Showing posts with label merben. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merben. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

N¥E . PRE PART¥ PREP

It's hard to believe that this glitter filled, champagne popping, slightly dreaded celebration, in which we welcome the new year, is already upon us. But it doesn't have to be dreaded if you go into the night with low expectations, surround yourself with great friends who you wouldn't mind kissing at midnight, and plan a party prep routine, complete with a badass playlist to set the mood and get you moving.

My morning prep began quite early – it was either my excitement or this horrid flu that wouldn't let me sleep in. I did a quick dry exfoliation of my entire body with my Merben Dry Brush to prep for my aprés-shower self-tanning session, followed by a long hot shower to cleanse my hair and shave all my bits and bobs – ever so important in case you find a cutie for midnight. I've been loving the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse for all my tanning needs – it gives a subtle hint of colour when left on for an hour or a truly bronzed look when left for three. I chose the latter time frame and while waiting for the mousse to dry, which usually takes 15-25mins, I applied my face savior – the boscia Luminizing Black Mask. This product is pretty harsh, and therefore not for everyone, but it gives my skin a fresh start, leaving my complexion smoothe, clear and bright – but beware of the redness that is surely to ensue (hence why I use it so far in advance of my party). The last thing I did for this portion of my party prep was getting my lips countdown-ready – aka I loaded on Lush's Popcorn Lip Scrub, ate half of it, and let the rest slough away dead skin. Don't worry the dead skin part won't be included in any of my pick up lines tonight.

Everyone rocks a different look for NYE, but there is one thing that is always incorporated, glitz & shine. And I have a group of glitzy faves that are perfect for the evening ahead – and truly any other party you attend this year. I incorporate glitz all the way down to my primer, which is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance – it leaves a subtle, healthy glow and ensures that my makeup will last through the dancing and champagne showers. Once I have my makeup look set, I like to go back in with a bit of my MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study to further highlight my face – focusing on the brow bone, down the center of the nose, inner tear ducts and of course cheekbones. Bare Study is the perfect middle ground between gold and silver, so it pairs well with any look I choose.  I also want to add some shimmer to my legs now that they are nice and tan, and I do that with a bit of the Gleam Body Radiance in Rose Gold – hint: applying it down the center of the legs and arms will help you appear slimmer. Once that's complete I'll slip into my dress, apply some Atelier Cologne in Vanille Insensée to lure in my pray, and stash my Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil in my bag to moisturize throughout the night.

How do you prep for the wild night ahead?




AM¥     XO

Saturday, December 13, 2014

SKIN LIKE D'USSÉ . THE LATEST IN SELF TANNING

It's official, after weeks of minimal sun and a lack of tanning salons in the city I have taken on the skin tone of a vampire – pale and lifeless. Who am I kidding though, I probably wouldn't go to the tanning salon even if it was beneath my building. But with the holidays well on their way and parties popping up left, right and center I've found it difficult to dismiss my lust for skin the colour of D'ussé, Jay-Z's line of Cognac – the reddish bronzed hue is totally lust-worthy. Luckily, I've been introduced to two new tanning products sure to turn this pale beauty into a bronzed goddess – the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse[*] and the St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil[*]. 

When it comes to self tanning I'm a bit of a rookie, but there are two things I know to be true: always exfoliate your skin before hand and invest in a tanning glove. For exfoliation I've become slightly addicted to the Merben Dry Brushes, which I discovered at Fuzz Wax Bar's Queen St. West location – my favourite place to get waxed in the city. The brushes are meant to be used before getting into the shower, buffing away dry skin with ease [and a touch of pain] and leaving your skin feeling silky smooth – ready to be tanned. For application I've turned to the St. Tropez Applicator Mitt – it helps to provide streak-free colour and is so easy to clean.

THE LATEST IN SELF TANNING 
The Karora Express Bronzing Mousse ($40), hailing from Ireland, is one of the latest tanning brands to make it's way to Canada – arriving at Murale in-store and online come January. The Express Bronzing Mousse is unique because in just one hour you achieve a bronzed glow that is self-adjusting – meaning you and three friends could try it and attain different, customized results. And if you're craving a deeper bronze then simply leave it on the skin for an extra hour or two before rinsing it off in the shower. The mousse applies with ease and features a subtle hint of colour, making it easy to keep track of where you've applied it. But be prepared to bear it all for a prolonged period of time as the mousse remains sticky on the skin for about 30 minutes before drying. Don't let this scare you away though – the results are natural, long-lasting and fade evenly. Re-purchase worthy.

Already making waves [and selling out fast] in the self-tanning world is an absolutely exquisite tanning oil, the St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil ($60). Part self-tanner and part body oil, the Luxe Dry Oil delivers a truly unique tanning experience, leaving the skin unbelievably moisturized with a golden sun-kissed glow. The packaging truly embodies luxury and decadence – I'm left mesmerized watching the metallic bronzed oil swirl back and forth in the glass bottle. And the gold accents, oh my. Upon application, the oil imparts a subtle shimmer and fills the room with a fresh lemongrass scent. I was nervous that the application would be difficult and messy considering the consistency, but the use of the Applicator Mitt made it simple and the oil dried quickly. The colour develops in 4-6 hours, although I achieved the best results when I left it on overnight [8 hours]. The result? A streak-free natural tan that fades evenly over the next week. Plus the fact that it is a body oil means skin is left supple, nourished and conditioned for up to a week. Available at Murale in store and on-line April '15 – or beat the spring frenzy and pick yours up from Sephora. Ps. Act fast because it won't be long until St. Tropez is no longer part of the Sephora family :(.

THE RESULTS
Left leg shows the results of the St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil after 8 hours of development, while the right leg shows the results of the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse after 3 hours.
Left: Bare Skin // Right: Self Tanned - left = St. Tropez, right = Karora

How do you achieve 'skin like d'ussé'?



AM¥     XO

*Some of items in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.