beachy hair, I use the technique described in this video (scan to 2:30 to watch the tutorial).

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Fnay5MK_bSY[/youtube]

Now, you have all the tools. :)  Hope you try them and that they work for you, too! :)  Do you have straight hair that doesn’t hold a curl?  What products do you use to get fullness and texture in your hair?